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| Citizen's guide to personal audio and... |
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Jim March
Moderator
Username: Jimmarch
Post Number: 156
Registered: 01-2005
Best of Black Box? 
Votes: 1 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 10:36 am: | 
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Citizen's audio and video toolkit - ask questions here!
Gathering evidence matters. To do it right, you need tools: the ability to record audio and video for long periods of time and with the ability to quickly transfer the results online.
Pick any of these you feel comfortable with:
* Audio recording;
* A good still-image digital camera;
* A mediocre-quality video recording setup (geared towards "web-grade lower quality video" versus "documentary grade");
AUDIO:
The small digital recorders are very easy to use. Some even have the ability to transfer files straight to your computer. You can get these inexpensively at Radio Shack or similar outlet.
Desired features:
* 4-12 hours recording time or more. (It will say on the package)
* The ability to take removable memory cards is nice but if computers aren't your strong point, don't worry about it.
* You can get audio even if you no nothing about technology. If you are a computer type, read on:
Most digital recorders will come with a USB cable to connect to the PC; some now have a USB plug right on them so they connect straight to any computer. (Either way, once connected they simply become a drive letter and you copy the recordings straight off of them very easily.)
* If you really like tech stuff, you may also want a plug for external microphones. At some point consider investing in a high-quality "condenser" microphone that can clipped to your clothes and just out of sight. "Condenser" type mikes pull in sound from a distance.
Many Radio Shacks will have the VN-480PC ("only" 8 hours recording, $49.99.
At a retail price of $70, the Olympus VN960PC records longer.
If you can spend $100, the Olympus WS100 has the built-in USB jack - no cable to lose and connects quickly to any PC or Mac.
Any sort of "electronics discount house" such as Best Buy, Fry's, Comp-USA or even many Walmart/Target type places will have things like this.
If you already have a mini-recorder of any sort (digital or tape) that doesn't direct-link to a PC somehow, and you want to transfer the audio to a computer:
Go to Radio Shack and get the following cables/adapters:
1/8th stereo to 1/8th stereo cable, any of the following part numbers: 42-2497 (12" long), 42-2387 (same but 6' long), 42-2607 (6' long and "gold plated pro series" - not necessary but if they're out of the other two...)
1/8th mono to 1/8th stereo adapter: any older voice recorder is probably mono output. Plug this mono adapter into the tape recorder, plug the cable above into that on one end, your PC's microphone port on the other. Radio Shack part number 274-368 or 274-882 for "gold series" (same function).
Once you've got the connection, you need PC software to record. If you're somewhat "geeky" and want an excellent program for this, check out "Audacity" free for Windows, Mac and Linux:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Or try one of these:
http://www.sharewareplaza.com/ADC-Sound-Recorder-download_13241.html
http://www.cooolsoft.com/mp3rec.htm
http://www.sharewareplaza.com/Dictation-Buddy-download_18853.html
There's a service available where you call a phone number and it records whatever comes in from your phone call to a file that you later retrieve:
http://www.gcast.com/htdb/services/phone.html
You can try it but...cellphone microphones stink for this purpose. They're designed to pull in only those sounds close to the mike versus a "condenser's" ability to go grab sound.
Conclusion: best bet, get a digital recorder with PC link. You can use a tape recorder if you have one and are on a budget - it will be more annoying to do PC transfer but not impossible. Either way, in most cases add a good condenser mike for best results unless the built-in mike is very good.
The phone call system is desperation-only.
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CAMERAS (still and video)
What you want here is a decent consumer-oriented digital still camera that also has "limited video capabilities". There is NO videotape capability on this class of critter, rather they record straight to memory cards that can also be connected to your computer, immediately transferring both still images and video to your PC/Mac.
The key feature you're looking for is "MPEG" (or Quicktime) movie recording at "VGA" (640x480) resolution. They almost always have a lower-resolution mode available such as 320x160 or something...the latter is perfect for web-video.
I own a Pentax OptioMX4:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0409/04091303pentax_optiomx4.asp
I paid $250 for it and added a 1gig memory card for $70. This setup can record 5 hours of low-grade (320x160) video direct to the memory card, great for recording public meetings or the like.
It also takes great photos. Here's a 2meg image completely unedited, straight off the memory card:
http://www.equalccw.com/Utah.JPG
This was taken at near-max zoom at a distance of several miles - the cliff was a spec on the horizon.
If I had it to do over, there's a slightly better critter from Casio for $50 more, the EX-P505:
http://www.casio.com/products/Cameras/Exilim_Pro/EX-P505/
http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/546180381.htm
Like my Pentax, the Casio uses SD-RAM memory cards. Many modern laptops include a plug-slot for that little card. Unfortunately they only take the 1gig size, not 2gig. Oh well.
There are HP Photosmart series cameras worth looking at (R707 and R817 have video) as well as some Kodak "Easyshare" series.
Avoid Mustek/Aiptek, they're...well, junk, in my experience.
All such cameras include cables that allow file transfer to USB ports. You can also get USB "card readers" for about $30 or less that let you plug standard memory card types (SD-RAM, Compact Flash, others) into your PC.
Sony cameras in this class use proprietary memory cards called a "Memory Stick" that are more expensive and are harder to get PC readers for...not recommended.
Features list:
* You want decent normal camera usage with PC video capability;
* You need to add memory, at least 1gig. You probably won't need more than one memory card if you're bringing a laptop into the field - you can empty it straight to PC. Otherwise for meeting recording bring multiple memory cards - at five hours each, two should do per day.
* Consider getting a small desktop tripod for about $20. They all have the same screw fitting underneath for standard tripods.
* The cameras will have an external DC power plug - or at least, they should, it's a desirable feature. Make sure you get an adapter for it so that if taping a meeting you can run off of wall power versus battery.
WARNING: The online/mailorder camera biz is for some reason notorious for scammers. J&R and Wolf are OK, past that do your homework and watch out, it's shark-infested waters. The "vendor ratings" at websites like Froogle, Yahoo and others cannot be trusted.}
Questions - post them here or e-mail me: jim@blackboxvoting.org
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TRIPLE PROTECTION FOR ELECTION 2006 - STARTING NOW:
(1) Use Freedom of Information, public records requests ("All American Paper Chase")
(2) Try Dumpster Diving for Democracy
(3) Candid America Project - Don't leave home without your camcorder
HOW TO DO IT: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/6/6.html
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