A lot of CMTO students ask us about what kind of recording equipment they should buy. There are so many recorders out there it is difficult to know where to start. Without a doubt if you are producing a feature or documentary you need a microphone and a recorder that produces a pristine, warm sound. Using an iPhone or similar recorder will reallly not give you the quality you are looking for- remember this is not a fast turnaround, short news story you are making.

We are great believers in the idea of not producing something which someone else has already done well and our colleagues at Transom.org have put together a comprehensive guide on microphones, recorders and software. There are also sections on editing and mixing in the guide and getting started with your story.