Recording cockpit voices

[Glenn Westfall]

Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.

Thanks,

Glenn

[John T]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message

>
> Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
> an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
> transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.

Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect cable
using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
http://tinyurl.com/36x3c

I typically use a portable intercom that has an audio out jack. I use a
patch cord to connect that to either my voice recorder or my video recorder.
Having the portable intercom handy also provides a battery-powered backup
for the plane's intercom (actually used in that capacity once).

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
____________________

[Chuck]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
> an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
> transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Glenn



Glenn,

Not an answer to your question, but are you in Ft. Worth?

[Jim]

aircraftpatchcord.com I think is where I got my cord, but then to get it to
work I had to replace one of the resistors in it with one of the size that
Gene Whitt used. I use a cheap Panasonic voice activated tape recorder that
will record at 1/3 speed so I can get well over 2 hours on one side of a 90
minute cassette.
--
Jim Burns III

Remove "nospam" to reply

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
> an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
> transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Glenn

[Ben Smith]

> Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect
cable
> using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
> http://tinyurl.com/36x3c

I've made one of these cables, and they work good. I don't mess with tapes,
though. I bought an Olympus DM-1 digital recorder.. With the included 64MB
Smart Media, it will record for 10 hours on best quality. Double that if
you get a 128MB card. (Which is the max you can use). It also plays back
MP3/WMA format music files too.

Here's a small .wav clip from one of my recordings:
http://tinyurl.com/2ycds

--
Ben
C-172 - N13258 @ 87Y

[Ron Natalie]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message ...
> Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
> an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
> transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.
>
Get a small microphone from radio snack. Plug it in to the
tape recorder and stuff the other end into the ear cup of your
headset.

[Andrew Sarangan]

"Ben Smith" > wrote in message >...
> > Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect
> cable
> > using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
> > http://tinyurl.com/36x3c
>
> I've made one of these cables, and they work good. I don't mess with tapes,
> though. I bought an Olympus DM-1 digital recorder.. With the included 64MB
> Smart Media, it will record for 10 hours on best quality. Double that if
> you get a 128MB card. (Which is the max you can use). It also plays back
> MP3/WMA format music files too.
>
> Here's a small .wav clip from one of my recordings:
> http://tinyurl.com/2ycds

I record all my flights with students using a tiny digital recorder. I
have a very simple system that works wonderfully. You don't have to
tap into the intercom system. It is so simple that I record every
single flight, whether it is useful or not. I have written an article
about the setup on my website.

http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation (and click on Cockpit
Voice Recorders).

[Gary Drescher]

"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message
om...
> I record all my flights with students using a tiny digital recorder. I
> have a very simple system that works wonderfully. You don't have to
> tap into the intercom system. It is so simple that I record every
> single flight, whether it is useful or not. I have written an article
> about the setup on my website.
>
> http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation (and click on Cockpit
> Voice Recorders).

That's pretty cool. Even more straightforwardly, if you have a spare
headset and intercom station, you can just give the recorder its own
headset, pressing the two ear pieces together with the recorder in between.
I think I'll try that next time I fly.

--Gary

[Glenn Westfall]

On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 13:17:58 GMT, "Chuck" >
wrote:

>
>"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
...
>> Does anyone know of any adapters or such that would allow hooking up
>> an audio recorder to record all cockpit communications? ie, both
>> transmissions to ATC and conversations to other passengers.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Glenn
>
>
>
>Glenn,
>
>Not an answer to your question, but are you in Ft. Worth?


No...I am in Okinawa at the moment. I am from Southern CA.
>
>

[Glenn Westfall]

After I posted this message I started thinking about it. Would this
work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera. That
shoud do the trick correct? The headphone jack of aviation headsets
are standard size and can be converted to the smaller size.


On 22 Jan 2004 12:26:06 -0800, (Andrew
Sarangan) wrote:

>"Ben Smith" > wrote in message >...
>> > Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect
>> cable
>> > using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
>> > http://tinyurl.com/36x3c
>>
>> I've made one of these cables, and they work good. I don't mess with tapes,
>> though. I bought an Olympus DM-1 digital recorder.. With the included 64MB
>> Smart Media, it will record for 10 hours on best quality. Double that if
>> you get a 128MB card. (Which is the max you can use). It also plays back
>> MP3/WMA format music files too.
>>
>> Here's a small .wav clip from one of my recordings:
>> http://tinyurl.com/2ycds
>
>I record all my flights with students using a tiny digital recorder. I
>have a very simple system that works wonderfully. You don't have to
>tap into the intercom system. It is so simple that I record every
>single flight, whether it is useful or not. I have written an article
>about the setup on my website.
>
>http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation (and click on Cockpit
>Voice Recorders).

