Preserving audio and video interviews: from recording to storytelling
Recording a family history interview is as simple as using a voice recorder on a device such as a tablet or smart phone.
When someone trusts you with their memories—when they sit down in front of a microphone or camera and share their story—you’re holding something precious. But recording a great interview is only the first step. How you handle that recording afterward—from transcription to storage to storytelling—determines whether those memories will endure for years or disappear with a crashed hard drive.
At Modern Heirloom Books, I’ve learned that preserving interviews is as much about care as it is about craft. It’s about listening well, recording responsibly, and treating people’s stories with the respect they deserve.
Best practices for recording family history interviews
1. Recording with intention
The technical setup doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be thoughtful.
Choose a quiet space. Avoid kitchens (appliances hum) and large echoey rooms. Soft furnishings, like curtains or carpets, help absorb sound.
Test before you begin. Record 20 seconds of conversation, then play it back. Adjust mic distance, reduce background noise, and double-check your battery or storage levels.
Back up immediately. Save the file to at least two locations—ideally an external drive and a cloud-based service. Name the file clearly (for example: Interview_MiriamRosen_2025-02-10).
Get permission in writing. Always explain how the recording will be used, and have participants consent—especially important for projects you plan to publish or share.
2. Working with older participants
Many of the most meaningful stories come from older generations—but that also means being sensitive to energy, comfort, and pacing.
Keep sessions short. One hour is usually enough. Fatigue affects memory recall.
Be patient with pauses. Silence often signals deep thought; don’t rush to fill it.
Bring visual prompts. A photo, newspaper clipping, or memento can help unlock memories.
Check the environment. Good lighting, a comfortable chair, and room temperature matter more than you think.
3. Ethical considerations and consent
When you record someone’s story, you become its steward. Handle that role with transparency.
Explain purpose and scope. Let them know whether the recording is for personal use, publication, or archival storage.
Clarify ownership. If possible, have a signed release stating who retains rights to the recording. (At Modern Heirloom Books, the storyteller always does.)
Honor boundaries. If someone asks for a section to be edited or omitted later, do it—no questions asked.
Protect privacy. Store sensitive recordings securely, and think carefully before sharing publicly.
4. Transcribing the conversation
Transcription is where the raw story begins to take shape. While automated tools like Otter.ai, Descript, Zoom, or ChatGPT can help, always review manually to correct errors—especially names, dates, and emotional nuance.
A few tips:
Timestamp key moments. It’s helpful when you later want to pull quotes.
Note tone and pauses. A soft laugh or a long silence can carry emotional weight.
Respect voice. Don’t over-edit for grammar; people’s natural rhythms make transcripts human.
Read aloud. If you’re planning to turn the interview into a narrative piece, read the transcript out loud. You’ll hear the music of their speech—and know which parts to keep verbatim.
5. Storing for the long term
Digital storage is fragile. Protecting your files now ensures they’ll still exist when future generations go looking.
Triple backup. Keep at least one local copy (external hard drive) and two cloud-based backups (like Google Drive and Dropbox, or an archival service such as Backblaze).
Name files consistently. Use clear labels: Lastname_Firstname_Interview_Date.
Store metadata. Keep a simple spreadsheet noting who was interviewed, when, by whom, and where. If you want to go a step further, include key phrases (many transcription software programs now use AI to help with this).
Create a preservation plan. Every few years, check your file formats and transfer them to updated storage—don’t leave them on aging technology. I recommend adding an annual reminder in your calendar for this task, as it’s otherwise likely to fall by the wayside.
6. Turning transcripts into stories
Once transcribed, interviews become rich material for narrative. But they shouldn’t be copied wholesale. Instead:
Look for patterns. Repeated phrases, values, or memories often form a natural thread.
Preserve voice. Keep their expressions and rhythms, even if you edit for flow.
Add historical context. Ground their experiences in time and place—what was happening around them.
Share drafts when possible. Let the storyteller (or their family) review before publishing; it builds trust and ensures accuracy.
Resources for further guidance
If you’d like to explore best practices in oral history and ethical recording, these organizations are invaluable:
StoryCorps
Promotes everyday storytelling and provides interview guides and consent templates.
The Oral History Association
Offers ethical standards, equipment advice, and transcription guidelines.
Library of Congress Veterans History Project
Excellent resource for interviewing veterans and preserving recordings for posterity.
Smithsonian Folklife & Oral History Guide
Comprehensive handbook on oral history methods and cultural respect.
Preserving a recorded story is both a privilege and a responsibility. Technology gives us incredible tools—but it’s the human care behind them that matters most.
When you record a voice, you’re capturing not just sound but presence: the laughter between sentences, the breath before a memory, the emotion carried in a pause. Those moments are what future generations will remember—not just what was said, but who was speaking.
Coming soon…
Once your interview is recorded and safely stored, the next step is bringing it to life. In Part Two, I’ll share three creative ways to transform a raw conversation into a lasting family story.
Learn how to record, transcribe, and store interviews with care. Tips on consent, ethics, and turning audio or video conversations into lasting family stories.