How to Record an Interview: Clear Audio In Person or Remotely

To record an interview clearly, choose a quiet location, check how each person will be captured and listen to a saved test before you begin. A phone can record an in-person conversation; separate microphones or participant recordings provide more control when available. For a remote interview, check the meeting app's recording options and save the resulting files after the call.

Tell participants what will be recorded and how it may be used, and obtain the permissions required for your situation. This guide covers the audio workflow; recording rules and app features vary by location and service.

For a closer look at recording sources separately, see how multitrack recording works.

Choose a recording setup

Situation	Starting setup	Key check
Two people in the same room	A phone or recorder between speakers, or one suitable microphone per person.	Each voice is intelligible at its normal speaking level, including when the other person responds.
A remote call	A meeting app with an appropriate recording option; use headphones and separate participant files if supported.	The saved test includes both sides, and every participant understands the recording.
A video interview	Record video and a suitable audio source, noting each file's start and any synchronization cue.	Picture and speech align near the beginning and end of the saved edit.
A short voice check at a computer	Use a microphone recorder in a compatible browser.	The chosen microphone captures the person; it does not automatically record remote call audio.

How to record an interview in person

1. Choose the quietest practical space. Listen for fans, traffic and room reflections. Move away from the noise source where possible and avoid a hard, empty room if another space sounds better.
2. Position the microphones. If using one recorder, place it where it can capture both people without being handled. If using two microphones, keep each reasonably close to its speaker and check that neither input overloads.
3. Make a two-person test. Have each person answer at normal and louder levels, then speak over one another briefly if that may happen. Stop and listen to the saved file on headphones. A moving meter alone does not prove both voices are clear.
4. Check capacity and power. Confirm available storage, battery or power, app permissions and where the recording will be saved. Disable avoidable interruptions if appropriate.
5. Record and verify. Start before the first question, avoid moving the recorder, and check occasionally that recording is still active. Afterward, play the beginning, a middle section and the ending, then make a backup before editing.

Separate microphone tracks give an editor more control, but each microphone can still pick up the other person or the room. Listen to each track independently before assuming it contains only one speaker.

Record an interview on iPhone

1. Open Voice Memos and position the phone so both speakers can be heard. Avoid covering the microphone openings or moving the phone during a take.
2. Tap Record, have both people speak and stop the test. Play it back on headphones if available. Adjust the placement or room and repeat if one voice is distant or distorted.
3. Record the interview, stop and save it, then confirm the complete recording plays. Rename and back it up using an appropriate sharing or storage method.

Apple's Voice Memos recording guide describes making and saving a recording. App controls and input behavior can vary by device and version. For more setup and file-sharing options, see how to record audio on iPhone.

Record a remote interview

1. Check access before the call. Confirm the recording feature is available to the host and participants, where it saves, and whether any account or device restrictions apply.
2. Use headphones and test inputs. Ask each participant to select the intended microphone and speak at normal level. Headphones can reduce the chance that a speaker's output feeds back into a microphone.
3. Record a short call test. Stop it and play the saved file. Confirm both sides, the required video if any, and the actual storage location.
4. Choose separate files when suitable. If the service offers participant tracks, enable the appropriate setting before recording and verify the saved output. Separate tracks are useful for editing but do not guarantee isolation from other sound captured by each microphone.
5. Save originals after the call. Wait for any processing or conversion to complete, listen to the files and back them up. Avoid changing their starting positions before you have a synchronized working copy.

For example, Zoom documents separate participant-audio options for eligible cloud recordings and in its desktop recording settings. Availability and limitations vary; Zoom notes that participants joining by phone can be merged into one audio file. See the Zoom recording guide for its separate workflow and current controls.

What if one person is quiet or the voices overlap?

Before recording, adjust placement or the individual microphone gain and test again. Turning up a finished mixed recording raises the quiet voice and other sounds together. If separate original tracks or channels exist, check them before applying source separation.

For a saved mixed recording, the voice isolator can test a description of an audible speaker; review Isolated sound and compare the same words with the source. Similar or overlapping voices can remain together, and isolation can change wanted speech. AI WAV downloads require an account and sufficient credits. The two-speaker guide covers channel checks and listening comparisons.

Prepare the interview for editing or transcription

Keep the complete original files, label the date and source, and create working copies. Note any important timestamps or synchronization cue. If you cut long pauses for an edit, preserve a copy with original timing so notes can still refer to the source.

Listen for complete names, numbers, sentence endings and overlapping speech. A transcript is a separate task and needs review against the recording, particularly where audio is unclear. The interview transcription guide provides a practical review workflow.

Common questions

Can I record a remote call with a browser voice recorder?

The Saturalabs recorder captures the microphone selected by the browser or system, not the other participant's app audio. Use the meeting service's appropriate recording feature or another supported setup and test both sides.

Do I need two microphones?

Not always. A single phone or recorder can capture a useful in-person conversation if both voices are clear. Separate suitable microphones can provide more control, but require correct setup and checking.

Can background noise always be removed afterward?

No. Cleanup or isolation can reduce some competing sound but may leave noise or alter words. A quieter room and a saved test usually provide a better starting point.