How to Record Telephone to a Computer

There are many reasons to record telephone conversations. Some are sentimental, such as a conversation with someone before they go someplace where phones are non-existent. Others are legal, such as keeping records of phone calls. Recording on the computer allows you to make archives that are easily portable and backed-up.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Voice-capable modem installed
• TAD cable
• Sound card with TAD capabilities

1. Connect the line from the phone jack to the computer and the phone. It's possible to set up a computer to receive incoming phone calls with telephony, which you can found in the control panel on most Windows machines. If your computer already acts as your phone, skip to Step 3.
2. Make sure that your phone works as such. If it doesn't, you'll need to make sure that it does prior to moving on, either by correcting the installation or by calling a technician.
3. Run the TAD cable from the modem to the sound card. You can do this personally or have a technician take care of this step.
4. Set all levels for the microphone to reasonable ones (on or about the third notch) for conversation. This makes the audibility in playback understandable. Then, set the recording device as the modem.
5. Send any recordings to a folder, which you can specify as being anywhere on the system.
6. Test the recording by having a friend call you who consents to being recorded. Have her speak for a few minutes and hang up. Go to the folder set up to contain recordings and look for an audio file. Make sure the audio file contains an audible recording.

Tips & Warnings

• Some phones, including cell phones, have a headphone jack that you can simply feed into your computer using a standard audio cable.
• Some programs automatically adjust your volume levels instead of simply saving the audio file directly.
• Don't commit illegal acts. Check with state and federal laws or consult a lawyer to confirm that you're safely within the bounds of the law.

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