Q – What is EVP?

A – Electronic Voice Phenomena is the capture of voices, allegedly paranormal, on an electronic device.Usually these are heard when an audio recording is played back.

Q – Where do EVP originate?

A – Many believe falsely that they are spirits. In reality most have perfectly natural sources. There are very few that cannot be explained.

Q – Can EVP be heard with the unaided ear?

A- No. By definition Electronic Voice Phenomena is detected by an electronic device. However there are some who claim to hear them directly. The proper term for this is AVP, Acoustic Voice Phenomena. These are voices that may be too faint to be heard without amplification, but originate as sound, not electronic sources. Both types are captured on recorders in a similar manner.

Q – How can I determine whether the source is EVP or AVP?.

A- The method of detection is the key. EVP is a form of electronic field which is picked up directly by a microphone or its wiring. AVP is a sound wave detected only by a diaphragm in a microphone. Wiring or electrical pickup is not possible. So to determine which is present you need two methods of detection; a conventional microphone and an inductive sensor. If the microphone detects a voice, it could be either EVP or AVP. But if the inductive sensor detects the voice it MUST be electronic in nature since an inductive pickup cannot detect sound in any form. So if the microphone picks it up and the inductive sensor does not, you have AVP, not EVP.

Q – Is there a way to hear EVP or AVP in real time? Why do I have to record it first?

A- Answer is, you do not have to record it. But you do have to have some electronic means of amplifying or detecting the signal. Recorders have amplifiers built in, which is why many use the traditional method. But if you have a high gain amplifier with headphones you can do a session in real time by simply using your microphones / sensors with the amplifier just as you would with your recorder. In fact I do my sessions in that manner; real time. I also use a recorder not no much for capturing EVP but rather to simply keep a log of any activity I may encounter.

Q – Analog Tape or Digital recorder? Which is best?

A-Either can be used. However the important thing to keep in mind when choosing is the quality of the recorder. You should use a machine which has low noise and wide bandwidth.capability. Since you are trying to capture something which may be hard to hear you want the best possible platform to record it.

Q – Which brand of digital recorder is best?

A – Rather than name brands I prefer to give a list of specifications to be met. Any recorder which meets these is satisfactory. Personal preference between them is up to you, the user. The requirements of your digital recorder are as follows:
1 – Records in Stereo
2 – Uses a 24 Bit A to D conversion process
3 – Sample Rate of 96 KBPS or higher
4 – Records in a non-lossy format (WAV, not MP3 or similarly compressed form.)
5 – While not a requirement, it is highly desirable to have provisions for an external microphone or line input. This allows you to use an external high gain amplifier or inductive sensor in conjunction with your project.

Q – What about using White Noise with my recordings?

A – This is a fallacy. Why would you want to create noise which only serves to cover up any faint voices you may get?

Q – But don’t spirits need outside energy to be heard?

A – There is no proof of this. (In fact we don’t even have proof spirits are in any way connected with EVP). But even if this assumption is true it would require much more energy to over power a bunch of noise than to be heard in a quiet environment. Have you ever tried to be heard by your neighbor at a rock concert? It is much easier to speak in a quiet room.

Q – What program is best to clean up my recordings?

A – Answer is NONE. Recordings should never be altered in any way. If you have to alter it in order to hear it , you have a case of paredolia.

Q – Is there a test for paredolia?

A – Yes, it is called the Rule Of Three. You do this test by getting three independent witnesses and separating them from each other. Play back the recording one time only and ask each witness to write down what, if anything, they hear. If they are unsure or if the recording is lengthy, you can replay it only once more. ( Two Times total).  After all three have done their evaluation, take their comments and compare them. If all three hear substantially the same thing, it likely is not paredolia. Any major discrepancies indicate probable paredolia.

Q- My recording passes the Rule Of three. What’s the next step?

A – This is where serious analysis begins. There are still many possible explanations that must be ruled out before calling it EVP or AVP. The goal here is to identify any natural causes for the voice. Rule out any natural sounds, interference, or outside contamination.

Q – This is where I use my computer, right?

