Recording focus group discussion is not easy.
Focus groups are notoriously hard to control and manage. But crucially, you’ll have to record sound from different sources and directions. That’s not easy.
Luckily for you, there’s recording equipment that make recording focus group discussion easier. And that’s my intention, to share with you the best focus group recording devices.
In a previous post, I shared a general outline of how to record a focus group discussion. I listed the 3 things you need to think about while planning your focus groups. I also shared specific recording devices for recording different types of focus group discussions.
But I realized that I didn’t provide researchers with options and recommendations.
Summary: Here’s the Best Audio Recorder for Focus Groups
Sony ICD-ux570 Audio Recorder
A couple of these recorders are great for small sized focus groups. But can also be used to power two ME33 boundary microphones and record slightly larger focus groups. Buy the Sony ICD-ux570 from Amazon.Olympus ME33 Boundary Microphone
The best microphone for recording medium and large focus groups; works well with the Zoom H1n digital recorder. Buy Olympus ME33 from Amazon.Zoom H1n
With the 2.5v plug in power output and USB charger (5v) capabilities, this is a great digital recorder for powering more than two ME33 boundary mics and recording your larger focus group. Buy Zoom H1n from Amazon.
Before I get to that, there are a couple of general tips that I want to share with you on recording focus groups. And they stem from a realization that most researchers see focus groups as a way to collect rich data in less time and with less effort.
How naïve!
When it’s time to get the FGs transcribed, researchers get in touch – looking to hire us to transcribe the focus group discussions for them. And there’s usually a bit of back and forth as we try to manage expectations on the quality of the data/transcripts that they’ll get from their poorly recorded focus group discussions.
If there is one thing that I’d like you to take away from this post, contrary to popular opinion, is that to conduct a good focus group, you’ll need to do a lot of planning – which takes time and resources. So here are my top 2 tips to get you started:
A Couple of Tips
Visit the Venue
A preliminary visit to the room where you are going to record the focus group is a must! I can’t over stress this. Unless you are very familiar with the location where you’re going to record the focus groups (which means that it’s not a neutral location – and you should not be using it to conduct the focus groups), you should plan for a preliminary visit to the room.
Once you visit the room, there are a lot of things you need to check. I’m only going to touch on those that determine the quality of the recording, (but do make sure that the room puts your participants at ease and that they’ll be comfortable).
The first thing you’ll need to check is background noise.
Does sound come from adjacent room, or from a busy highway? Fans and air conditioning create a lot of background noise. So you might want to move them around or switch them off or at least set them at a lower setting.
You also want to visit the venue at around the same time of the day – and preferably on the same day of week, as when you intend to conduct the focus groups. The local marching band might be practicing in the adjacent room – happened to me.
Finally you want to have at least one alternative venue where you can conduct the focus group discussion is case there is an issue with the primary venue. If you don’t, and maybe your primary room is locked, you’ll be in a bind.
Do a Test Recording
Again this is a must. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the equipment and make sure that it works. And the test recording doesn’t have to be long, 5 minutes should suffice to let you know that you can capture audio from all the participants.
When you visit the venue of the focus group discussion, you’re likely to be accompanied by your moderator and maybe someone from the venue (receptionist, librarian etc). Kindly ask them sit around the table and record the interaction whilst you monitor the recording.
If you also plan to conduct research interviews, you’ll use the same equipment, for instance the Sony ICD-ux570, to record your interviews ( and here is a great post, with additional interview recording tips, on choosing the best voice recorder for interviews). Interviews are easier to manage and you should use that opportunity to get to know your recording equipment. If possible, conduct and record a few interviews before your first focus group discussion.
Finally, most participants are uneasy about being recorded. From my personal experience, let them play with the recording equipment beforehand. The first focus group I conducted, I was a nervous wreck. One of my key informants noticed this and got me talking about my new mini-cassette recorder. As the rest of the participants walked in, we passed it around, and they all joined in the discussion and that was a great ice breaker. Try it!
Best Audio Recorder for Focus Groups
1. Sony ICD-ux570
The Sony ICD-ux570 is the recorder you’ll want to get if you plan on recording small sized focus group discussions. Its greatest selling point is the ability to record high quality sound files in the .wav format and that you can visually monitor the microphones input on the screen. Great for doing that test recording I talked about.
