👉 It is part of our commitment to participants that if they give us their time and stories, we'll make sure that their voices can be heard. But if we aren't able to produce a transcript due to poor audio quality, we can't uphold our end of the bargain.
When thinking about a good space for recording:
- Look for smaller rooms
- Close windows and doors unless they need to be kept open for comfort or safety
- Avoid recording in a space where other people are talking in the same room
- Avoid a room with loud ambient noises: loud HVAC units or fans, nearby construction, audible music from something nearby
- Rooms with a lot of glass and metal surfaces can create echoes; carpeting, wood, upholstered furniture and framed art are good because they absorb sounds
- Try to avoid recording outside to minimize background noise
When thinking about situating people in the room:
- Place the recording device at standard table height
- Leave the recording device on the table for the duration of the conversation
- Ensure that participants and host are all sitting the same distance from recording device, ideally within 6 feet of the device
- The closer participants are to the recording device, the better (as long as the group is comfortable)
- Masks or other face coverings will slightly obstruct the audio. If participants are masked, you can:
- Invite participants to remove their mask when it’s their turn to speak (if group is comfortable with this)
- If participants prefer to keep their masks on, ask them to speak clearly in the direction of the recording device
- Ultimately, defer to the participants and partner organization(s) on health & safety practices
- If there are noise sources present, such as people talking in an adjacent room, try to situate the group away from these sound sources
Tips
- Conduct a test recording to ensure everyone is close enough to the device
- Ask the participants not to touch the recording device