It seems that you can throw a rock and wherever it lands, there is a haunted legend associated with it. If someone tries to tell you only certain parts of this town are haunted, they are limiting themselves. The Battle of Gettysburg impacted every inch of that town. It’s hard to believe that only a few spots would have been ghost-free. The hauntings aren’t only by Civil War-era ghosts. There are hauntings that are much more recent. We’re talking as recently as the 20th century.

There are so many companies offering ghost tours and investigations, it can be hard to decide which on to go with. Some of my favorite people to work with are Pamela and Steve Barry of the Gettysburg Ghost Exchange. I also love with with Ghostly Images of Gettysburg, who have access to some of the coolest places in town. Gettysburg Ghost Tours has always been great to work with as well.

Now, here are ten of the most haunted places in Gettysburg!

Gettysburg Orphanage

This place has been a favorite of APS for years and one that I will continue to visit every time I’m in the area. The orphanage opened in October of 1866 near Cemetery Hill. It was created by Dr. John F. Bourns, who saw a need for the facility after realizing that the casualties of the Civil War resulted in a rise in orphans and widows. The homestead was used to house the orphaned children of Union soldiers. What is interesting is that the orphanage also opened as a home for widows.

The orphanage did well in its first years. Ulysses S. Grant even visited the orphanage in 1867. In 1870, the state of Pennsylvania used a bill to fund the facility. However, the headmistress was eventually replaced by Rosa Carmichael, who turned out to be abusive. She became known for having a dungeon in the basement for disciplining children. She would have the older children abuse the younger children, and the orphans were chained to the wall at times.

If you want to investigate the orphanage, contact Ghostly Images of Gettysburg. They’re wonderful people to work with!

1863 Inn of Gettysburg

I’ve stayed at the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg a few times. It’s actually one of my favorite places to stay because it’s right in the center of the action. At least in the ghost hunting sense. Right across the street, you have all of the ghost tourism companies as well as delightful shopping areas. Not to mention, this hotel is literally right next to the Jennie Wade House. The buildings almost touch each other. It’s also a great place to stay so you can have access to a bathroom in between ghost hunts. Yet, there is also a decent amount of paranormal activity here.

I can only speak from personal experiences. When I stayed there with two of my team members, one of them is Amy, who is our resident psychic medium, we had weird experiences individually that we were able to correlate with each other. From creepy figures appearing in our dreams to hearing menacing sounds in the middle of the night, we ended up sleeping with the light on.

Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House today stands as a memorial to the 20-year old young woman it was named after. Jennie (Ginnie) Wade was the only civilian casualty during the Battle of Gettysburg. She was visiting her sister, who had just had a baby, and ended up stuck there when the battle ensued. She was kneading dough to make bread for the Union soldiers when a stray bullet went through the door and hit her in the back.

Jennie died instantly. Because the family lived in a duplex-style home, Union soldiers had to carry Jennie’s body up to the stairs, make a hole in the joining wall, and carry her down to the basement. Today, it is believed that her estranged father haunts the basement. There are also reports of cold spots, footsteps, shadows, and more in the house. Perhaps, Jennie has yet to leave the house. On the second floor, you can see where bullets and cannons that had hit the house. One can only imagine the horror her family felt as they mourned her death and also living in fear as they heard the battle sounds outside.

Like the orphanage, if you want to investigate the Jennie Wade House, get in touch with Ghostly Images.

Harman Murder House

I mentioned in the introduction that not all of the hauntings in Gettysburg were from the Civil War. In 1985, the town of Gettysburg was shaken up by the murder of Debra Louise (Debbie) Harman. She was only 31-years old when she tragically lost her life. She lived in a second-floor apartment on Baltimore Street when she was shot in the neck by Donald Richard Painter. The two had lived together in the apartment at the time of Debbie’s death.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours currently has access to the apartment, which has been dubbed as the Harman Murder House. From our experience there in 2017, we had team members see and hear someone walking up and down the stairs. The apartment is completely empty, which also amps up the creepiness to the place. Plus, since the murder happened in 1985, we’re talking less than a century, which might also make the place feel more disturbing. Could Debbie be walking up and down the stairs, wandering aimlessly around her former home?

