| Crawford County Illinois Ghost Hunters Society |
| Different Methods for Recording EVP SET AND LEAVE METHOD This method for recording EVP works well in houses or cemeteries that allow you to leave the area being investigated unattended for a long period of time. What you do is set the recorder on something such as a table or other object at the location being investigated. You will state the time, date and location, then leave the area completely. If you are in a house you might even be able to shut the door behind you in a room and go downstairs or somewhere else in the house while the audio recording device is recording. In a cemetery you might want to leave the area all together so you will be recording what is going on while no one is present. If you do decide to do this be sure to note that you will be leaving because the recorder will pick up the sound of your doors opening and the engine starting on your vehicle as you leave. This is a great method for recording EVP because as soon as you leave the area you know there should not be any one talking so if you do hear voices when reviewing the recording it’s a good possibility it is EVP. Using this method it is recommended that record for at least 30 minutes or more because you are investigating the area to see if any sounds or voices are heard with no one present. This is also a great way to record residual sounds that might only be captured when recording for longer periods of time. The investigator must use cation though even when shutting the door behind them and going to a different area of the house. The microphones are very sensitive on most recording devices and will pick your voice up even when you are on a different floor of a house or building. SILENT METHOD This is the recommended method for recording the voices of the dead. Like the, set and leave method you must be very quite and eliminate any kind of household appliance or other sound source if possible. Find any surface to set the recorder on and then state the time, date, and location. We have found that recording for a time period of 3 to 5 minutes is very successful using this method. It seems that if the ghosts or spirits are going to talk it will be within the 3 to 5 minute time frame. When you turn the recorder on it is always good to wait about 20 seconds before even stating the time, date, and location. Often you will capture an EVP as soon as you hit the record button so listen close when reviewing your recording. After the recorder has been set down step back at least 8 to 10 feet away from the device. This will allow the spirits to come up to recorder and they do not have to get extremely close. Note that when stepping back from the recorder you might pick up your footsteps on the way. The number one rule with this method or any method for capturing EVP is to be quite! The only exception to this rule is when you are asking the spirits of the dead a question. Since you are recording for a short time period you can review the recording session as soon as your done. By reviewing your session on location it is letting the ghosts or spirits know that you can hear them if they have spoken. This will sometimes increase EVP activity during the second session conducted at the location because the spirits of the dead will understand that you can hear them on the recorder. QUESTION METHOD This method involves setting the tape recorder down and asking a series of questions. This method is also a very good method to use for recording EVP. It is very effective if you have already determined that the location being investigated has an active ghost or spirit from previous EVP activity captured in the area. When using this method is very important that you do not get angry or upset when talking to the spirits of the dead! This will result in poor results and should never happen. The best way to speak to them is by using a very clear and calm voice. Before you start asking questions always start by stating the time, date, and location. Sometimes questions that can be answered by a simple yes or no are the most effective to use with this method. You may ask any question except something that might cause the ghost or spirit to get angry with you. After you ask a question always wait for at least 20 to 30 seconds before you go on to the next question. This will allow a longer response time for ghosts, or spirits, to answer you. Often you will get the answer to your last question right before you ask the next. Listen carefully when you play the recording session back because a lot of times there will be voices over your own while you are asking the questions. By using this method the investigator can find out a lot of information about the ghost or spirits and possibly even how they died or why they still remain at the location that they are haunting. Many things including the emotions of the ghost or spirit can be heard through EVP so you might have some responses to your questions that you would have never expected from them so listen closely to what they say even if the answer does not relate to the question you asked. Often they will give you names or even tell you that they are male or female, when asked! We always start by asking simple things and then later move on to more advanced questions. You may to start off asking question like these, Are there any spirits here tonight?, How many spirits are here?, Can you give us your name?, or Why are you here? You may ask any question but I recommend you ask questions that will help you find out more about the