Recording a Family Interview on a Phone or Video Call
A simple setup that gives usable sound without much fuss
Quick answer
If you are together, use a phone or recorder in a quiet room, place it so it picks up both voices and make a short test recording first. If you are apart, do a practice call using the same setup, ask the person to avoid speakerphone, agree who presses record, and copy the file somewhere safe afterward.
At a glance
Things to try now
What to do now
- 1Make a one-minute test recording on your phone from where you would sit, then play it back
- 2Choose the quietest room, and turn off radios and fans
- 3Decide where the finished file will live and who will hold a second copy
What to say
- “Could we try a two-minute practice call so that we know the sound works?”
- “Could you hold the phone to your ear or use headphones instead of speakerphone?”
- “Is it all right if I record this and share it with the family?”
What to practice consistently
- Checking that the recording is actually running at the start
- Saying aloud what you are looking at, such as a photo or letter, so the audio makes sense later
- Naming and copying the file the same day
What to avoid
- Relying on one copy of the file
- Assuming a cloud service or call platform will keep the recording, since files may need downloading
- Using video when audio will do on a slow connection, since video files are far larger
These are common approaches mentioned in sources and by parents. They are informational, not prescriptive.
What parents say
We haven't published parent perspectives on this topic yet.
What this usually involves
- Choosing in-person or remote
- Removing background noise
- Placing the device so that all voices are picked up
- Testing before you begin
- Agreeing who starts and stops the recording
- Saving, labeling and copying the file
Related questions
The Smithsonian suggests beginning with a known story and using photos or heirlooms as prompts.
The Smithsonian suggests labeling recordings with names, dates and places, and the Oral History Society advises keeping several copies.
A Library of Congress post advises keeping the unchanged original and saving important files in formats that many programs can read.
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Worth remembering?
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