I have never had any need to use a network of microphones. Instead, I use two stereo recorders, one at each end of the table. That basically gives you separation between the right and left sides of the table (stereo) and near and far from the moderator (ends of the table).

Also, unless you use a very complex recording system, your network of microphones will be "mixed down" to the number of channels that the recorder can handle (1 with mono, 2 with stereo). That might actually lose you information, since everyone will be recorded at more or less the same level regardless of where they are sitting, because their microphone will be right in front of them.

The other major influence here is the ability of your transcriber to sort out different voices. If you aren't doing your own transcribing, the only way to know about that skill is to ask the transcriptionist for their self-assessment, and be ready to switch to someone else if the first person you hire can't really do it.

Hi, do you want to look at this article about interview recording, it might help you.

Article The effect of interview recording on quality of data obtaine...

A digital recorder with an omni Mike worls very well Veronica

I have used both audio recorders, alone, and a video recorder with two mics. Having the video recording makes it much easier to tell who is speaking. In focus groups, the moderator can repeatedly ask people to speak one at a time. I have found this to be absolutely necessary.

Agree with Lisa. Video recording makes analysis much easier. Another advice - always have at least two devices to record your FG. It could happened that one device is not working/stop working during the discussion and then you will loose everything. 

I have also very good experience with video recordings in my qualitative studies. For the auditory quaility of the recording it is emphasized to use an extra microphone that can be easily plugged into the video recorder. After the recording is made you can use specialized computer programs, e.g. "audacity" to delete background noise, etc....

I have used digital audio recording in my work and it works well. I fell you can equally use same. Video recording may be uses depending whether the picture of the focus group member is to presented in the work,

I ended up adding boundary microphones to my small digital recorder and the outcome was great.  They were fairly inexpensive too ($99 ea.).  Thanks all for the suggestion of video recording...I can see this would be superior, as mentioned.

Yes, I agree that boundary effect microphones (also known as pressure zone microphones are quite effective).

How many microphones and recorders did you use?

I used two of these microphones for a table of 10 individuals (8 participants, 2 facilitators).  I arranged them centrally among the two halves of the table.

Thanks!

Glad you found a good solution, I have had great results before with a little Sony ECM-F9 microphone, which is a very small and cheap boundary microphone for about $30. It's powered by a small coin-cell battery, but is very pocketable.

David's suggestion to maximise stereo separation to help distinguish speakers is a good one, so two of these might work well for those on a small budget!

Did you guys have your respondents sitting around a table?

Yes, Dominic...board room style.  

Good luck with your data collection!

Thanks, Adria!

Greetings. Has anyone used a pressure zone mic with Audacity on a Mac laptop to record focus group sessions?

Yes, I have used those tools, but that was some time ago. Instead, I now find that simple digital stereo recorders work just as well.

David L Morgan thanks. I have opted to try using an Olympus portable recorder. I've talked my department into purchasing one for us.

That is exactly what use.

Great info to know!

I agree with @Turner's answer!

Rawaa Gabbar