My only concern is that it comes with 4GB of internal memory. That’s about 6 hours’ worth of good high quality recordings. You may want to get a 64 GB MicroSD card as additional memory. Here’s a detailed review of the Sony ICD ux570. For small focus groups, you’ll want to buy at least a couple of these recorders so that you can clearly capture all the participants. For slightly larger focus groups in a roomy location, get a couple of ME33 boundary mics and use the Sony ux570 to power them. Buy Sony ICD-ux570 from Amazon.
2. Olympus ME33 Boundary Mic
While a couple of Sony ux570s are perfect for recording small focus group discussions, they are not great for medium to large focus groups. And that’s because the internal microphones cannot cover a wide area without picking up a lot of background noise.
I realize that this is a post of audio recorders, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the only device you can use to audio record medium and large focus groups: boundary microphones.
The Olympus ME33 boundary microphones captures very little background noise, but captures distant voices very well. And you can connect up to 6 microphones using its daisy chain capabilities. All that equates to very large coverage.
That makes the Olympus ME33 boundary microphone perfect for recording audio in large meeting or conference rooms. The only downside: you’ll need a digital recorder that provides plug in power.
Let me repeat that.
The ME33 will not work unless you connect it to a digital voice recorder that provides plug-in power.
Depending on your location and number of participants, you have a couple of options. If you plan to use only a couple of boundary microphones (covers about 40sqft), use the Sony ICD-ux570 to power them. I’ve tested this setup and it works very well. If you plan to use more than a couple of the ME33 boundary microphones I recommend the Zoom H1n.
Here is a detailed review (with a few tips on how to set them up) of the Olympus ME33 boundary microphones. To reiterate, if you need to effectively cover a large recording area, get the ME33s (at least 2 of them) coupled with a digital recorder to power them. Buy Olympus ME33 boundary mics from Amazon.
3. Zoom H1n
Coupled with the Olympus ME33 boundary microphones, the Zoom H1n is the recorder I recommend for recording medium to large focus group discussions: whenever you daisy chain more than a couple ME33 boundary microphones. The main reason why I recommend the H1n is because it will output enough power to 6 ME33 boundary microphones without loss of sensitivity.
Not only does the Zoom H1n output 2.5v plug-in power, but you have the added advantage of being able to power it using a 5v USB charger. As opposed to batteries (which reduce power output as they discharge), you’ll be able to provide optimal power to your ME33 boundary microphones. Perfect!
Now, the Zoom H1n does not come with a USB charger, that’s sold separately in an Zoom APH-1n Accessory Pack (amazon link). But any 5v USB charger works (my phone USB charger works great). And you’ll also need to buy Micro SD card to store the recording (here’s one (Amazon link) that I use on my H1n).
I recently penned a detailed review of the Zoom H1n, but let me highlight a few other great features of this recorder. You can record high quality sound using the Zoom H1n 96 kHz 24 bit Wav format. You can visually monitor the stereo mic inputs onscreen. Also monitor the recording, while the recording is ongoing, with a pair of headphones (great if you have a dedicated assistant to record your focus groups)… Great professional quality digital recorder that I recommend for powering more than two ME33 boundary microphones. Buy Zoom H1n digital recorder from Amazon.
That’s it for this post. I hope you’ve found it useful. If you have any questions, post them in the comment section below. I do read all of your comments and endeavor to answer all of your questions. All the best in your research.
Thank you for such useful blogs about recording focus groups! I am nervous about the sensitivity of the Tascam and want to purchase the Sony recorder you recommend because I may not be able to control background noise in some of our groups. The problem is that I’ll be recording for a group of 12 and from your advice should use boundary mics. Is there an external power source that can be used with the Olympus boundary mics if I get the Sony recorder?
Hey Elena. No, you cannot get an external power source for the Olympus boundary mics. And yes, for a group of 12 participant I’d recommend that you use at least 3 boundary mics to record the focus group. When using boundary mics, don’t worry about the ultra sensitive Tascam built in mics – they are automatically turned off!. The Sony ICD-UX560 has a powered mic jack. But Sony does not say how much power the jack can output (I’ll rig something up and test). I know the Tascam has a max output of 1.7 volts, which is more than you’ll… Read more »
Isaac, I am a complete newbie when it comes to recordings. I have a group of 12-20 I want to record in a series of meetings- a focus group I guess. I am not sure what you mean by boundary microphones. Where do you purchase these? I know Amazon has the Tascam. Where can I find help on setting something like this up. What kind of store?
You can get the ME33 boundary mics on amazon – here’s the to the Amazon link.
And they are very easy to set up – just plug them into a recorder and press record. This is a great how to post.
I don’t know of any physical stores that sell these.
If you have any issues setting them up, let me know and I’ll be glad to help.
