Getting the best from the recording environment

Following on from our previous blog on why good recordings lead to better transcripts, here’s a bit more of an in-depth look at some of the main pitfalls when devices and external elements get in each other’s way.

Background noise.

Finding a quiet location to undertake your interviews would seem like the logical thing to do, but sometimes it can’t be helped.  You want your interviewee to feel comfortable, and if that means conducting the interview in a café/public space, then there’s just no avoiding it. 

However, today’s sophisticated recorders are designed to pick up the quietest voice in the room so, while the mic might be positioned near your interviewee, the recorder is listening in on the conversation at the next table, or the barista’s coffee making skills.

Mobile phones

Conducting telephone interviews is always likely to degrade the quality of the recording, especially if you’re recording on an external device next to a speakerphone.  Wherever possible, try to use proper telephone recording equipment. 

Also, a landline will give you better quality than a mobile.  With a mobile the signal is likely to drop out, particularly if your interviewee is moving around, multi-tasking, putting on the washing and feeding the dog as they talk to you. 

And mobile phones have a sneaky way of meddling when they’re not even being used.  If you’re recording on a Dictaphone, ask everyone to switch their mobile to airplane mode, otherwise the interference can be detected on the recording device, blocking out everything that’s being said. 

Street noise

Another mobile issue is when the interview is being conducted outside, maybe for very valid reasons.  Walking your interviewee around a community area getting their views on various things makes for an excellent qualitative interview, as long as the recording mic isn’t picking up the wind noise, obliterating everything that’s being said.  Invest in a fluffy mic cover to mitigate any blustery conditions.

Inside environments.

Even interviews conducted inside, in a seemingly quiet room, can fall victim to street noise.  It just takes one open window and that pesky mic is picking up the number 43 bus as it trundles along its route, or the Amazon courier tooting their horn at an inopportune moment.  Airconditioning and extractor fans also seem set on masking everything that’s being said if given half the chance.

Focus Groups

Making sure that all your participants are covered by the mic in a focus group setting can be tricky.  A good plan is a second recorder positioned elsewhere on the table – that way if someone is away from the main mic, there’s a good chance the backup will have captured what has been said, and the two can be combined to provide a complete and comprehensive account of the conversation.

And if they’re all talking together, while it makes for an engaging environment, it makes the life of a transcriber a bit more challenging.  A request to repeat what has been said one at a time is always appreciated.

Finally, there’s something to be said for online interviews, particularly for focus groups – people are more likely to speak individually and the software recording will give a more balanced volume for all the participants.

Sometimes it’s the little things that can have the biggest impact.  With the best will in the world you’ve done all you can to create a conducive environment but background noise and interference has left you with a poor quality recording. 

We will do our best to capture as much as we can of the conversation, regardless of the quality.  With all the necessary equipment and software, it makes life a little easier, and it makes the skills of the professional transcriptionist invaluable whatever the end transcript is required for. 

If we can help you with transcribing your challenging recordings, please contact us here.

Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash