The Equipment Used for Recording and Transcription

Ribbon microphones are not commonly used for recording oral history interviews due to their fragility and sensitivity to wind noise.

A shock mount is used to isolate the microphone from vibrations that can cause unwanted noise in the recording.

Cassette tape recorders are no longer commonly used for recording oral history interviews due to their limited audio quality and reliability.

Solid-state recorders offer several advantages over other types of recorders, including portability, long battery life, and reduced risk of mechanical failure.

A transcription foot pedal allows the transcriptionist to control the playback speed, pause and resume the recording, and rewind and fast-forward the recording, all without having to use their hands.

Adobe Audition is a digital audio workstation primarily used for editing and mixing audio, rather than transcription.

Using transcription software with a foot pedal allows the transcriptionist to control the playback speed, pause and resume the recording, and rewind and fast-forward the recording, all without having to use their hands, which can greatly improve transcription efficiency.

A noise-canceling headset can help block out background noise, improve the sound quality of the recording, and reduce ear fatigue, all of which can contribute to a more efficient and accurate transcription process.

Transcribing the interview in a noisy environment can make it difficult to hear the audio clearly, which can lead to errors in transcription.

A typing speed of 60 words per minute is generally recommended for transcribing oral history interviews, as it allows the transcriptionist to keep up with the pace of the interview while maintaining accuracy.

It is important to proofread the entire transcription carefully, even the sections that seem correct, to ensure that there are no errors.

Time-stamping a transcription serves multiple purposes, including making it easier to find specific parts of the interview, helping the researcher understand the context of the interview, and providing a record of the interview's duration.

Storing the recordings and transcriptions in a public place is not a good practice, as it increases the risk of unauthorized access or damage.

WAV, MP3, and AIFF are all commonly used formats for storing oral history interviews. WAV is a lossless format that provides the highest quality audio, while MP3 and AIFF are lossy formats that offer a good balance between quality and file size.

Asking leading questions can bias the interviewee's responses and prevent them from providing their own unique perspective.