Post by Brad-LaSpirits on May 13, 2007 23:51:01 GMT -5
How To Record EVP (aka Electronic Voice Phenomena)
EVP was discovered by a Swedish doctor in 1959 as he was recording birds singing in the wilderness. When the tapes were played back (reel-to-reel back then) other voices that sounded “human” were heard, but there was no one else in the remote location. From that point, the study of EVP began.
Spirits do not speak through either internal or external microphones on recording devices. Spirits, by some means, magnetically imprint their voice directly onto the analog tape, bypassing the microphone completely. Spirits can also imprint their voices on digital recording devices. It truly is phenomenal…
The Following Devices Can Be Used To Record EVP:
Analog (cassette) Recorder with tape -OR- Digital Recorder
External Microphone
NOTE: although an external microphone is used, the only reason is to ensure less noise is recorded while recording and upon playback. Also, without an external microphone, the internal microphone can record the noise of the analog cassette recorder motor, as the gears are being turned in the unit itself.
If you choose to use a digital recorder, there is no motor inside the device. Therefore, it would okay to use the built-in microphone.
Headphones that cover the entire ear (for listening to playback)
Audio editing software (to name a few)
Audacity; free download, user-friendly
Cool Edit which is now Adobe Audition; purchase, user-friendly
To Record EVP:
Using an analog cassette or digital recorder
Connect microphone to recorder (if applicable)
Set voice activation "OFF" (if set “ON”; beginning & end of sentences are clipped)
Set the volume level to the maximum setting for recording
Go to the area where you want to capture EVP
Press Record & Begin By Speaking Clearly:
State your name, the date, and time, as well as your location, and if there are any other people with you.
Announce that you have a machine that can record their voice and you'd like to speak with them, assure them not to be afraid.
Ask them to try to speak as loudly and clearly as they can.
Other Questions Of Choice:
How many are here with me today?
What's your name?
Why are you here?
How did you die?
What year did you die?
It’s a good idea to be courteous & polite (please & thank you are a must)
The line of questioning should be concise and use the pretense that you know theyre with you, so that they may be more compelled to answer vs. staying quiet. You'll feel silly talking aloud and not getting a reply from a physical world voice, but that's the nature of capturing EVP.
Ensure enough time is left in-between questions so they can answer. If you talk too much, you may talk over their voice and not able to hear them speaking. Dont be surprised if you get more than one voice and don’t be afraid if it doesn’t sound “normal”.
Dont get discouraged if you dont hear EVP the first time, your ears have to get used to listening, and consequently, get more acclimated. Whatever you do; dont erase the tape, and dont reuse the same tape over-and-over again (you may get erosion and sounds may bleed-through). It would be feasible to purchase a magnetic tape eraser to ensure reusing your tape cassettes without the possibility of mistaking previously recorded audio for EVP. You can use both sides of the tape to record EVP.
Dont make the recordings too long, you dont want to sit through endless hours of static, trying to pick-out EVP. It can be very time consuming and straining to sit and listen. Consider recording for 5 minutes; announce that youre going to check the machine for their voice, and that you'll be back to talk with them soon.
While recording and trying to capture EVP, dont whisper, and if you create noise (cough, sneeze, bump into something), note it aloud on the recorder (simply state the creator of the noise and what it was). Same goes for any other noise infractions, ie: planes, phone ringing, someone else speaking, cars, trains, etc. This ensures youve accounted for the noise and that it's not mistaken for EVP.
Listening To Recordings For EVP:
The optimal method is by using headphones – the kind that encompass the entire ear.
I use noise-canceling headphones and the clarity is unsurpassed.
Indicators You May Have Captured EVP:
Loud knocks (knocking)
Roaring/Droning static or hum
Murmurs, Shrieks, Screams, Whispers
Voices not recognized as your own or others around you
Class Ratings For EVP:
Class A: Voices can be heard and understood over a speaker by most people; the average person will hear what you expect them to hear without prompting.
Class B: Voices can be heard over a speaker, but not everyone will agree as to what is heard being said; the average person will hear what you expect them to hear without prompting.
Class C: Voices must usually be heard with the use of headphones and are difficult to understand. The most popular belief is that Class C EVP are not worth listening to, they may not be worthy of posting on a website, but I believe they are well-worth their weight in gold.
Audio Editing Software:
Don't over filter and clean-up EVP; the capture will be considered doctored or faked, which you don't want. It's best to save a clip in the filtered form (under wma or mp3), then save the same clip with the filtering so you can compare and listen to the two different versions. Always use the original recording as your base, and save the snippets/portions of audio clips in the other format (wma/mp3).
