Wanted Phone Patch

Deby Cedars · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 1482

I'm thinking about buying a phone patch. How much should I expect to pay.....and is a used one a good idea? Question

Kara Edwards · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 347

A headset is $40, does the same thing, and is easier to opperate...just fyi.

JK Audio has a hybrid unit that is good. It's about $400 (I think, this is off the top of my head)

Used is always good! Check and see if there is a return policy, or any type of gaurantee. And think, you'll be saving the earth one used piece of equipment at a time Smile

Good luck!

Bob Bair · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Posts: 274

Kara is right on all points. I have been able to get away with a nice headset for the phone as my phone patch for a couple of years.
JK has a couple of different models, all good devices IMHO. The AutoHybrid is only around $175, Broadcast Host model for $495. I'm sure you will get other recommendations.

Don Randall · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008, 00:37 (GMT) Post subject:

Plantronics makes a nifty little device that has a hanger which loops around the ear and holds the earpiece in place - and fits very nicely under your headphones and the mouthpiece can be positioned just off to one side of your mouth.

You can hear the person on the other end and he or she can hear you, but since it is not plugged into your record/playback gear, nothing from the other end can possibly make it's way into the audio you are recording.

It works well and it costs around $20 at Best Buy.

John Wiik · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008, 03:46 (GMT) Post subject: Phone patch

I had to get a candidate recorded on a phone patch for a spot. My eyes were bigger than my wallet--but I saw a bright future of political spots and endless money.

I went out and got a Gentner DH20 digital phone hybrid. Brilliant sound. The phone clarity is unreal--especially when you use the auto mix-minus feature. Sure, it was $1000 and I made $250 on the job. I got a great sounding spot and a happy elected politician.

If you do get a lot of phone patch requests AND you wish to do some interview recordings for podcasts or specialty commercials down the road, talk to your local radio station engineer. Occasionally old analog hybrids are discarded for the new digital ones. If you play with the settings on the old hybrids, they still can sound pretty decent--but if it's only for phone patch direction--stay with the headset or the cheap alternative until you can justify it completely--especially if you have to pay someone to install it.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008, 04:03 (GMT) Post subject:

People, people, people...SKYPE.

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505

Erik Sheppard · **Voice Talent** Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1317

This may also be of interest for Skype users:
http://www.pamela-systems.com/