Understanding and Using Electronic Voice Phenomena

Understanding and Using Electronic Voice Phenomena   By Brian Bullock – Founder of FRAPS

 

Electronic Voice Phenomena or EVP is a valuable tool in a paranormal group’s pursuit of the unknown.  EVP are voices or noises that are normally not heard by the investigators when they occur, but are heard afterwards in evidence review.  EVP’s are captured in a variety of ways.

 

1. 1.Digital Voice Recorder:  A digital voice recorder is a device that uses flash memory to record audio.
2. 2.Analog Voice Recorder:  This device uses mini tapes that must be replaced at certain intervals, usually every 60-90 minutes.
3. 3.Wireless Voice Recorder:  These usually consist of a wireless microphone placed in a room or area of reported high levels of activity.  They send the audio wirelessly to the base area of the investigation and are recorded to a computer in real time.
4. 4.Video Camera Recordings:  A video camera can be placed in an area of the investigation or carried by an investigator.  Currently, there are many ways the video and audio is recorded, from VHS tapes to SD memory cards.  All types of recordable media are acceptable.  Most of the time digital media is clearer and easier to work with.

 

The main problem in using an EVP recording as solid evidence is that there will be someone somewhere that will say it is fake.  This can be heartbreaking to the person who got the EVP and is 100% honest and didn’t alter the audio in anyway.  Humans as a whole believe what they see more than what they hear.  There is no reason to stop using EVP’s as long as you have the expectation that someone somewhere will not believe you.

 

The location you employ your recorder makes a difference in the quality and legitimacy of your EVP’s.  Very rarely is a voice recorder a good idea to use outside.  There are too many variables when recording outside.  Wind plays a major factor as well as vehicle traffic, animals and other people.  You might think you have a solid EVP, but you really just have an animal or person making a noise.  I encourage everyone not to use EVP’s as a main source of evidence while investigating an outside site.

 

Another location is holding the recorder in your hand.  The big drawback is you will get pops and cracks while holding a voice recorder.  There is no way around it; you will move ever so slightly.  When this happens you will receive pops and cracks that drown out all surrounding sounds.  If you can, place your recorder in the room you are in.  You can place it on the floor or on a window sill.  Make sure you point the microphone towards the middle of the room or towards a known hotspot.  With practice you will learn what works and what doesn’t.  Don’t get frustrated, but strive to improve your recording skills.

 

What you say and do will make a difference in whether or not you get any interaction.  Some people believe in the idea that you take your recorder with you and place it in the room and sit completely silent.  The idea is that a spirit will try to get your attention by making noises or talking.  The drawback is that it is possible that the spirit will get frustrated and leave the room.  You should image yourself as the spirit and act accordingly.  What would you do if you were trying to communicate with humans?  After all, spirits are humans without bodies.

 

Another technique is to ask questions. They can be a range of questions, from “what is your name” to “how can I help you communicate”.  Virtually everything is open in this technique.  No question is stupid; in fact the questions you think may be stupid may be the right questions to elicit responses.  While using this technique it is a good idea to establish guidelines.  Make sure only one person at a time is asking a question and allow plenty of time for a response.  Also, to aid in evidence review, please talk at a normal volume and at a normal speed.  It is very difficult for the person that is reviewing the evidence to know if what they hear is a person or a spirit if you whisper the question.  Also, don’t yell directly at the microphone.  There is hardly anything worse than listening to the recording and busting an eardrum because someone is yelling.

 

The final technique that I will discuss is provoking.  Provoking is a type of communication that may upset or anger an entity.  You must be very careful using this technique as there can be adverse consequences if done incorrectly.  If you are having a difficult time getting responses when silent or asking various questions, you can try provoking.  There have been numerous instances where a person provoking angered a spirit so much that the person was harmed in a physical way.  Reports have been scratches on faces and other areas of the body, having hair pulled violently, and even being thrown to the ground and having the feeling that something is standing on your chest making it difficult to breathe.  The best idea when provoking is to start off easy and work up to more insulting language and speech.  If you are not comfortable using this technique, don’t use it.

 

There are common methods among investigators on classifying EVP’s.  In general, they are classified into three groups:  Class A, when you can completely understand what is said; Class B, when a recording is distinguishable as a voice, but you need to play several times to understand; and Class C, when you believe it is a voice or noise, but you cannot understand the word or words.

 

Class A’s are indisputable – you know what was said and anyone listening knows what was said.  In EVP work, Class A is the most sought after evidence, the Holy Grail if you will.  If you get one or more Class A EVP, it is a good idea to go back to the place you recorded them and try to communicate more with the entity.  They are trying desperately to communicate with you so you should do everything you can to communicate with them.

 

Class B EVP’s are a grey line. Many times what may think you understand what is said, but another investigator hears it differently.  It is this type of EVP that leads to many problems.  An unscrupulous investigator will alter the audio so that it sounds more like what they want to hear, and not what is actually said.  Don’t fall into this trap. Allow it be put out to the public or client and see what they think.  It might trigger something with the client and sometimes it is actually not an EVP.  Many times a Class B will actually be a device in the building you are investigating that the client recognizes and can debunk for you.

 

Class C EVP’s can usually be thrown out.  However, you should treat it as legitimate evidence until everyone in your group has heard it and can determine if it should be kept.  You will not understand what is being said in the EVP, but it may take the whole team to determine if what is heard is paranormal or not.  In fact many are debunked by the team because they were there and heard the noise; it could be as simple as some ones stomach rumbling, or even a car or truck right outside.

 

With that being said, a good and experienced team member will tag everything that is heard.  If you hear a car go by, speak towards the recorder and state it.  An example is “Noise is sound of car going by.”  This will help tremendously during evidence review.  Also, if another team member enters the room, announce it.  Same goes if a team member needs to leave the room.  It is common sense and look at it as if you are the reviewer who wasn’t present during the EVP session.

 

Before you start an EVP session, decide who is going to be in charge. If there is a Lead Investigator present, they are in charge.  From time to time, the Lead Investigator will allow an Investigator to run the EVP session.  This is so that the Investigator can learn how to lead and possibly move on to Lead Investigator.  The Lead Investigator can also delegate the EVP session to another team member.  Sometimes it is easier if the owner of the voice recorder runs the session.

 

There are four things that must be done during an EVP session:

 

1. 1.State who is part of the session, and which team members are in the room.
2. 2.Start time of EVP session.
3. 3.Location of EVP session.
4. 4.End time of EVP session.

 

This helps the evidence reviewers know what is going on.  The reviewer may have been in another part of the building and has no idea what you are doing.  It also helps during evidence review to know where everyone is.  If there was a loud bang heard on a recorder that had been placed in a room, the reviewer can tell if there was anyone near the noise.

 

I know all the team members of the Front Range Analytical Paranormal Society strive to be professional and want to find great evidence.  Just keep in mind that not every investigation is going to produce evidence.  Our client has trusted us to enter their home or building so we need to give 110% effort at all times.  Also, remember that sometimes our client is absolutely fine with us not finding evidence.  There is no reason to make up evidence because the evidence will speak for itself, for better or worse.