A – NO! The process is extensive and this is where a lot of mistakes are made. First of all, NEVER TRY TO CLEAN IT UP USING A COMPUTER PROGRAM. These all apply various methods which introduce artifacts into the recording.

Q – So how do you recommend I evaluate my recording?

A – The proper method is to break the audio into segments and inspect it for voice patterns. This is done by first determining the frequencies present in the voice using a spectrum analyzer. Next you remove frequencies not a part of the speech (noise and extraneous sounds) using bandpass / blocking filters, then view the results on an oscilloscope. Examine each phoneme in the voice to determine its voice pattern, (rise, decay and blending) then see if this matches human speech patterns. This is done several times as needed using different filtering points. Also room ambience (echos, etc.) are considered This can identify other possible sources for the voice. Only after all these tests are validated can a recording be considered possible EVP.

Q – I was told that only some people ever develop the ability to hear EVP. Why is that?

A – This is another fallacy. The reason is paredolia and conditioning. If a recording is not perfectly clear paredolia will work its way in as the brain tries to make sense of it. The common practice of “looping” a recording only adds to this problem. You hear the same thing and eventually you will think you begin to make sense of it. You become conditioned to listen for what you think you hear. Go back up to Question 11 and note that I emphasize the recording only be played twice for the Rule Of Three test. This prevents conditioning of the test subjects.

16 – Can I use a Ghost Box for EVP?

A – No. Besides being a useless device these boxes work by taking external sources of voice and playing them back. Such is not true communication, rather just a response from either a canned speech memory or radio transmission. both have perfectly natural explanations as to their source, none of which is communication from any spirit.

Q – Does walking around improve communication potential?

A – No, but it does serve to create more opportunity for external noise to contaminate your recording. Instead, when doing a session place your recorder and microphones in the target area, step back and sit down. Then begin your session while remaining seated and motionless.

Q – Why do they always do EVP sessions in the dark?

A – No real reason at all. In fact I often do sessions with lights on. An advantage of lights on is that you can see potential sources of interference that may cause issues. Going dark only serves to handicap you by taking away your sense of sight. And if there is a spirit present that desires to communicate it can do so lights on or off.

Q – Some get EVP every time they go out but I haven’t gotten anything in numerous sessions. What am I doing wrong?

A – Answer is, you’re doing things RIGHT.. True EVP is very rare. Paredolia is not. These guys who always seem to get activity also don’t use intense screening to validate their work. So they get tons of false positives and other misleading data. At the time of this writing, i have processed over 9,000 hours of claimed EVP / AVP audio. To date I have exactly 12 seconds ( Seven clips) that I have been unable to debunk. Not saying they are paranormal, only that they have been subjected to numerous attempts to debunk by myself and others and so far have held up to testing.

Q – What about language? Why do EVP always come in English?

A – In fact they don’t. EVP can be heard in any language. Two things would be in play here. First applies to paredolia and you. Since paredolia is a matter of something created by your mind, you will hear it in whatever language you are most familiar. The second factor, assuming the EVP is actual communication, it will be in whatever language the one doing the communicating is able to speak. Thus if one is in Russia, one would expect to hear Russian. Same for any other country. One would expect the EVP to be in whatever the native language is. That is not a certainty of course, one could be communicating with a visitor to the country!

So there you have 20 Questions answered. Hopefully this has put to rest some of the fallacies and made you more aware of what is required to cut through a lot of the garbage being promoted online and on TV these days. Now let’s get some solid evidence in the field.

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Voice Recorders

Let’s begin by clearing the field regarding voice recorders. Most of these will not meet the specifications needed for EVP / AVP analysis. They do meet what is needed for doing interviews and keeping an audio log of your investigation. Because of this limitation, I do not recommend using any voice recorder for EVP or AVP evidence collection. The reasons will become apparent as we continue with the requirements a recorder must meet to be suited for this purpose.

EVP / AVP Evidence Recorders

There are five specifications a recorder must meet to do satisfactory EVP study.

1 – The recorder must use an uncompressed digital format.
2 – The recorder must record in stereo or multiple track simultaneously.
3 – The recorder must be capable of using external microphones that can be placed 30 inches apart.
4 – The Sample rate must be 96 KBPS or greater.
5 – The recorder must use a 24 Bit A to D conversion process.