Tillie Pierce House

Tillie Pierce became famous for writing a book on her experiences during the Battle of Gettysburg as well as its aftermath. The Tillie Pierce House is considered to be one of the most haunted inns in Gettysburg. My experience was interesting because I did the Ganzfeld Experiment on the second floor. Granted, my nerves were high, and I was totally anticipating a ghost. So…perhaps my experience was more than a bit biased. Common reports include hearing footsteps from the Blue Room. The source of the steps? The attic. The Blue Room seems to be the center of the activity, as a soldier has been seen walking up the stairs and then going into this room before disappearing. Guests at the inn have also reported someone sitting on their beds while they slept or staring at them from the foot of their beds.

Devil’s Den

Devil’s Den is considered one of the most haunted spots in Gettysburg. When you consider how many haunted places there are in the area, then this title is a big deal. Not only that, but it is considered to be the location of a malevolent, or more negative, haunting. This is because Devil’s Den played a major role in the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Keep in mind that this was considered to be the bloodiest day of the battle. Devil’s Den flipped flop between the Union and the Confederates. Even with all of the rocks providing some protection, there were many casualties. Numerous corpses were left to decay after the battle, which inspired some of the most memorable photos taken after the battle.

Sachs Covered Bridge

Sachs Covered Bridge has quite a sad story to it, as well as some interesting legends. The most popular legend was that three Confederate deserters were hanged next to Sachs Bridge, and people report still seeing the corpses hanging from the limbs. There is also a story where the injured Confederates were resting next to Marsh Creek, which Sachs hangs over.

After the battle, it rained quite heavily, which caused the creek to overflow, thus drowning the injured Confederates who couldn’t get out. The bridge was used by both the Union and the Confederates. In fact, the Confederates crossed the bridge as they were retreating. The bridge we see today is not the original one. It was destroyed in 1996 because of a storm. It was rebuilt with the salvaged materials.

If you decide to go investigate it, know that there will be a lot of environmental contamination. While it sits on a quiet part of the battlefield, there are tons of tourists who are also doing their own ghost hunts.

Battlefield Farmhouse

via https://gettysburgghosttours.com/battlefield-farmhouse/

The Battlefield Farmhouse was used as a field hospital, mainly for the Union. It was reportedly used as a headquarters for a Union general as well. We investigated this place in 2017, and there were a few interesting experiences. The foundation of the house dates back to the Civil War, and everything above it dates to the 1980s, so the development is somewhat newer. We investigated the farmhouse with Gettysburg Ghost Tours.

Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House is supposedly home to about 16 spirits. There are still bullet holes that can be seen on the interior of the building. It is believed that the stray bullet that killed Jennie Wade came from the Farnsworth House. Like the majority of the houses in town, it was taken over by the Confederates, who used the second story as a base for sharpshooters.

There is a nurse named Mary who still haunts the house, still tending to the ill and injured. There is also a boy named Jeremy who is heard sobbing in his room after dying from an injury. There is also a midwife who has been reported to “tuck in” the guests at the inn. The smell of cheroot can still be detected as well as the sound of heavy breathing.

The Farnsworth House has regular investigations every week as well as walks on Cemetery Hill and other areas nearby.

Daniel Lady Farm

via Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association

The Daniel Lady Farm is historically known for a few things. The barn was used as a battlefield hospital as well as being the headquarters of Confederate General Issac Ewell. There were about 10,000 troops that camped around the area. The barn itself was the site of numerous amputations, surgeries, and deaths. My personal experience at the Daniel Lady Farm was with John Sabol and his team.

When we investigated the house, the sensitives in the group picked up on an injured Confederate soldier. In the attic, the children of the family that lived in the house were active. There were also screams, gunshots, shadows, and other cries for help.

In the end, John had the women hold lanterns and walk the grassy area around the property, where we called out the names of Confederates who may have served. We all felt hands tugging our dresses like these soldiers were begging for help.

The Gettysburg Ghost Exchange was also working with us on having access to the Daniel Lady Farm for an investigation a few years ago. They have a lot of options, and their storefront is also haunted!

There are so many places! We will definitely be doing a part two after some onsite investigating.

Have you visited any of these haunted places? Tell us in the comments!

The post 10 Most Haunted Places in Gettysburg appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

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.

The post Let’s Play 20 Questions On EVP appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

This topic came to me as a surprise. As I was browsing different paranormal-related news stories on the web, I ran into this curious story about John Francis of Juneau, Alaska. Francis is currently in the running to join a compensation board for crime victims in his community. He was hand-picked by Governor Mike Dunleavy. But of course, just because you’re the Governor’s choice, there is still a process that has to take place before anyone is confirmed. During a House hearing, Francis voluntarily brought up ghosts when he told a story of a ghost going through his body and how it was a life-changing experience. Francis also brought up his criminal past, which included insurance fraud and burglary.

