RecordingOralInterviews

Setting up the Recorder

This is a first time activity; should not need repeating.

1. Insert batteries and SD card
2. Hold "Power" button (left side)
3. Hold "Finder/Menu"
   1. Select "1. Recorder Setup" with "REC" button: sample rate = 44.1; Rec Mode =Mp3-128; To Exit, press "Finder/Menu"
   2. Select "4. Power Manage"; set Auto Power Off at 60min; Set Battery type
   3. Select "6. Date and Time"; use up/down/left/right to change times; then push "record"

Recording

1. Check settings: Back - AGC=yes; Ext Mic Type=Stereo; Low Cut=Off; Mic gain=high
2. Hold "Power" button
3. Verify available recording time
4. Speak the time / recording information
5. Set the recorder in a location close to the speaker, away from interfering sound sources
6. Press Record once (red flashing)
7. Press Record again (red constant) - you are recording
8. Visually confirm machine is recording (graphic bars will flicker in response to sounds)

Recording Trouble

• No power
  • Do you have batteries installed, in the proper arrangment?
  • Do you have an SD card installed?
  • Is the "Hold" button on the right side accidentally turned on?
• Power but not recording
  • Is the "Hold" button on the right side accidentally turned on?
  • Is the "AGC" (automatic gain control/back side) turned off?

Checking a recording

1. Insert headphones or plugin speakers
2. Press "Finder"
3. Navigate to filename
4. Press "record" 2X, then "play"
   1. Adjust volume on right if necessary

Transfering Files

Cable method

1. Power on recorder; connect with USB cable to PC
2. Browse to USB folder on the PC
3. Open a destination folder on the PC (ex. /audiorecordings2008)
4. Select and drag audio from Edirol USB folder to PC
5. Do not delete files from Edirol; do not unplug the cable until transfer is complete

SD Card method

1. Gently open the bottom of the Edirol; push on SD card to release it;
2. Insert SD card into PC or PC adaptor
3. Open explorer and browse to the USB/folder
4. Open a destination folder on the PC (ex. /audiorecordings2008)
5. Select and drag audio from Edirol USB folder to PC
6. Select and drag audio from Edirol USB folder to PC
7. Do not delete files from Edirol;
8. Windows XP - find USB icon in Alt-click to safely remove the device

Managing Files

1. Develop and observe a file-naming convention; use lower-case letters, and no spaces or special characters other than dashes or underscores
   1. Ex. IntervieweeName_OPI_date_interviewer?.mp3
2. Select a folder or set of folders exclusively for transferred audio (perhaps create semester or academic year subfolders, for ease of archiving)
3. Rename files immediately upon transfer to the PC
   1. Windows XP: Browse My-Computer? to the Audio folder; right click; rename
4. Establish a period backup plan; ex. once per semester, once per calendar year; erase SD card only after you have made a burnt a backup of your PC files to a CD.

Storage Issues

(settings as above: 44.1 / 128 bit mp3)

• One standard 700mb CD will hold approximately 10 hours of archived audio
• One SD card (2 Gig) will hold approximately 32 hours of recorded audio
  • The small number showing to the right side of the display (00:00:00) represents time on the card; when in the play mode, it shows an estimate of the number of minutes recorded; when you press "record," it shows an estimate of the number of hours:minutes:seconds remaining on the card.

Advanced File Management

• Add your audio folder to I-Tunes?
• Adapt the tags in I-tunes (album, artist, grouping, composer, and comment) to encode important meta-data for your recordings
  • For example, you might use these fields to store: Fall2008-IUP-OPI, StudentName?, Mid-progr-review, Double-rating, Intermediate-Mid?
• Configure I-tunes NOT to rename files; Configure I-tunes to make copies of files.
• circulate files to colleagues who listen with I-tunes, and the meta-data will also be visible to them

Future Projects

• Adopt a web-based archive tool: Prototype at IUPDHC http://spanish.iupdhc.org (cache)
• Use the tool to share and double-rate samples (i.e. raters can access through a secure website, rather than emailing files)
• Use the tool to archive and make all local interviews available for research, assessment

Additional Resources and Links

Roland Quick Guide, Full Manual

---