A final requirement involves shielding the recorder against stray EM Fields. A recorder should have internal shielding for this purpose, but if it fails to adequately block offending signals it is permissible to use a Faraday cage around the recorder to obtain the same protection. These details of each of these requirements follows:

Requirement 1 – Uncompressed Digital Format

Compression is a technique used to shrink the size of audio files. It comes at a cost though. When compressed,certain parts of the audio stream may be removed. That may work for regular voice, but since we don’t know exactly what comprises an EVP how can we say what can be safely removed? The solution is don’t remove anything.

There are two areas that compression may take place. First is the digitizing process where the original analog signal is converted to its digital representation. The preferred method is using a form of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). PCM is considered lossless and provides a true representation of the original audio. This is one point where voice recorders fail. In order to save file size most voice recorders employ a method known as Code Excited Linear Prediction.(CELP). With CELP, certain parts of the original audio stream are either omitted or in some cases averaged together to make estimates of what might be present in the audio signal. It does shrink file size, but also may introduce artifacts that lead to pareidolia or false positives.

The second area where compression may take place is in the final encoding of the digital signal. The method recommended is WAV format which is lossless. It also creates very large files. To shrink the file size many recorders provide MP3 as a file format. It is lossy and should be avoided for evidence recordings. I would point out that some high-end recorders can do both formats, as well as additional methods that have varied degrees of compression. As a result, it is up to the user to know their recorder and choose the proper setting to create lossless recordings.

Requirement 2 – Record in Stereo

This is almost a no-brainer, we have two ears, why not use both of them? Our brains are designed to process sound in stereo, our recorder should also. Consider, one of the recommendations when it comes to pictures is to take multiple shots to provide redundancy. Likewise, a stereo recording is done using two amplifiers, two microphones, two channels for the entire process, providing an output to a stereo headset or two speakers.. Like two pictures, this method provides audio redundancy.

A second advantage has to do with depth of field. If you record using two channels you can view the resulting signal on an oscilloscope and determine phase shift. This may be helpful when analyzing the audio to determine direction and distance between the source of the sound and the microphones.

Requirement 3 – External Microphones

This is related to recording in stereo. If external microphones are placed about 30 inches apart it enhances the separation between channels. This can be helpful in the analysis process when it comes to comparing the degree of phase shift between the channels. Sound travels at a known speed,. 1125 feet per second. Thus direction to the origin of the sound can be calculated if we measure the difference between when the sound is detected by each microphone. An oscilloscope will easily display this difference down to milliseconds. If the sound originates from a point at 90 degrees with respect to the microphones, directly in front of them, there will be no difference. Anything else will cause the sound to arrive earlier at the microphone closest to the source. Since the distance between the microphones is known, it becomes possible to calculate the angle with respect to the microphones and the source.

Requirement 4 – The Sample Rate

This is critical to obtain a recording with minimal distortion and artifacts. Lab tests have been done which demonstrate that 96 Kilobytes per second is the lowest sample rate that can assure a quality recording. Here is how we arrive at the 96 KBPS figure.

Speech is made up of two major components, vocalizations, and fricatives. Vocalizations are the sounds created by the larynx, fricatives are those sounds created by the positioning of the tongue and lips to create modifications to the sounds. For the purpose of this discussion, we need only be concerned with the higher frequency components. These are the fricatives associated with the “S” and “T” sounds. The “S” is the highest frequency generated by speech; the “T” has the fastest rise time (that explosive start to the sound as the tongue releases that puff of air.) These two sounds have two important characteristics we need to note. They are about 3,000 Hz and they are non-sinosodial waveforms. It is from these that we must set the high-frequency specification and sample rate on our recorders.

