Record or Take Notes?: What are the Pros and Cons

André Bastié
André Bastié
Posted in Subtitles
2 min read
Record or Take Notes?: What are the Pros and Cons

What are the pros and cons of recording and note-taking? Which one is right for you?

When conducting an interview which is better: using a digital voice recorder or taking notes the old-fashioned way with a pen and paper.

A recent article by the Columbia Journalism Review showed some interesting results on what top journalists and writers prefer:

So the long answer, which is better seems to depend on the individual, the situation, and the type of writing you are doing. So what are the pros and cons of both recording and note-taking and which one is right for you?

Note-Taking

A notebook and a pen or pencil have long been the go-to tools for any interviewer. Whether you are a journalist, a researcher, or a student, it’s unlikely you would sit down to conduct an interview without some way to manually jot down details. Note-taking remains the only way some individuals will interview for these reasons:

Pros

But note-taking has its downsides too:

Cons

Recording

Whilst note-taking may be the time-honoured way to interview, it certainly isn’t the easiest. Many journalists and researchers swear by using a digital recorder, or their smartphone, to capture interviews. After the interview, the recording is easily converted from audio to text using automatic transcription. In a few short minutes, you have a word-for-word account of what is said. Other benefits of recording include:

Pros

Using a digital recorder has it’s downfalls too:

Cons

Which Would You Choose?

As detailed above, the way to capture details from an interview vary, and different people find different methods work best for their needs.

Note-taking is great for impromptu interviews. However, digital recorders with an automatic transcription are essential if you are conducting a long, technical interview.

Personally, I believe the hybrid method is best. Record every time you can to capture detail, but take notes as well just in case your digital recorder malfunctions.

If you need help in converting your interview audio to text, then contact us at Happy Scribe.

Related posts

What is the Best Subtitle Font? (Top 5)

What is the Best Subtitle Font? (Top 5)

André Bastié
André Bastié
Posted in Subtitles
2 min read

Your subtitles need to be readable and perfectly synced with the video and perfectly follow the reading skills of your audience. For example, you don't make subtitles for adults the same as subtitles for children.

How to add subtitles

How to Add Subtitles to your Video

André Bastié
André Bastié
Posted in Subtitles
5 min read

Not sure how to add subtitles to a YouTube video? In this article you will find some of the best and easiest ways to add captions to videos.