Street Epistemology/Recording dialogues

Consider recording your dialogues in order to monitor and improve your own performance, solicit constructive feedback, and demonstrate your techniques to others. Another option is broadcasting your dialogues using live-streaming technologies, like Periscope. If you decide to record or broadcast dialogues, here are some tips.

Try to make the process of recording dialogues unobtrusive: if you are distracted by the filming process, it will likely distract your interlocutor as well.

Learn and follow local laws on recording people. Always ask for permission to record and to release the footage on video hosting sites and remove any personal information beyond their first name from the recording. If an interlocutor does not want to be filmed, offer to digitally blur their face and remove even their name from the recording. They may then agree.

Holding the camera in your hand will produce poor quality video. Use something to attach the camera to your body, such as a chest harness. The footage will be more stable and it will free up your hands. A tripod is bulkier to carry around but may allow you to both be in the scene.

Consider factors such as wind and distractions You can modify equipment with a fuzzy wind breaker to reduce wind noise. Pay attention to background noise or unexpected noises, and turn your body so the noise is behind you. If the interlocutor is with friends, ask to move a few steps away to reduce noise and interruptions.

If a bystander insists on standing nearby, despite your requesting a one-on-one interview, you could assign them the task of holding a timer or capturing video from another angle. If the bystander interrupts your dialogue, use hand signals for “later.” Do not turn your head or body towards the interruption, to avoid disrupting the recording of your interlocutor.

An Example Mobile Recording Setup:

GoPro Any model. 720p Wide with Max FPS seems to provide best quality at maximum storage efficiency.
Class 10 micro SD Card 32GB provides 2-3 hours of storage. 64GB recommended. Avoid exposure to liquids and static electricity. Deep format before each use.
GoPro Hero Chest Mount Harness Essential. Allows hands-free use.
GoPro Batteries Charge and leave charging until you are ready to head out. Don’t expect a fully-charged battery to function days after sitting off-charger. Take several batteries with you and change in between talks.
GoPro Case Replace solid, waterproof backing with open backing. Consider drilling holes in case to optimize sound capture. Add wind-reducing baffles to sides and/or backing minimize noise.