Digital Recorder Woes

[jgmacg]

jgmacg -- for every one reporter you see taking notes while making a recording you'll see 2-3 others just holding out the recorder and not taking any hard-copy notes.

I guess that's so, come to think of it, at least in group settings like locker rooms. Is the ratio different at sit-down pressers? Or one on one? I always try to do both. Let the recorder get the transcript, while I make note of the stuff I think might be quote worthy.

 

[Dan Hickling]

I'm very reliant on my Olympus (VN-960PC)....archive all my stuff on disk....when I interview, eye contact is very important, so any note taking suffers. Rarely bother with that anymore (I know that will horrify some, but this works for me..)...would NEVER go back to micro cassette....

 

[Sunshine Scooter]

Just had my recorder erase three interviews for a prep baseball preview. Damn technology!!

Edit: I was the one to actually erase it, but I somehow got it in my mind that I was erasing a different folder. I think the little machine likes to play games with me.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Just had my recorder erase three interviews for a prep baseball preview. Damn technology!!

Edit: I was the one to actually erase it, but I somehow got it in my mind that I was erasing a different folder. I think the little machine likes to play games with me.

I think I'll get a USB-capable digital recorder. That should help a lot.

As for taking notes, I'm not going to pretend that I will. I know that I should, but it's such a terrific pain in the ass for me. I'm so slow that I often find myself missing the best stuff while I'm trying to remember what someone said four sentences ago. And that just blows any chance of my asking a good question out of the water.