Because technology changes so quickly we won’t attempt to give up–to– date information on the best equipment to buy. But here are some general considerations to think about:

• Your group should find an organization such as a museum or archives that can store your recordings safely. Oral history professionals recommend that you talk to the archives before you buy equipment and ask them what type of recordings they can support. Then you can buy the recording equipment that suits their storage system.
• Contact the Culture and Heritage Division of The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY) to find out where recordings from Nunavut are currently being stored. Then you can get in touch with that organization to find out about their storage system. CLEY web site: www.gov.nu.ca/cley – click on Culture and Heritage. Phone: 867-975-5524
• Oral history professionals recommend that, if your budget or experience is limited, choose analog over digital media. In other words, choose recording equipment that uses reel to reel or cassette tapes instead of MP3 or CD systems. Digital media are constantly changing and you will have the expense of changing your computer system and software to match. The tapes can be digitized later.
• Cassette tapes don’t store well; they require maintenance. But you can record on cassette tapes and later transfer to reel to reel or digital media for storage.
• You could contact CBC in your region for technical advice. They may be able to suggest the best equipment to buy or help you transfer from one media to the other.

How Can We Get Recording Equipment for Our Oral History Project?

• If the funding program allows you to purchase equipment, include the purchase price in the budget of your proposal. Buy your own equipment to use in current and future oral history projects.
• Talk to the institution that your literacy group is connected with. Persuade them that oral history projects are valuable and that they should support the collection of oral histories by purchasing recording equipment from capital budgets.
• Check with the group members to see how many have their own audio or video recording equipment.
• Ask big electronic stores in the south if they would agree to lend or donate equipment for your project. You could offer them publicity – get your story in the media: “Future Shop Supports Innovative Inuit Literacy Project”!
• Ask to borrow equipment: from schools, IBC, CBC, stores (they may be reluctant to do this, since they need the equipment themselves).

What Equipment is Needed for an Oral History Project?

• Buy, rent or borrow the best quality equipment you can afford. With a good quality recording, the information will be preserved for the future. You will also be able to create public presentations that are clear and easy to listen to.
  • If you are buying for a group, it’s better to have just one or two good quality recorders to share than to have a lot of cheap recorders.