Tools to Record Interviews Using Skype

Last week, I published an article called 5 Online Tools Freelance Writers Can Use to Make Life and Business Easier, which offered my suggestions for free and cheap tools that any freelance writer can try.  One of the items on that list was Skype, which enables you to make free calls (including international calls) from your computer.  Skype is free and not only helps freelance writers manage client communication, but it’s also an incredible tool for conducting audio and video interviews.

Want to see a sample of a video taken via a Skype call?  Check out the videos I took using Call Recorder for Mac (discussed later in this post) for Newstex.com.  The video recording feature in Call Recorder allows you to record both parties on the call (using a picture-in-picture feature) or just one party (which is great for those of us who work at home in our pajamas).  You control everything on your end.  The person on the other end of the call just needs a Skype account, a webcam, and a microphone.

Convinced these tools work well?  Take a look at some of the great choices to record the audio and/or video of your own Skype calls.

1. Call Recorder for Mac

I use Call Recorder and love it!  It’s easy to use, cheap, and takes seconds to install.  You can even download a free demo to give it a test drive before you buy the software.  When you’re ready to buy, it’s only $19.95.

2. Total Recorder

Total Recorder for Windows comes in three versions from $17.95 to $53.95 with the more expensive versions offering more capabilities such as video recording.  Even the base version allows you to record online audio from any source, such as Skype, webinars, and more.

3. Pamela Call Recorder

If you want a free, bare-bones audio recorder that works only with Skype, then the Pamela Call Recorder Skype Extra is a good solution for you!

There are some other options to record Skype calls, but the above are the ones I have used or have heard positive things about from others who have used them.  Do you have a preferred tool for recording Skype calls?  Leave a comment and share your suggestions!

Comments

13 responses
  1. C David Avatar

    I suggest Audio Hijack, which is around $10 – and can be used to capture steaming music and just about any and every sound that passes through your computer. It’s an amazing little program.

    1. Susan Gunelius Avatar

      C David, Thanks for sharing. I haven’t used Audio Hijack, but with your positive review and that great price tag, I definitely have to try it!

    2. Dean Avatar

      Hey C David, thanks for sharing I will look forward about Audio Hijack I think that have good price tag

  2. BA Avatar
    BA

    I have a question related to this article. I’m required to do interviews over the phone or over Skype for work, and the company would like to start recording these interviews (with consent, of course!). What will give us the highest quality? A Skype recorder? An in-line landline recorder? A cell phone hookup? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks for the article, Susan!

    1. Susan Gunelius Avatar

      BA,
      I think an in-line landline recorder would give you the best quality, but I get great quality from Call Recorder for Mac using Skype. As long as both participants have decent microphones, the quality is very good.

  3. Aaron Avatar

    Thanks Susan, I’ve never had a problem with Pamela (for audio) and have used it for quite a while now. It does what its supposed to do and works great.

    1. Susan Gunelius Avatar

      Aaron, Thanks for sharing your experience with Pamela. I haven’t used it myself, but I’ve heard a lot of people say great things about it! 🙂

  4. Kevin Freeman Avatar

    While I love the idea of Skype, I have encountered numerous glitches such as frequent call drops and glitchy sound while trying to use it as an interview tool. As of yet, I haven’t found any good fixes for the problems, and many of my friends and family have experienced the same. Does anyone know of a way to make Skype more stable?

    I always figured it was because I’m not a paying subscriber, but I never could bring myself to actually pay for a glitchy service.

    1. Susan Gunelius Avatar

      Kevin,
      I’m not sure. I’ve used Skype for quite a while (the free version), and I’ve never had a call dropped or bad sound quality unless one of the participants’ microphone or headphone had a problem. You might want to take note of what you’re doing, the equipment you’re using, and when the problem happens and contact Skype to see if they have any ideas as to why you keep having problems. There are some other voip providers, but I haven’t used those so I’m not sure how well they work.

  5. hiten Avatar
    hiten

    mmm…interesting, but as for me I record with IMCapture for Skype ( http://www.imcapture.com )

  6. Dina Legos Avatar
    Dina Legos

    To this improvising bank i cna also tell you about TalkAide for Skype. It’s Skype video and audio recorder and also has a “sharing option”. You can simply share your most intresting tlaks to another people!) http://www.talkaide.com/TalkAide_for_Skype/

  7. Fedya Antonov Avatar
    Fedya Antonov

    as for me – i prefer IMCapture for Skype recorder.
    Nice design and low price!
    http://www.imcapture.com/IMCapture_for_Skype/

  8. James Piper Avatar

    Great post with good information looking foward to more

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