Recording Phone Interviews And Taking Live Calls During Podcast Shows

by Cliff Ravenscraft on October 30, 2008

Please note, I do sell all of the pieces of equipment mentioned in this blog post. If you would like know pricing details, please contact me at Cliff@Ravensraft.org.

Please watch this video first and then see the information below the video:

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.

  • Kephren,

    Yes, you can hook a microphone directly up to the broadcast host and it will send that audio down the line to them.

    If you would like to set up a free 15 minute equipment consultation, please click this link to see my available schedule and to book a time for us to talk further.

    http://PodcastAnswerMan.com/schedule

    Note: the program will make you choose at least a 30 minute block of time. Just go ahead and choose a 30 minute spot that works for you.
  • Kephren
    Hello cliff,

    We would like to use this kind of system for our conferencing room.
    We would like to be able to send participant's voice from our room through the phone line. We're planning to have microphone connected to a mixer, and then routing their voice through the phone line.
    In the meantime, we would like to hear the caller's voice in our room (with speakers) like if he was on the phone speaker.
    Could this JK audio do the trick ? Everyone seems to get sound from the caller but there are not more information about sending audio over the phone.

    Thanks !
  • Brad,

    I chose the Broadcast Host based upon price. I purchased this gear when I was still podcasting as a hobby and had very little money set aside in the budget for audio gear.

    Today, I do sell the Telos One as well. However, to this day, when I talk to my clients about the features and the price, everyone has chosen to go with the JK Audio equipment.

    Cliff
  • Brad
    Cliff,
    Why did you decide on the JK Audio Broadcast Host and not the Telos One? The Telos One is about US$100 - US$150 more but it has the digital processing that the Broadcast Host doesn't. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    -Brad
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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!!
  • 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.
  • JB
    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
  • Thanks. I have heard of Talkshoe. Need to try it.
  • Have you considered a Plus Membership? http://gspn.tv/plus
  • 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!
  • Kim
    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.
  • Yes you do... Thanks for purchasing your equipment through me Lisa!!!!

    Cliff
  • 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
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