It is vital that you record your interview. It's impossible to write down exactly what an interviewee is saying at the time – the best you can hope for is a general summary. An audio recording captures exactly what has been said, and also captures an interviewee’s accent, dialect and quirks of speech.
Recordings must be made in the best possible quality, using specialist recording equipment. They will be unique historical sources and so need to be easily heard and understood by future researchers. Aim to get the best possible equipment that your budget allows, to ensure high-quality and long-term preservation.
Oral history recordings can be audio-only or audiovisual – however, whilst video obviously provides a valuable record of the way a person looks, do bear in mind that videoing interviews requires more expensive equipment and may potentially need an extra person to set up and operate the video camera. People can find cameras intrusive and off-putting, and audiovisual files will also take up much more storage space than audio-only ones. Therefore, the Norfolk Record Office recommends that recordings be audio-only.
There are many different types of portable audio recording equipment, and ways of capturing and storing the recordings. Technology is constantly changing and improving, so it is a good idea to keep an eye on developments and to contact the experts at the Oral History Society for advice. You can also post equipment enquiries to the Norfolk Archives Network forum.
You may also need:
Smartphones are not recommended for recording interviews. The file quality will be greatly reduced, and phone storage and battery are minimal compared to other options. Phones are also easily lost or stolen, which could jeopardise the interview’s confidentiality.