Making a good audio recording comes down to being confident and well prepared. Unlike photography or video, where using a high-end camera ensures a higher quality picture, having the best microphone in the market only ensures higher quality sound if it’s used correctly. For this reason, most of the time and attention in this entry are spent on the preparation sections.

Note: Before getting started on collecting audio samples, we recommend that you read up the activity “Data collection: Plan of Action”.

EQUIPMENT

There is a wide range of audio recording equipment available in the market. Nowadays, anyone can access professional-grade microphones and recorders and they are becoming ever so easy to use.  We recommend that you budget carefully and build your equipment slowly as you learn.

Here we introduce examples of three set-ups that can be used in the safe environment of the classroom or outdoors and that should suit different needs. (You can refer to the Equipment Glossary for more technical information.)

Option 1: Basic set-up

Smartphone + mini shotgun + stand + memory cards

Pros:

• Most inexpensive and lightest option.
• Same set up as the basic video recording equipment (see Data Collection: Video Sample)

Cons:

• Inexpensive compact microphones have limitations and quality won’t be fully professional, especially outdoors.
• Requires very diligent data management as audio samples may get mixed with personal data.

Option 2: Mid-market set-up

Field recorder + large shotgun mic + stand + memory cards + batteries

Pros:

• Best option for small audio collection projects that include outdoor recordings.

• The quality of the recording made with a mid-market microphone is already noticeably better than with a smartphone.

Cons:

• Using a recorder has a steeper learning curve than a smartphone and failing or making bad recordings at first is quite common.
• Larger condenser microphones usually run on batteries so you’ll need to stock up.

Semi-professional set-up

High-end recorder + shot gun + omni + dead cats + cables + memory cards

Pros:

• Best option for larger audio recording projects (e.g., podcasts, music, etc)

• Being able to choose the right microphone and accessories for every situation maximises your ability to make perfect recordings both indoors and outdoors.

Cons:

• Getting to know your equipment will take several hours of practice.
• High-end microphones need to be handled with care.
• Biggest upfront investment.

Regardless of your equipment of choice, we strongly recommend that you spend time familiarising yourself with the microphones, reading the manuals and doing a few test recordings. This will save you time when you’re ready to record your actual samples.

PREPARATION – BEFORE RECORDING (15 minutes)

At this point, you should already know what you want to record (see Data Collection: Plan of Action), and you should have sourced your equipment and learnt to use it. Make sure to follow these steps before hitting the record button:

Indoors

• Position your microphone and/or recording device on a stand pointing towards the people you want to record and at least 30cm away from them.
• Avoid recording in rooms with lots of windows or smooth even walls to save your recording from unwanted echo. You can position your speakers in front of curtains, clothes racks, bookshelves, plants, or cushions to help minimise echo.
• Turn off electric appliances in the room such as air conditioning or projectors and ask people in the room to set their mobile phones to silence.
• Make one test recording and listen to it carefully. If you’re not happy with the quality, consider changing the position of your microphone or tackling the source of any unwanted noise. (Alternatively, if you’re using a field recorder, plug your headphones and listen through them.)

Outdoors

• Avoid holding the microphone or recording device in your hand. If you don’t have a microphone stand, find a safe flat surface to rest the microphone on.
• Assess if there are any sources of noise behind the speakers. For example, you don’t want to point your microphone towards traffic, running water, a crackling fire, or animals. If you can’t tackle these noises, reposition yourself to point away from them.
• Use accessories like softies and rubber bands to protect your equipment from wind and vibrations. Don’t expose your equipment to the rain.
• Make one test recording and listen to it carefully. If you’re not happy with the quality, consider changing the position of your microphone or tackling the source of any unwanted noise. (Alternatively, if you’re using a field recorder, plug your headphones and listen through them.)

RECORDING (variable time commitment)

Now you’re ready to press the record button. In fact, you have done most of the heavy lifting already. You may be recording short sentences or lengthy stories and dialogues so the time you dedicate to this part is completely up to you. These are some tips to remember while recording:

Short recordings (up to one minute)

• Leave pauses in between sections and don’t rush to press the stop button too quickly. That way you won’t cut any sections by accident.
• Don’t handle the equipment, type or shuffle your notes close to the microphone.
• Keep the other person engaged in the recording process to avoid boredom and unnecessary rushing.

Long recordings (longer than one minute)

• Stay aware of yourself and your equipment. Routinely check that the devices are working correctly and that the recording hasn’t stopped.
• Look at the running time in the recording device and take notes of any interesting parts so you can refer to them.
• Don’t handle the equipment, type or shuffle your notes close to the microphone.
• Give the other person breaks if they need them by using the pause button in the recording device.

WRAP UP AND EVALUATION (15 minutes)

If you’ve made it this far, it means that you have now collected your audio samples. However, there are three vital steps you need to follow that will make a world of difference when using and sharing your recordings in the future.

1. Copy your recordings to a safe location in the cloud.
2. Rename your files in a way that helps you remember the date and location of the recording and names of the people you recorded.
3. Clean up your memory card so you can use it again and not get your originals mixed up.

And last but not least, we strongly recommend that you spend a few minutes listening to your recordings again and evaluating yourself. Is the sound clear enough? Is it too loud or too quiet? How can you improve next time you make a recording in that space? The more you do this, the more confident you will become with your equipment and the more you’ll be able to experiment.