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Proper Use of a Microphone when Recording for Transcription

Please do not use the built in microphone on any device you choose to record audio with. The microphones that come built in to most devices are of inferior quality.

The first thing to understand about microphones is that, in general, there are two types: omni-directional and directional (a.k.a. cardioid). Omni-directional microphones are to be avoided. As the name suggests, they pick up sound in all directions which is not what you want when recording audio for transcription. What you do want is the person who is to be transcribed (the subject of your audio recording) to be recorded with as little other extraneous sound as possible. This is partially accomplished using a directional microphone. A directional microphone will pick up sound most clearly in the direction it is pointed while limiting the recording of other audio. Here is a visual representation of microphone dynamics.

Irrespective of what device you use to record your audio, a decent directional microphone can improve the quality of the audio captured.

The Sony ECM-MS907 Stereo Microphone is a good choice for interviews as it allow you to select how directional the microphone will be, 'tight' for single person interviews, 'open' for groups. (It can be purchased for between $80 and $100.)

A good choice for a video camera microphone is the Sennheiser MKE300. It is about $180, can mount directly onto most consumer video cameras and is considered a shotgun microphone (highly directional).

Sony ECM MS-907 microphone for transcription recording
Side View	Top View
	We recommend using the 90deg setting for most interviews. This will help attenuate extraneous noise.

Microphone Placement

Once you have a separate microphone, it is important to place it as close to the person being interviewed as possible. Microphones operate under the Inverse-Squares rule. Simply stated, every doubling of the distance reduces the sound level by a power of 2. Thus a speaker 4 feet from the microphone will only be 1/4 as loud on the recording as the same speaker 2 feet from the microphone. We recommend that you try to place the microphone directly in front of the person talking no more than 2 feet away. Be sure to point the microphone directly at the person talking.

Recording Environment

Try to record your audio in a quite environment. Recording your interviews in a crowded shopping center is not an ideal environment. Be careful to avoid noise that you might not normally notice. For example recording under an air- conditioning unit or by an open window overlooking the freeway should be avoided if possible.

Remember, your brain will 'filter' out the extra sound while your are on location, but the recording device will capture all the sound. Thus, while you can understand what is being said while standing next to the jackhammer, once you listen to the tapes later, it will be much more difficult because your brain will not be able to filter out that sound as easily after the fact.

If you are forced to record in a noisy environment, try to place the microphone as close to the subject as possible. (inches as opposed to feet.) You may have noticed how TV sports reporters stick the microphone right up to their subject's mouths. This allows them to get the subject nice and loud and the screaming fans can't be heard. (It's an application of the Inverse-Squares rule mentioned above. A microphone inches from the mouth makes that person many times louder than people even only 3 or 4 feet away.)

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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
--Thoreau