| There is this really neat type of manifestation called Electronic Voice Phenomena. This is where a sound is recorded, normally an identifiable human voice, of no known or identifiable source. These voices are sometimes interactive and answer questions or ask their own questions. At the present time, this is the only way that we have of documenting real-time communication between ourselves and entities. For this reason, EVP's are often considered the most important form of evidence a researcher can gather. But not all EVP's are interactive, or even sound human, but they should be interactive to be considered as evidence.
There is a sub-type called Residual Audio Event (RAE). This is where an anomalous sound is captured that is not human-based. Knocks, squeaks, thumps, and various animal sounds qualify. They do not have to be interactive, but generally should if you want it to be considered as evidence. There is a large argument about whether RAE's even exist or whether they are really just EVP's of a non-human nature. Until this has been resolved by general agreement, it's best not to worry about it. EVP's are best caught on audio recorders. Camcorders sometimes catch EVP's, but it's hard to isolate the audio portion and manipulate it without damaging the video as well. And most audio-only recorders are far more sensitive than camcorder microphones. And, as a bonus, audio recorders are still very cheap. There are perfectly adequate digital and analog recorders that cost between $20 and $50. Most researchers prefer digital audio because it has low maintenance cost, can hold many hours of recordings, and can be downloaded to for computer analysis. These are all good points and considering that digital audio is of a comparable price, it's probably best to go digital. But if you are stuck using cassettes, you still have some options. Analog audio should always be used with a microphone because the sound of the machinery can wash out faint sounds. This microphone should be omni-directional (can record sounds from all directions). This is a good idea for digital recorders too. Luckily, many PC mikes are omni-directional and quite cheap. Just don't get tangled up in the cable. Also, always use a fresh cassette. Unwrap it and load it on-site just before you start recording. This will keep out bits of dust and debris that can play havoc with tape recorders. And don't forget to clean the recorder often. Dust is evil. Finally, go to Radio Shack (or other electronics store) and get a double-ended speaker cable. This has the "male" plugs on both ends. Be sure they are stereo plugs. They will have two black rings around each metal end (mono plugs have one ring). Once you have this cable, you can record your audio onto the computer. Put one end into the recorder's headphone jack, and the other end into the computer's microphone jack. Set your favorite audio program to "record" and hit the tape recorder's "play" button. The result is a surprisingly clear digital recording. Keep Going! Gimme More! Back to the Equipment Q&A Page Back to the Main Q&A Page Back to the Front Page |
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| Why Do We Use Audio Recorders? |