What is the best way to run audio backup?

Asked by ERussette {60}
8/4/2010 11:19:45 PM

What is the best way to run audio backup? I'm thinking of purchasing Eclipse professional software, but I have a Mira A3, so no audiosync? I don't like interrupting to change tapes either, what should I do?

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Answered by Magic Fingers {161}
8/9/2010 1:55:01 PM

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I am amazed that some people are so vehemently opposed to audio. I have a paperless writer and with no paper notes to refer back to, I want all the backup I can get. I've been a reporter for a long time and I have learned that, guess what, your equipment can fail for no explicable reason! I hook up a little Radio Shack mic to my Diamante as a backup audio file to the audio recorded by my StenoCAT program on my laptop. I use a Sound Professionals USB mic for the laptop.

Bottom line: I use audio backup as a backup. There are not enough hours in the day to spend it re-listening to testimony. My goal of course is to get it all perfectly as I'm writing, but it's sure nice to have that backup when the room erupts into chaos and everyone is talking at once.

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		Vanessa Theisen I have an AWESOME Marantz mp3 digital recorder. You pretty much just turn it on and push record. It`s a little spendy, but worth it. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Shannon Green I have a digital recorder and a wave pedal. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Debbie Santi Vanessa, looking for a new one. Did you buy at Martel? Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Vanessa Theisen Debbie: I did buy it from Marel. It`s a Marantz Model PMD620. It makes mp3, wav or just about any kind of audio file you want. My husband is in the audio business and this is the one we came up with. I LOVE it. If you make a wav file, it can be sync`d with CaseCAT, although I never use the audiosync feature. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Anne Perry It`s been a long time since I bought mine, but I`m pretty sure mine is the Mira A3 and I use it as a backup for my Eclipse. But the best sound is through the Eclipse software on your computer. That`s what I use for my backup and editing with external mics. And then I have the Mira for an extra backup. What`s amazing is how well the sound is magnified through the Mira if you use the external mic and the headphones attached to the Mira. Makes my life sooooo much better with the mumblers. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Caroline Garcia For two-track recording, you can also look into Olympus DS-50. I`ve been using the ZOOM H2 with surround sound recording that works really well. I think ZOOM also has an H4 for four-track recording. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Shannon Green That`s what I have is the Olympus DS-50, and then go to wavepedal.com and buy the pedal. I also have Bose headphones. I live alone, so I have external speakers as well, but when somebody is visiting, or if I`m on a plane and need to work, I take the headphones. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		April Lassiter I probably can`t contribute much on this issue, since I don`t record proceedings. I was mentored by an older lady and was just taught that recorders make lazy reporters.....LOL.....that was the way older reporters were taught. I know that several reporters @ my job have the Mira and somehow have the capability to run audiosync w/their software........you may want to make sure the software has that feature,thus enabling you to be worry free about changing tapes. God bless!! Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Gail Wasik Ouch. Isn`t that your job and what you were trained to do? Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Kimberlee DelleCamelie It`s not. I think AudioSync has created a bunch of new reporters who rely on a crutch. I`ve been reporting since 1994 and never used any kind of a backup at all. If there was something I wasn`t sure of, I`d stop and ask for it to be repeated. I feel like Audio is taking away a reporter`s confidence in running a deposition because they have Audio on. There is no substitute for writing well. You would have no reason to have backup if you write well and have the confidence to speak up during Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Maria Riggs I guess I`m not understanding, but all you need is your laptop (which would have its own mic) loaded with your particular court reporting program which nowadays should all have audiosync capability, and it`s hooked to your writer, and you`re doing your own personal realtime! And no fuss with extra equipment and no interrupting of proceedings to change a tape. You just have to remember to click the button on your laptop to start recording, and nobody knows.I do depos, which I control, of cours Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Sheri Allen Buy Stenovations Digicat software! Great support, cheap, no key and works wonderful! It has audiosync and all you do is place your cursor where you want to hear and it plays back. As for the ones who don`t believe in audiosync, all I can say is technology. No, you shouldn`t rely on your audiosync, you should always write as well as you can, but everyone has days where those fingers and brain just don`t work well together. I use audiosync to scope my job and I can guarantee my transcript Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Eileen O`Toole Thank you, Sheri! Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Laura Klingenberg Fowler Don`t use the Mira audio as your backup. That`s a pain to transfer. Use your program`s audio backup. Even though my computer has an internal mic, it doesn`t pick up sound very well, so I use a small mic from radio shack that I just plug in and set in front of my computer. Nobody notices it usually. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Laura Klingenberg Fowler Don`t use the Mira audio as your backup. That`s a pain to transfer. Use your program`s audio backup. Even though my computer has an internal mic, it doesn`t pick up sound very well, so I use a small mic from radio shack that I just plug in and set in front of my computer. Nobody notices it usually. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		April Lassiter I`m with Kimberly........I`ve been reporting almost 10 years, 7 of that as an Official reporter and never record........I just get it. I think if you start out recording, you`ll depend on it for the rest of your career. Look @ it this way. What would you do if you were called @ a moment`s notice to cover a hearing and had to whisk your machine off to that hearing with no time to grab something to record? You are the Guardian of the Record, not the tape recorder. Build your confidence and lose th Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Debbie Flanagan Bridges searching for court reporters to work for us in NY. Anyone have ay referrals for us? Please ask them to e-mail us at debbie@bridgescourtreporting.com Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Juliana Napoli-Gomer I learned the hard way about ten years ago (when I was at an extremely fast doctor depo, and my audio did NOT work) to never again rely on any audio! Because if it can go wrong, it WILL with me. I never wanted to feel that feeling again of, HOLY SHIT, it did not work! I think I am going to drive my car off the side of a cliff! From then on, I just write for my life. If it is fast, I will ask them to slow down. If I could not understand something, I ask them (politely ;) to clarify Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Rhonda Lindenmeyer Weegar digital recorders are great, but I also love Eclipse audiosync. My scopist uses the digital recorder - sound is much better. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Deirdre Rand I use my CaseCATalyst audiosync and then have an Olympus digital recorder as well. If anyone asks about me recording it, I explain that the actual record is what I am typing, not the audio. The audio is if I am hit by a bus on the way home, another reporter can complete the transcript. I always type as if the audio could go out on me, which it has in the past. I believe the two together make the best record. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Marla Sharp I use Eclipse audiosync and a recording app on my iPhone. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Dee Ayer Marla, an IPhone app recording? No kidding. I wonder if I have one of those on my ITouch. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Marla Sharp HT Professional Recorder is my new favorite recording app. I used to use iTalk, but this HT app is awesomer. It has a conference setting which really works well for depos. Sounds great. Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Maria Riggs Kimberlee, I agree with you! A lot of reporters (new and old) are using the backup recording as a crutch. This has a potential to make lazy reporters, lazy meaning not keeping the mind focused on the words. One time I was shocked when a firm called and asked me to cover the rest of a depo in progress because the reporter wanted to leave because her audio recording stopped working!! Can you imagine that! (I declined) Here was a reporter who lacked the confidence to do her job for which s Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Debbie Kniesser Knapp I just recently graduated and am sitting-in before I actually start working. I see how you can control a witness by asking them to slow down, or repeat their answer, or even asking an attorney to repeat a question, but how do you control the colloquy, when the attorneys are just talking really fast .... almost at the same time????? Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Theresa Ferris Bartels In my experience, attorneys and witnesses have never slowed down when I have asked them especially when they`re talking over each other. Usually the faster the attorney speaks, the more the witness and attorney overlap. I had one attorney say to me when I asked her if she could slow down a bit during a breast cancer malpractice case, I`m sorry, I don`t think I can. I then asked the witness to pause before answering. I have a three strikes you`re out rule...if I have to ask more than three ti Thursday, August 05, 2010

