Taking and Understanding EVP’s
By Donnie Shepherd
Posted 12-15-2006
Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) are voices or voice like sounds recorded on some type of electronic media,
(which include tape recorders, digital recorders, or computers), that were not heard by the human ear at the time of
the recording. Many people believe these voices are of the dead, family or friends that have passed on and are
trying to communicate with the living. There is no true evidence to back this up. There are some who believe EVP’s
are simply projections of the experimenter received through psychokinesis or communications from extraterrestrial
beings from far away.
EVP’s vary in length from a single word to a full phrase and some are considered to be polyglot that is, to contain
multiple languages in a single sentence. Most human voices range up to 1000 Hz (Hertz) and most EVP’s range more
than 1400 Hz. The voices have been recognized has male or female both of a young age and old age. Many
different voices have been recorded talking, singing or even whistling. The messages may be very faint so it’s very
important to listen very carefully when reviewing your evidence. Some recordings have been found while playing the
evidence in reverse which is easy for a cassette recorder and if done right with the right computer software.
It’s also believed that the atmospheric conditions have something to do with the amount and quality of EVP’s.
Skeptics
Critics of the paranormal world believe that the voices are from radio or CB interference. Or that the brain creates a
meaning out of a simple noise. This may be true in some cases but it is impossible to prove that all or even most EVP’
s are from some natural phenomena. Several controlled experiments have been conducted in sound proof rooms
(would block all radio and t.v. waves from entering the room), and still voices have been heard.
Equipment
There is no one recorder that is better than another in my opinion. The best way to find one that suits you is to
experiment.
Cassette Recorder- Uses tapes inside a machine to record sounds to it. It’s best to use a new tape for every session
so previously recorded data does not bleed through to the new data. It’s also best to use an external microphone
placed as far away from the base unit as to not pick up motor sounds from the unit itself. This is perhaps the
cheapest unit to buy and less confusing.
Digital Recorder- A hand held unit that is a digital recording unit (saves the recording to a computer chip). These are
the most common now days because they aren’t as much hassle as cassette recorders. Because the unit has a small
speaker, it’s better to get a unit that will connect to a computer where you’re able to listen to the recording with a
bigger speaker. (The quality of the sound is much better with the big speakers and the words are easier to make out)
An external microphone is not required since there are no internal motors.
Computers- Computers can be used with microphones that you connect via the microphone jack or wireless
microphones. With the right software you’re able to change the frequencies, add or remove white noise, speed up or
slow down the voices and increase or decrease the sound.
Headphones- Many EVP’s are whispers or quiet sounds therefore using headphones help muffle outside sounds.
Any headphone will do but if possible get a pair that covers your whole ear; this will help make your evidence easier to
hear.
Microphone- When using a unit that makes a lot of noise it’s better to use a microphone so these sounds aren’t
picked up and mistaken for voices.
Speakers- When reviewing evidence and a voice is heard it’s easier for a group of people to listen with speakers then
to take turns using the headphones. If a computer is used, the speakers on it will work fine.
The Mind- Try to always keep an open mind when reviewing your evidence. Remember to always take a scientific
view and first try to determine if the sound or voices you are hearing are a natural phenomenon.
Procedure
Always carry a notepad with you so when a strange sound happens you can document it and the time your recorder
says so that later you don’t confuse the sound for something paranormal. I suggest that when recording EVP’s lay
your unit down so that muffling noises aren’t heard and also to speak in a normal tone because many voices are
whispers and you want to provide quality evidence to your clients or yourself. ALWAYS take recording evidence
seriously because this will reflect on your creditability as a person or a group, you don’t want one bad apple to spoil
the whole bunch.
Before you begin your session make sure you have plenty of battery life on your unit. You don’t want it to die on you
while you’re in the middle of a session. Always bring extra batteries and tapes if you’re using a cassette recorder.
There are three ways to begin a session: 1. Lay your unit down and walk away for a period of time, 2. Lay your unit
down and ask questions making sure to pause and allow time for an answer between questions, or 3. Walk around
with a unit in your hand and ask questions again allowing time between questions for an answer. But again if the unit
is in your hands it’s possible to pick up sounds from yourself such as clothes rubbing together, which could be
interpreted as something unusual.
At the beginning of your session state the time, date and your location. This will help keep your evidence in order,
especially when you have different locations. Also if you’re in a house state what room you’re in so that if something
is heard later and further investigation is required you know where the most activity is. Research the property you’re
investigating so you know if anyone has died there and have possible names to use when asking your questions.
Don’t assume someone is there; act as if there is. Ask “what is your name”, “how can you help them”, “ is there
something they want someone important to them to know”, or “why they’re still here”. If you want to be taken
seriously, even by the dead then act like a professional and you may end up with great recordings.
