The Paranormal - EVP (Electronic Voice Phemonema

Known simply as "EVP's", these are actual recordings of voices or other sounds on a tape or digital recorder that weren't caused by any explainable source. They can be as simple as a word, or as complex as a conversation. Most true EVP's are accompanied by static on the recorder. The biggest tell-tale sign is the actual frequency of the voices. Most EVP's are below the human vocal range.

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.

EVP CLASSIFICATIONS

CLASS A EVP - A 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 - A Class B EVP requires a headphone to distinguish message content and not everyone will agree on the message.

CLASS C EVP - A Class C EVP requires noise reduction headphones, often needs amplification and filtering and will seldom even be heard by others.

NOTE: As a rule, P.S.I. of Oregon discards any Class C EVP's. Noise-reduction headphones should never be needed to hear a true EVP.

If a person labels themselves as a “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 another team member, 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 from?

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. 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.