Besr way to record phone interviews on a PC?...

[frankmcma]

Any good suggestions? Rather than record with a mic from a speaker phone, I'd like to get some sort of device that records the direct phone line into a soundcard, while using my mic.

I know Skype is an option..but this would be for people who don't have it.

Thanks!

Frank
_________________
-------------------------

Franklin McMahon
Media Artist Secrets
http://www.mediaartist.com/
"The Podcast for Creative Professionals"

[TINKOFF RADIO]

Unfortunately outside of Skype, there is no cheap to do this - and the old adage "you get what you pay for" - holds true. A $50 patch that takes a line out of your handset does not sound much better than a speaker phone with a good mic.

http://www.telephonerecording.com/recorderpatch.asp

A good hardware interface can cost you $200-300 dollars (or alot more).
I like this one that is actually a sound card that goes into your PC.

https://www.nch.com.au/cgi-bin/hw.exe?class=TEL

Skype is still the most cost effective way to do this. The setup is tricky, but once you get it - you can always use SkypeOut to call and record regulars telephones. It only costs 2 cents a minute anywhere in the world. I was calling Florida from Barcelona to speak to my family - and only spending a few buck per HOUR! That is amazing.

Good luck!
Adam Tinkoff

[bramley]

I use SkypeOut for multiple interviews every week. Plus Audacity. I'm happy to go through the details of the set-up if you'd like.

Just a note: it isn't 2 cents anywhere in the world. I was slammed on interviews with people in South Africa and Grenada, not having checked the fees beforehand. But for doing most of Europe and the US, you're fine. (The price is based on where you're calling TO not FROM.)

Thanks for the link, Adam. I'm always on the lookout for new options.

[dcolanduno]

The Telos One is one of the best price to quality units. Even though it is about $500 bucks.

JL Audio has some really good models for around $300

There is a 'cheap' JL version that's 'okay' probably better than the average Skype sound.

You really can't find anything worthwhile for less than that, other than Skype.

Look on eBay now and then for 'Telephone Hybrids'

Links to Telos and JL:

Cheap JL: http://www.jkaudio.com/autohybrid.htm

Midrange JL: http://www.jkaudio.com/that-2.htm

Professional JL: http://www.jkaudio.com/innkeeper1.htm

My Favorite: http://www.cpcomms.com/cgi-bin/data/id100436.asp

[AngusK]

I'm new so I hope I am doing this correctly, If I'm goofing, please flag me.

I need to interview 50 people via my wall phone and save the interviews, then dump them into software that translates them to Word files.

I have read the comments from everyone and it sounds like Skype is the way to record---nothing has to sound great except me talking to the person being interviewd. These won't be broadcast so the onlything that needs to hear them is the software that makes a word file. I guess that's Dragon Speak.

I could have them typed as wav files but would prefer to just get the WORD files digitally.

Thanks for your help---this is a really great site.

Best,
Angus