EVP'S - Electronic Voice Phenomena - Communicating With The World Beyond

EVP'S - Electronic Voice Phenomena
Communicating With The World Beyond

EVP stands for Electronic Voice Phenomena. They are unexplained voices that are captured on audio tape or digital recorders which can be heard at playback, these are voices that come from an unknown source and are believed to be those of the deceased. The recording parties hear nothing while they record, yet the voices are mysteriously on the tape at playback, often faint and muffled sounding, but sometimes amazingly clear.

Interest in EVP apparently began in the 1920s. An interviewer from Scientific American asked Thomas Edison about the possibility of contacting the dead. Edison reportedly said that nobody knows whether our personalities pass on to another existence or sphere, but added that it may be possible to construct an apparatus which might allow such communication. Apparently, there is no evidence that Edison ever designed or built such a device.

There was a renewed interest of EVP's in 1959 with Fredrich Jurgenson. He was recording birdsongs in Sweden and on playback he distinctly heard a voice discussing nocturnal birdsongs.

Despite widespread belief in EVP, scientists have shown very little interest in the phenomenon. This is probably due to the difficulty in proving that all EVPs are due to natural phenomena, and not interference from broadcasting signals or man made disturbances as the skeptics will lead you to belive.

If you would like to try experimenting with EVP's on your own, here are some helpful tips below.

One important part of the experiment is to prepare questions to be asked as you start recording. Questions should be asked slowly allowing time for replies. The best questions are ones that can be answered by yes or no, or one syllable words. Once you begin taping maintain absolute silence. Make notes of any noises that occur after taping has begun.

Buy a tape recorder with an external microphone that can be placed away from the machine.

If you are using a digital recorder, use one that records directly to a CR-ROM. Be sure to record as write-only and on settings that do not compress the recording.

When recording take the recorder to a location that you feel may be haunted.

When you arrive, make notes of the weather and any sounds that can be heard where you plan to do your recording.

If you are using a standard tape recorder, use only a brand new tape that comes from the sealed package. Never record on a tape that has been used.

When you set-up your recorder be sure to extend the external microphone away from it about three feet. Do not walk around with the recorder, place the recorder and the microphone in a secure spot, on the floor or on a table.

If you follow these simple steps, you should get some great recordings of your own that the dead do communicate with the living.

The subject of EVP's was also the theme of a recently released hit movie, "White Noise," a fictionalized account, starring Michael Keaton.