Today I conducted a 40 minute interview with a author of an upcoming sure to be bestseller. I went out and bought a digital recorder and a doohickie that allows you to record cell phone conversation. I tested the system prior to the interview and was ready to roll. I conducted the interview assuming that everything was in order and that the conversation was being captured. I even made sure to ask permission to tape the call.
It turns out that I had failed to flip a switch or do something because when I went to listen to the interview all I got was weird noises and an occasional garbled voice. It is embarrassing and frustrating to have gone to all this trouble and then have nothing to show for it! I didn’t really take notes because I thought I was recording it and I was concentrating on the conversation. What an idiot. I betcha John Hawkins never pulled something like this . . .
Actually, I’ve done it twice. Once back in my Brass Knuckles Webzine days with wrestler Terry Funk and since then with Steven Milloy of Junk Science fame. It recorded in both cases, but it was so low I couldn’t hear it. Since then, I use a VERY loud phone and TWO cassette recorders to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Actually, I’ve done it twice. Once back in my Brass Knuckles Webzine days with wrestler Terry Funk and since then with Steven Milloy of Junk Science fame. It recorded in both cases, but it was so low I couldn’t hear it. Since then, I use a VERY loud phone and TWO cassette recorders to make sure it doesn’t happen again.