Regards,
Isaac
Isaac –
First, THANK YOU for this awesome post. It’s exactly what I needed for a project I’m undertaking.
Question: Did you happen to test the Sony with a daisy chain of six boundary mikes to see if it outputs enough to power them?
I’m preparing to record a series of focus groups over the next eight weeks and need to make certain we get the audio recorded.
Hey Cheryl. Yes, been testing them for the last 1 month or so. Can the Sony power 6 daisy chained ME33 microphones? Yes it can. But the bad news is, I found there was a loss in power supplied to the mics after about 45 minutes = the mics recorded at a lower volume (decreased sensitivity). So I wouldn’t recommend you use the Sony to power up 6 boundary mics. Instead, I now recommend the Zoom H1n, which you can power up using a USB charger. I recently recorded a stakeholders meeting that lasted all day. I powered the H1n… Read more »
MIght you be able to suggest a specific 5v USB charger that you like?
I’ll add a link (in the post) to the Zoom H1n accessories pack, because I think it offers the best value. It comes with an USB charger and cable, carrying case for the H1n, tripod and a few other accessories. Definitely worth it.
I am new to running focus grous and plan to use my iphone6 S–do these mics plug into phones?
Sandy, no they don’t. These boundary mics need plug-in power. Which means that they need to be supplied with power in order for them to function. They don’t need much power, but they will not work without a power supply. I don’t want to get into the reasons why they wont work (unless you want to be geeked out with ohms/impedance), but they are built to be powered by a digital recorder that outputs power via the mic 3.5mm input. As I stated in the post, depending on the number of ME33 you’ll want to use, the Sony ux560 or… Read more »
Hi Isaac, Thank you for this great post. I am about to embark on a research project using focus groups for the first time. I expect my groups to have (roughly) 7 to 10 people and think I will be able to find a relatively cozy space for recording somewhere on my university campus. Would you consider this a small focus group? I am a little bit intimidated by the Zoom H1n (and technology generally). Do you think a couple of Sony ICD-UX560s with Olympus ME33s will work? How many of each device do you recommend? (I don’t really understand… Read more »
Hi Michelle. Good question. I’d classify that as a medium sized focus group. But from my experience conducting focus groups, 7-10 usually turns out to be 3-6; you’ll plan to conduct a medium sized focus group, but you’ll actually conduct a small sized focus group. But more importantly, it all depends on where you are going to conduct the focus group. Proximity to the microphones and room acoustics are the two important factors. For instance, if you find a little cozy room, with some furniture in it, and fits 10 participants (and everyone else in your team), then yes a… Read more »
Hi There, I am conducting focus group with 4-7 people. I have an Olympus VN- 8500PC voice recorder. Do you know which microphone I can pare with this?
I’m guessing the Olympus ME33 Boundary Microphone won’t work?
Peigi, the ME33 would probably work – I’ve not used them on the 8500PC, but they should work. However, replacing the Olympus VN- 8500PC with a newer/better recorder will probably get you better audio than buying microphones. If I may ask, why do you want to use the Olympus VN- 8500PC to record focus groups?
Isaac
Hi, thanks for making such useful posts! This is exactly what I need for my dissertation. I was planning on doing focus groups of 7-10 people and getting the Sony ICD PX-470. It would be in a small furnished living room setting. Would you still recommend the Sony ICD UX-560 for this case or would the PX-470 work fine?
thanks!
Juliana, a couple of the PX470 will work fine; with a few caveats: the PX470 does record a lot more background noise than the ux560, so you’ll need a quiet location. And keep in mind that you’ll also need to combine the 2 recordings into 1, which you can do in Audacity, before transcription. Ideally, a couple of the Me33s and the ux560 is what I’d recommend for a 7-10 people focus group.
