- connection issues
- audio syncing issues
- errors
- poor sound
- horrid sound
- crappy sound
I’d like to make a plea for more people to try recording interviews the “old-fashioned” way. The double-ender. If you have a co-host, this is a must, and if you are interviewing guests, it will up your game and bring professional quality to your show.
Thankfully we don’t have to be old-fashioned anymore because we have awesome computers and most people have earbuds with a microphone built in. If my 75 year old mom can hook her earbuds up to her phone or computer to make a call, then I bet your guests can use them to record an interview.
It takes the same amount of technical knowledge as it does to make a Skype call or email someone a file and can be done in a similar amount of steps.
- Open up Audacity/Garageband/Quicktime or whatever software you are using to record.
- Open up Skype, Zoom, etc or whatever you are using to communicate with each other.
- Start recording.
- Count 1, 2, 3 and clap at the same time.
- BOOM, you have an audio marker and you can easily sync up your tracks when you combine them.
Step 1. Use Quicktime on Mac OS X or Voice Recorder (formerly known as Sound Recorder) on Windows.
If they were using Skype, Zoom, etc anyway, they are hopefully already hooked up to their computer in the right way with their earbuds.For both platforms, audio input level is set and similar to the level you’d get in Skype when using earbuds. Also, again before starting your interview, countdown together “3, 2, 1 CLAP” to create an audio marker to ease in lining up files.
2. To change the recording settings, click the arrow next to the Record button. Then choose their ear buds and “high” recording quality.
3. Turn the volume slider all the way down (to the left).
4. Click the Record button to start recording. Click it again to stop recording.
Voice Recorder instructions: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/instantanswers/1481dfb5-8c22-4707-baad-e1dc059500ef/how-to-use-voice-recorder
2. In the right side, make sure “Let apps use my microphone” slider is on state.
3. Also make sure Windows voice recorder app is turned on in the “Choose apps that can use your microphone” section.
4. Open Voice Recorder from wherever you fun Windows people find programs these days and turn their speaker volume all the way down or hit mute.
5. Hit the big Record button to start and stop.
Step 2. Have your guest send you their file.
In QuickTime Player, choose File > Export >Audio Only and export the file to their desktop. In Windows go to Documents > Sound Recordings. I recommend using DropBox, WeTransfer or other similar file sharing services to send their file to you.
I realize that most hosts want to make it as easy as possible on their guest. That’s a very valid concern. But how are your guests going to feel when you have to ask them to record the interview a second time because there were VOIP issues the first time.
I would also say that besides being really important to the success of your show, good quality distraction-free audio devoid of “sky—pe interferrrrrr ence or echos (echos) is (is) also (also)” important for your guests. They are likely sharing their wisdom and they want to sound great and have everyone hear all their words. They might be selling something or have products, articles, wisdom they want people to check out later. It’s in their best interest to put in a few minutes to help you get the best quality audio possible.
PS: and if you still want to use Skype, please please please have your guests use ear buds with built-in mic at the very least. That will prevent most Skype “echos” (bleed).