The Nyquist Point is established as the minimum number of samples needed to simulate a sine wave. Most agree that if the sample rate is seven times the highest frequency being sampled that is sufficient. In other words seven times the frequency of the highest fricative or 7 X 3,000 = 21,000 BPS (21 KBPS). However, that only applies to a sine wave; the “S” and “T” are non-sinosodial waves. For these what is known as a square wave must be employed. A square wave is a sine wave plus an infinite number of its harmonics. Since infinity is not practical another term, called a pseudo-square wave is used. This is the sine wave plus its first three harmonics. So since we are concerned with the Nyquist Point of a Pseudo-square wave we can  set our minimum sample rate as follows:

3,000 – (Frequency of “S”)
X 7 – (Nyquist Point)
————————————-
21,000 BPS (Rate for Sine wave)
X 3 – (3rd Harmonic)
————————————-
63,000 BPS (Actual Sample Rate Needed )

Thus it is evident the minimum sample rate for a good digital recorder is 63,000 BPS or 63 KiloBytes Per Second (KBPS). This fits with testing conducted here where no noticeable distortion is present at 96 KBPS, and minimal degradation detected at 44 KBPS. It should also be noted we really do not know what higher frequencies might be present in an EVP. For this reason, it would be helpful to go even higher when setting a sample rate. There really is no upper limit; the higher the better since the use of higher sample rates only improve the bandwidth of your recording. Of course, cost becomes a factor at some point, you will have to decide how much exceeding the minimum is worth for your research for yourself. This is also another reason why voice recorders or phones are not suited for EVP / AVP work. The sample rate for these devices is usually 8 or 16 KBPS, far below that which can provide a distortion-free audio sample.

Requirement 5 – 24 Bit A to D Conversion

All sound is analog in nature. We hear in analog, and it is essential that a digital recorder process analog as it records its digital equivalent values. The problem is by its nature analog can have an infinite number of values, while digital must have definitive numeric values assigned to each sample made. Thus some rounding up or down must occur as the conversion takes place. Each bit added to the count will double the number of possible combinations, thus giving improved resolution to the audio quality. More bits means the recorder will not need to round off to as great of a degree to assign a specific digital value to a particular sample.

Consider, if we have a 16 bit A to D converter, there are 64,000 possible numeric values which can be represented. This may be suitable for noncritical applications, but where data is involved and an analysis to be done, it is not sufficient. By going to the 24-bit system the number of possible combinations reaches 16 million. This allows for a much finer definition, and details can be refined much more accurately.

It becomes even more important when you consider that most EVPs are very low in volume. This means the recorder is limited by the low volume to only the lowest bits of its spectrum. You are going to have to amplify the audio, sometimes hundreds of times, in order to bring it up where you can hear it. Just like the digital picture begins to pixelate when you zoom in, quality begins to deteriorate as you amplify the audio. And just like the digital picture, if you start with more detail you can amplify more before deterioration becomes a real problem. So it is advantageous to use the best resolution you can when you make a digital recording.

This covers the basics of what you need to look for when choosing your recorder. Other factors also may be important to you. Battery life, ease of operation, as well as a simple means of sending your audio to an external source are also something to be considered. In some cases, these are a matter of personal preference based on your needs. But as long as the main requirements are met, you should be able to obtain audio that is well suited for analysis in the lab.

Jim Brown has been an investigator into claims of the paranormal since the mid-1970s. Before retiring in 2010, he worked over 40 years in the field of electronics design and technology. His background has allowed him to provide insight into the hows and whys of the methods used in paranormal investigations. It has served to support what works and what does not with regards to equipment investigators utilize in their work. Jim’s current interests cover anything that seems to have no obvious explanation. That ranges from UFOs and aliens to claims of hauntings and cryptid sightings as well as what are just considered strange events. He has found most, but not all, can be explained using scientific methods. It’s those last few that keep his interest in the paranormal active. For more information about Jim, please visit his website at: www.jimsdestinations.com/paramain.htm

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5. Avoid Stacking Questions

We already know that during an EVP session, we should leave a 5-15 second pause in between questions so there is room for a response. But did you know that stacking questions can also inhibit your communication attempts? When I say stacking questions, I mean avoid asking multiple things in a single line of questioning. Here’s an example, “What’s your name? Who are you? Tell us about yourself.” Here, there are three different questions with three different possible questions. “What’s your name?” is fairly direct, so that’s a good question. “Who are you?” can be subjective with multiple answers like a profession, species, gender, name, family role, etc. “Tell us about yourself” is an open-ended question that could result in lots of talking. But when you ask all three of these questions in a single stream of speaking, the ghost may get confused or just shut down. Or, you might end up with an answer you don’t understand. Keep it simple!