But apparently, people weren’t concerned about his criminal past, they were more concerned about the fact that he is a ghost hunter. Eagle River Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold brought up concerns about his ghost hunting activity and it looks like she questioned him aggressively about the manner. She asked him what his spiritual beliefs were and concluded that she would not support his nomination.

Of course, being a ghost hunter and a working woman, I found this to be rather interesting. What happened to Francis is not rare. In fact, when I was on my latest job hunt, I purposely used my full legal name instead of what you would call my “pen name” or “stage name.” Granted, I’ve used the simpler version of my name for most of my life. It’s the name that my oldest friends know me as. In the last decade, my name has become tied with the paranormal. And yes, it is of my own doing.

It’s not that I’m ashamed of my ghost hunting experience or the work that I do. I’m not ashamed of the books I’ve written. But I do know that the topic of ghost hunting can make people feel very uncomfortable. It can change the way people perceive you. With my luck, someone who doesn’t know me might be really nervous about the topic of ghost hunting, and I could find out that they’re interviewing me for a job, a loan, an adoption, etc. I could be “on the wrong side of the table” you could say. I usually try not to reveal my ghost hunting interests right away, but I let people get to know me first. I don’t want to put my paranormal interests on full blast because it is something that not everyone is comfortable with. I don’t want to risk opportunities because I was too aggressive with my paranormal interests.

But what eventually happens is that someone will google me, and they will find my books, APS, and my website, which doesn’t shy away from the paranormal. I want to say that 90% of the time, people are always cordial and cool. I have, however, lost friends because of it. To some, an interest in the paranormal equals to delving in devil worship and other occult practices that are perceived as “evil.” While I do neither of those activities, the reputation of the paranormal precedes me, and I hope to be part of the solution to dispelling the novelty of ghost hunting.

I could also be “loud and proud” about my ghost hunting endeavors. I know folks who have their paranormal expertise listed on LinkedIn. As much as I would like to do that, I also have bills to pay and four kitties to take care of. Perhaps one day I could be in that place where I can be loud and proud, but for now, I’ll keep my paranormal “secret identity” in the wings. It will eventually be revealed, usually through a late night conversation or when someone approaches me about the topic.

There are countless working professionals who are interested in the paranormal. I’m talking high-powered business people, lawyers, doctors, teachers, SCIENTISTS, and other people from well-respected professions who have a good head on their shoulders. There will always be a peanut gallery of people who take the paranormal too far and let it consume them, but they are truly a small percentage of this massive pool. While I am proud to be a paranormal investigator and researcher, I’m also a daughter, a niece, a teacher, a partner, a friend, a writer, a community volunteer, book smart, I hold a Masters degree, and I’m an actress, singer, roller skater, former beach bum, the list goes on.

In closing, if you’re someone who hasn’t gotten involved in the paranormal community because you don’t want it to consume you, take up too much time, etc. don’t let that stop you! Having an interest in the paranormal is enough to participate in this amazing community we have. If anything, being a ghost hunter shouldn’t disqualify anyone from getting a job, a date, a house, a child, etc.

There are too many facets of me to give the paranormal full credit to my identity.

The post When Ghost Hunting “Haunts” You – Identity in the Paranormal appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

My experiences have convinced me that there is definitely more to us then cells and bones and we go on after our physical body dies.  To me, this is a fact. I have lost more people in my life than I would like to admit and have always felt the ones I have lost before them around when it’s getting close to their end. Sometimes it’s just a feeling, a scent, a whisper or a soft touch making sure I know that my people will not be alone in the transition to their afterlife. I have witnessed some who see the ones that have passed before them while on their deathbed but this always seems to be dismissed as a hallucination, the medication they are taking, or that the person is so out of it they don’t know where they are, etc.

I am certain that we are all shown signs that our family/friends come at our end, but aren’t acknowledged or get dismissed in fear of judgement from others. Why does what we feel get disregarded when so many people believe “We will meet again” after we pass? I look forward to seeing everyone I have missed so much in my life and hope to get answers to the questions I have carried around for years. Paranormal investigations have more than proven with hard evidence that there are spirits, ghosts, demons, angels. etc. Some choose to accept this evidence as fact and some just won’t accept it. Technology has given paranormal investigators ways to communicate and measure the afterlife to further prove it’s existence.  Whether you believe or not I am sure that our loved ones stand in line to greet us when we pass, show us the way and most importantly let us know they have always been with us. We take love with us to our next destinations and I look forward to seeing who is there to greet me when it is my time to crossover.

