Skype Out

[Marilynfan]

Ok. I just want to make sure I have this right. I am looking to do my first interview. Unfortunately the person I want to interview does not have a mic. So I have been reading the skype website about skype out. I take it I would be able to call this person through skype on my computer to their regualr phoneline (they are in US and I am in Canada) and record it on my computer? Will this cost the receiver any money or just on my end?

Any suggestions on what I should use to record with? I use Audacity for my podcast would I be able to use that? I should mention I will be using a USB mic on my end (when it finally gets here) in case that makes a difference.

[Seuss]

Yes you can call them on a regular phone using skypeout. No charge for them. I found hotrecorder works great audacity has been hit or miss for me. USB mic should be irrelevant.

[crybabyemokids]

If you record using audacity, the person on the line hears an echo of himself which can be quite irritating, specially for interviews. I recommend Hot Recorder too.

[Art a GoGo]

SkypeOut with Hotrecorder is probably the best way to go. Remember to hit the record button on HotRecorder after the call has been completed. HotRecorder has an audio conversion plug-in that converts the file to WAV. I think you need to download and install the conversion program after you install HotRecorder. Also, after you record the interview and hit stop, HotRecorder combines the audio files. The first time I used it, I thought that my computer had locked up. Good luck with the interview!

[Marilynfan]

Thanks so much I will give hotrecorder a try!!

[crybabyemokids]

Sorry to bring this thread back up but I have a question about Skype out.

Can I have a conference call on Skype out?
My cohost and I would be on computers whereas the person we're interviewing would be on his phone..Is this possible? Does my cohosts' account need credit too?

Thanks
Jay

[guscave]

I downloaded skypeout and purchased hotrecorder but found them to be too inconsistant in both quality and functionality. Some calls would go thru ok, some would have delays or the recorder would not save the whole conversation. After looking at their forum I noticed way too many people having various issues with Skype.

So I decided to go with a much more basic solution. A Radio Shack conroller: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&cp=&productId=2103157&kw=telephone+recorder&tab=summary

This together with either my iRiver or straight thru to my audio interface, works 100% of the time. I'll probably still use SkypeOut for long distance calls, but I won't rely on it for my podcast interviews. :?

[Art a GoGo]

Guscave,

I use SkypeOut all of the time and have found the quality to be very good. In some cases, people can't even tell it's a VOIP call. I've heard that some DSL carriers have implemented system to degrade or even prevent people from making VOIP calls over a DSL connection. You may want to check with your carrier to see if they have restrictions in place.

Doug

[guscave]

Thanks Doug,
Actually I'm using Broadband (comcast) at home and about 75% of the time those calls go thru ok, however at my studio location I'm using dial up which is probably no good for Skype Out.

But my main problem is with Hotrecord. It locks up my pc sometimes and also on 2 occasions it didn't save the whole conversation (15 minutes).

[cybercooler]

Skype Out works great about 95% of the time. I've had it drop a call or two. Hot recorder (while its working for everyone else) is not reliable IMHO. If it does record, when it assembles it, its out of sync, and just bad. I don't even use it as a back up at this point. I plug my iriver into my headphone jack, and then my headphone into the iriver. I got an email from another podcaster that said PAmela (SKype Plugin) is also slightly flaky, and they suggested totalrecorder.com

[Marilynfan]

Ok. Just did my first test run using SkypeOut and HotRecorder (the trial version). I am getting echo on my end. The other user is on a landline phone and doesn't hear any echo. So of course when I recorded it on my computer it picked up the echo on playback. Any suggestions?

[TINKOFF RADIO]

We've had much better luck using Skylook than Hot Recorder at our research firm to record interviews. It's $35 and integrates with Microsoft Outlook. It's pretty slick stuff.

http://www.skylook.biz/

Good luck!

Adam

[Marilynfan]

Thanks but I don't think it is a hotrecorder issue. The echo is there even if I am not recording. Must be a Skypeout thing (It doesn't happen with regular Skype). But everything I have read about that had the other person experiencing the echo I haven't found anything where the echo is on the computer end.

[Will-Casel]

Melinda, this probably isn't an option for you since you use a USB mic, but it may help someone else.

Here's my setup using SkypeOut and Audacity to record. No echo on either end:

Using a Eurorack UB802 mixer and Griffin iMic USB soundcard hardware:

1) Mic to mixer
2) "Tape Out" from mixer to sound card input
3) Line from sound out on sound card to 1/4" line in channel on mixer
4) In Skype "Sound Devices" set both inbound/outbound sound to sound card.
5) In Audacity "preferences" make sure you are recording from your sound card.

Also, having the computer output on the second channel allows me the ability to control the Skype volume with the volume knob on my mixer.

I don't know if using the Griffin iMic external sound card makes it all work, but I haven't had any problem recording both sides of the conversation with no echoing.

Will

[Marilynfan]

Man, I have tried several different numbers and the echo is always there. What a waste of money buying the skype-out credit. Wish I could have tested this first.

If anyone comes up with a solution (not requiring a mixer) let me know. I do have access to a third computer if that would somehow eliminate the echo.*EDIT-shoot looks like Skype doesn't work on Win98 so no I don't have another computer. I do have an iriver though but I don't see how that will stop the echo problem.

[crybabyemokids]

if you somehow get skype to work on that second computer I have a way of recording skype calls which works best(with no echo whatsoever).

Make a conference call with you, the second computer and the person you'd want to interview.

Now on the second computer, change the skype settings whereby the audio output device is OFF or Windows Default or whatever, with that done, nothing that the second computer hears goes through the call. Now simply record the entire interview on the second computer. Sound quality may not be perfect, but it's the best and cheapest way to do it(provided you have a second computer).

Jay

[Marilynfan]

OK. It looks like Skype is working on the second computer which is located downstairs.

Can you run through the set up? I will have someone on a landline phone through SkypeOUT and then me on my computer upstairs and then we have the computer downstairs also on Skype which will do the recording? Is that the idea?

[crybabyemokids]

It's actually easier than what I said before..lol..

What you need to do is start the call on Comp#2, and click on the 'Mute Mic' option on the main skype window, open audacity and click on record and run upstairs as quick as you can and start the interview.

you can test yourself by calling echo123 and after the beep just play random music on your computer, if it picks up the music when it plays back after 10 seconds it means something is wrong, but I think it should be fine..

Hope it helps..
Jay

[gozar]

Can I have a conference call on Skype out?
My cohost and I would be on computers whereas the person we're interviewing would be on his phone..Is this possible? Does my cohosts' account need credit too?


The person who initiates the conference call needs to have skype out credit. What I usually do in this situation is pick the cohost and another person who is offline in skype. I start a conference call, and then hang up the other person. This appears to skype as still a conference call, even though it is only two people. I can then right click on the interviewee's phone number, and select add to conference. Works great.

[jbisjim]

We have done several interviews with a gizmo from radio shackwith good success however the gizmo has taken a dump i am investigating things further Check the discussion here (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7521)

I know there has to be a more economical way to do it.

[kinkysex]

Steve Gibson of "Security Now" podcast is coding a skype recorder right now that records at full bitrate in the background so that while your live call may have some artifact noise, the recording is at whatever your line can handle.

Heard this on the last podcast. Here's his site. I guess just file it and check back when you can. http://grc.com/securitynow.htm

If you're a badass code monkey, you could write him and maybe take over the project. It will be open source.

[jbisjim]

Interesting

This is what it takes. Podcasters with other talents to get us podcasters what we need. ie: Giant Squid mics..etc