atw: Re: Digital/analogue Voice Recorders

I second all that below. I always use a simple analogue voice recorder
when talking to developers or in meetings. Just another few suggestions
-- always make sure important points are highlighted or underlined in
your notes and always stop the tape if the meeting degenerates into
negative comments about co-workers, the project, or the organisation
(inevitable). On the downside, you need the same amount of time again to
transcribe the tape.

Kay
-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rhardman
Sent: Wednesday, 26 April 2006 9:21 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Digital/analogue Voice Recorders


I have always used a voice recorder when being briefed by a developer.
Here are some points I have found important, in muck
order:

Always ask your interlocutor if it is ok to make a recording. No-one has
ever refused me, it's just a courtesy.

I use an analog recorder with a vox switch (starts when there is sound,
stops when there is silence), and 2 lapel mics, one for me, one for the
developer. It has a fast playback, so I can scoot through to  a point of
interest. My previous recorder also had a cue button which put a beep on
the tape when it was pressed. The beep is inaudible at normal playback
speed, but can be heard on fast rewind, so you can whizz through to the
5th beep, for example, to hear the part you need.

Be aware that there is often (a lot) of background noise, which we
mentally ignore, but will be recorded. This affects the vox cut-in sound
level, so you need to make adjustments and test before you start the
interview. It can also mask the actual conversation you want to hear.

If you use a desk mic, keyboard thumping, finger tapping, coffee-mug
plonking will affect the recording and vox operation, unless the mic is
well isolated.

There needs to be some way of linking the commentary with the screen
events, for later reference. You should develop a style of interview in
which you mention where you are in the application. This feels awkward
at first, but if you don't do it, you end up with a recording like
"...see this here, well now you do this, then click here (clunk) and go
back to the aaah, mmmh other one there, no no the first one...", which
is less than helpful. 

Providing a running commentary yourself during the
interview has the added advantage of confirming with the developer that
you have understood (or not) the information.

You still need to take notes. For me, the recording is a backup
reference for the times when my memory and notes fail.

I have tried using the PC sound recording accessory in windoze, but it
is too primitive: no vox and it uses too much memory. No doubt there are
better applications, but I have not had time to research them.

I have not used a digital recorder, but am keen to see if there is one
with the features I want:
- Vox switch
- Position marker: audible and visible on the LCD
- Fast playback, frequency-compensated
- Fast forward and reverse

Another way I have used a recorder is when I am experimenting,
configuring and installing software, to keep track of what settings I
made. This has saved my bacon on several Debian, Gentoo and FreeBSD
installations.

Similarly, when crawling on top of a Caterpillar 3412C, or up to the
elbows in grease while stripping a Hatz 4L41, or following the pipes in
the stinking, rotten, filthy, disgusting hold of a @#!##* ship, my
pocket recorder and lapel mic enabled me to make notes, 
with hands free.

There are lots of other uses not all directly connected with tech
writing (eg audible map), stocktaking, proofing parts lists and so on,
which I have found during a lifelong interest in sound recorders. I
would be interested to hear other peoples' experiences, too.

Reg



* David Godley (david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) écrivit:
> Chaps,
> 
> Do any of you souls out there use digital voice recorders (or indeed
> analogue ones for that matter) to capture comments from SMEs, briefing

> meetings or other similar type things.
> 
> After one too many discussions where ideas were flowing thick and fast
> and/or unrelated, but important excursions in the conversations
occurred 
> I thought that it might be an idea to try to capture this.
> 
> Do any of you use these sorts of things?  If so, any comments on your
> experiences or even recommendations?
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> David
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-- 


----------------------------------------------
Reginald Hardman        Reginald Hardman
Rédacteur Technique     Technical Writer
Paris                   Paris, France
.                                            . 
           zutalors@xxxxxxxx
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