Why recording a life story in audio is the best way to preserve a memory.

An audio recording of a life story is the best way to keep a memory alive for many reasons.

First of all is the voice. Hearing the voice of a loved one can be one of the most comforting sounds, especially if they are no long with you. People often think of photos and videos when remembering someone they have lost, which is also great and can contain some audio of their voice. But having those you love tell you their life story in their own words, with their own voice and their laugh is unparalleled. The voice can be something so easily forgotten but it's an important part of how you know them. Some people save Voicemail of loved ones they have lost just to hear them again. But with an audio time capsule you get to hear them tell the stories that made them who they are.

Another reason is comfort. Some people don't feel comfortable being recorded or being the centre of attention. But with an audio only recording people twnd to relax more, that's in part because they don't have to worry about how they look. At first having a microphone in their face can feel daunting to anyone, even me, but after the conversation starts and your loved one often forget that the microphone is even there. When the person being recorded feels comfortable the stories they tell flow easier and sound more natural. Also some people feel more comfortable opening up to a stranger than they do with their own family. I've had family say that they found out more from the audio time capsule interviews than they had found out from their own chats with their family. But it's a great way that they can pass their story on without those direct conversations. It can also encourage more conversations about their life. Somethings I do to help people feel comfortable is record their story in their own home as well as have them prepare some bullet pointed notes before hand so they aren't going in blind. There are also a list of topics that I provide that helps them know what they can talk about.

Recording a life story in the comfort of their own home.

I also add in the songs of their choosing. It can be the song they got married to, their favourites, songs from bands they saw live and even songs that remind them of specific times. These songs help to add extra personality into the recorded life story and let you get a sense of their musical interests. Music can bring people together, so imagine listening to the story of your grandparents and realising they had a similar taste in music as you. It's a great way to easily connect to who they are or were. The songs they choose are also a great source of emotion, like their own personal soundtrack for their life stories.

My experience in audio production, recording interviews and life stories has taught me that imagination and memory can be more vivid than any video. If you hear a story being described your mind will fill in the blanks and create an amazing estimation of what it would have been like to be there. You can however also play the audio time capsule whilst looking through old photos to really take you back to the stories from your loved one.

One simple reason is that it's easier to listen to something in the middle of a busy day than watch something. You could be on a bus on the way to work and listening to your parents tell the story of how they met for the first time. It's an easy way to bring that familial love and some positivity to your day.

My mum recording her story with some notes and her dog bella on her lap.

To me it doesn't matter if you have heard their stories once or a thousand times, hearing them speak and tell their stories in their way will always be the best way to remember those you love. It's like you are back in your grandparents living room hearing them tell tales from their life again. People said they wished they had an audio time capsule of their mum or dad before they passed away or got dementia and to me that shows how important this is. The comfort you get from a loved one's voice is unparalleled and that's why I having a life story recording with your loved one is a the best way to remember them forever.