Recording a Phone Interview

I'm about to interview someone that worked at Sega (think big!), and he prefers to do it by phone. I'm wondering what I'd need and see lots of different software for it. Thing is, I don't need anything major, as I don't intend to put the audio on my site for download or anything. I just want to be able to record it so I can transcribe it at my leisure.

Does Windows have anything integrated for this or will I need additional software? I know I need a phone-to-PC adapter, but what else? How do I set it up?

Thanks in advance.

Oh so you think because our president can tap phone calls you can too?

But I won't be trolling or intruding on your privacy!

You could use SkypeOut or something similar to phone him using a computer, then record it to an audio file using something like Audacity.

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Originally Posted by Error

You could use SkypeOut or something similar to phone him using a computer, then record it to an audio file using something like Audacity.

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Yeah this is pretty much how every podcast I listen to does it.

Well, I don't plan on doing a lot of interviews this way, as it's something just to fall back on, really. Skype is money I'm not inclined to invest right now for something that's not really going to get the use to justify it.

What I basically need is some way to record the phone call on my PC. I don't want to tape it, because then I'll be stuck with a tape recorder that won't get much use either. It's still an option if there's nothing else though.

Are there any free programs out there that allow you to run the phone call through your PC and record it? Does Windows have something like this integrated already? Google just turns up a bunch of stuff on tapping phones and shit (omg NSA!).

You'll need a modem with voice capability, if you have one you should be able to record with any program you want, provided your stuff is set up correctly.

I suggest you use Skype if you're going to be calling long distance, since you'll be paying either way.

How do I know if my modem supports voice?

I'm thinking of trying Skypeout, but if that doesn't work, l don't know what to do. Buy a mini recorder and hold it to the phone? :p

Telephony modems can usually be recorded just by selecting the modem as a source in whatever audio software you use, but there are some weird problems that can pop up.

If you're not using the modem to actually make the call, then you need to use hyperterminal(I think that's what it's called) commands to actually take the modem off the hook to get a signal.
If you do use the modem to make the call, then you don't have to worry about that.
Either way, you may end up getting stuck with 'device in use by another program' errors when you try to record that prevent you from accessing the modems audio signal.

It really is unnecessarily complicated.

Damn, all this just to record a single phone call. I think I may just go with buying a mini recorder and holding it to the phone. It's ghetto, but cheapest and easiest.