Telephone Recordings

Midlandmorgan · 25th October 2002, 01:50 AM

Hey Y'all...I have been commissioned to record some 'comedian' making calls to 'unsuspecting' people, and the 'artist' wants to print the whole process to CD for sale to radio stations (original, huh?)

Anyway, y'all got any tips for recording the voices coming FROM the phone set? I recommended he use two people live in the studio and let me EQ one voice to telephone curve, but nooooo!

Any suggestions are appreciated mucho.

Ken

PS - the calls will be made using his cell phone, cause I'll be damned

before my caller ID pops up on someone else's line for something like this... (and besides, aren't comedy records dead by now?

Dave Martin · 25th October 2002, 02:00 AM

Here's what you should do - check out the Markertek catalog for telephone interfaces (or do a Google groups search in rec.audio.pro, since I remember this subject coming up there. It seems that Getner is a company that makes one, but the RAP guys should know more than I remember.

Then order call blocking for your studio line (or even add a line specifically for the project) charging the client of course so that the interface works correctly. Then try to survive the sessions...

alphajerk · 25th October 2002, 02:02 AM

sounds like crank yankers.

it would be easier to do with a landline phone... there are some sort of suction cup mic that people sell you mic a phone.

there is the consent thing on the other end for him to consider.

also, if you could do a 3 way call kinda thing and mic a phone with it on mute.

you can always block your phone number.

**Remoteness** · 25th October 2002, 02:23 AM

Just throw a 600 ohm 1:1 transformer across the two (green & red) phone wires (primary side) and wire the secondary side to your console or line input... And there you go.

Or you can get fancy and get a Telos or Gentner "phoner" setup...

Other companies make "phoner' devices. Do a search like Dave mentioned.

I hope this helped.

Jay Kahrs · 25th October 2002, 07:00 AM

In addition to what's already been said, hitting *67 before the call will block your number from a caller ID box and it doesn't cost you a dime. Just remember to hit that before each call.

Midlandmorgan · 25th October 2002, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the info...its amazing what I'll take on just to keep the doors open...

...

Jay Kahrs · 25th October 2002, 05:41 PM

I've been there. It's better then working at Blockbuster or pumping gas. Well, at least most of the time.

Mats Olsson · 25th October 2002, 06:43 PM

Get a telephone hybrid interface (borrow one from a local radio station?), that way you can keep the callers separated on different tracks and the person in your studio can use headphones and a normal microphone.

/Mats

belu · 16th February 2007, 03:53 AM

petsematary · 16th February 2007, 02:30 PM

Yeah, a phone hybrid will do the trick. Don't let him use his cell. They sound like shit and you can't be sure the call's not gonna get cut off. Cell phones are unrealiable. That's the first thing any radio host will ask a person he's about to talk to over the phone. Cells suck.

LoopQuantum · 16th February 2007, 03:16 PM

JK Audio That2 Coupler. Cheap. Works great. (Under 200)

I've seen them at Sweetwater and BSW.

js1 · 17th February 2007, 05:30 AM

If you have to use a real phone, you have a lot of good suggestions. But, if you can convince him to use a regular mic after all, find a phone impulse from the web (I think I got mine from Noisevault). Plug it into Altiverb/SIR and run the audio through that. A much better simulation than using EQ.

Also helps if you cut it down to 10 bits...

js

joelpatterson · 17th February 2007, 04:15 PM

"To sell to radio stations." Yeah, sure.

Acoustic Cloud · 17th February 2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midlandmorgan

Thanks for the info...its amazing what I'll take on just to keep the doors open...

...

Hey Ken,

I wouldnt feel bad about that at all, plus its always good to take on something youve never done before!!

APOHStudios · 19th February 2007, 07:30 AM

Recording someone else, without their knowledge is a misdemeanor in many states. If you plan on making any money with this venture, have releases available for after the call, otherwise a lawsuit naming you, the talent, and the studio (and anyone else involved) could be a definite possibility.

What you are doing can be fun, but the risk you are taking can be steep.

Quote:

I have been commissioned to record some 'comedian' making calls to 'unsuspecting' people, and the 'artist' wants to print the whole process to CD for sale to radio stations (original, huh?)

Maybe, they are looking for someone to shoulder the "liability", and you said yes. Check your local laws, hate to see you get sued, or worse.

Doc

Midlandmorgan · 19th February 2007, 02:03 PM

Wow...a 5 year old thread...

FWIW this never really went anywhere...we used a couple of cheapo suction mics on the 'talent's' cell phone...that part worked

The thing that didn't work was the 'talent' didn't really have any...the old "Prince Albert in a can" gag did kinda die sometime ago...

