A recording on one phone is one dropped phone away from gone. A few simple habits keep the voice of someone you love playable for decades.
Back up the same day
Keep three copies, on two kinds of storage, with one away from the house. A cloud folder, a computer, and an external drive is a good start.
Use common formats
M4A, MP3, and WAV files play almost anywhere. Keep the original file, and if you convert it, keep both. Avoid formats that only one app can open.
Make a transcript
A transcript makes the story searchable and easy to quote. Read it through once and fix names and places. Keep the transcript next to the audio with the same file name.
Share it with the family
- Make one shared folder and send the link to siblings and cousins.
- Add a short note to each file: who, when, and what it covers.
- Pick a favorite two minute clip to play at the next family dinner.
Check on it once a year
Pick a date, like a birthday, to open the folder, play a file, and make sure every copy still works. Technology changes. A yearly check keeps you ahead of it.
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