Interesting. A big advantage of this device over minidisc is the fast upload
to PC.

That said I thought about using Archos Jukebox Recorder but decided against
it on reliability grounds having followed users experiences at
http://forums.funmp3players.com/forum/ (there is also another discussion
board for this device on Yahoo). I think you can upload recordings from the
Creative Jukebox but it is more complicated (Creative is also about to
release a new recorder). Another similar (but more expensive) option is the
Terapin Mine. My impression is that all these portable hard drive recorders
are works in progress but maybe the latest models are more stable and
reliable than the first generation.

Although the Archos and Creative can record they are not principally
designed for interview recording. They are designed for recording music from
a stereo stsytem, transfer of music files from a computer, and, in the case
of the Archos, occasional voice recording use using the internal mic. It is
important to note that both the Archos and Creative only have line-in
sockets; they do not have mic-in sockets. You can plug a mic into the
line-in socket but the recording level might be very low. Unless you are
recording music in the front row of an AC/DC concert you will very likely
need to buy a microphone preamplfier to raise the signal to line level. This
may cost an additional $100+, not including $50 for a decent mic. Like most
internal microphones, the one in the Archos is of a poor quality. It will
also pick up noise from the hard drive.

Another problem with consumer digital recording devices (Minididisc, Jubebox
recorders, and soon Dataplay) is that they now often implement some type of
copy protection scheme. This may be an issue although with some devices
there are workarounds. It is certainly an issue with Minidisc. Sony could
easily have developed Minidisc so live recordings could be uploaded to a PC
at greater than real time speed over a USB connection. This is a feature
that is noticeably absent from the new NETMD recorders. I suspect Sony will
never implement such a feature.

I'm waiting for the Sountainer solid state MP3 recorder from Dialog4 and
Orban (to replace my Sharp SR60 MD), which will supposedly be available in
the next few months. This should be much better than existing voice memo
(IC) recorders from Olympus, Sony Panasonic but cheaper than other pro
equipment from Denon, Marantz, etc. This device was designed for recording
interviews. I suspect reliability/service won't be an issue as it's solid
state and it was developed by companies who cater to the needs of broadcast
professionals. The device has a rich feature set that allows for a lot of
control over recording, fast USB upload, no copy protection annoyances, etc.
Estimated cost is around $500 (330 British Pounds). Expensive but small
relative to the cost of transcription. It should pay for itself very
quickly. At least that's my hope...

For transcription I'm using the free Transcriber software at the moment.
This works well without a footpedal or similar device, works with MP3s, and
produces XML data files synchronized to the audio file. The synchronization
of transcript and audio is great way to check the transcript etc. XML isn't
much of a benefit otherwise at the moment but it will be as transcription
becomes more tightly integrated into qualitative data analysis software.
Imagine you can import an XML transcript into a program like Atlas-ti and
the qualities of the interviewee (gender, role, or whatever the relevant
sampling variables were) are all automatically coded to the interviewee's
speech turns.
See http://www.atlasti.de/xml/
Also http://qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/3-00/3-00muhr-e.htm

Alan.
Education Development Center
Newton, MA.






.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mitchell-Smith,GM" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 7:12 AM
Subject: Returning to the discussions of a few weeks ago: new methods of
recording and transcribing interviews


New methods of recording and transcribing interviews:

Returning to the discussions of a few weeks ago, I wanted to share a way
that my partner and i have come up  with using the following:

1. Archos 20GB MP3 Recorder

2. Gaming driving wheel with set of pedals (because i dont think you can get
a set of game pedals that plugs straight into computer!)

3. Express Scribe 2.04 transcription software available FREE at
http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/.

From what i've seen, no software can automatically and accurately transcribe
my interviews.  It doesnt matter if i record it on tape, minidisc or
anything else, programmes like "Via Voice" and "Dragon Speak" need to be
trained beforehand etc ... so I am upgrading my trusty dictaphone, not to a
mini disc, but to the Archos 20GB MP3 Recorder. This is being released
today, it has its own microphone and also "line in?" for external
microphone.  It records 500 hours.

There are other MP3s that voice record, e.g the ARchos 6GB recorder version,
but don't buy a similar product from Creative, as it doesnt record out from
the machine, it only uploads songs on it.

Reason for not using mini disc?   even though this latest Archos Recorder is
£300 - it will be cheaper in long not having to buy m-discs or tapes.  Also
may transfer the interviews onto computer more quickly than m-disc?

Re:  Express Scribe: it is more approachable for non-techies than, for e.g
the free transcribing software listed in the snailmail CAQDAS newsletter
this month.

Why the gaming driving wheel and pedal?
They are much cheaper - e.g £40?  than the horrendously priced ones that are
sold along with software e.g at
http://www.startstopc.com/Transcription/htm). (If you are buying a pedal,
then it would be better to get flat and soft ones like piano pedals as
opposed to car pedals like mine!).
Then set the pedals to work with Express Scribe. This is a superb little
program.  If you've got 2 pedals, the left one is rewind and the right one
is stop/play. And that's it!  Transcribe into word or whatever ...

I will report back on the success or otherwise of the set up in a couple of
weeks ...

Gerry Mitchell
CASE, LSE
Email: [log in to unmask]