Interview equipment

A small tape recorder with a separate omni-directional microphone usually works best in an interview. Place the microphone so that it picks up all voices, but don't put it where it's intrusive or distracting. Place the recorder near you so you'll have easy access to it.

Turn off radios, televisions, or fans, and remove any other sources of noise that can interfere with your recording. Test the recorder before getting started to make sure it will pick up the interview.

Make sure you have plenty of batteries and tapes, if needed, before leaving home. If your subject is uncomfortable with a recorder, respect his or her wishes and take notes instead. Even if you are taping, you may want to take some notes in case the recording doesn't turn out as well as you expected.