From ordering different products online to reading E-books, nowadays, we can and do use our smartphones for virtually everything. Besides using it for everyday things such as browsing the Internet and checking your social media accounts, you might also have to use your mobile phone – more specifically, its microphone – for recording interviews.
But, if you’ve never interviewed someone by using your smartphone before, you might be wondering what you could do to make the recording better. Now, don’t worry, a lot of people find themselves in the same situation as you, which is where our article comes in. Here is a list of the top 8 tips for recording interviews with a mobile phone mic:
1. Never Forget to Turn on “Airplane Mode”
Have you ever recorded something just to play it back and hear random notifications sounds? If so, they’ve most likely ruined your entire recording, which is why you should make it a habit to turn on the Airplane mode on your device. For Android phones, you can find it in “Switches tray”, while on iOS devices, you could simply set the sound to “Mute”. Doing this will ensure that you avoid pop-up sounds, which will make your interview more professional.
2. Some Tape is Always Welcome
What does using tape have to do with interviewing people by using a phone? Well, a lot. If you choose to place it over the mic hole on your device, it’ll help you eliminate any distortion. It can also help reduce the sounds coming from external sources, which often occur when recording in a public space such as a coffee shop, streets, and so on. However, if you don’t want to place scotch tape over your mic every time you need to interview something, you should invest in some equipment, which leads us to our next point…
3. Investing in The Right Equipment is a Must
You might think that an external mic for a phone costs thousands of dollars, however, this isn’t entirely true. In fact, a cell phone mic can be extremely affordable, yet high-quality, which is why you should seriously think about investing in one. Besides ensuring that you look more professional while interviewing someone, it’ll also help you produce high-quality audio, which means that you won’t have to worry about it being muffled.
Keep in mind, if you don’t have an iOS device, you should opt for a mic for android phones, mostly because this will guarantee that the settings suit the ones of your device. By choosing the wrong one, it could cause the recordings to be low in quality, which will, of course, be something that you’ll want to entirely avoid. Click here to see what SYNCO, a Chinese microphone manufacturer provides for you.
4. There Are Apps That Can Help
Although all of our devices come equipped with microphones, they still won’t be as reliable and adjustable as a wireless mic for a phone. So, whether you opt for purchasing a mic for phone video recording or if you choose to use the one you already have, one of the most important things that you can choose to use is an app. But, why should I download and use an app? Can’t I just adjust the settings of my device?
Yes, you can, however, choosing to use an application will provide you with so much more features. For example, you’ll be able to adjust the sample and bit rates, you can lower the volume when needed, and some apps will even allow you to cut some parts of the interview. Hence, if you want to produce a high-quality interview, one that’ll be, and sound professional, you should opt for using an application that’ll allow you to customize the settings.
5. Don’t Forget to Test Everything Before Clicking The “Start” Button
Since you’ll probably use an app for adjusting the characteristics of your recording, you shouldn’t forget to test your settings before clicking the start button. Now, it’s not enough to simply say a couple of words, instead, you should test high and low pitches, focus on whether or not there are any external factors that are heard on the audio, and more importantly, ensure that your voice isn’t too loud or too soft.
Also, if you opted for purchasing a mic that connects to a phone, testing your settings is, perhaps, one of the most important things that you can do. After all, it might be your first time using such a gadget, thus, it could be a bit complex for you to understand all the features and settings it has to offer. It’s worth mentioning that you should adjust and test the settings before you meet with the person you’ll be interviewing so that you don’t lose time.
6. You Must Choose a Suitable Location
If there is one thing that you must remember from our list, it’s the fact that you must choose a suitable location where you’ll conduct the interview. Because of this, you should find a quiet location, one that will have as few disturbances and distractions as possible. Once you opt for a location for the interview, your next step is to turn off everything that might produce white noise including AC units, PCs, telephones, fridges, and so on.
7. Learn How to Hold Your Phone + Mic
Since you’ll be using your smartphone, you should ensure that you always hold it horizontally since this will prevent you from placing your finger on the mic. Of course, if you purchase a mic for phone recording, you can choose to place your phone differently, even though a horizontal position might be best. If possible, you could and also should use a tripod, especially since this will ensure that the recording is steady.
8. Don’t Record Too Close or Too Far
Last on our list of tips is the fact that you should record too close, nor too far, which means that you should find a golden middle. By placing your device too close or far from the person you’re interviewing, the audio won’t be high-quality, meaning that the volume will change at all times – something that can cause your interview to look unprofessional. Hence, make sure that you figure out the distance between our device and the interviewee.
Conclusion
No matter what type of interview you’re recording – audio, video, or both – the tips we’ve mentioned above are some of the most important ones to remember. By following our advice, you won’t only make the entire process easier for yourself, but you’ll also ensure that it sounds and looks professional.