[G.R. Patterson III]

Gary Drescher wrote:
>
> That's pretty cool. Even more straightforwardly, if you have a spare
> headset and intercom station, you can just give the recorder its own
> headset, pressing the two ear pieces together with the recorder in between.

Would the "pilot isolate" or "crew isolate" feature interfere with that?

George Patterson
Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is
"Hummmmm... That's interesting...."

[John T]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message

>
> Would this
> work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
> small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
> from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera.

Not necessarily. You have to consider the impedance differences.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
____________________

[Andrew Sarangan]

The impedance of the aircraft headsets are quite different than the
audio inputs of walkmans (I can't recall the numbers). You could use
an impedance matching network, but now things are starting to get
complicated.

Since I use the recorder for flight instruction, and since I fly a
dozen different aircrafts, I did not want to rely on tapping into the
intercom system. Every intercom is different, and what worked in one
airplane may not work in another. With my arrangement (condenser
microphone in the headset), it works in all airplanes equally.

If anyone wants to listen to the audio quality from my setup, I will
be happy to email you a clip.



(Glenn Westfall) wrote in message >...
> After I posted this message I started thinking about it. Would this
> work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
> small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
> from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera. That
> shoud do the trick correct? The headphone jack of aviation headsets
> are standard size and can be converted to the smaller size.
>
>
> On 22 Jan 2004 12:26:06 -0800, (Andrew
> Sarangan) wrote:
>
> >"Ben Smith" > wrote in message >...
> >> > Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect
> cable
> >> > using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
> >> > http://tinyurl.com/36x3c
> >>
> >> I've made one of these cables, and they work good. I don't mess with tapes,
> >> though. I bought an Olympus DM-1 digital recorder.. With the included 64MB
> >> Smart Media, it will record for 10 hours on best quality. Double that if
> >> you get a 128MB card. (Which is the max you can use). It also plays back
> >> MP3/WMA format music files too.
> >>
> >> Here's a small .wav clip from one of my recordings:
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2ycds
> >
> >I record all my flights with students using a tiny digital recorder. I
> >have a very simple system that works wonderfully. You don't have to
> >tap into the intercom system. It is so simple that I record every
> >single flight, whether it is useful or not. I have written an article
> >about the setup on my website.
> >
> >http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation (and click on Cockpit
> >Voice Recorders).

[Chuck]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 13:17:58 GMT, "Chuck" >

<snip>

> >Glenn,
> >
> >Not an answer to your question, but are you in Ft. Worth?
>
>
> No...I am in Okinawa at the moment. I am from Southern CA.
> >
> >
>

OK... I worked with a Glenn Westfall until about 6 months ago... Just
checking...

[Marco Leon]

I did exactly that with my Sony TRV18 Digital camera. It works like a chram.
If you mount the camera in the back seat, just make sure you have it high
enough to almost hit the roof. Otherwise you will see nothing but the panel.
It's good to see the runway.

Marco


"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
...
>
> After I posted this message I started thinking about it. Would this
> work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
> small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
> from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera. That
> shoud do the trick correct? The headphone jack of aviation headsets
> are standard size and can be converted to the smaller size.
>
>
> On 22 Jan 2004 12:26:06 -0800, (Andrew
> Sarangan) wrote:
>
> >"Ben Smith" > wrote in message
>...
> >> > Assuming your aircraft has an intercom, you can make a direct-connect
> >> cable
> >> > using Gene Whitt's directions found here:
> >> > http://tinyurl.com/36x3c
> >>
> >> I've made one of these cables, and they work good. I don't mess with
tapes,
> >> though. I bought an Olympus DM-1 digital recorder.. With the included
64MB
> >> Smart Media, it will record for 10 hours on best quality. Double that
if
> >> you get a 128MB card. (Which is the max you can use). It also plays
back
> >> MP3/WMA format music files too.
> >>
> >> Here's a small .wav clip from one of my recordings:
> >> http://tinyurl.com/2ycds
> >
> >I record all my flights with students using a tiny digital recorder. I
> >have a very simple system that works wonderfully. You don't have to
> >tap into the intercom system. It is so simple that I record every
> >single flight, whether it is useful or not. I have written an article
> >about the setup on my website.
> >
> >http://www.geocities.com/asarangan/aviation (and click on Cockpit
> >Voice Recorders).
>



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[Newps]

Marco Leon wrote:

> "Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>After I posted this message I started thinking about it. Would this
>>work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
>>small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
>>from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera. That
>>shoud do the trick correct? The headphone jack of aviation headsets
>>are standard size and can be converted to the smaller size.

