How do I record phone conversations?

July 1, 2005 10:11 AM

Anyone have experience with recording phone conversations? What's the best way to do this?

I am going to be conducting some task analysis interviews over the phone. I would like to record these conversations, so I can write up my recommendations later. Any suggestions? Also, is there a way to automatically transribe these conversations?

posted by xammerboy to technology (12 comments total)

I also do interviews over the phone and use a standard mini-recorder attached through a nifty device I got at Radio Shack that is plugged in between the phone jack and the phone and then in to the mic input of the mini-recorder. I would advise getting cassettes of the longest possible length because there's nothing worse than the tape shutting off and missing half of what you thought you taped!

No advice on the transcription end, but will be watching this thread with interest to see if you get any good tips on that one.
posted by garbo at 10:17 AM on July 1, 2005

The Radio Shack dongle is cheap -- about $10. It gives you a monophonic 1/8" plug for an output. You need to make an analog recording on a mono tape recorder, or use an adapter to convert the mono to a stereo plug and record it directly onto a computer (via your sound card or a USB/firewire audio interface and recording software such as audacity) or another stereo recorder (DAT, minidisc, etc.). You will want this audio to be digital so you can use software like Transcribe! and so you can archive it easily and safely. Better to skip the analog stage entirely.

There are a lot of direct digital phone recorders out there ( here's one. ) I have no experience with these, but it would be easier and probably sounds better that the RadioShack number.
posted by realcountrymusic at 11:17 AM on July 1, 2005

How to Record Telephone Conversations.

Be careful, though. In some states A is allowed to tape a conversation with B without B's consent and in other states that is illegal (In the states where it is legal, NY for example, it would be illegal for C to tape A and B's conversation w/o consent).
posted by MLIS at 11:20 AM on July 1, 2005

Details on MLIS's legality concerns. Who knows what kind of legal authority "CallCorder" is, though; if you see anything of concern on that page, you should probably follow up with a lawyer.
posted by rkent at 12:23 PM on July 1, 2005

I have recorded many a phone conversation for various television productions. We usually just use the cheapo phone tap you can get at radio shack.

As far as transcription is concerned, I think you're probably out of luck in terms of finding an automated solution. I've certainly never found one.

We just use production assistants (or interns) to do it. College students looking to make an extra buck are good for this as well.

On Preview: As long as both parties to the conversation are aware that it's being recorded, there are no issues with legality. This is why so many customer service lines say "This call may be recorded for quality-control purposes."
posted by dersins at 12:52 PM on July 1, 2005

I use a cheapo Radio Shack Multi-phone recording controller plugged into the microphone port of my PC, then record this in Total Recorder. The sound is pretty good: not quite hi-fi, but good enough for transcription. Avoid the ones that stick onto the back of the phone and use induction: they pick up all sorts of radio interfernec ethat willd rive you mad when trying to transcribe.

As various people have said: be careful that you tell people that they are being recorded and get their consent in the recording: it's only polite, and should protect you from any legal unpleasantness.
posted by baggers at 2:19 PM on July 1, 2005

This is why so many customer service lines say "This call may be recorded for quality-control purposes."

I was under the impression that they also did this to keep customers more civil. Anything to this?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:51 PM on July 1, 2005

Customer service lines need to state that they might record the conversation when the incoming call is from a dual-party consent state. By law, dual-party consent states require both parties to consent for the conversation to be recorded. By not hanging up the phone, it is implied that the caller consents to the recording. The employee probably gave their consent somewhere in the new hire paperwork. Single-party consent states only need one of the parties to consent.

Conversations can be recorded by a third party or in a single-party consent state at the direction of law enforcement. Florida, California, Montana and most of the New England states are two-party consent states. Most states are one-party consent. I'm not positive, but I think Chicago is the only place in USA with no-party consent (politicians gotta look out for themselves).
posted by gaelenh at 3:13 PM on July 1, 2005

be careful that you tell people that they are being recorded and get their consent in the recording

I have to assume that any professional doing task analysis interviews has an informed consent clause in either the screener or the protocol.

You need to make an analog recording on a mono tape recorder, or use an adapter to convert the mono to a stereo plug and record it directly onto a computer

You don't need the adapter if you don't mind the resulting recording coming out of only one speaker. Or you can use Audacity to copy the sound to the second channel, if it really bothers you. At any rate, a stereo mini-jack will accept a mono mini-plug just fine.

I was under the impression that they also did this to keep customers more civil. Anything to this?

No. And even if this were the intent, it doesn't work.
posted by jjg at 3:19 PM on July 1, 2005

Another vote for the cheap Radio Shack dongle. I've probably still got one in a drawer or a box somewhere from doing interviews 10 years ago.
posted by matildaben at 3:32 PM on July 1, 2005

A couple of previous threads about recording from digital answering machines. Depending on your preferences some of the solutions might apply to recording live conversations too.
posted by Chuckles at 4:16 PM on July 1, 2005

I've got something rougly similar to the Radio Shack device mentioned above. I do a lot of phone interviews (I'm a journalist); I used to record them with a standard dictaphone; then a minidisc, when I got one. These days, I plug the audio jack straight into my iRiver, which records direct to MP3, which means I've then got a copy on my iBook as well. The quality (using any recording device) isn't great, since you're dealing with standard phone line sound quality, but all three are fine for transcribing.

As for automatic transcription ... good luck! Crack that, and you'd make your fortune, because transcribing interviews is, without a doubt, the dullest thing in the world.
posted by Len at 4:29 PM on July 1, 2005