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Before you start recording

You need to check

• your microphone and recorder are working. It’s a good idea to practise with your equipment, so you know how everything works.
• if your microphone uses batteries, that they are working
• if your microphone has a power switch, that you’ve turned it on
• your microphone is plugged in properly, otherwise you’ll get a humming sound
• you’ve selected the right input. There are are two types
  • Line in
  • Mic in
• your recording levels.

Consider using headphones to listen to the recording because you’ll get a better idea of what the sound will be like. You’ll hear if the recording levels are too soft, or if you’re getting any distortion.

Recording levels

Not all recorders offer this. Find out if yours does and learn how to use it. You’ll need to know where the meter is: it will show how strong the sound is, and there will be a facility to adjust it.

If the levels are too high, the recording will distort. If it’s too low, you won’t be able to hear the sound clearly.

As someone speaks, the levels will vary considerably. Look at where your sound peaks – the highest level. Going higher than zero will result in distortion. Practise recording at different levels. If you’re using Audacity, your sound should peak at between -3 and 0.

Ask a few questions out loud first so that you can check and set the level.

Some recorders have fixed levels – high and low. In this case, adjust the sound reaching the microphone. Get people to speak louder, or move the microphone closer or further away from them.

To produce a good sound that is undistorted, your most important considerations should be how you work with your microphone and the room acoustics of your location.

Next: Your location