I don’t think I’ve ever had a Skype call that hasn’t frozen or experienced a delay at some point, even with stellar internet connections. The one issue to keep in mind is call quality. I have a Mac and have used Call Recorder with much success.
Some of the best reviews include Pamela for Windows users (free) and ecamm Call Recorder for Windows and Mac (a one-time $29.95 purchase after a free trial).
Interviewing sources abroad? Don’t have a smartphone? Prefer the face-to-face of Skype? Many apps integrate with his free video chat software so you can record both incoming and outgoing calls. You should expect to review the finished transcription yourself to clean up the computer-generated transcription and confirm accuracy. Those rates include automatic transcription (performed by computers, not humans). Or, pre-pay for a year at $8 per month for unlimited calls. After that, you have the option to pay per call at a rate of 25 cents per minute. The app is free to use for recording, but only up to 20 minutes per month. This app offers recording and transcription. TapeACall does not offer a transcription service. The great thing about this app is that you can also record calls you’re already on, so you don’t need to always be the one making the call.
You can email the recording or have it automatically sync to Dropbox. Once you hang up, you’ll receive a notification when the recording has processed. Your interviewee will hear a beep on their end to let them know they’re being recorded. Just be sure to click the record button once you’re connected! You call the app, then conference in your source.
This app for iPhone and Android - it’s the service I use regularly - costs a one-time fee of $10.
Here are a few solutions that can work for a variety of freelance writing needs. The best solution for you will depend on how frequently you need to record interviews and how quickly you need to access completed transcripts. How can you record your interviews without spending hours transcribing? You have a lot of options to choose from. Recording and transcribing options for writers And you’ll be able to ask those hard-hitting questions without worrying about typing or handwriting every juicy word. Doing so allows your conversation to flow naturally. Lesson? Record your calls, then transcribe them. Our conversation would be filled with awkward pauses while I played catch up. We’d laugh, then I’d half listen while trying to capture their every word. I worried my interviewee would think I wasn’t paying attention, so almost every conversation started with, “Just as an FYI, if you hear typing, I’m taking note, not checking my email!” For a long time, I frantically typed as fast as I could while interviewing sources.