The post In the End appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

It’s spooky, it can be exhilarating and fun. I also know for some it can be terrifying. There are some spirits I would love to have visited me, lost loved ones, ancestors, some of my favorite musicians, historical people I admire. I’m not one to encourage them, I do occasionally ask God, the Angels, and my deceased family members for a sign. I sometimes talk to them. I sometimes pray and ask for signs. But!! you never know who or what is going to come through. This is true and we all in the paranormal know this.

Protect yourselves no matter if you are asking for a sign or going on an investigation or to a historically haunted location. Especially during these thin veiled months. Whatever prayers, methods, or beliefs use them to protect yourself. Pray for protection before, during and after. Carry spiritual protection tools with you always, even if its only one item. Spiritual attachment is very real and not always easy to shake. With all the information online, find a source you are comfortable and familiar with.

It may be fun and interesting but take the protection part seriously. If all of a sudden something feels off, and it’s not just fake Dracula hiding behind the door at the Haunted House, its after you go home, a week later, something isn’t quite right.

I’ve always been one drawn to anything haunted. I have to check it out! For decades I have been this way. All it takes is one bad experience and it sticks with you, literally!

In Manchester, New Hampshire a 53-year-old woman named Lisa O’Connor has had paranormal experiences off and on since she was around seven years old. From 1996 through 2012 she lived in a home with lots of paranormal activity. Around 2005 she became interested in the paranormal after having so many experiences. She started watching lots of shows on the subject and also reading. As terrifying as some of the experiences were, having three children and a husband who worked two evening jobs, she had to be strong and tough. She even did some amateur investigating. Since she moved to her new home the experiences have become infrequent. She also has more time for herself now that her children are grown. She has written a few things but would like to share her story and help people that are being haunted. For more information about Lisa, please visit medium.com/lisamclaughlinoconnor

The post The Thin Veil appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

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

The post Recording Requirements for EVP/AVP Investigations appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

How Far Do We Go Back?

But is it possible we’re engaging with someone (or something) from even earlier in time? For example, we know the history of the Trivette Clinic from 1932 on. But what about pre-1932? What was happening on the land 100 years before? Or even 1000 years before? Why do we limit ourselves to what we can only find on websites and in the history books? Granted, this is a realm of paranormal investigating I have not engaged in yet. In fact, it’s an older thought I’ve had which was reintroduced to me at the recent Trivette Clinic investigation by one of our attendees.

I must confess that this pondering is not my own. I was first introduced to researching the layers of a haunting by none other than John Sabol. If you’re not familiar with his work, I highly recommend visiting his website and checking out his books. Their fantastic, and it has truly opened my eyes to a method that makes sense in my eyes.

Even the land you’re standing or sitting on right now as you read this blog has a history. To us, it might be just a slab of concrete or a patch of asphalt, or even just a patch of grass. But we truly don’t know what was happening on that spot over 1000 years ago.

For areas that have more paranormal activity, why limit ourselves to just the last few hundred years? What is something happened on these haunted locations centuries ago that started to attract paranormal activity in that area, and we just think the events of the standing building are responsible for the haunting?

Hitting the Books

In order to embark on this thought properly, we need to get acquainted with our knowledge of history and anthropology. I would love to see if there are correlations with trends in ancient history and a haunted location. Ideally, what if there was something, let’s say a ritual, a spell, an alien visitation 5,000 years ago, something…happened on the spot where a haunting stands today? Or, what happens when a more recent haunting or energy imprint lingers in an area where a great battle happened 155 years ago?

This goes into an area of paranormal research where the single trunk splits off into hundreds of tiny branches. But I truly believe that if we keep testing and experimenting new investigation methods, we’re going to find something that eventually sticks. That might involve digging deeper into the layers of history and see how far into the past we can go.

The post Layers of a Haunting: Why Limit Ourselves? appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

I must say that the entertainment industry seems to be taking a step back from paranormal reality TV. I don’t really want to spend a significant amount of time on this blog bashing it, because ghost hunting shows aren’t really trying to show truth. They are trying to sell something. They are trying to present a product and hope that you will watch. In short, it’s entertainment. Or “paratainment” as it’s often called ever-so-lovingly. Until a few years ago, I was heavy into debunking the mainstream television shows, trying to dissuade people from watching because it was fake, etc. However, it only recently dawned on me that these shows aren’t really interested in presenting “truth” so to speak. They want to entertain. You watch television to be entertained. When you’re sitting on your couch at 10pm on a weekday getting ready to watch a TV show, you’re not really interested in something terribly meaty. Well, most people aren’t. If you are, shoot me a message because I want to chat with you! Anyway, making that realization about ghost hunting shows has made me sort of…enjoy these shows again. I’m not watching these shows for tips and tricks. I’m watching them to be entertained. Maybe the only tip I’ll take away is information on a location, but that’s about it.

