Almost every ruined recording is caused by something that takes under a minute to check. Run the same list every time and the failures stop happening.
Twenty four hours before
- Confirm the time and time zone with everyone in writing.
- Send the guest a short brief and the technical requirements.
- Charge every battery and clear space on the recording drive.
- Print or open the question list somewhere you can read without clicking.
In the room
- Switch off air conditioning, fans and any fridge you can reach.
- Silence phones properly, not just the ringer. Airplane mode.
- Close windows and doors, and put a note outside if others share the building.
- Position each microphone roughly a hand span from the mouth and slightly off axis.
Levels and a real test
Record thirty seconds of everyone talking at full conversational energy, not a polite test count. Play it back on headphones. You are listening for clipping, hiss, room echo, rustle from clothing and any hum. Fix the cause rather than lowering the fader.
During the recording
- Watch the meters at the start of every segment, not once at the beginning.
- Ask for a clap or a shared count if you are recording on multiple devices.
- Let mistakes happen and keep rolling. Say the sentence again cleanly.
- Note the timecode of anything you know you will cut.
Remote guests
Ask for wired headphones, a closed door, and where possible a local recording on their end. A local track is the only reliable fix for a dropped connection.
Before anyone leaves
Stop the recording and confirm the file exists, has a sensible size and plays back. Copy it to a second location immediately. Record any pickups, retakes or missed questions while the guest is still in front of you.
After
Label files with the date and guest name, store two copies in different places, and write down anything that went wrong so it goes on this list for next time.