Additional Recording Guidelines

RECORDING ENVIRONMENT

The room in which the speakers are recorded should be quiet and free from distractions. Make sure that:

  • no other people are present,
  • the windows are closed to minimise noise from outside,
  • all devices that produce sound, such as radios, ventilation systems and air-conditioning units, are switched off,
  • there is no noticeable echo in the room, which can occur in very small or sparsely furnished spaces.

If you are not taking part in the conversation, leave the room during the recording or remain quiet in the background.

POSITIONING THE RECORDING DEVICE

Make sure that:

  • the recording device is placed on a stable surface,
  • the microphone is as close as possible to the speakers’ faces; you can use an improvised stand if necessary,
  • no one moves the microphone while the speakers are talking.

RECORDING SETTINGS

The recording may be either audio or video. Use the highest possible recording quality and an uncompressed format. The recommended audio settings are:

  • WAV,
  • mono,
  • 44.1 kHz,
  • PCM,
  • a recording level between -6 dB and 0 dB.

The recording level is best checked using the level meter displayed on the recording device or in the recording software. If the signal is too quiet (-12 dB or lower), increase the microphone sensitivity or input level. If the level repeatedly reaches 0 dB, reduce the sensitivity or input level.

EDITING RECORDINGS

The final recording should be between 5 and 90 minutes long. There is no problem if the participants start talking before the actual recording begins or continue talking after it ends. In fact, this can help create a more relaxed atmosphere and is recommended. In such cases, trim the beginning and end of the recording before submitting it.

If there are pauses of more than one minute during the recording, you may also remove them. However, recordings should be edited as little as possible.

Do not make any other changes to the recording. Submit it in essentially the same form in which it was recorded.

You can use Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/) or another suitable application to edit the recording.

SEND US A TEST RECORDING

If you are unsure about the recording quality or settings, you can send us a short test recording of no more than one minute in advance. Send it to govorjena-slo@um.si with the subject line “Test Recording”.