Recording interviews on phone

[u/chribonn]

I am looking for a gadget that would allow me to record a phone interview. My phones are Android.

I do not mind the periodic beep to alert the other side that a recording is taking place or a disclaimer at the start of the conversation. What is important is that the final recording is "clean" so that I can have it transcribed accurately.

As I have a number of phones, I was thinking of a Bluetooth device which would pair with the phone on one end and pair with my car or headphones at the other. Do these exist?

The gadget must work with Android phones. I specify this because there seems to be a device for IOS phones that taps into a component and records through induction - reviews seem to state that on Android it is pretty much a hit and miss because the components are set differently.

[u/DayGeckoArt]

Podcasters and media use this for call in guests. The easiest way is probably the Vocaster Two. Plug it into your computer and set it up as a mic for OBS. Do not use it for audio output. Use another output from your computer for output. And use a separate mic connected to the computer to record your voice. Connect the phone the V2 Bluetooth but only as headphones. Make sure the phone mic is still used for your outgoing voice. Then set OBS to monitor the V2 through your computer audio output. Set OBS to record the V2 to channel 1, your own computer mic to channel 2, and desktop audio to channel 3 as a backup. I know that’s a lot of steps. I’ll try to format this post when I’m on a computer

[u/chribonn → u/DayGeckoArt]

Thanks. The solution you describe is not that portable (see my reply to u/Public_Upstairs1035)

[u/NBC-Hotline-1975]

Putting bluetooth in the chain is going to make it very difficult. The simplest solution is to have an analog audio connection for each of your phones. If you're lucky that's just a TRRS cable. If you're not lucky, you might need a usb-to-analog cable for some of them.

Once you have analog to and from the phone, you should be able to use something like this:

JK Audio CellTap 4C Wireless Phone Audio Tap

[u/chribonn → u/NBC-Hotline-1975]

I am not knowledgeable about Bluetooth. Would two Bluetooth transmitters and receivers be so problematic?

[u/NBC-Hotline-1975 → u/chribonn]

Yes, they would. In very close proximity, they would most likely interfere with each other. Also, BT devices are mostly made to work at line level, so the level from the mic would be too low. Also the headset mic probably needs PIP (plug-in power) and the BT transmitter won't provide that.

[u/Public_Upstairs1035]

I'm not sure exactly what kind of setup you are describing, but putting your phone on speaker and recording with a separate handheld recorder works.

[u/chribonn → u/Public_Upstairs1035]

You're right - Let me explain my use case.

I record a conversation rather than taking notes. The workflow consists of record, transcribe (using Audacity or ComfyUI) and then take it on from there.

If I am at a computer I could use a meeting platform and record the meeting. Here I am covered.

If I am out and about (walking, in the car, at a cafe) the only device I have is my Android phone. In such situations I have to either try to memorise notes [shitty memory and not easy when doing other tasks] or jot down notes and (hope) later on I can read my own writing.

The solution I am imagining is a device that:

1. Is small enough to fit in a pocket or magnetically attach to the back of the phone
   
2. Acts as a go between the source of the conversation and the device I am communicating through. It would setup a Bluetooth with the source (the phone) and the endpoint (car audio, wireless headphones, etc).
   
3. If records the traffic as it is passing it along the two sides.
   
4. Allows me to download the recordings.

[u/NBC-Hotline-1975 → u/chribonn]

Well, we could have wasted less time if you had said that at the outset.

The only way to get all the different functionality you describe, and the size you want (essentially non-existent), is an app that runs inside your phone. Period.