Methods Used to Record EVP

Recording for EVP can be done in several ways, but there are three main methods that are used most often by paranormal investigators. Each method has its pros and cons, but all have a place in the field.

Question & Answer:

The first method is most often used on paranormal investigations. It is an easy method to do, but there are some things that seem to work better than others (based on my own experiences). Let me outline how this method is usually done:

The investigator will generally come to an investigation with a written or printed list of questions to ask for the first recording session or two. Even if a lot of the history of a location is known, many investigators will start out with the same questions for the first recording. My personal favorite question to start with is, "Is there anyone here who would like to talk to me/us?". I have gotten a few no's, but that still tells me that a spirit is there; it just isn't feeling talkative just then. Many groups either started, or have made it a point to write down their beginning questions prior to getting to a location. Having them written down dramatically cuts down on all of the "ummmm's" and "uhhhhh's" in between questions and it ensures that you don't miss anything you wanted to ask. From the client's perspective it also helps to make you appear more professional because 1, you come prepared to start and 2, you look confident in what you are doing. If you haven't heard of the theory that ghosts/spirits can read you mind, it is actually a popular one. Obviously there is the big flaw of proving that you actually asked any questions at all prior to getting responses, but it should be taken into consideration when doing investigations. Since you actually say most things in your head as you are writing them or before you speak them, spirits could be answering you while you are writing or thinking and not ready for them.

The length of a session usually lasts for approximately five minutes each. The reason for this (and please feel free to experiment on your own) is because spirits tend to talk in bursts. If you do sessions longer than 5 minutes apiece they tend to fall back to whispering or very hard to hear or they just stop talking all together. I make it a point to end each session by asking the spirit(s) to please wait for me to start asking more questions and to reserve their energy until we begin with some more questions. Does this work? I can't say for sure. But as nothing is for sure in this field, it's worth a shot.

After recording a session most investigators can't resist listening back (even without the headphones or computer). Depending on the clarity of the answers (I am being optimistic that there were some answers) the investigator should then modify their next questions to get more information and request clarity for the answers they did receive. If for example you got a few answers, but not an answer to "What is your name?", ask the question again in either the next session or a following one. Many experienced with doing EVP research have found that it takes a few sessions to "warm up" the spirits. This does not apply to all locations, but it does seemingly apply to most.

For a currently unknown reason, some spirits can take up to several seconds to a full minute before replying to a question. Because of this my practice includes asking a question and then waiting between 20 to 30 seconds before asking the next one (count in your head). Leaving that amount of time has reduced talk over (when an EVP is recorded while a person is speaking, thereby making it hard to separate) and perhaps also helps them not to feel rushed. It is extremely important for this method to remember to stay (and have your groups stay) as quiet as possible while doing a session. If there is a known noise to make note of, one person from a group is usually designated to verbally state it for the recording. That way, instead of four people saying "car" at different times only one person is breaking the silence. If there is a noise that keeps happening, such as a dog barking or a siren that lasts for a bit don't keep stating what the noise is, one time should do it unless there is a pause in the noise. If for example a plane is flying overhead and it can be heard simply say "plane" instead of something like, "here comes a plane….there goes the plane." There were eight extra words in saying that which means that saying it that way might have talked over an EVP.

As a side note, I would highly suggest not asking questions that do not have to do with getting to know the spirit (i.e. asking for the winning lotto numbers and such) as this would more than likely turn the spirit off to talking with you anymore. Some groups have taken to following suit with some television programs and try to provoke spirits with their questioning, sometimes getting downright belligerent. To this I say bad move. Sure, they might get a burst of angry EVP but is it really worth it? Not only are they risking offending the spirit(s), but I also know that if someone was trying to get me to talk to them and started with those antics I would more than likely walk away, wouldn't you?

Stationary:

This method is fairly self-explanatory as stationary means to stay put. This method can be utilized in several ways and for several purposes though. The most common being ears in a place where no humans will be. This can be a separate floor, a single room, etc. but be sure that the area can be blocked or locked off to avoid false positives. Most of the time a recorder will be placed somewhere that is thought to have residual activity (more on that in another article) or in a place that is not known to have any activity, but the group wants it covered just in case something does happen while they are in another area.

Another use for a stationary set up would be to record entire investigations (be sure to check the tapes if it is a cassette recorder so they don't run out). Using the stationary method this way helps to ensure that you don't miss any potential EVP. A lot of groups will tell you that they get some of their best EVP when they are just talking amongst themselves and not doing a recording session. Maybe this is due to a shy or child spirit, or maybe it is due to something else, either way it does seem to be the case often. Having two or more voice recorders running at the same time also increases credibility of any EVP you do capture. Odd anomalies do happen though where one recorder out of three (example) will record an EVP, but the other two do not.

When setting up a stationary recorder, there are a few things to keep in mind.