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25th October 2002, 01:50 AM	#1
Midlandmorgan Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Midland TX Posts: 1,078	Telephone Recordings Hey Y'all...I have been commissioned to record some 'comedian' making calls to 'unsuspecting' people, and the 'artist' wants to print the whole process to CD for sale to radio stations (original, huh?) Anyway, y'all got any tips for recording the voices coming FROM the phone set? I recommended he use two people live in the studio and let me EQ one voice to telephone curve, but nooooo! Any suggestions are appreciated mucho. Ken PS - the calls will be made using his cell phone, cause I'll be damned before my caller ID pops up on someone else's line for something like this... (and besides, aren't comedy records dead by now? __________________ Ken Morgan Wireline Studio Midland, TX Don't Blame Me, I Just Recorded What You Played

25th October 2002, 02:00 AM	#2
Dave Martin Moderator emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,169	Re: Telephone Recordings Here's what you should do - check out the Markertek catalog for telephone interfaces (or do a Google groups search in rec.audio.pro, since I remember this subject coming up there. It seems that Getner is a company that makes one, but the RAP guys should know more than I remember. Then order call blocking for your studio line (or even add a line specifically for the project) charging the client of course so that the interface works correctly. Then try to survive the sessions... __________________ Dave Martin Java Jive Studio www.javajivestudio.com Cuppa Joe Records www.cuppajoerecords.com Nashville, TN

25th October 2002, 02:23 AM	#4
Remoteness Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 4,880	Just throw a 600 ohm 1:1 transformer across the two (green & red) phone wires (primary side) and wire the secondary side to your console or line input... And there you go. Or you can get fancy and get a Telos or Gentner "phoner" setup... Other companies make "phoner' devices. Do a search like Dave mentioned. I hope this helped. __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network Remoteness on Myspace

25th October 2002, 11:56 AM	#6
Midlandmorgan Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Midland TX Posts: 1,078	Thanks for the info...its amazing what I'll take on just to keep the doors open... ... __________________ Ken Morgan Wireline Studio Midland, TX Don't Blame Me, I Just Recorded What You Played

25th October 2002, 02:02 AM	#3
alphajerk There is only one Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: asheville NC Posts: 5,291	sounds like crank yankers. it would be easier to do with a landline phone... there are some sort of suction cup mic that people sell you mic a phone. there is the consent thing on the other end for him to consider. also, if you could do a 3 way call kinda thing and mic a phone with it on mute. you can always block your phone number.

25th October 2002, 06:43 PM	#8
Mats Olsson Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Eskilstuna, Sweden Posts: 170	Get a telephone hybrid interface (borrow one from a local radio station?), that way you can keep the callers separated on different tracks and the person in your studio can use headphones and a normal microphone. /Mats

16th February 2007, 03:53 AM	#9
belu Gear interested Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3	Phone????

16th February 2007, 02:30 PM	#10
petsematary Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: East Coast, Sweden Posts: 1,142	Yeah, a phone hybrid will do the trick. Don't let him use his cell. They sound like shit and you can't be sure the call's not gonna get cut off. Cell phones are unrealiable. That's the first thing any radio host will ask a person he's about to talk to over the phone. Cells suck. __________________ (click to see me and my work)

16th February 2007, 03:16 PM	#11
LoopQuantum Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 546	JK Audio That2 Coupler. Cheap. Works great. (Under 200) I've seen them at Sweetwater and BSW.

17th February 2007, 05:30 AM	#12
js1 Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 243	If you have to use a real phone, you have a lot of good suggestions. But, if you can convince him to use a regular mic after all, find a phone impulse from the web (I think I got mine from Noisevault). Plug it into Altiverb/SIR and run the audio through that. A much better simulation than using EQ. Also helps if you cut it down to 10 bits... js

17th February 2007, 04:15 PM	#13
joelpatterson Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 3,421	"To sell to radio stations." Yeah, sure. __________________ Mountaintop Studios ~the peak of perfection~ Petersburgh NY 12138 mountaintop@taconic.net

19th February 2007, 02:03 PM	#16
Midlandmorgan Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Midland TX Posts: 1,078	Wow...a 5 year old thread... FWIW this never really went anywhere...we used a couple of cheapo suction mics on the 'talent's' cell phone...that part worked The thing that didn't work was the 'talent' didn't really have any...the old "Prince Albert in a can" gag did kinda die sometime ago... __________________ Ken Morgan Wireline Studio Midland, TX Don't Blame Me, I Just Recorded What You Played

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