Recording Phone Interviews And Taking Live Calls During Podcast Shows
October 30, 2008 by Cliff Ravenscraft
Please note, I do sell both of the above pieces of equipment. If you would like know pricing details, please contact me at Cliff@Ravensraft.org.
Up to till this time, I’ve been using the JK Audio Broadcast Host to get from my phone line into my mixer. This device allows me to take a single analog telephone line and patch the audio to and from that phone line to my mixer. Basically turning my mixer into the “handset” of the phone. Been working great!
Here’s a diagram of the setup…
Today, I just got a question from a customer who wanted to know if he could use the Broadcast Host to hook up to his ISDN line. The answer is “no” because it is not an analog phone system. I called JK Audio and asked them what they have for this and they told me about the JK Audio InKeeper PBX.
It turns out that the InKeeper PBX is “exactly the same” as the Broadcast Host except that the connection to the phone line happens at the point of the “handset connection” of a standard telephone. This means that the phone is doing the translation from digital to analog signal and the InKeeper PBX plugs in where you would normally plug in the handset and the handset plugs into the InKeeper PBX. (See Diagram) (Note: this does not work with phones where the “dial pad” is in the handset).
Now, what is awesome about this is that with the handset being the point of connection, this means you could have a “multi-line” phone system, hence the name PBX, where you can switch back and forth between multiple phone lines, just like you were do if you were simply using the phone’s handset switching to another line. This is going to fill the need of many of my clients who want to be able to use multiple phone lines to allow for a queue of callers waiting. This also allows for someone on another extension to “pre-screen” those calls as well.
Here’s the diagram of the setup:
Please note, I do sell both of the above pieces of equipment. If you would like know pricing details, please contact me at Cliff@Ravensraft.org.
Cliff Ravenscraft is the founder of the 
Cliff, thanks for taking the time to share and completely diagram this for dummies like me. I need to study it more, but I think, thanks to YOU, I have the technology to pull this off. Thanks! Lisa
Yes you do… Thanks for purchasing your equipment through me Lisa!!!!
Cliff
Any suggestions for using a cell phone to record as opposed to a landline? I want to record calls either from the cell phone … is that possible? Thanks.
If you want to use a cell phone and record the conversation, I’d suggest using a free audio conference bridge. Something like TalkShoe.
Basically, you dial into the number. You have the other person dial into the number, you press the commands to start recording and their software records the audio of the call.
Don’t want to make your interviewee call in? If you have three way calling, you can call the conference bridge, have it start recording. Put that call on hold, dial the person you’ll be talking to and then conference those calls using three way calling.
Hope this helps!
Have you considered a Plus Membership? http://gspn.tv/plus
Thanks. I have heard of Talkshoe. Need to try it.
Great stuff! I have a background in radio. We are planning to set up an onlinetalk show webcast station. The InKeeper looks to be just what we need to make our setup work. We will order the unit through your link.
Thanks for the great info.
JB
I have an audio setup that includes a MacBook Pro, Mackie Onyx 1220 w/firewire, mics, etc. all recording through GarageBand. So far everything is good. My question comes with Skype calls coming in and recording. I have been successful with the actual recordings, but my guests can not hear any additional audio, bumpers, intros, music, etc. They can here my conversation with them, but nothing else. Any suggestions on how to fix this. My mic is on Channel 1, secondary host in studio on Channel 2, audio and skype from laptop on Channel 11&12. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the info you have out here.
Cliff, I can’t thank you enough for posting this information. I wonder if my situation still applies to this diagram – I have the Inline Patch from JK Audio and a Eurorack UB802 mixer. I use Sony Sound Forge software to record audio. I host an internet radio show and we’d like to use the inline patch to record phone interviews as well as allow artists to appear on the show “live”. Can I use the same setup you’ve shown for the Inline Patch?
Thank you!!
Inline patch is great for sending audio out to the phone but it does not do the “digital hybrid” separation of your audio from that of the caller. So when you bring the caller into the mixer, you’re also going to get a portion of your own voice back in on that line.
Cliff
I want to build a simple recording studio in my home for non-profit based talk show I will be hosting. I have ordered large diaphram condensor microphones (2), Pro Tools M-Powered software and M-Audio Track Pro Audio Interface. An important part of the show will be pre-arranged phone interviews. I was looking to purchase the JK Audio Broadcast Host for this purchase, unless you can recommend an alternate (cost effective) application. A diagram to connect these applications would be appreciated. Thank you.