What's the best (easiest/cheapest) way to record a phone conversation?

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Well?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 06:31 (twenty-one years ago)

If you have an old Walkman or similar that records, you can buy an attachment that looks like half a pair of weeny headphones which you plug in your mic channel and place in your phone ear when conversing. The device picks up both sides of the conversation.

As to finding one, Maplins or similar Tott Ct. Rd shops which have an internet presence. Just say you need it for phone interviews if you go in person.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 06:40 (twenty-one years ago)

lol let me guess: artist interview - broke ass style?

Put it on speakerphone and record with a decently sensitive lecture recorder. If you have neither then do what suzy says or just buy the gear because other people's ears are gross unless you're actually there in person at the shop watching a really hot chick return the earpiece (and there is no guarantee that it might not have been for her oily oily boyfriend.)

― LC, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 06:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Maplins have got something that sticks to your phone via a suction cup, and costs only £4 (+£2-odd shipping). So I have ordered one! I've tried various things (no speakerphone, sadly) and even considered sellotaping my mobile to my head and transcribing the thing in real-time, but they're all rubbish/mental. Hoepfully this will work.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 06:57 (twenty-one years ago)

nick, that microphone works really well, but the suction cup bit is rubbish. i use rubber bands instead.

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 07:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Rubber bands are no problem!

PS. Once again I am stunned by how helpful and wonderful everyone on here is.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 07:07 (twenty-one years ago)

oh and it picks up any electrical signal, try sticking it next to your tv or computer for some strange sounds!

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 07:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The rubber-cup contact mics are definitely the low-budge fave, but they don't work on all phones, and I have had trouble going back to transcribe tapes made with them only to discover the convo buried under a blanket of electronic hum. If you're going to be doing this with any regularity, chip in for one of those devices that plugs into the phone-cord jack and offers a line out to your recorder. In the States, Radio Shack sells both kinds.

― Lee G (Lee G), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I've all but quit recording interviews. Taking vigourous notes keeps me on my toes, and it also means that instead of spending half an hour transcribing the tape, I can do something fun.

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 14:05 (twenty-one years ago)

that should be "transcribing the tape OF A 15 minute interview"

― The Huckle-Buck (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Arrived this morning, works really really well! There was plenty of hum during my first experiment, but I've dug out an old analogue phone to use with it that should solve that. Plus the suction cup worked really well!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 8 April 2004 07:33 (twenty-one years ago)

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