Some may suggest that if your unit has voice activation to use it but I think this is faulty. If most EVP’s are a whisper is
the unit going to be able to pick it up? And if it does will it catch all of the recording or just part of it. I would suggest
turning the unit on and leaving it alone. Take it with you from room to room but leave it on. This means that you have
more evidence to review but it reduces your chances of missing anything. As you practice and time goes on you will
find the right method that suits you.
Some may suggest the use of a background noise such as white noise, a radio turned to a channel that is nothing but
static or the use of running water. It’s believed that a spirit will take the sound energy giving off and re-modulate it
into a word they wish to speak. There is, as with most paranormal activity, no scientific evidence of this.
Reviewing your evidence is going to take as long as it took to collect it. You have to listen to every second that was
recorded if you hope to find any activity and once you have, don’t stop; you may have more than one. If you’re not
using headphones, I suggest a computer. It’s loud and with the right software like Audio Editor or Cool Editor you’re
able to make changes to the speed and manipulate the way it sounds. But be careful not to distort the recording too
much. Someone may think you’re trying to pull a fast one on him or her. And always leave your question in the
recording when revealing the evidence to someone so they don’t think it’s a hoax. When your voice is heard, then a
strange voice; it’s a little harder to disprove.
EVP’s are classified into three categories:
Class A: Voices that are loud and easily understood by anyone who listens with speakers from a computer of external
system.
Class B: Voices that can be heard over the speaker system but the words can’t be made out, a group can’t agree as
to what it says.
Class C: Voices that are hard or difficult to understand, the words are mumbled (these are most common among EVP
evidence)
It has been suggested by many people that when recording with a cassette player to convert the findings to a
computer by playing the tape while having a microphone attached to the computer and recording to a program. I feel
this hurts the quality of the recording because background noise can be picked up while transferring the data to the
computer. If you’re willing to record with a cassette player then be willing to leave the data in that format.
Summary
Everyone is entitled to there own opinions. When showing someone else your findings let him or her come to their
own conclusions. This will help back up your findings. Experiment with all kinds of variables (i.e. weather,
surroundings, inside a dwelling, outside a dwelling, or even the people around you.) There’s so much to learn about
this phenomenon that only research and experimentation are going to give us the answers that we’re looking for.
By Donnie Shepherd
Posted 12-15-2006
Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) are voices or voice like sounds recorded on some type of electronic media,
(which include tape recorders, digital recorders, or computers), that were not heard by the human ear at the time of
the recording. Many people believe these voices are of the dead, family or friends that have passed on and are
trying to communicate with the living. There is no true evidence to back this up. There are some who believe EVP’s
are simply projections of the experimenter received through psychokinesis or communications from extraterrestrial
beings from far away.
EVP’s vary in length from a single word to a full phrase and some are considered to be polyglot that is, to contain
multiple languages in a single sentence. Most human voices range up to 1000 Hz (Hertz) and most EVP’s range more
than 1400 Hz. The voices have been recognized has male or female both of a young age and old age. Many
different voices have been recorded talking, singing or even whistling. The messages may be very faint so it’s very
important to listen very carefully when reviewing your evidence. Some recordings have been found while playing the
evidence in reverse which is easy for a cassette recorder and if done right with the right computer software.
It’s also believed that the atmospheric conditions have something to do with the amount and quality of EVP’s.
Skeptics
Critics of the paranormal world believe that the voices are from radio or CB interference. Or that the brain creates a
meaning out of a simple noise. This may be true in some cases but it is impossible to prove that all or even most EVP’
s are from some natural phenomena. Several controlled experiments have been conducted in sound proof rooms
(would block all radio and t.v. waves from entering the room), and still voices have been heard.
Equipment
There is no one recorder that is better than another in my opinion. The best way to find one that suits you is to
experiment.
Cassette Recorder- Uses tapes inside a machine to record sounds to it. It’s best to use a new tape for every session
so previously recorded data does not bleed through to the new data. It’s also best to use an external microphone
placed as far away from the base unit as to not pick up motor sounds from the unit itself. This is perhaps the
cheapest unit to buy and less confusing.
Digital Recorder- A hand held unit that is a digital recording unit (saves the recording to a computer chip). These are
the most common now days because they aren’t as much hassle as cassette recorders. Because the unit has a small
speaker, it’s better to get a unit that will connect to a computer where you’re able to listen to the recording with a
bigger speaker. (The quality of the sound is much better with the big speakers and the words are easier to make out)
An external microphone is not required since there are no internal motors.
