Use Skype to Record a Phone Interview in The Radio Lab

The Journalism School also provides four Gentners for recording phone calls. Two are located in the Radio Control Room and one in the Radio Annex and Seminar rooms. Skype is also available on these computers, but not for recording phone interviews.

To use Skype to record a phone call in the Radio Lab, click the Skype icon in the Dock.

If you do not have a username and password, you will have to create one on Skype’s website. The Journalism School’s tech staff is in not responsible for your Skype account. Problems with your Skype account should be directed to http://www.skype.com.

Log in to Skype.

Once in Skype you can call another person with a Skype account for free. If you would like to call a regular telephone or cell phone number you need to purchase minutes at http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout. About thirteen dollars gives you 10 hours of talk time.

Turn up the auxiliary 1 (located at the top) knob on the Mic channel on the mixer (channel 1). This controls your Mic level to the caller. Don’t turn it up too much. Start with a nine o’clock setting. You may find that you have to turn it down.

Turn up the gain on the Computer knob (channel 2). This controls the level from the caller.

Open a new Pro Tools session from the template on the “StudentWork” drive. Select a track to record to and hit the record button on the transport. If you would like to record your own voice as well as the callers turn up the main gain on the Mic channel on the mixer. Warning: This will also capture all the background sound picked up by your Mic in the often-noisy radio lab and record it to the track with the caller’s audio.

Go back to Skype and type the name or phone number you wish to call, and hit the call button.

Once you establish a connection with the caller. Go back to Pro Tools. When the levels are set correctly, click the play button on the transport and conduct your interview.

When finished, make sure to exit Skype, stop the recording in Pro Tools, and save your session.

Things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure the Pro Tools channel is turned off on the mixer or you will experience feedback.

2. In order for the caller to hear you, you may need to adjust the trim knob on the Mic channel (1).

3. The AUX send output is powerful. Start with turning up the knob to nine o’clock, otherwise, your voice might sound distorted to the caller.

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