ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXAny recommendations for Interviewing remotely?
5 years, 3 months ago - Felix von Nida
I'm looking at how best to record a series of audio-only interviews during lockdown and am trying to navigate the numerous variables.
The subjects are located in various global locations so getting mics to some of them may be tricky and we are needing to make things as straightforward for them as we can. If we do send a mic it would probably need to be something small and simple like a lav mic (which can connect to a phone).
One of the main factors aside from mics is the actual recording interface and quality.
There is a podcasting app called Anchor which has a built-in remote interview function and is compatible with a mic, however it only records audio at 32kbps
The Voice Memos app on iPhone records higher lossless quality and also records with a mic, however the actual call for the interview would obviously need to be separate, through a different device. With headphones etc.
Anyone with any thoughts or light to shed on this would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance, Felix
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5 years, 3 months ago - Lee Buers
You can do a Zomm recording or Skype recording but the sound is often useless, if they have an iphone you can get them to record thier own sound in voice memos app and forwards you the file. It's easy to sync with guide audio and pretty high quality.
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Lee Buers SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Michael Lebor
Great question! I'm also interested in the answer. Perhaps sending them a zoom H1 recorder would solve both problems but that is an expensive solution and also if they use the onboard mics (which are good) they would have to be careful about handling noise and wind noise.
I'm looking forward to hearing other thoughts.
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Michael Lebor SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Lewis Webster
We're sending out a Tascam with a head mic plugged it to it (3.5mm jack). With the head mic you don't get the tie mic issues of bangs and scrapes and breath puffs.
We then meet over zoom to ensure that the interviewee has it on right and has hit the record button right. We record via Zoom too and do a sync clap. Now we interview.
At the end of the interview, we will have the zoom video to build the edit and a few days later we will get the quality audio to replace it with. We edit in premier, coz we video people, but that allows us to nest each interview into its own timeline and then edit the timeline. So when the good audio comes in we can sync it with the Zoom audio in its own timeline - but the edit has already been done. Keeping us ahead of clients deliverables and the quality up.
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Lewis Webster SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Glyn Carter
Have a look at Zencaster.
Also, listeners are very forgiving of less-than-perfect audio in this kind of situation. It could even add to the verite feel.
Good luck!
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Glyn Carter SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Glyn Carter
Sorry, that should be Zencastr
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Glyn Carter SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Michael Lebor
Hi Lewis,
We shot a test with Zoom today and the quality of video was very poor, did you find it to be acceptable?
Felix did you get any further with your investigation?
Thanks Glyn, very useful tip.
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Michael Lebor SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Susi Arnott
There's Zoom and there's Zoom... only recent experience was with a Zoom H4+directional capsule/foam-gag on the end of a Panamic boom, contributor just inside his doorway and me at his front gate. Echo didn't match audio from his other contributions but quality was actually better (apart from occasional birdsong. Not a problem I'd expected in central London).
Almost off-topic, apologies; but very impressed by Lewis' answer. Will pursue Zenzastr for an international audio-only project:)
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Susi Arnott SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Caroline Bottomley
Hi, I've been checking out this question too and came across this article this am https://momofilmfest.com/how-to-record-great-iphone-smartphone-audio/
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Caroline Bottomley SHOW
5 years, 3 months ago - Caroline Bottomley
And this https://www.guidingtech.com/audio-recording-apps-iphone/ - in case your i/vee has access to another phone they can use for recording
Response from 5 years, 3 months ago - Caroline Bottomley SHOW