All the best,
Isaac
Hello, Isaac – really glad I came across your posts, learning a lot from them! I am a postdoc researcher new to qualitative research and am preparing to start a project in Zambia in which I will conduct focus groups discussions and one-on-one interviews. Based on your recommendations, I am planning to purchase the Sony UX570 recorder. I will have 3 Zambian research assistants working with me (they will primarily be the ones moderating the focus groups, and will conduct the interviews on my behalf). My main concern is making sure I have the appropriate equipment to record clear audio… Read more »
Hey Frances. Let me start with equipment recommendations and then I’ll answer your specific questions. So, you have two choices. 1. You can use multiple recorders, placed around the room, to record your focus groups. If you plan to go down this route, please note that you will need to synchronize and merge your FG recordings. To assist with that, you will need to clap sync at the beginning of each recording. I’d start recording on all the recorders, then clap once, then place them in the room. You’ll need to be very organized to keep tabs of every recording,… Read more »
Hi Isaac, thanks so much for your response – it really gave me a lot to think about, and I sincerely apologize for my delayed response! When I originally wrote that I would have 15 participants per FG, I was thinking that I would arrange them in desks placed in rows, like in a classroom (the majority of the FGs will be taking place in schools) – however, another colleague has since pointed out that having desks arranged in a circle, or participants gathered around a large table, will be more conducive to discussion. In light of that, I think… Read more »
Yeah, I think 4 recorders would be enough for a 20 feet by 20 feet room. Optimal distance for these recorders is around 10 feet in diameter, though you also need to be aware of background noise (mainly from outdoors – open windows etc). And try and get rooms that have a good amount of furniture in them – it will reduce reverb and echo in your recordings. Also get an extra recorder in case of failure – the recorders I recommend are very reliable, but accidents do happen; I’d recommend you get a spare recorder. I am planning to… Read more »
Awesome, thanks so much – I’ll look forward to your future posts about the microphones! I was also reading through your recommendations for microSD cards – I see for the UX570, you recommended getting the Samsung EVO Select SDXC 64 GB card. When I click on the link in your blog post, it takes me to a page for that product priced at $28/card, but there is also a link on that product page to a newer model priced at only $11/card. I compared them side-by-side and they seem to be basically the same – is there any reason why… Read more »
Get the newer model. I’ll try and update the links on the blog to the newer microSD card.
I try and keep the links in the UX570 accessories page up to date.
And you should read this post on buying microSD cards for your recorder.
Thanks so much. One last question for now – I’m back to waffling a bit between the multiple recorders vs. boundary microphone approach. With this smaller FG setup (10-12 people in a 20×20 foot room), I wanted to get your thoughts on whether 4 boundary microphones would be sufficient in that case? And would I be able to use the UX570 with 4 ME33s rather than the H1n? From what I’ve read about the H1n it seems a little intimidating, so I’d rather stick with the UX570 if it’s feasible. So in this scenario I’d have 1 UX570 hooked up… Read more »
Yes, 4 would work. The limiting factor with the ME33s is the 6.5feet cable. My guess is that a couple of the ME33 would also work, they have more coverage than the UX570 recorders. For more than a couple of ME33s, I’d recommend the H1n. The main concern with using the UX570 is you need to hook it up to a power source. But it’s not advisable to use devices while charging them – especially for long duration. Yes, the H1n looks intimidating, but I’ve found it’s actually easier to use than the UX570 – I’ve been meaning create a… Read more »
Thanks, Isaac – after reading through all your posts and comments, numerous reviews, etc., I think I’m now convinced on getting a Zoom H1n and 4 boundary microphones after all. There’s one thing I’m confused about, though – in your last comment, you wrote that it’s not good to use devices while charging them, in this case the UX570. I’m assuming the concern here is that hooking up the UX570 to more than 2 microphones would drain the battery too fast, but that connecting the UX570 to a powerbank to maintain charge while it’s in use would be bad for… Read more »
Yes it does. You can’t charge batteries with the H1n, but you also can power the H1n without batteries. The UX570 comes with an internal battery, and my understanding is that you can’t directly power the UX570 – you charge the battery that powers the recorder. The boundary microphones do draw power from the recorder, though not a lot. But if you connect a lot of them, they obviously draw more power (I estimated that 6 ME33s triple the load on the UX570 battery). The problem with batteries is output voltage decreases as they discharge, and that does affect the… Read more »
Hi Isaac, thanks for this useful post. I am wondering whether you have an update on the post by now, so would you suggest different devices at this point of time to use for a focus group between 6 and 20 people than the Zoom H1n, splitter, 2-6 Olympus ME33 Boundary Mic, 5v USB charger, and Micro SD card? Which splitter would you suggest to buy? I read something about the Zoom H4nPro and wonder whether this would be a better choice than the zoom h1n?
Hey Katharina, I have been planning an update for this post for a while now. There is one issue (I need to talk to an electronics engineer) I need to figure out and then I’ll update the post. But the general gist of the post still holds in late 2021. Zoom H1n is a good all round recorder for focus group discussions. Unless you need the XLR capability or multi channel recording (maybe for a podcast side hustle), the H4n Pro is not much better than the H1n. ME33 are still the best boundary microphones for recording FGs. I’ve been… Read more »