Tips
- Conduct a test recording and listen to the audio
- Ask the participants not to touch the recording device
- Keep the recording device in one place for the entire conversation
- Plug in your recording device, or bring extra batteries
- Don't host conversations with more than 8-10 participants if possible (for transcription quality)
Recording Devices
- You can use any type of recording device including your phone, the recording function on Zoom, a recording device of your choice or by using our live record feature.
- Please note that the platform’s supported file types include: .mp3, .m4a, and .wav.
- If your file type is different from the ones listed above, you can use a free third party site such as CloudConvert to convert your audio files.
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 your recording device of choice 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
- If you can have participants sit in a circle or around a circular table while placing the recording device in the middle of the circle, that would ensure every participant is sitting an equal distance away from the recording 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
Live Record Feature
- Our live recording tool allows you to record and automatically upload in-person conversations anywhere with internet access, using mobile or desktop devices with built-in, bluetooth, or plug-in microphones. (Click here for more information about how to use Cortico Live.)
- We suggest that you only use this as a back-up recording, since it requires a stable internet connection, a computer with plenty of battery, etc.