When APS hosts public ghost hunts, or I’m on panels at conventions, I’m often met with some surprise at how different investigating is from television shows. It’s a lot longer, a lot more boring, and it takes patience. When you watch a TV show, you’re watching the best 30-45 minutes of a 4-8 hour investigation (or even longer). If we were able to get that much activity in that short amount of time, we might as well pack up and go home after an hour!

Equipment set up can take anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour or more…all depending on how much equipment you have and how much help there is. Then, you must have a plan in place on where you’ll go, what you’ll do, how you’ll get there, contingency plans, and more. Ghost hunting is so much more than just going to a haunted place and looking for ghosts. Maybe it is for some, but I need to have a plan in place.

If you feel inspired to go on a ghost hunt after watching a TV show, that’s fantastic! Just know that when you go on your first ghost hunt, expect the process to be a bit more tedious and the experience to run longer than an average TV show. Also, again, these shows are edited for entertainment. You will likely not have an experience every 5 minutes. They may happen every 30 minutes, every hour, every 3 hours, or none at all. Yeah, the last one might be a bit disappointing. If that happens, it doesn’t always mean a place isn’t haunted. The ghosts might not have been up to talking. When this happens, I try to relish in the fact that I had access to an amazing site for a certain amount of time and got to spend time with some really great people.

This week’s blog is short and sweet. I’ll be going on a ghost hunt in Colonial Williamsburg tomorrow night, which I’m super excited about. Happy hunting and stay safe out there!

The post The Difference Between Real Life Ghost Hunting & Ghost Hunting on TV appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

It’s paranormal history. It’s the fabricated stories that locations will release. It’s the fake stories from ghost hunters who are trying to generate views on their YouTube channel, likes on their Facebook page, etc. We’re currently in an age where haunted locations will post their haunted history on their website to draw in paranormal researchers and ghost hunters. This comes from the fact that we want to see the value of a product before investing money to rent out the location. While this is a reasonable action in terms of marketing and running a business, it is doing something much more damaging than we can ever imagine.

It’s changing history.

The historian expressed a lot of concern in the fact that 100 years from now, what will remain of our text? What books will remain in print? What websites will still be in operation? If the historical facts of most paranormal places remain in existence from the embellished, exaggerated, if not fabricated, stories that were created to draw in a crowd…then we’re changing history for future generations. They will see the incorrect historical information and take it as fact, with the true stories falling away to the wayside.

Of course, there are untold stories that never made it into the history books. That’s a different dilemma. But when you release certain information, and historical research proves that the event didn’t happen, the name was wrong, circumstances were different, etc., then there’s a problem.

At the same time, I understand that there have been individuals who have tried to alter history, especially less-than-positive incidents that may have happened under their watch. As participants of the paranormal field, we have the extraordinary opportunity (and responsibility) to keep things as factual as possible. We will run into stories that can’t be found in the books. We ran into this with the Tenth Avenue Theater. However, the stories we were hearing were coming from church members who witnessed these events, knew the individuals we interacted with, etc. These stories came from the age before the internet, social media, etc. where these unmentionable secrets were hushed and they hoped they would be forgotten. We told the stories that were never meant to become public. But, I feel that enough time passed where any collateral damage was minimal, if not eliminated thanks to the passing of those who enforced such silence.

The moral of the story is that you shouldn’t make stuff up for the sake of being more spooky. If the spooky thing happened, great. If it didn’t, leave it alone. Let the stories come organically from your investigations. Let the stories come from the preserved diary entries of those who lived. If you capture compelling data that goes against documented history, make a note in your write up so that people know where the story came from. Be as transparent as you can while sharing your findings. If you realize something lines up with an actual event, that’s even better!

Happy hunting, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty in historical research. Let the future generations have as much truth as possible so they know where they came from.

The post Is the Paranormal Field Changing History? appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

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!

Don’t forget to like our Facebook page for your daily dose of paranormal content!

The post 5 Tips for the Advanced Ghost Hunter appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.