Celebrate Voices of the Hudson Valley
Oral histories are necessary and important as they provide a firsthand account of historical events, personal experiences, and cultural perspectives that might not be captured in written documents.
By recording and archiving oral histories, we preserve voices that may otherwise be lost to time, ensuring that future generations have access to a rich tapestry of diverse stories and insights.
These accounts offer a unique window into the past, allowing us to understand different viewpoints, traditions, and values that have shaped our communities. Through oral histories, we can honor and learn from the lived experiences of individuals, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our shared history.
Frequently asked Questions
What is an oral history? A documentation, in this case audio documentation, of an individual’s personal story as told by them.
Why do an oral history? A persons voice is powerful, unique, and often lost without sufficient effort to sustain it.
Whose oral history should I record? My services are mostly for individuals looking to preserve the voice and story of their loved ones.
Who does the interview? You! I’m there to focus on the highest quality recording of the oral history possible. It’s up to you to conduct the interview itself.
What questions do I ask? I have a list of sample questions available here: https://www.oralhistorieshv.com/s/Oral-Histories-Question-List.pdf
Where do I archive an oral history? Flash drives, hard drives, and cloud storage are best. I also offer a fee based cloud storage archiving service for varying amounts of time.
What equipment do you use? I use a Sound Devices Mixpre3 digital audio mixer/recorder with high quality mic pre-amps and limiters. I also use Schoeps microphones. To my ear, Schoeps offers the best and most transparent capturing of the human voice.
Exploring Local Stories
My name is Jesse Flaitz. I’m a professional sound mixer with 13 years of experience on films, television series, documentaries, commercials and more.
My services are affordable and accessible to individuals and organizations looking to preserve their oral histories in the Hudson Valley region.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have to: oralhistorieshv@gmail.com
Rates:
$100 for three hours. Including set up and break down time. That allows for at least two hours of dedicated record time.
$25/half hour after three hours.
Transportation reimbursement at $0.50/mile traveled to and from.
What you receive:
FREE light editing to compile recorded audio clips into one high bit rate .mp3 file. Additional editing can be negotiated depending on requirements.
FREE 6 months of cloud storage included! Extended archival storage time available for a fee depending on length of time required.
