What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

Audio Recorder and Tapes

	Air Force nurse waits on the tarmac with a patient, DaNang, Vietnam.

We recommend using a light, durable standard audio cassette tape recorder with the following features: built-in microphone, digital tape counter, battery indicator/recorder level and a jack for external microphone (if available).

Make sure your tape recorder can be used both with batteries and wall-outlet electricity.

Even with a built-in microphone, we recommend using an external microphone, rather than a microphone encased in the recorder itself, because it emits the least “hiss” (background noise or machine noise) from within the recorder. Use either a microphone that sits on a table facing the subject or a lapel mike that clips to clothing.

Use only good quality C-60 (30 minutes per side cassette tapes.) C-90 and C-120 cassettes are thinner and tend to stretch and bleed. They also break more easily.

Video Cameras

If you plan to videotape the interview, use a camcorder capable of fairly high picture quality, and if possible at last one external microphone input and a microphone. You will need a tripod as well.

You should also bring along extra batteries, video cassettes and power and extension cords.

Labelling Tapes

It's a good idea to label your first tape before you begin. (This practice will also minimize confusion when you turn over the tape the first time.)

Label each of your tapes this way:

The name of the interviewee
Your name, date and place of interview
Era/Service, i.e. WWII WAC
Length of Interview, i.e. 60 minutes
Number of tapes in sequence, i.e. tape 1 of 2

Before going into the interview, record a brief introduction on Side 1 of the first tape as follows: “My name is Rose Green and I am interviewing my great-aunt Mildred Casey who served in the Women's Army Corps as a driver in World War II. This interview is being conducted October 17, 2002 in San Francisco, California, for the Women in Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc.”