Computers- Computers can be used with microphones that you connect via the microphone jack or wireless
microphones. With the right software you’re able to change the frequencies, add or remove white noise, speed up or
slow down the voices and increase or decrease the sound.
Headphones- Many EVP’s are whispers or quiet sounds therefore using headphones help muffle outside sounds.
Any headphone will do but if possible get a pair that covers your whole ear; this will help make your evidence easier to
hear.
Microphone- When using a unit that makes a lot of noise it’s better to use a microphone so these sounds aren’t
picked up and mistaken for voices.
Speakers- When reviewing evidence and a voice is heard it’s easier for a group of people to listen with speakers then
to take turns using the headphones. If a computer is used, the speakers on it will work fine.
The Mind- Try to always keep an open mind when reviewing your evidence. Remember to always take a scientific
view and first try to determine if the sound or voices you are hearing are a natural phenomenon.
Procedure
Always carry a notepad with you so when a strange sound happens you can document it and the time your recorder
says so that later you don’t confuse the sound for something paranormal. I suggest that when recording EVP’s lay
your unit down so that muffling noises aren’t heard and also to speak in a normal tone because many voices are
whispers and you want to provide quality evidence to your clients or yourself. ALWAYS take recording evidence
seriously because this will reflect on your creditability as a person or a group, you don’t want one bad apple to spoil
the whole bunch.
Before you begin your session make sure you have plenty of battery life on your unit. You don’t want it to die on you
while you’re in the middle of a session. Always bring extra batteries and tapes if you’re using a cassette recorder.
There are three ways to begin a session: 1. Lay your unit down and walk away for a period of time, 2. Lay your unit
down and ask questions making sure to pause and allow time for an answer between questions, or 3. Walk around
with a unit in your hand and ask questions again allowing time between questions for an answer. But again if the unit
is in your hands it’s possible to pick up sounds from yourself such as clothes rubbing together, which could be
interpreted as something unusual.
At the beginning of your session state the time, date and your location. This will help keep your evidence in order,
especially when you have different locations. Also if you’re in a house state what room you’re in so that if something
is heard later and further investigation is required you know where the most activity is. Research the property you’re
investigating so you know if anyone has died there and have possible names to use when asking your questions.
Don’t assume someone is there; act as if there is. Ask “what is your name”, “how can you help them”, “ is there
something they want someone important to them to know”, or “why they’re still here”. If you want to be taken
seriously, even by the dead then act like a professional and you may end up with great recordings.
Some may suggest that if your unit has voice activation to use it but I think this is faulty. If most EVP’s are a whisper is
the unit going to be able to pick it up? And if it does will it catch all of the recording or just part of it. I would suggest
turning the unit on and leaving it alone. Take it with you from room to room but leave it on. This means that you have
more evidence to review but it reduces your chances of missing anything. As you practice and time goes on you will
find the right method that suits you.
Some may suggest the use of a background noise such as white noise, a radio turned to a channel that is nothing but
static or the use of running water. It’s believed that a spirit will take the sound energy giving off and re-modulate it
into a word they wish to speak. There is, as with most paranormal activity, no scientific evidence of this.
Reviewing your evidence is going to take as long as it took to collect it. You have to listen to every second that was
recorded if you hope to find any activity and once you have, don’t stop; you may have more than one. If you’re not
using headphones, I suggest a computer. It’s loud and with the right software like Audio Editor or Cool Editor you’re
able to make changes to the speed and manipulate the way it sounds. But be careful not to distort the recording too
much. Someone may think you’re trying to pull a fast one on him or her. And always leave your question in the
recording when revealing the evidence to someone so they don’t think it’s a hoax. When your voice is heard, then a
strange voice; it’s a little harder to disprove.
EVP’s are classified into three categories:
Class A: Voices that are loud and easily understood by anyone who listens with speakers from a computer of external
system.
Class B: Voices that can be heard over the speaker system but the words can’t be made out, a group can’t agree as
to what it says.
Class C: Voices that are hard or difficult to understand, the words are mumbled (these are most common among EVP
evidence)
It has been suggested by many people that when recording with a cassette player to convert the findings to a
computer by playing the tape while having a microphone attached to the computer and recording to a program. I feel
this hurts the quality of the recording because background noise can be picked up while transferring the data to the
computer. If you’re willing to record with a cassette player then be willing to leave the data in that format.
Summary
Everyone is entitled to there own opinions. When showing someone else your findings let him or her come to their
own conclusions. This will help back up your findings. Experiment with all kinds of variables (i.e. weather,
surroundings, inside a dwelling, outside a dwelling, or even the people around you.) There’s so much to learn about
this phenomenon that only research and experimentation are going to give us the answers that we’re looking for.
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