Recording phone calls/fixing phone vocals

[DailySplice]

Hey guys,

I'm doing interviews now on my podcast. I've done 3 of them over the phone, but the quality has been less than satisfactory. Too bad, because they've all been fantastic interviews and it's unfortunate for the interviewees who took the time to record with me.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to record a phone call? Preferably a suggestion that would appeal to a guy who's living off Kraft Dinner (500$ phone gadgets are probably out of the question for now).

Part 2 of this question is, if I've already recorded a crappy phone call, are there any tips on filters I can use to warm it up in post? I'm familiar with Audacity, Soundbooth, and Cool Edit, but I'm by no means an expert with effects.


Any help is much appreciated, as always!

[edible.narcotic]

I'm not an expert on this but I would buy a phone that has a headphone jack and then tap into that signal and record it directly into a computer with audacity or garageband

To get that "warm" sound you're talking about I would probably just use an EQ to lower the top end hiss and push the mid-range. You could try a high-pass filter, too, although that might make the sound too crunchy.

disclaimer: written by a guy who owns a mac

[kurt_eh]

Hey guys,

I'm doing interviews now on my podcast. I've done 3 of them over the phone, but the quality has been less than satisfactory. Too bad, because they've all been fantastic interviews and it's unfortunate for the interviewees who took the time to record with me.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to record a phone call? Preferably a suggestion that would appeal to a guy who's living off Kraft Dinner (500$ phone gadgets are probably out of the question for now).

Any help is much appreciated, as always!

Here's my $20 patch to my cordless phone.

The only potential issue is that the audio out from the phone includes both sides of the conversation.

So by using this setup, you get a direct recording from your microphone on the Left channel, and both voices on the Right channel.

But with a bit of creative editing you can knock your phone-filtered voice out of the right channel, and all is good...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/kurt-eh/closeupadapters.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/kurt-eh/Mixersetup.jpg

[EndGamePR]

Here's my $20 patch to my cordless phone.

The only potential issue is that the audio out from the phone includes both sides of the conversation.

So by using this setup, you get a direct recording from your microphone on the Left channel, and both voices on the Right channel.
Interestingly, I haven't had that issue. I made my own version of your patch after seeing your post on this months and months and months ago, and it seems to separate the two ends of the conversation pretty well. This is the best phone patch I've used in a long time ... including when I worked in traditional radio.

[kurt_eh]

Interestingly, I haven't had that issue. I made my own version of your patch after seeing your post on this months and months and months ago, and it seems to separate the two ends of the conversation pretty well. This is the best phone patch I've used in a long time ... including when I worked in traditional radio.

Interesting. It might vary from phone to phone, I guess...

[DailySplice]

Well, you can't ask for much of a better answer than that. Thanks Kurt & elmo!

[kurt_eh]

For an example how it sounds, here's an interview we did with Author George RR Martin:

http://worldfantasy2008.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=315521

[EndGamePR]

For an example how it sounds, here's an interview we did with Author George RR Martin:

http://worldfantasy2008.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=315521
For further examples, check out most of the episodes of Fighting Back Podcast and the last 40 episodes (or so) of Startup BizCast.

:D

I've even used that patch with my cell phone. Works like a charm.

[CanonBlogger]

Or, just use Skype which is free, already on the computer, and can record an mp3 for you.

[breddings]

Or, just use Skype which is free, already on the computer, and can record an mp3 for you.

Oh, it sounds so easy but I can't figure this out! Can someone help me figure out how to record a Skype call?