How to record family stories and voices

Steps

1. Ask permission

   Explain what you’re recording, who will hear it and where it will be kept. Let the person skip any question or ask you to delete a recording.

2. Choose a quiet room

   Rooms with carpets, curtains and sofas echo less than kitchens. Switch off the television, radio and fans, and silence other phones.

3. Place the microphone close

   A phone or laptop an arm’s length away or closer picks up the voice clearly. Put it on a soft surface so knocks on the table aren’t recorded.

4. Start with something easy

   Open with a photo or a simple question such as “Where did you grow up?”. People relax once they’re talking about a place they know.

5. Record one story at a time

   Short recordings, a few minutes each, about one subject, are easier to label, find and share than a single two-hour file.

6. Label and keep a copy

   Name each recording with who is speaking, the date and the topic, and keep a backup copy away from the device you recorded on.

Prompts that get people talking

• “Tell me about the house you grew up in.”
• “Who is this in the photo, and where was it taken?”
• “How did you and Grandpa meet?”
• “What did your mother cook on Sundays?”
• “What was your first job like?”

There’s a longer list in questions to ask relatives.

Consent and privacy

Treat a recording as the speaker’s story. Ask before recording, before sharing outside the family and before publishing anywhere. Stories often mention living people, health or old disputes, so think about who else is named. If someone asks for a recording to be removed, remove it.

Writing it down

A transcript makes a story searchable and printable, and helps relatives who are hard of hearing. Type it as spoken, then add a short note with names and places that were mentioned so others can follow. Keep the original recording too: the voice carries things the words don’t.

Keeping recordings safe

Phones are lost, replaced and wiped. Keep at least two copies of every recording in different places, for example the original on your computer and a copy in a family archive or backup. Use common formats such as M4A or MP3 so the files will still open in years to come.

Doing this in Family Trees

In the Family Trees web app you can record a memory in the browser from a person’s page, with interview prompts to start from, and the recording is kept with that person next to their photos. On the web, transcripts are typed rather than generated. Recording is included in the Free plan. Read the memories guide for the steps.

Questions

What is the best way to record a grandparent’s stories?

Use a phone or laptop placed close to them in a quiet, soft-furnished room, start with a photo or an easy question, and record short pieces about one subject each. Ask permission first and label each recording afterwards.

Do I need a special microphone?

No. A current phone placed close to the speaker records speech clearly. An external microphone helps in a noisy room, but a quiet room and a close phone matter more.

How long should each recording be?

A few minutes per story works well. Short recordings about one subject are easier to label, find and share than one long session.

Questions? Email support@familytreesapp.com and a person will reply.