How can I transfer messages from my digital answering machine to my computer?

Ack, I should have added, this is probably a really easy thing to do, but some precautions would be a good idea. I would be happy to work on some more specific instructions if necessary.

With my answering machine, I can call into it to get messages. I know there are ways to hook up tape recorders and even computers to a phone to record calls. That might be a clean way to do it, and it sounds easier than trying to patch the answering machine directly into a recording device. Or, you could just put a microphone next to it. It wouldn't give you perfect fidelity, but you'd probably be pretty close.

I thought maybe if I phoned from a friend's computer (since I'm on 56k modem) and save it as a .wav or something?

The wires to the sound card or mic input sound like a good possibility, also. Thanks.

Assuming there are no "line out" jacks, use a coil tap. It's a little jobby that picks up changes in magnetic fields, generally used to record off of telephone handsets. Radio shack used to carry them, the package said "Phone coil tap" I believe. A site I've never heard of sells them http://www.electronix.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/15_64/products_id/5268. The plug is a 1/8" phono I think. If you can move the machine next to your computer, it should plug right into the ubiquitous mic jack. Windows XP has a built in sound recorder under programs->Accessories->Entertainment, I imagine macs have something similar. It's pretty simple, and outputs .wav files, which you could then burn to a CD. The sound quality is generally excellent, as long as you have it in the right place, which is generally right on top of the speaker. It doesn't pick up air movement and distant sounds like a microphone, but it will pick up "sounds" generated by the circuit board.

I'd try the mic recording first. The quality of phone messages is pretty low to begin with and you might not notice any difference. Give it a try, even a cheap low-quality mic should be able to pick this up easily.

i asked a http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/8641 a while ago about my cell phone. everyone was very helpful, but when i tried to hook up the phone to the computer's recorder using the headphone jack, all i recorded was static. i realize that troubleshooting without more information is practically impossible, but any suggestions for what might have gone wrong? alternative messages for recording the voicemails welcomed as well.

The problem with the mic is that it picks up all the distortion caused by the garbage speaker used in things like digital answer machines. I have never used a coil trap, but it must be far better than a mic for this application.

As I recommended in http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/9104#171763... Don't go the rubber suction-cup mic route; the quality is poor and you worry about it falling off. Instead, cough up a (very) few dollars more and get a control like http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F008%5F008%5F012%5F001&product%5Fid=43%2D1237 that plugs into the handset line and your recording device (requires a 1/8" mic jack). Trust me.