EVP Q & A

Question: What, exactly, is EVP anyway?

Answer: EVP stands for: Electronic Voice Phenomenon. What it is Exactly is very hard to say. EVP is associated with ghost's and haunting phenomenon. What actually happens is easy to describe. You pick up a tape recorder and go for a walk through a place (residential or exterior location) that is said to be haunted. When you play the tape back, you hear voices on the tape that were not there while the tape was being made. What this is, and how it works, is anybody's guess. Everyone that has been doing it for a while eventually develop a theory. There are as many EVP theories as there are EVP detectives. All, one or none may be true.

Question: When you are doing your recordings, do you actually hear voices that appear on the tape while you are recording them?

Answer: No not usually (we have heard sounds like "ooohs" and shrieks but they just sound like clicks on the tape-We're not sure why audible sounds are distorted when inaudible sounds are often clear.) Technically the only time you hear EVP voices is when you play the tape back after you are finished. We take our tapes home and listen to them. We have what I call our, "Guide Book." This is a note book where we write down what we hear on the tape and where (on the counter) we hear it. We are able to go back to spot on the tape later, record that spot on to the computer and build a WAV. file out of it. It is the WAV. files that we then post on our web page.

Question: What is the software that you use to clean up your EVP?

Answer: Actually, the software we use isn't important. Any good sound editor will do. What some people use is really overkill. You don't need that kind of power to work with EVP. These programs requires a knowledge of sound engineering to get the most out of it and is a lot more expensive than you need. These days most good CD burners have a native editor and it's usually all the power you need.  Most of the SCPRAI team uses Audacity, which is free.

Question: While trying to record EVP should I be absolutely silent?

Answer: No-it's not necessary. In fact, the only thing you shouldn't do is whisper or talk in a voice unlike your normal speaking tone. Talk in normal tones. We have found that if you don't talk to "Them" then "They" won't talk to you. You should address them in a normal tone of voice. Don't "over chat" or talk when others are talking. After all you're trying to get spirit voices not record your own. Concise...Be clear, ask questions and be concise. The best questions are of a personal nature (see above). What are you mainly curious about? We frequently tell people, "Just because some one is dead does not mean they are no longer a person. They still have feelings, they react emotionally. They can be offended. Be respectful, and talk to them like they are people. Be sure to note when others (who might forget or be further away from you talk) speak. If you hear noise then the tape will hear it as well.