Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Hi All,
I have a strange question.  My stepfather's brother committed suicide last week and he left a voice mail on my stepdad's cell phone saying what he was going to do.  My stepdad wants to keep it, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to record him a copy of it.  I called suncom and they don't let you have access to voice mails in order to keep, so other than holding a mini-voice recorder up to the phone, I'm at a loss as to how to save him a copy.  Also, does anyone know how I can record from a tape onto my computer, or what device I would need to do that?
Thanks in advance
 

Google, or contact the maker of the phone.

I already called suncom, and they said they couldn't do anything.

This basically involves splicing a headset that you would plug into your phone for say an earpiece.  Basically you can get a pair of headphones for like a cd player or something...cut the wire in half.....use the plug and shave the ends and splice that onto the plug of the cell phone earplug.  It's ghetto, but it'll work.  Use cheap headphones, all you need is just the plug part and it's wires.  Then just plug the one end into your phone, plug the bigger plug into the line in on the back of your computer and then unmute the line in.  It'll come across loud and clear and you can use the windows Sound Recorder in your Start Menu and record it as a wav.  Ghetto, but like I said, it works.

Have you asked your step-dad why he'd want to keep something like that?  I don't know, I guess it's a personal thing.  To be reminded of something so horrible, I can't imagine.  :confused:

Maybe for the last time he heard from him  :-\

It's not to replay over and over again, but those are the last words his brother ever spoke to him.  I know it seems morbid, but when tragedy like this happens, it always stays with you.  It's not like his message would act as a reminder, because how can you ever really forget.

Does the voicemail on your phone have a number to call, to get the messages. mine does, so i can acess it from my home phone... anyway if your cell has a speaker phone, *or if you have a home phone with speaker, just record it with a computer mic or a recorder or something, and then save it to the computer...

The dude talking about splicing wires is on the right track, but it can be easier than that. 

Go to Radioshack (Best Buy or Circuit City might also have it) and tell them you want something that will convert a cellphone headseat jack into a Line In jack for your computer.  The cellphone headset jack is usually smaller than the Line In jack, and the guys at Radioshack are supposed to know what the diameters of different jacks are, so they will be able to help you find what you need.

When you get the converter, plug the cell phone end into your phone, and plug the other end into the "Line In" place on your computer.  If you can't figure out which hole is for "Line In," it usually says it right next to the hole, but you might need a flashlight to read it properly unless you drag the whole computer out to do it.  (It's really small writing.)  It will probably be labeled "Line in" but it could also be labeled "Microphone."

Anyway, hook it all up, have "Windows Sound Recorder" ready to go (if you're in Windows XP, it's Start, All Program, Accessories, Entertainment, Sound Recorder) and then play the message.  You might have to try it a few times to make sure you get the timing right and all that, and also make sure your "Line In" is unmuted on your Volume Control. 

Now, I don't know how to set Sound Recorder to record more than 60 seconds at one time without having to keep pushing the record button at the end of every 60 seconds.  Pushing the record button again will keep it going for 60 more seconds, but you might accidentally lose a word or two here and there if you do it that way.  There is a free sound recorder called Audacity that lets you record unlimited audio, so you go to www.google.com and look up "Audacity download," and then you don't have to worry about the time limits.  I'm assuming a suicide thing probably takes longer than 60 seconds...

Thanks for the tips.  The message was very short, definitely less than 60 seconds.  He said he was "going to commit suicide and do what you can for my daughter."  He wasn't messing around.  He wasn't looking for someone to talk him out of it. 

Why is that so scary and tragic at the same time?  :nervous:

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