· Be sure to place the recorder on a flat surface where it would be very hard for the recorder to just fall off or move. Try to avoid setting the recorder directly on a floor though as footsteps of those in other rooms could easily be mistaken as phantom footsteps later.
· Remember that when using the stationary method as a back up to record the entire investigation that there will be a lot of movement recorded. It would be a good practice to note when everyone is sitting or standing still so that any footsteps or other noises recorded in those times can be looked at a little more closely than the rest.

After the recorder is secure and you are ready to leave it alone, it is a good practice to state where you are, what room/area (if applicable), the weather outside, time, temp of the room and date and whatever other information you may need to remember later on. Just before leaving the area (if the recorder is going to be locked off) you might want to verbalize that no one will be bothering anyone in that area so they can feel free to go about their business.

When you retrieve your stationary recorder and are ready to review it (break it up into segments if it is over an hour or have someone share in the listening) be sure that you make note of any noise or voice. Before jumping to any conclusions you should review all of your other recordings and data to make sure that the noise or voice from the stationary recorder can't be accounted for. If after close examination there is no plausible reason for the noise or voice, then and only then should you mark it as an EVP.

Walking:

The walking method is what many new investigators start out with, as it is the easiest and fastest. Then again, it is also the one that gives the most false positives.

So why is it a recognized method and not just tossed out you may ask? Well, it is because it does have its place as long as the investigator is aware of all of the potential problems. If you have ever set up a recorder and just walked around your house you will realize how much they pick up. When you keep a recorder in your hand it not only picks up all of the movements that you make but it also records any sounds your hand makes that is holding the recorder. True, when analyzing a stationary recording this also has to be kept in mind as the question and answer method is about the only one that requires silence as absolute as you can get it while recording.

The most common uses for the walking method would be for outside areas, upon entering a house/building and when doing a walkthrough of a location. I personally make sure to set the recorder down and verbalize when I pick it up to move it so that I know when it is and is not being touched (either by seen or unseen hands).

For outside areas such as cemeteries, battlefields, etc, the walking method can be used while you are going from place to place or when you only have grass to set it down on. Keep in mind that it is nearly impossible to determine if you record what you believe to be footsteps following you when using the walking method though. You also have to take into account leaves, grass, clothes rubbing together, twigs snapping, wind passing the microphone as you walk, your breathing, your finger movements on the recorder, etc., etc., etc.

Using this method as you enter a location can produce some amazing EVP. Even if you don't get any others from a location, you could get one as you just enter the house/building. If you are going to do this be sure to notify the client (if applicable) before hand so that they know to stay silent until you give the go ahead. Your group should also either stay back or wait until after the person with the recorder enters. Anytime you are doing the walking method be sure to hold the recorder with two fingers if it is a digital and both hands if you are using a cassette with a microphone. Make sure that your fingers do not touch or come close to the microphone. Hold the recorder out away from your body as you walk and maintain even breathing and steady and slow walking. One good EVP that I have gotten was upon entering a home as I just described and upon walking through the door I said, "we're back". The EVP was a confirming, "They're back, that's great."

As a final tip about the walking method, whenever possible be sure to set the recorder down on a solid flat surface and only pick it up when you are moving. This will decreases excess noise significantly. If you are in a house void of furniture then try doing some sessions when everyone is sitting on the floor (and make a vocal note when everyone is sitting still) or place the recorder on an empty shelf for at least part of the time you are there.

So those are the three methods that the majority of groups/people use to try and capture EVP. I have been working on a twist of two of the above methods though and it seems to be getting the most results for me. I call it the Stationary Conversation method.

I came up with this method due to the fact that many investigators complain or state that a lot of their EVP's happen when the groups is just talking amongst itself and also because I record all of my interviews with client's prior to doing a full investigation and get EVP that interject information about the case during the interview. It is called the Stationary Conversation because we make sure we are all sitting with the recorder untouched in the room or in the center of the group and we talk. Since I like to get my clients involved in the investigations (as much as possible anyway) I always invite them to sit in with us. Not only does this seem to calm them, it also makes sense since they are the ones that the spirits/ghosts know the best.

After explaining how EVP is thought to work I then explain this method. Basically it is a regular conversation with purposeful pauses interspersed throughout. I will note that when we talk about activity at the location we seem to get more answers than just talking about every day things. Since the vast majority of clients have either never heard of EVP or don't know how it works we generally end up following my hand signals so everyone knows when to pause. To help eliminate excess noise the hand signal is very quiet. I simply keep my hand on a flat surface and raise it for a pause and then lower it so everyone knows to keep going. This not only ensures a good pause length, but also keeps everyone working and focusing on each other. Thus far I have found very few cons to this method, the main one being clients who are not used to recording for EVP and who keep talking without many pauses (thereby increasing the amount of talk over).

All of these methods can be used in combination while doing an investigation, just be sure to keep in mind the pros and cons of each. If any of the above tips are new to you, then I encourage you to at least try them and let me know what you think and if you have more success with one than another. If you have found a technique that is not mentioned above or a tip that you have found to help, please feel free to let mw know.