How do you record a phone audio?

[essay]

I will be doing a Video presentation soon.

A message from someone overseas will be included. The fastest and most feasible way is to record his message over the phone.

How do i record his voice over the phone? What gadgets should i need?

(On TV, we have "phone patch (?)" interviews... this might be too technical to setup with lots of high profile equipment maybe... is there a simpler and more "homey" way to set it up?)

Thanks.

[dvsadvocate]

There is a contraption for this whiich you can buy at Handyman or Ace Hardware. I forgot what it is called but it looks like a small box with a phone jack and baby phono plug attachments (male and female). I think its around 300 to 400 pesos. Works quite well I suppose.

[dinxcarin]

mmm..most of the colored fones these days may voice recorder na.. If the call happens..you can record it sa phone mismo..and then transfer the file to your pc if you have bluetooth, infrared or data cable. That's what i do on some of my ringing tones. dapat naka wave ang format ng audio. after that pwede mo na import sa project mo. hope this helps.

[rogue]

make an answering machine answer the phone. that's what its for.

[Kenneth]

If you have a SE K700 cellphone or similar, it also has a funtion to record phone conversations. Simply call him up and record his voice. Then bluetooth the file to your mac.

[wildcard]

Why not have the person record the message onto his computer then send you the file? tapos medyo lagyan mo na lang ng effects to make it sound like a phone call.

[Tantantiniiin]

As with call centers, please show courtesy by telling the person on the other line that you are recording the conversation, and why you are recording it.

If you have teleconferencing equipment (like those Polycoms), course the audio output to your laptop aux input, then use a male-male walkman jack to connect it to another speaker (esp if using a powerbook), or just use the laptop speaker if its loud enough (like those toshibas).

Shall we be expecting a new "Hello Garci" kind of recording?

[dvsadvocate]

By the way, are you using a landline or a cellphone?

[daxdigital]

Modern cellphones have recording capabilities, try using that. But that depends on the condition and quality of the signal, since mobiles have the tendency to "drop out" conversations.

As for landlines, the option is to buy one of those "phone patch" devices. Available at Ace Hardware and electronics shops.

The connection's pretty simple: connect one end to the handset (handset must be the detachable RJ type), and the othe end is connected to a recorder (or similar device). Some even have the option of connecting a mic. Costs PhP300 on some stores. A word of caution for DSL users: some noice may be introduced if you use it with your phone.

Some patches are simple wire connections, pricey ones have DSPs and electronic stuff for clearer lines.

If calls are routed via a PC, I used a program called AudioRec. Not sure if it's still available, but you can capture audio right within the computer, no messy wires required.

Try looking up these sites for the devices:

http://www.internetaudioguy.com/iag/...phonepatch.htm
http://www.rolls.com/new/db9.html
http://www.rolls.com/new/pi9.html

Some of the devices available here looks similar to the ones specified on those websites. Most of the available ones in the Philippines use a 1/8" mini-plug, similar to earphones.

Just make sure your other party is informed that the conversation is recorded.
Or else, you might have a "Garci" in your hands.

[essay]

Thanks for all your help.

I will use the "phone patch" device as suggested. Dvsadvocate, I will be using a landline.

Tantantiniin, Yes, the person knows his voice will be recorded. In fact, he was the one who suggested that his phone message be recorded.

Wildcard, thanks for your suggestion to record it on pc. Unfortunately, the guy is not much of a PC user. Too complicated for him to record his voice on computer. The simplest thing for him would really be a phone message.

Thanks everyone!