While we can’t survey the field of available recording equipment (model numbers and features change too often) we do have some suggestions for what to look for.

A word about quality: use the best equipment within your price range. We recognize that not everyone can afford professional recording gear, but, given the time and effort that goes into interviewing a loved one, it is worth spending a little bit extra to get a great sounding recording. Don’t forget that you can always rent a StoryKit, complete with recording equipment and user’s guide.

The Microphone

Buy or borrow the best microphone you can: of all the equipment, it will make the biggest difference in your recordings. We don’t recommend that you use the built-in mic on your recorder – they are often of lower quality, pick up a lot of handling noise and can be cumbersome to position properly. There are many different types of microphones designed for various applications. Using an appropriate mic for your needs is more important than the mic’s price: more expensive mics will not necessarily produce better results. For recording a speaker up-close in a quiet setting, a mic with a unidirectional pick-up pattern is a good choice.

There are two common types of microphones: condenser and dynamic.

• Condenser mics tend to produce a more detailed, louder output than dynamic mics, which will make your recordings sound more intimate and true to life.
• Dynamic microphones tend to be less expensive, less susceptible to handling noise and are less likely to break if dropped. Additionally, condenser mics will either require something called “phantom power” supplied by your recorder’s mic inputs (not all recorders have this) or batteries (not all mics can take batteries) while dynamic mics don’t need any additional power to operate: just plug into a mic-level input and you’re ready to go.
  

For an affordable unidirectional condenser mic that sounds great, can run off of batteries or phantom power and has relatively low handling noise, we suggest the Audo Technica AT813A

For a unidirectional dynamic mic that is nearly indestructible and produces a bright, clean sound, we recommend the Sure SM-58.

Both of these mics have professional XLR (3 pin) connectors. If you want to connect them to a consumer-level tape or digital recorder you’ll need to use an XLR to stereo 1/8” cable.

There are other microphone accessories that can improve the results you get:

• Windscreens can reduce popping and hissing produced by certain vocal noises (especially “p” and “s” sounds).
• Shockmounts and mic holders (including handheld pistol grips and floor or table-mounted mic stands) can help avoid vibrations and handling noise and allow for a more comfortable setup in a long interview.
  

The Recorder

The recorder is the heart of the StoryKit. Right now the two viable options that balance quality and cost are cassette tape recorders and digital recorders:

• Tape recorders are the simplest and least expensive equipment for home recordings. They’re easy to use, widely available, and blank cassette tapes are cheap and easy to find. On the downside, cassettes are susceptible to wear and tear and have more background noise. Most electronics stores will offer a variety of portable tape recorders that have microphone and headphone jacks. Make sure you use brand-name, "Type I" tapes that are no longer than 60 minutes in length. Another thing to consider with cassettes is that they cannot be copied without a resultant loss in sound quality. If you’re interested in sharing your recordings or transferring them to a computer for archiving and editing, then cassettes may not be the best choice.
• Digital Recorders, though more expensive than cassette, tend to produce higher quality recordings with more detailed sound and less background noise. Other advantages of digital recording include ease of editing on a computer, more stable recording media and the ability to make multiple copies without degradation in quality.
• MiniDisc (MD) Recorders record audio onto MiniDiscs (kind of like miniature CDs). MiniDiscs are widely available, can produce good results and have been a popular choice with home recordists and professional journalists. However, there are several issues to consider with MiniDiscs. First of all, it can be cumbersome to transfer recordings made on Minidisc to a computer for editing or burning to CD, requiring either a real-time re-recording or a digital transfer using proprietary software. Also, because most consumer-level MiniDisc models are designed primarily as listening devices, the recording features are sometimes buried in a series of menus, making it somewhat cumbersome to use. Because of these issues, StoryCorps no longer uses MiniDisc recorders, but their small size and relative affordability might still make them an appealing option. There is an excellent MiniDisc guide on Transom.org, a wonderful website for people interested in learning about sound recording.
• Flash Recorders are a fairly recent addition to the market but are an appealing alternative to MiniDiscs. Flash recorders record audio onto a flash card—the same kind of media used in digital cameras. After recording, it is easy to transfer the audio files to your computer using a USB or firewire connection. Though a bit pricier than MiniDisc recorders, flash recorders can potentially produce better results. Flash cards are inexpensive and reusable - a 1GB memory card can record about 90minutes of audio at CD quality*. Most importantly, they are often more user-friendly and intuitive than MD recorders having been designed with recording in mind.

While no single recorder has emerged as the perfect balance of cost and quality, there are some very good options. Here are two recorders that we have tested at StoryCorps. Please take them as preliminary suggestions – there are always new recorders coming at varying price levels. Again, Transom.org is a good resource for reviews and discussion boards on different models.

• Marantz PMD 660: This Compact Flash recorder has an easy to use interface and a nice variety of features. One benefit is that it has XLR inputs with phantom power, allowing you to use high quality condenser microphones. There have been some issues with sound quality on the stock machines but the audio experts at Oade Brothers (http://www.oade.com) offer a PMD660 with modifications that significantly improve the sound of the recordings. It is worth noting that the modifications void the manufacturer’s warranty.
• The Edirol R-09: This SD card based recorder is a bit less expensive than the Oade modified PMD660. It is less sturdy than the PMD660 and would not survive a fall on a hard floor. It is also very small and some users might find its tiny display hard to read. Aside from these issues, it is fairly user friendly and can produce good results. It does not have XLR inputs or phantom power so you’ll have to use a dynamic mic or a battery-powered condenser.
  

Regardless of what type of recorder you choose, make sure it has an input jack (this is where you plug the microphone in) that is "mic-level," not just "line-level." You’ll also want a recorder that has a headphone jack (almost all do).

We prefer recorders that you can plug into a wall outlet, although those that run on batteries are okay too. Avoid devices that only run off of proprietary rechargeable batteries, which tend to be expensive and difficult to find.

If these recorders are out of your price range, there are also a number of mp3 players that have recording functions and cheaper digital voice recorders designed primarily for dictation. While there is a compromise in sound quality and functionality with these lower-end recorders, they can still be a useful tool for documenting stories and a low cost introduction to recording. With these, be especially wary of manufacturer’s claims about recording time and sound quality. Some products boast hours of recording but only at the lowest quality settings.

By the way, if you have access to professional grade high-end recording equipment, by all means use it. Just don’t let not having access to professional gear stop you from recording your grandmother’s memories!

*Note: Although most digital recorders give you the option to save memory card space by recording audio as MP3s or other compressed formats, StoryCorps recommends taking advantage of a digital recorder’s ability to make CD quality recordings (WAV file at16bit, 44.1khz).

Headphones

Always use headphones while recording. Without them, you won’t know for sure what is being recorded and how it sounds. Sometimes, noises that seem to disappear in a normal conversation are amplified through the microphone. Listening with headphones helps you to concentrate on all of the sound you are recording. If you use a MiniDisc recorder, it probably came with headphones that you can use. Better ones will have cups that cover your entire ear and block out background noise.

At StoryCorps, we use Sony MDR-7506 headphones, but they are pretty expensive for occasional use. Try out several, and buy the best sounding pair in your price range. One thing to keep in mind when using headphones is that what you hear does not necessarily reflect the volume level of what is being recorded. Most recorders have headphone volume controls that are separate from the mic input’s volume (which actually affects the sound of the recording). To assure that you’re getting good levels on the recording it is important to monitor level meters (usually led lights or bars on a digital display) to make sure that you’re not making a recording that is too quiet or too loud. Some recorders also have automatic gain controls that will adjust the levels according to volume of the input.

Note: A limited number of recording packages are available for rent through our StoryKit program.

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