		Mark Patterson Debbie, when the attys are hashing out objections or arguing and overlapping and all, I politely interrupt and say, Excuse me, Counsel. I really want to get every word of your objection, but I NEED you to please speak one at a time. Usually they want to hear themselves talk, and also get their objection on the record. Sometimes it makes them think about what they`re saying... Hope that helps. Friday, August 06, 2010

		Kimberlee DelleCamelie One last thought, we you use audio sync it`s like you are giving your approval for court reporters to be replaced by digital recordings. You are telling the lawyers and the judges that you`re not good enough to do the job but a machine is. Why even go to school to be a reporter. Become a videographer, less stress I`m sure. Friday, August 06, 2010

		Elizabeth Sherman Well, thanks everyone! I can see all sides of this. I am certified, I do lack some confidence though because I am pretty new and don`t really have mentors to go sit out with, but I also write like there is no audio because I know it`s just for editing after and the record is what I take down. Friday, August 06, 2010

		Laura Kaspszak Elizabeth, I would just call around to the agencies in your area and see if you can do some job shadowing. I`m still in school, but I`m attempting to make contacts with as many people as possible so that I can be ready when school gets out. The people that I have talked to so far have been totally open and really nice about everything! Saturday, August 07, 2010

		Ashley Shugar Marla:Really? Does your phone stay on for the whole depo or can it go into sleep mode and still record? Does it ever drain out? Saturday, August 07, 2010

		Sherry Folchert You can get an audio recorder at Radio Shack for about $60. Works great and records for 11 hours. I use the Start Stop Transcription Program. Been using this combination for years and never had a problem. Monday, August 09, 2010

		Stacey Conaway I`m with Maria Riggs on that one. Great answer! Monday, August 09, 2010

		Connie Versagi Realtime everything and you will have a backup. Couldn`t work in OH unless you realtime every job. Monday, August 09, 2010