It works great with Sony camcorders for sure, that's what I have. I
have a length of elastic attached to the top of the glareshield. I put
an unused sponge under that and set the camcorder on the sponge. The
patch cord goes from the intercom jack to the audio in jack on the
camera. The sponge serves two purposes. First it eliminates vibration
and holds the camera in place. Second is it raises it up off the panel
for a better view. I have found the ideal view is to have the top of
the cowl just barely in the bottom of the frame for some perspective.
Get a camera with the swing out viewfinder window, makes it very easy to
make sure you are aiming at what you want. Make sure you adjust the
camera so it will not focus on the windshield, all cameras have a
distant focus setting. After that setup it works great. My next
project is to try and find a weatherproof, wireless camera that can be
attached to an inspection panel. Since I have no desire to try and get
it approved I want to be able to remove it when I am not using it. If
anybody has any ideas let me know.

[Glenn Westfall]

Cool. This is exactly what I want to do. I have a Sony camcorder and
have been video taping some flights, but wanted to have cockpit
voices. I will give it a try and see if it works for me. Can you
explain to me how you afix the camera to the panel? Or does it just
sit atop the sponge? I am renting aircraft, so I can't do any
permanent mounting.

Thanks again,

Glenn


On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 00:00:13 GMT, Newps > wrote:

>
>
>Marco Leon wrote:
>
>> "Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>After I posted this message I started thinking about it. Would this
>>>work? Plug in a headphone adapter that goes from the big size to the
>>>small walkman size in an unused intercom jack. Run an extension cable
>>>from the adapter to the mic in on a recorder or video camera. That
>>>shoud do the trick correct? The headphone jack of aviation headsets
>>>are standard size and can be converted to the smaller size.
>
>It works great with Sony camcorders for sure, that's what I have. I
>have a length of elastic attached to the top of the glareshield. I put
>an unused sponge under that and set the camcorder on the sponge. The
>patch cord goes from the intercom jack to the audio in jack on the
>camera. The sponge serves two purposes. First it eliminates vibration
>and holds the camera in place. Second is it raises it up off the panel
>for a better view. I have found the ideal view is to have the top of
>the cowl just barely in the bottom of the frame for some perspective.
>Get a camera with the swing out viewfinder window, makes it very easy to
>make sure you are aiming at what you want. Make sure you adjust the
>camera so it will not focus on the windshield, all cameras have a
>distant focus setting. After that setup it works great. My next
>project is to try and find a weatherproof, wireless camera that can be
>attached to an inspection panel. Since I have no desire to try and get
>it approved I want to be able to remove it when I am not using it. If
>anybody has any ideas let me know.
>

[Newps]

Glenn Westfall wrote:

> Cool. This is exactly what I want to do. I have a Sony camcorder and
> have been video taping some flights, but wanted to have cockpit
> voices. I will give it a try and see if it works for me. Can you
> explain to me how you afix the camera to the panel? Or does it just
> sit atop the sponge? I am renting aircraft, so I can't do any
> permanent mounting.

My plane has an avionics access panel on the top of the glareshield,
about 8x6 inches, with screws all the way around to hold it down. I
took a couple of ring terminals and put them under the screws. I tied
knots in the end of the elastic and smashed the end around it. The
camera sits on the sponge with the elastic band holding the camera down
onto the sponge. Flip out the view finder, plug in the audio in and you
are ready. Don't know what to tell you with a rental.

[John T]

"Glenn Westfall" > wrote in message

>
> Can you
> explain to me how you afix the camera to the panel? Or does it just
> sit atop the sponge? I am renting aircraft, so I can't do any
> permanent mounting.

You could always use a tripod:
http://www.tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer/CockpitVideo.htm

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=4415
____________________

[John Harlow]

> Cool. This is exactly what I want to do.

I made a patch cable to go from the intercom directly into my sony
camcorder; it is a simple resistor divider level matcher. I mounted the
camera on a tripod and bungeed the tripod down in the back of the 152 I
trained in. I crank it up to the roof and it gives a great view, and the
audio is excellent. It takes just a few seconds to install and remove too.

[Paul Sengupta]

I use a tripod. It took me a while to get it behind the front seats
at the height/angle/etc I wanted. Too lazy to take it down and set
it back up again when I want to use it, so it's a semi-permanent
fixture there now! :-)

Paul

"John T" > wrote in message
ws.com...
> You could always use a tripod: