Interview recording · How-to guide
How to record interviews
Managing a recording device during an interview competes with maintaining the rapport that produces honest, detailed answers. A subject who notices the device changes how they speak. The best recording setup is the one they stop thinking about.
Best for in-person interview capture
Quick answer
4 steps to a reliable interview recording
Whether the interview is in-person or remote, the setup decisions before pressing record determine whether every word is usable for transcription or quotation.
1. Confirm consent before placing or starting any recording device
Ask permission before recording, especially in jurisdictions with strict recording laws. State clearly what the recording will be used for. For in-person interviews, confirm before any device is placed on the table or clipped to clothing. For remote interviews, confirm on-record at the start of the session.
2. For in-person interviews: position the device 6–18 inches from the speaker and choose a quiet room
Place the device 6 to 18 inches from the speaker's mouth, resting on a soft surface to reduce vibration noise from the table. Use a room with carpet, curtains, or other soft furnishings to reduce echo. Close windows and turn off fans before starting. A digital recorder or dictaphone provides a reliable backup.
3. Do a dry run before the formal interview begins
Record a short warm-up exchange and play it back. This confirms audio quality and catches placement problems before anything important is said. For remote interviews, test your platform's recording function before the subject joins.
4. Have a backup device ready for critical sessions
A second device, a backup app, or a spare recorder means one hardware failure does not lose the interview. For published work or legal proceedings, a backup recording is not optional.
Methods
Which setup delivers clean audio without interrupting the interview
Compared on audio quality relative to distance from subject, how much device management is required during the session, battery reliability for full-day use, and whether transcription is built in.
Phone on the table
Convenient and always available. Visually prominent. The subject stays aware of the device throughout the session. Notifications and battery drops can interrupt.
Handheld recorder (traditional journalist)
Good audio quality. Requires the interviewer to hold or redirect the mic, which signals recording pressure and requires active device management.
Lavalier mic clipped to subject
Excellent proximity audio. Requires physical contact with the subject and an extended setup discussion, inappropriate in most journalism, research, or HR contexts.
Wearable clip recorder (Plaud NotePin S)
Clips to the interviewer's collar at 17.4 g. Runs hands-free up to 20 hours. Out of the subject's direct line of sight. Always record with consent.
Based on common interview recording methods and Plaud product data. Always confirm participant consent and follow local recording laws before recording any conversation.
Tips
A device the subject can see changes how they answer
Three factors determine whether the recording produces a usable verbatim record. Whether audio is captured close enough to the conversation for word-level clarity. Whether the device stays out of the subject's field of vision throughout the session. Whether the battery covers the full session without interruption.
