EVP - Is It Really Evidence?

Member Article

EVP has always been and still remains one of the more controversial methods of trying to provide evidence of the paranormal. The basic principle behind EVP collection is the use of an audio recording device in an attempt to catch voices and/or sounds of an unexplained nature.

EVP is said to be in the lower sound waves which are not audible to human ears. Humans generally hear sound waves that are in the 20 to 20,000 Hz cycling range. EVP's are commonly lower than this and usually captured in the ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) range of about 30-300 Hertz which is impossible for the human voice to cycle at. Frequencies are measured in cycles per second....

1,000,000 cycles per second = Megahertz (MHz)
1,000 cycles per second = Kilohertz (KHz)
1 cycle per second = Hertz (Hz)

EVP varies greatly and some are more easily heard and understood than others. They differ in age, gender, tone and emotion. They are often single-words, phrases and short sentences and out of context to the conversation going on or questions being asked. Sometimes they are just random noises such as grunts, groans and growling.

We at TGH use classifications for EVP. Because not all EVP are created equal. Below are the classifications that are used:

CLASS A EVP - is a message that can be heard without headphones and that people can generally agree on its content (s). They are usually the loudest with the words or phrases leaving little dispute over what is being said. Very clear and loud audio capture is obtained in a class A EVP.
CLASS B EVP - requires a headphone to distinguish message content and not everyone will agree on the message.
CLASS C EVP - requires headphone, often needs amplification and filtering and will seldom even be heard by others.

If a person is labeling themselves "Paranormal Investigator," the word investigator tends to lead to the collection of evidence. The seriousness of this person’s validity of their "evidence" should steer them toward the direction of how it is to be collected. This not only applies to EVP collection but to their complete data collection as a whole. In all probability, the evidence we collect will never be presented in court. But for a teams integrity on how they conduct their investigations, evidence should be collected in such a manner that it could. While it is easy to arrive at a location, walk through, pull out the recorder and begin to record. Without a witness, either other team member or video camera or complete environmental control, the skeptics would have a field day with it. If that solitary walk through the cemetery resulted in voices on your recorder and you’re the only one there, can you imagine the questions that would arise from skeptics?

Were there any people taking a walk nearby?
Was there traffic?
How far off the road were you?
How far does your recorder pick up sounds?

It could go on and on. This is not to say seeking to capture EVP on your own is wrong. But the best rule of thumb is “be your own skeptic.” If you travel with your recorder as some of us do, also keep a notepad and pen. If you stop by the cemetery on your way home from work, make note of your location and the surroundings. Note any ambient sounds, the nearest house, traffic, sounds of children playing, lawnmower in the background, dogs barking etc.., etc.. Doing so will give you the possible answers to the questions your headed for from the skeptics and also for your own mind’s questions. Know your equipment. Test it. Have someone work with you to help determine the sensitivity of your recorder and microphone. This is especially important when working with a group spread out over a large area. That "paranormal" foul word you captured just might have been one of your team member’s reaction to stepping in a hole or bumping their shin on a tombstone.

You'll have some investigation group state that only analog is best because once digital is dumped to the computer, there's no original and a digital anything comes down to witness testimony. Well, this is true, somewhat. But, my digital dumps onto my computer the original file format from the recorder which can be sent to a disk. Thus, it's still an original file. But it also comes down to witness testimony regarding analog tapes too. If you're using analog tapes and have no witness that it wasn't YOU who made that slight whisper, well then... sorry to say, it wouldn't stand up in court. My opinion is digital, analog......it doesn't matter. It ALL comes down to witness testimony.

METHODS OF CAPTURE

Leaving the Recorder

Set up the recorder in a good spot with a microphone (three feet away from the recorder). Open a fresh tape in front of a witness. Place the unit on record. Announce the time, date, location and who's around (at the initial point of starting) and leave the tape rolling.

Again as mentioned earlier above, make sure of your surroundings for possible natural sound sources that might be mistaken for paranormal sounds at the location and write them down. Make sure 100% fresh batteries are used in the tape recorder from the beginning. Once 30 or 45 minutes have passed, two people can retrieve the tape or replace it with a fresh one. After the investigation is done, take the tapes to a "good" playback unit and listen to the tapes CAREFULLY. Remember to double check the noted "natural" causes for noises.

Interactive Recording

Scenario #1

This scenario more likely would come into play at a cemetery or group outing. A team of TWO or THREE uses the recorder. It is "taken" on a walk (again, ensuring that the microphone is away from the mechanism, fresh batteries, fresh tape, etc.) and the researchers simply converse or even possibly ask questions.

Watch for "natural" explanations for possible captured sounds. The person holding the microphone must be vigilant for things like other people, nearby sources of sound or "natural" causation (such as wind or the like) and make note of it.

Again, when playing back later, listen for ALL sounds with the team and make sure you honestly write off any "normal" interference so it is not mistaken for the "paranormal."

Scenario #2

Two members, preferably three, but two will do (one to witness and observe for ambient sounds and to make sure that the data is "pure"). the microphone and recorder are placed in a central location and left on recording. The researchers MUST face each other or an ideal situation would be to have a video camera trained on them. While there, a series of questions SHOULD be asked aloud to "anyone" other than the visible to answer. Leave at least ten seconds (silence) between each question for an answer and try to do "reasonable" questions for the environment. For example, the basic questions good in any location are...

Is anyone else here?
Who are you?
Why you are here?
How old are you?
What year were you born?
What was your mother's name?
Are you waiting or looking for someone?

After these questions, ask five or more specific to the possible 'ghost' at the site. Things like "Is it you who's been seen at the stove working and if so, why?" (If there have been reports of seeing someone standing at the stove). The questions should be decided on before the actual recording. The team member who is in charge of observing for ambient sounds will need a copy so as to note any sound that is heard after a particular question. If no hard copy is available, the team member can take notes as follows:

Question #1: Member cleared throat. Car passed outside.
Question #2: Telephone Rings.
Question #3:
Question #4: My stomach growled. etc.

Conducting this in darkness is really up for discussion. Some tend to think that total darkness invites interaction, but makes it hard to differentiate if that heavy sigh they just heard was a fellow team member or an "entity." Additionally it’s quite difficult to write in the dark. If low light conditions are preferred, a small flashlight could be used. After this recording session is done, you can switch over to leaving the recorder running while everyone leaves the room for a period of time "just in case someone is shy."