EVP was discovered by a Swedish doctor in 1959 as he was recording birds singing in the wilderness. When the tapes were played back (reel-to-reel back then) other voices that sounded “human” were heard, but there was no one else in the remote location. From that point, the study of EVP began.
Spirits do not speak through either internal or external microphones on recording devices. Spirits, by some means, magnetically imprint their voice directly onto the analog tape, bypassing the microphone completely. Spirits can also imprint their voices on digital recording devices. It truly is phenomenal…
The Following Devices Can Be Used To Record EVP:
Analog (cassette) Recorder with tape -OR- Digital Recorder
External Microphone
NOTE: although an external microphone is used, the only reason is to ensure less noise is recorded while recording and upon playback. Also, without an external microphone, the internal microphone can record the noise of the analog cassette recorder motor, as the gears are being turned in the unit itself.
If you choose to use a digital recorder, there is no motor inside the device. Therefore, it would okay to use the built-in microphone.
Headphones that cover the entire ear (for listening to playback)
Audio editing software (to name a few)
Audacity; free download, user-friendly
Cool Edit which is now Adobe Audition; purchase, user-friendly
To Record EVP:
Using an analog cassette or digital recorder
Connect microphone to recorder (if applicable)
Set voice activation "OFF" (if set “ON”; beginning & end of sentences are clipped)
Set the volume level to the maximum setting for recording
Go to the area where you want to capture EVP
Press Record & Begin By Speaking Clearly:
State your name, the date, and time, as well as your location, and if there are any other people with you.
Announce that you have a machine that can record their voice and you'd like to speak with them, assure them not to be afraid.
Ask them to try to speak as loudly and clearly as they can.
Other Questions Of Choice:
How many are here with me today?
What's your name?
Why are you here?
How did you die?
What year did you die?
It’s a good idea to be courteous & polite (please & thank you are a must)
The line of questioning should be concise and use the pretense that you know theyre with you, so that they may be more compelled to answer vs. staying quiet. You'll feel silly talking aloud and not getting a reply from a physical world voice, but that's the nature of capturing EVP.
Ensure enough time is left in-between questions so they can answer. If you talk too much, you may talk over their voice and not able to hear them speaking. Dont be surprised if you get more than one voice and don’t be afraid if it doesn’t sound “normal”.
Dont get discouraged if you dont hear EVP the first time, your ears have to get used to listening, and consequently, get more acclimated. Whatever you do; dont erase the tape, and dont reuse the same tape over-and-over again (you may get erosion and sounds may bleed-through). It would be feasible to purchase a magnetic tape eraser to ensure reusing your tape cassettes without the possibility of mistaking previously recorded audio for EVP. You can use both sides of the tape to record EVP.
Dont make the recordings too long, you dont want to sit through endless hours of static, trying to pick-out EVP. It can be very time consuming and straining to sit and listen. Consider recording for 5 minutes; announce that youre going to check the machine for their voice, and that you'll be back to talk with them soon.
While recording and trying to capture EVP, dont whisper, and if you create noise (cough, sneeze, bump into something), note it aloud on the recorder (simply state the creator of the noise and what it was). Same goes for any other noise infractions, ie: planes, phone ringing, someone else speaking, cars, trains, etc. This ensures youve accounted for the noise and that it's not mistaken for EVP.
Listening To Recordings For EVP:
The optimal method is by using headphones – the kind that encompass the entire ear.
I use noise-canceling headphones and the clarity is unsurpassed.
Indicators You May Have Captured EVP:
Loud knocks (knocking)
Roaring/Droning static or hum
Murmurs, Shrieks, Screams, Whispers
Voices not recognized as your own or others around you
Class Ratings For EVP:
Class A: Voices can be heard and understood over a speaker by most people; the average person will hear what you expect them to hear without prompting.
Class B: Voices can be heard over a speaker, but not everyone will agree as to what is heard being said; the average person will hear what you expect them to hear without prompting.
Class C: Voices must usually be heard with the use of headphones and are difficult to understand. The most popular belief is that Class C EVP are not worth listening to, they may not be worthy of posting on a website, but I believe they are well-worth their weight in gold.
Audio Editing Software:
Don't over filter and clean-up EVP; the capture will be considered doctored or faked, which you don't want. It's best to save a clip in the filtered form (under wma or mp3), then save the same clip with the filtering so you can compare and listen to the two different versions. Always use the original recording as your base, and save the snippets/portions of audio clips in the other format (wma/mp3).
