[Linganth] [EXT] question on behalf of graduate student

Tue Mar 25 22:21:54 UTC 2025

I was just coming here to say what Alex said better! Here are some specific Zoom, Sony, Marantz, and Tascam recs—all older models but still amazing quality, and they withstand a lot of use and abuse in my lab:
https://ssrc.indiana.edu/facilities/quallab/checkout.html

If your student goes with an external mic, I would recommend an omnidirectional mic designed for conferencing around a table. We used to have a Snowflake mic that was very popular for this, but B&H no longer carries it (could find a used one?). They’re fairly common because they’re heavily used in business environments, although as Alex says, buy up if possible. I would look for something like this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/898865-REG/shure_cvb_b_o_centraverse_12_omnidirectional.html

Best,
Kate

Kathryn E. Graber
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology<https://anthropology.indiana.edu/about/faculty/graber-kathryn.html> and Department of Central Eurasian Studies<https://ceus.indiana.edu/people/current-faculty/graber-kathryn.html>
Co-Director, Qualitative Data Analysis Lab<https://ssrc.indiana.edu/facilities/quallab/index.html>
Indiana University
Member at Large, Society for Linguistic Anthropology (2023-2026)
publications: Mixed Messages<https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501750519/mixed-messages/> | Storytelling as Narrative Practice<https://brill.com/display/title/38668?language=en> | downloadable things<https://indiana.academia.edu/KathrynGraber>
I wish to acknowledge and honor the myaamiaki, Lënape, Bodwéwadmik, and saawanwa people, on whose ancestral homelands and resources Indiana University Bloomington is built.

From: Linganth <linganth-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> On Behalf Of Alexander King
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:48 PM
To: linganth <linganth at listserv.linguistlist.org>
Cc: E. Mara Green <egreen at barnard.edu>
Subject: Re: [Linganth] [EXT] question on behalf of graduate student

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To wit the recommendations for Zoom and Tascam recorders. They are all so good, that something 3-5 years old is still great. Being solid state, there is little to wear out. The built-in mics for the Tascam D40 are really great, but they are not omni-directional. However, if you put the recorder in front of you, they record in stereo in such a way that the audio produced is how you remember the event, which I have found helps recall of who said what when. If they buy an external mic, don’t skimp, spend at least $100 on a good mic. Most importantly, they will want some way to insulate the mic from the table, so that when (not if) someone is tapping on the table it doesn’t sound like an earthquake on the mic. That can be something as simple as a 1’ square piece of carpet underlay.

Alex

On Mar 22, 2025, at 10:34, Stinnett, Ashley - (astinnet) <astinnet at arizona.edu<mailto:astinnet at arizona.edu>> wrote:

Hi Mara,
I agree w/ the other respondent: Zoom products work great and have a variety of options. I would recommend choosing the correct type of microphone, if the participant are sitting around the mic (360 or on 2 sides of a table, for example) then an omni directional microphone or a bi-directional microphone would be appropriate.

Best
Ashley

From: Linganth <linganth-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org<mailto:linganth-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org>> on behalf of E. Mara Green <egreen at barnard.edu<mailto:egreen at barnard.edu>>
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 at 11:23 AM
To: Linguistic Anthropology Discussion Group (LINGANTH at listserv.linguistlist.org<mailto:LINGANTH at listserv.linguistlist.org>) <linganth at listserv.linguistlist.org<mailto:linganth at listserv.linguistlist.org>>
Subject: [EXT] [Linganth] question on behalf of graduate student

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________________________________
Hello,

Asking on behalf of a graduate student currently conducting fieldwork: Are there recommendations for audio recording devices that would work well to record a round table-style conversation among 9-12 people?

Thank you!

Mara

--
E. Mara Green (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
Barnard College, Columbia University

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