Recording Your Teleclasses

NOTE: This is a reprint from a post I wrote last year...Over the last year, my partner Patsi Krakoff and I have been hosting a teleseries called Conversations with Experts.  Every Conversation has been recorded and the audio programs are available for sale.  We've also recorded many of our teleclasses and then transcribed the audio to create our ebooks and other info products.

Until today, I relied on a VA to do the recording for me.  Though it took the pressure off me, sort of, to attend to the recording process, it also gets expensive at $30+ per recording.  Well, I've finally put together the components so I can do the recording myself.  Took long enough, but sometimes, there are things I just don't want to do!

OK, I'm going to share my tools and system if you want to employ this as one of the methods you use to create content for a book or info product.  If you're a do-it-yourselfer or you're on a budget until your book becomes a bestseller, then here you go...

First, there is an investment in some hardware required.

No doubt you have a telephone.  I have a Panasonic cordless phone similar to this one with which I use a headset.

Next, I purchased a Sony Digital Voice Recorder (ICD-SX25) for about $120 on the recommendation of a woman I met last month at Tom Antion's Internet Marketing ButtCamp.  This recorder comes with Digital Voice Editor software so you can transfer the recorded file to your computer for editing.

Next, from Radio Shack, I purchased a Wireless Phone Recording Controller ($25) which hooks up to my telephone and the recording device.  Note:  you have to turn the controller on if you expect to actually record when you're on the phone!  Duh!

Now you have lots of stuff that has lots of cords and your desk is a bit messy.  I can't really describe here how everything hooks up together, but if you follow all the pictures on the packaging, you'll get it.  It did take me two attempts to get everything plugged into the correct spot.

Make your call

You've got it all hooked up.  The controller is ON.  You call in to your conference line or call the person you are interviewing.  Hit the RECORD button and talk.

After the call

You will need to install the Digital Voice Editor software on your computer BEFORE you attempt to transfer the file from the recording device to your computer.  Follow the basic installation instructions.

Once the software is installed, connect your voice recorder to your computer with the USB cable that was included with your voice recorder.  Your computer will recognize the device.

Open the software and indicate the type of device you are using. You will be guided through steps to set up the software and the defaults you want to use.  A new folder will be set up on your computer where you can auto-save the audio files when they get transferred.  You can also choose the type of file you want to create.  The recorder cannot create mp3 files so you'll have to convert them later.  I save my files as .wav.

To edit my audio files, I use free software call Audacity.  It's pretty simple to use though I did have some trial and error learning time as I taught myself to become an amateur audio editor.  A lot of podcasters use this editing software.

Once you've edited your audio file, you can then convert and save it as an mp3 file which seems to be the most common for podcasting or providing as a downloadable file for your customers or blog readers.

If you plan on using CastingWords to transcribe your audio file, they also require it to be in mp3 format.

There you have it.  It's not the only way to record from your phone or get the audio from phone to computer.  However, I decided to do it this way so I would have a device I could use to record presentations when we speak in person.  Having a computer only recording system would have limited that or made us dependent on others recording our presentations. 

I've invested roughly $150 in the recording hardware which will be paid back with 5 Conversations I don't have to pay a VA to record.

Comments

[Angie Pedersen]

I have to ask - why don't you use a free conference call bridge that offers recording? I use Free Conferencing at http://freeconferencing.liveoffice.com/, which allows you to record a call by simply clicking a button on the web interface. About an hour after the call is completed, the mp3 is available to download from the website. You can download the recording for editing, then post it to a website or email, even setup podcasts and provide public access from their site. They also offer RSS feeds so clients can get the most up-to-date recordings right in their feed readers.

I've used this service several times, and the recording quality is quite good, especially for free!

[Denise aka The Blog Squad]

Angie, you ask a good question. I have used several other bridge line services that offer recording and I have not been happy with the results, ever. Typically, the recordings are very low quality. I did use live office conference once and found it very cumbersome to use, especially since we have 2 moderators and a guest on most calls. Maybe they have changed it, but when I used it you could only have one moderator which is a hassle with their system having to select people who can talk on the line. Maybe it's easier to use now, but I didn't really like it.

[Angela Treat Lyon]

Hi,

I'm wondering why you make it so complex when it's so easy to use a system like freeconferecning.liveoffice.com. They have everything you need - free bridge line (for up to 250, paid for more people), to make and download your audio, and create a podcast out of it, including RSS feed. I just download the audio to my audioacrobat.com site and then upload the html to stream to my site - costs me about 19 bucks a month and they let you stream up to 5 gigs before they charge you for extra - a dollar a gig.

saves you from having to go to all that trouble buying extras and having the mp3 on your site taking up bandwidth.

hope that helps - I have been giving teleclasses for years now and that's how I do it.

I also teach people how to create the sequence to setup (from copywriting to autoresponders to creating products after the call) so they can do it in about 2 hours once they get the system down.

aloha -
Angela Treat Lyon
http://www.EFTBooks.com