newbie help recording

I don't know where you live but in some countries, recording telephone or radio conversations is illegal. Just advising you that what you are doing may get you in trouble.

In some countries, you are required to inform the other party that his conversation is being recorded and his permission has acquired before any recording is done. In others still, a tone is required every so many seconds or minute so that the caller is aware that his words are being recorded.

That said, keeping signals separate is not difficult. On tape machines you can record on different channels. If you have a stereo tape recorder, you can record two signals, one on the left channel and another on the right channel. You won't need anything special.

A way out would be to use separate tape recorders for each signal. An alternative would be to use mpeg players/recorders.

If you want to listen to a track or signal without stopping the recording, you'll need two recorders for each signal. One records continuously while you can stop the other one to play it back. When you're finished listening, just switch it back to record mode.

Further, careful routing of the signal cables (keeping them apart) will help reduce the chance of cross-talk.

A mixer will do the job.

Loads of input channels (all gain adjuctable) 1 output into your recorder. Should be loads out there, from PC cards to stuff for electric guitars,microphones, telecomms...all sorts

Yea,, Our phone will state that all calls are recorded. And here, some things on 2 way radio are required to be recorded, and all members that use the system, will sign in advance that they know all communications would be recorded. This coveres all sides. I am just trying to do this low tech since there is no budget for this at all. Thanks for input and advise. Tom

If you're going digital, then separate sound card inputs that convert to digital separately should do the trick.

L.

Digital recording on a PC is easy.

Modem input can be used for recording phone, audio (line) input for the radio. After that it is software.

If I understand well: you want to use the same input connected to the two devices (phone and radio) and without switching device (only one connecting cable)

You are in trouble: a phone line can't be treated as an audio signal. The signal is superposed on a DC signal, which switched polarity and level depending the state of the line (rest-talking-ringing)

You will need to enter the phone line into a modem card.

What you can do is track the two signals on the phone PCB and tap them there. It is a trick sometimes used to connect a phone to a sound card.

A mixer would do the trick or even something as basic as a switch with three positions radio - off - phone, switch output feeds the audio card. depending on the audio type balanced or unbalanced or digital your switch will need 2 or 3 contacts. You will also need a phone coupler to pass the audio to the mixer or switch. you could probably tap off the phone speaker audio with a little transformer to isolate it in stead of buying a coupler. I believe you can record phone calls as long as you inform the other party that the call is being recorded.