4. Know How Your Equipment Works

If you’re able to invest some cash into equipment, that’s fantastic. When you receive your goodies, make a cup of tea and sit down with your manual and the internet. Sure, we can assume the blinking lights mean that a ghost is trying to communicate, but it could also mean temperature changes, electrical responses, and more. For example, if you bought one of those fancy teddy bears with the EMF and temperature readers, you might notice that it talks. I’ve met several who possess this tech and they constantly try to turn off the talking. However, the questions and statements that the bear is saying is a direct result in changes to the environment. That is your opportunity to use those statements as your cue for your line of questioning and interaction with the ghost. If you don’t know the ins and outs of your tech, then you are potentially missing out on engagement opportunities.

3. Learn the Basics of Photo, Video, & Audio

There is no doubt that photo and video are the very basics of data (otherwise known as evidence). I strongly recommend that anyone interested in paranormal investigating, or even just spirit communication, take a basic 101 class in photography and videography. You want to understand how these devices capture and interpret light. Knowing this, you’ll avoid the trap of thinking that dust or moisture is the Holy Grail of proof that ghosts exist. We’ve all seen the arguments on social media when someone posts a photo or video of an orb. Plus, if you know the mechanics of how the lens captures photos and video, then you can even tweak your equipment to better capture your environment. The same goes for basic audio and how sound waves work. Ignorance doesn’t mean that you’ve captured a ghost. It means that someone out there will know what you “captured” and call you out on it.

2. Keep It Human

What it all comes down to is that you’re trying to communicate with humans. Sure, you might capture the occasionally inhuman entity, if you believe they exist. But we’re all trying to communicate with conscious beings who have thoughts and feelings. Sticking equipment in their space and then expecting them to perform like trained monkeys takes the humanity out of paranormal investigating. Think about how you engage someone who you just met. You want to know about their past, their life, and how they’re feeling. These are incredibly personal questions to be asked by a stranger. You may find you might have to work harder to build some rapport with whoever is inhabiting the building. Would you like it if someone stuck a camera in your face and demanded communication? Probably not. They also want to know about YOU. If you’re trying to communicate with kids, and you’re a parent, or the cool aunt of uncle, use it to your advantage. Talk about yourself, have casual conversations, keep it human. Some of the most interesting audio data I have obtained come from conversations about myself and my team instead of the formal, “Give us a sign of your presence.”

1. Be Flexible

This can be a hard one, especially if you’re investigating a larger facility and you have a limited time. But at the same time, this isn’t speed dating where you can get the person’s contact info and follow-up after. So what do you do when you’re in a space, and you have like 30 minutes left in that area, and you’re getting nothing? Not only that, but you’re hearing a response down the hall? What do you do? In this case, you need to be flexible. There’s a chance that there is nothing happening in that room. For most of us investigating public locations, you’ve dropped some money for the experience. Go where the activity is and see what happens. If you have a group of more than 2, have someone go check out the activity down the hall to make sure it’s not a pipe or a rodent. If there’s something happening, go! On the other hand, what if you’ve been communicating with something for the last 45 minutes and time is almost up before you have to go someplace else? If your entire group is together…by all means, you should stay. Continue to talk to that entity and see what happens. If you’re in a large group where you’ve split up and you have to give someone else some time, try to make a transition. Introduce the new people to the entity and hope for the best. It also doesn’t hurt to invite the rest of your party to engage in the conversation with you. Sticking to a rigid schedule can have its benefits, but it can also be incredibly inhibiting when you’re trying to talk to someone. This can be linked to “Keeping it Human” where you need to have some wiggle room in the event there is active engagement and communication.

What do you think? Do you have tips for the advanced ghost hunter? Share them in the comments!

