Skype has become the method for video conferencing since first arriving on the VoIP scene more than decade ago, greater furthered by a $8.5-billion buyout three years ago from the formidable tech giant known as Microsoft. It’s a quality application, whether utilizing the freemium or premium incarnation of the software, and a peer-to-peer service perfectly equipped to handle all manners of communication through its extensive text, audio, and video functionality. However, despite the application’s phenomenal feature set, the software has never touted innate options for recording calls. It’s much-sought feature, one well suited for recording podcast content, interviews and the like, without ever having to engage with the recipient in face-to-face (or at least in person). Fortunately, that’s where third-party software comes in.
From the affable MP4 Skype Recorder to the basic Call Recorder for Skype, the Web is brimming with quality offerings for recording calls. Some offer features for recording both audio and video calls, others are merely restricted to audio only, but all of them provide at least some means of capturing long-distance conversation with little fanfare and even less of a footprint on your computer’s memory. Like any call, the quality will ebb and flow — whether recording video or audio — but you’re more likely to capture better quality if you opt for premium application in lieu of a trial version or free offering from a lesser-known developer.
Here’s our guide on how to record a Skype call, whether using a paid or freemium application for either Windows or Mac OS X.
Disclaimer: The legality of recording phone calls differs from location to location. In most states, it’s considered illegal to record a phone conversation without first obtaining permission from the party you wish to record, and such being the case, it’s best to always formally ask for permission and record said acknowledgement for your own protection as well as others. Be sure to check the local laws in the jurisdictions in which each party member resides for further clarification.
Record using MP3 Skype Recorder (Free)
Step 1: Download and install MP3 Skype Recorder — Navigate to the main MP3 Skype Recorder homepage, click the green Free Download button near the center of the page and follow the on-screen installation instructions once downloaded. Afterward, launch Skype as you would normally. MP3 Skype Recorder is free for private, non-commercial use and features both automatic and manual recording capabilities in addition to a few other notable features.
Step 2: Make the phone call — Assuming the person you wish to call is already featured in the Skype contact list, select the contact’s name from the left-hand navigation column and click the green Call button near the middle of the page when viewing said contact’s profile. MP3 Skype Recorder will automatically begin recording the conversation once the call is accepted — a small window will appear in the bottom-right corner of the desktop indicating the recording process has begun — and when done, the application will automatically title and save an audio recording of the conversation to the desktop. When finished, click the red phone icon to hang up and save the recording.
Record using Pamela (Basic $21/Professional $36/Business $57)
Step 1: Download and install Pamela — Navigate to the main Pamela homepage, click the pink Download now button corresponding to whichever version of Pamela you wish to purchase and follow the on-screen installation instructions once downloaded. Afterward, launch Skype as you would normally. Although the free version of the software does allow for limited audio and video recording — five and 15 minutes, respectively — the premium offerings come coupled with options for unlimited recording, local answering machines and other additional features not found in the freemium version of the software. However, you can always opt for the free, 30-day trial prior to deciding whether to purchase the software.
Step 2: Make the phone call — Assuming the person you wish to call is already featured in the Skype contact list, select the contact’s name from the left-hand navigation column and click the green Call button near the middle of the page when viewing said contact’s profile. Afterward, when prompted, click the Yes button to confirm you wish the record the call. Pamela will automatically begin recording the conversation once the call is accepted, and when done, the application will automatically save an audio recording of call within the Skype Recordings panel of the application. When finished, click the red phone icon to hang up and save the recording.
Record using VodBurner (Free)
Step 1: Download and install Vodburner — Navigate to the main VodBurner homepage, click the the baby-blue Download VodBurner button in the top-right corner of the page and follow the on-screen installation instructions once downloaded. Afterward, launch Skype as you would normally. VodBurner is free and unhindered by usage restrictions, allowing users to record audio and video from either side of the conversation and save it as an MOV, MP4 and M4A among other formats.
Step 2: Log in with your Skype Account — Once launched, enter your Skype login credentials — i.e. your Skype name and password — in the specified field and click the gray Sign In near the bottom of the window. Afterward, allow the application to initialize and restart.
Step 3: Make the phone call — Assuming the person you wish to call is already featured in the imported Skype contact list, hover over the contact’s name and click the green camera icon on the right-hand side of the window. Once the other party has accepted the call, click the circular record button at the bottom of the resulting window to begin recording the conversation. When finished, click the red phone icon to hang up, automatically title and save the recording to a specified save location accessible while hovering over the contact in the main VodBurner window.
Record using Call Recorder for Skype ($30)
Step 1: Download and install Call Recorder for Skype — Navigate to the main Call Recorder for Skype homepage, click the blue Buy button at the bottom of the window and choose your payment method prior to downloading the software and following the on-screen installation instructions. Afterward, launch Skype as you would normally. Aside from fantastic audio and video capturing, Call Recorder for Skype touts additional compression tools, sharing features and a host of options for fine tuning various settings such as audio encoding and voicemail playback. There’s no freemium version of the software — not even a restricted one — but Mac OS X users can always opt for the free, 7-day trial if they’re hesitant to purchase the software without a proper test drive.
Step 3: Make the phone call — Assuming the person you wish to call is already featured in the Skype contact list, hover over the contact’s name and click the green camera icon on the right-hand side of the window. Once the other party has accepted the call, click the circular record button located at the top of the Call Recorder for Skype window to begin recording the conversation. When finished, click the red phone icon to hang up, automatically title and save the recording to a specified save location accessible by clicking the magnifying glass button in the top-right of the main Call Recorder for Skype window.
Post a Comment