Preparing to record your audio

In making recordings, the goal is always to get a clear, undistorted speech signal with as little noise as possible. Recording interviews requires a little more preparation but the principles are the same

Noise that will detract from or ruin signal quality for acoustic analysis can include:

• Any kind of environmental noise
  

• Speaker movement, especially if movement impacts the microphone or an object close to the microphone or phone.
  

• Voice overlap between speakers
  

• Noise from the computer system during transfer to computer
  

The best way to minimize environmental noise is to record in a sound-proofed or sound-treated room. To reduce the effects of noise in an ordinary room:

• Choose a quiet location
  

• Cover large reverberant surfaces with blankets or cloths
  

• Unplug electrical appliances
  

• Close doors and windows
  

• Turn off lights and fans or air conditioning
  

• Remove anything that ticks, buzzes, bangs, rattles, squeaks, hisses, or otherwise makes itself heard
  

• Always make a one minute black recording to see if there are any noises you have missed.
  

• Make sure you log off any software application like chat programs etc. There is nothing worse than almost getting to the end of your recording and your mail or chat program pipes in with a ding or what ever.

When recording speech form texts it is usually possible to satisfy all, or most of the above conditions. However, to record speech in "natural" situations, speakers often must be allowed to move around and interact with other people, with objects, or with their surroundings. This makes it substantially more difficult to get optimal recording quality.

Software you can use to record is Audacity a very good free recording and editing studio. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Make sure you read the download instructions so you can export to MP3 files.

Tips on delivery:

• Make it conversational rather than professional. What some people consider professional often resembles theatre type acting (which seems fake). Where as conversational speaking resembles movie type acting (which seems real).
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• Be you. That doesn't mean you remain where you are without making improvement. But optimize what you presently possess. Most of what people consider detriments (poor voice, not funny, etc.) can be developed into advantages.

Microphone Techniques.

Phone Recording - Telephone Recording Adapter

Connect your telephone or headset to a recording device such as tape recorder or your PC to record telephone conversations. One of our clients uses an old modem with voice capabilities. There are heaps of them lying around.

Note: There is National and State legislation relating to the recording of, and listening to, communications in your country. Compliance with these standards should not be taken to mean that any subsequent use of this equipment complies with the relevant legislation. For further information on Privacy Guidelines refer to government website.

Tip: To record a phone interview use the same method as for a normal recording however make sure you have any call waiting or distraction completely removed so the call will not be interrupted. Unlike producing your personal audio file you usually only get one chance at a phone interview.

Here are a few pages on different recording hardware.

http://www.ahernstore.com/trx2035b.html

Of the two telephone recorders available from Radio Shack, I personally prefer 43-228 model over the 43-1237 model because the 43-228 is more likely to capture both sides of the recording at equal volume levels.

And if you really want to start getting professional and this is where I am heading for because you can attach a proper mic and get radio show quality productions and have full control over your interviews then here is the Rolls Royce.

Talk Show: Connect Innkeeper PBX between your console and your existing multi-line telephone. Your producer can screen callers from another phone while you take callers on the air by simply selecting available lines on your phone. Interviews: Use Innkeeper PBX in your newsroom to record high quality interviews. Connect a mic and headphones to your PBX telephone while maintaining excellent separation between your voice and the caller. Conference Room: Easily connect your PA system to the existing PBX telephone system. The echo canceller algorithm can prevent feedback and allow full duplex conversations. http://www.jkaudio.com/innkeeper-pbx.htm

As well as the preparation suggested for interviews in general, you can prepare for and deal with telephone interviews by:

• Making notes of those things you want to get across, your strengths, relevant experience and qualifications, skills you have and your evidence for them, reasons why you are interested in this job, etc, and put them by the telephone so that you can refer to them.
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• Having a copy of your CV and application form to hand so that you can refer to it if necessary.
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• Jotting down the questions as they are asked so that you can look at them as you answer.
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• Making sure you are using a telephone which is situated where you have some privacy.
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• To avoid relaxing too much, stand up and smile whilst you are talking to the interviewer!

The good thing about telephone interviews is:

• You don't have to dress up for them.
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• You can refer to notes whilst you talk.
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• They can't see you grimacing, blushing, twitching, etc, so no need to worry about body language.

http://learning.staffs.ac.uk/careers/careersweb/jhunting/ivtelephone1.html

When your ready to step up with professional recording equipment Mike Stewart the Internet Audio Guy is the man to see. Visit his site and if he does not have what you want just ask and tell him I sent you. http://www.internetaudioguy.com

Well I hope this really gives you some food for thought. I have been doing this for a number of years now and it has always proven a better source of traffic than any other form of promotion. Once you have made an your audio for your interview save the project as two different files and then work on one. I usually name them after the name of the person I interview and call them 1 and 2. I work on the 2 file which I can then pull to bits. You can do all your editing in Audacity and remove any bad or non needed bits easily.

Once you have it in a form your happy with get someone to go through and type it out and you will have a another product you can offer with the audio as a pdf. This is a great way of adding content to your site for the search engines. There are plenty of services that will do this for you however I have found it much cheaper to use college students, single mums etc and it gives them a little extra cash. 

Finally you can then add in some music, adds etc and make it almost like a mini radio show. If you are not confident to make your adds then just find some one with a good voice and write out your adds and get them to speak them. Add some background music and insert into your interview. You can also get one of the many professional voice overs to create a few professional adds for you. Hopefully you will be doing more interviews over time so you will be able to use the same adds etc over and over again.

Expect Success

Quentin Brown
MP3 Sound Stream
http://www.mp3streamingaudio.com