There are three main steps:

1. Prepare - Caroline speaks to the storyteller, talking them through the process and gathering information. The storyteller does some homework, and feeds it back to her before the recording session.

2. Record - Caroline and the storyteller spend up to three hours in a recording session - either at their home or over Zoom - as Caroline guides them through their stories. Breaks are taken as necessary, so a total of four hours should be allowed.

3. Edit - Mike does his magic and edis the recording to remove hesitations and unwanted sounds where possible, as well as Caroline's voice.

• We usually suggest a roughly chronological structure as the framework for the audio biography.
• Once a booking is made, Caroline will speak with the storyteller on the phone or via a video. She will offer suggestions and prompts to help them gather their thoughts and decide which stories or elements of your life they would like to share.

• Caroline will guide you through the preparation process. However, we  cannot emphasise enough that preparation is the key to a good audio biography. We will send you some notes with prompts and questions to help you think about what you would like to share. We will also send a background information form to be returned to us, along with the notes that you'll make, to give us an idea of the stories and memories you'd like to record. We recommend that you take the time to really think about the stories you want to tell, and to make adequate notes to help you recall them on the day of the interview.

• Where possible we like to meet our clients in person for their recording. When this is not possible we record via video call. For remote interviews, all you need is a quiet room and a good internet connection that supports video calls such as Zoom. Using a headset is not essential but could help to minimise background noise.

• We aim to respond to your initial enquiry within 48 hours.
• Caroline spends up to three hours recording, which usually results in an edited audio biography of 2-2.5 hours.
• We usually allow two weeks for the final edited copy to be ready for despatch.

• The final edited version of your audio biography will be delivered on a USB memory pen inside a beautiful bespoke maple gift box.  Additional boxes are available for £25 each, plus postage and packing. 
• Upon receipt of your USB memory stick or CD, all you need to do is double click on the WAV file, and your default audio player will open the file and start playing. The digital file can be downloaded and played on any suitable device, eg: a PC/Mac, a tablet or mobile phone,

Incorrect! Every single life is unique and interesting in its own way. For example, just think about how different your childhood was from the life of the previous generation, or the next generation. People born after 2000 cannot imagine life without the internet, a mobile phone, a remote control for the television, a desktop computer or laptop. Many of them will never have bought a newspaper, sent a handwritten letter and watched the daily post for a response, or had to put coins in a pay phone outside their homes. Audio biographies reflect those personal stories, along with societal changes, in a kind of personal podcast.

At The Audio Biographers we value every life.

Caroline wlll spend time on the phone with the storyteller before the recording so they'll have a sense of her as a sernsitive, caring and active listener. 

Clients have reported that the recording itself was a wonderful experience. More than simply recording their stories, they appreciate Caroline's gentle, encouraging and professional manner, along with her expertise and engagement. See comments on the 'What our clients say' page.

Memory can play tricks on all of us, so it is important to note that an audio biography is not a memory test. Nobody is going to fact-check the stories later. What counts is that you tell your stories as you remember them on the day.

Caroline records stories with people of all ages. Some clients have had a health diagnosis that has prompted them to ensure their memories are preserved; a few have been in the early stages of dementia; most are simply people that understand the value of recording family oral histories, their personal stories, so that their voices can always be heard.

Caroline will never ask you to speak about something that you don't wish to reveal or to share. It is completely up to the storyteller - Caroline will be led by you. Equally some people have spoken about difficult events in their lives and have found the process cathartic or healing. It's always the storyteller's choice.

No, for several reasons. People tend to be more self-conscious with a video camera pointed at them, and therefore not as relaxed. With audio, they usually forget that the recorders are even there so it's more liberating. 

Also, video requires different equpment and a different level of editing, which would mean higher costs. We would rather keep it simple and as cost-effective as possible.

Yes. An audio biography makes an excellent and unique gift for someone you care about, whether it's for a special birthday, an anniversary or just because. Anyone receiving an audio biography as a gift will feel seen and valued.

The interviewee has rights under copyright law and owns the copyright in their recorded words spoken on the recording of their life story, which may be retained or assigned (passed) to someone else if desired.

• We understand the importance of confidentiality when recording an audio biography, and every interview is conducted in the strictest confidence.
• We would never pass any information about you or any part of the recorded audio biography to a third party.
• For information about how The Audio Biographers Ltd collects, store and use your personal data, please review our privacy policy.