ghost or spirit and why they are still in the location being haunted. It is also important to let the ghost or spirits know that you do not mean any harm and that you are not trying to offend them in any way. Tell them you are a paranormal investigator researching life after death and you would like to get there permission to record their voice. You may also comment on things while recording like how pretty the flowers are next to their grave or that they have a nice name. Sometimes when doing this you will get responses like, Thank You! This is one of two methods were you are allowed to talk while you are recording. When you do talk though it must only be because you are asking a question or making a comment about something that you think they will respond too. Next is a list of questions you might want to try asking the spirits of the dead while using the question method for the recording attempt of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). Questions to ask the spirits of the dead when using the QUESTION METHOD. Are there any spirits here tonight? How many spirits are here? Can you give us your name? Why are you here? Are you trapped here? Are you unhappy about our presence here? Do you want us to leave? Are you at peace? Are you male or female? Do you have unfinished business? How can we help you? Do you need help? Do you realize that you have passed on, and are no longer living? Can you see us? Can you hear us? Is there anything you would like to tell us? How did you die? During what year did you die in? Did you die of natural causes? Were you murdered? Can you make your presence known? Where are you buried at? What is the name of the cemetery that you are buried in? What state is the cemetery in? What county is the cemetery in? Are we upsetting you? Would you like us to give someone a message? What is the message you would like to give this person? Tell us the name of the person to receive your message, both first and last name, if possible? Are you happy? Are you angry? Are you sad? Do you ever leave here? Can you ever leave here? Are you able to travel to different locations other then here? Does it take up a lot of your energy to talk to us? Can you make your self visible so we can see you? What is it like on the other side? Is it different where you are at? Where are you? WALKING METHOD The walking method is used for recording in different areas at the location being investigated. You must be very cautious when using this method! With this method you will hold the recording device in your hand while walking to other areas at the location being investigated. This can be very tricky because you will pick up the sound of your feet and your hand movement on the case of the recorder. It is recommended that when you walk into another room or area if you are in a cemetery, that you stop and record for 2 minutes before moving on to the next spot. You must be very careful not to move the recorder around a lot in your hand. The microphone will pick that noise up. After the two minutes is move to another spot that you feel might be active. With this method some talking is allowed. When you enter a different room or area, state the location on your recorder so if you listen later and find that you have recorded an EVP you will know where you were at when it was recorded. With this method you can also ask questions or make comments while you are recording but I recommend you stop to this so you do not record your own footsteps. By using this method you can find out if one area or room is more active then others. VEHICLE METHOD When the weather conditions are bad or if you do not want to walk long distances you might want to try this method for your EVP investigations. It works well and I have captured several EVPs using this method. Cemeteries are the best places to try this method for recording EVP. When you get to the location that you want to investigate shut your car off either on a road through the cemetery or even on the road in front of the cemetery. You must wait at least 10 minutes before recording with this method because as your vehicle cools you will hear a pinging noise from your vehicle. Some investigators have confused this noise with ghostly ringing church bells, when it was actually from a completely natural source! Always remember to turn your vehicles radio off before you start recording as well. You must be careful not to move the recorder around a lot in your hand since you will be holding the recorder. Hold the recorder outside the window and state the time, date, and location. You can also place the recorder on the roof of your vehicle if you prefer to, it will eliminate the noise from your hand moving the recorder. This method is best used for EVP investigations in the rain, snow, or other conditions in which you might not want to get out of your vehicle. If it is raining you can place the recorder just inside the window do avoid getting it wet and to keep the sound of the rain from interfering with your recording. By keeping the recorder just inside your window it will also cut down on some the wind noise your microphone might pick up in some weather conditions. Instead of rolling your window completely down you can also roll it half way down and hold it up near the open part to eliminate more wind and rain interference. When it has been raining a lot be careful and do not pull down a muddy cemetery road and leave tracks, always be respectful of the locations you investigate! |
| (c) Copyright 2005 by Jason Snider. All Rights Reserved |