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This is also the time for me to say that I’m incredibly skeptical of anything ITC related. But wait, aren’t you a paranormal investigator? Yes. But if I don’t remain skeptical, I’m not going to make any progress as an investigator. I’m not going to give you a lecture about how ITC can be flawed because someone else already wrote something much better than I could ever do that can be found right here. Yet, I can’t help but be captivated by the cultural fascination with ITC. In fact, it has become so popular that people are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on equipment these days, perhaps not realizing they’re paying 4 times the value of the actual product. By the way, having tons of fancy gadgets doesn’t make you a legitimate investigator, especially if you don’t know how it all works. If you can’t tell me what your device’s original purpose is, you won’t be able to understand how it will capture anomalies. But that’s another blog for another time.

Now, it’s also time for me to admit that I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences with the P-SB7 spirit box. It’s actually happened twice. Someone very personal came through to a team member in 2016, and then someone came through in 2017. Now, last I checked, the radio stations in Gettysburg weren’t going to pick up this person’s voice throughout the different channels. I’m not going to go into details in public, but I’ll be more than happy to talk about it privately. I don’t know how the occurrence happened, and I can’t explain it. This person coming through was the last thought in my mind when I was standing on the second floor of an old house in Gettysburg. I know the skeptics reading will not believe me, and that’s okay. I’m more than happy to talk about it. I’ve read the articles debunking the ghost box, and I know what signs to look out for that it’s just a channel. I can’t promise you’ll be able to change my mind because…and I HATE SAYING THIS: You weren’t there. I’m cringing because it’s the one statement I get from others when I question their data. I read articles and blogs on this topic all the time because debunking is something I enjoy doing because it redirects us onto the right path of paranormal research. If we stop acknowledging the fluff and garbage, it might lead us to some answers/explanations. So, that’s my experience with ITC.

Does this mean you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on equipment? No. And I strongly suggest you don’t. Because our fascination with ITC is so strong, people are willing to shell out a pretty penny to buy into the fad. But, we are a society of technology, and I doubt we’ll be going back to the old-fashioned seances anytime soon.

Finally, I wanted to take a different route with this blog and ask you what YOUR thoughts are on ITC? Do you think it’s a legitimate method of data collection?

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Happy Halloween!

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Happy 2015! So, I had the pleasure of talking with Adam from the YouTube series, AnythingSTRANGE, and chatting with him about APS, different paranormal experiences, and my upcoming projects. One of the things that came up was a phantom noise I heard while at the El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town, San Diego, California.  It was actually one of the first pre-APS investigations as a cohesive group, occurring in August of 2011, just a month shy of our official founding. The investigation of the cemetery from this night solidified my desire to start up a team.

So, what is a “phantom noise” in the first place?

A phantom noise is essentially a noise that doesn’t seem to have an origin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s paranormal (it could very well have an explanation), but a source could not be identified at the time of the experience. Phantom noises are a huge part in the paranormal experience, as we hear sounds every day that we can identify with. But when we hear something that is disturbing or frightful, we have the desire to find out the source as a way to calm our fears. When that source can’t be identified, then we tend to think ghost or demon until an explanation comes along. Whether it’s bells, banging, knocking, humming, singing, speaking, etc. sounds are key in our daily life and help dictate our mental and emotional state. There is no question that dealing with a phantom noise can shake one to the core.

But if you encounter a phantom noise, the first thing you should do is try to identify the source immediately. Look around your surroundings and see what is there that could have made that noise. Walk over to the potential source and examine it (look, touch,etc.). If you can’t find the source, then see if the noise can be recreated. If you believe a presence created the sound, then ask them to do it again. Make sure you have your audio recorders handy and your microphones on your video cameras turned on. If you’re truly having a paranormal experience through noise, then you don’t want to miss it!

After you’ve collected your audio data, it’s time to review it! Having an audio program like Audacity (which is free) or GarageBand (if you’re on Mac) is a great place to start for newbies. Learn what sound waves look like on the computer and how they fluctuate from basic noise like your voice, clapping, etc. Then look for your phantom noise to see what kind of wave it produced. Hopefully, you can then isolate the wave and be able to go further in your examination.

This is short and pretty basic, but I hope you all enjoyed this post and interview! Till next time!

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