Classification scale
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Class A EVP - 100% audible, clear voice & intelligent or reactive responses, not random noise or words. Example: having direct questions responded to or reaction statement. Audible to the human ear no enhancements needed, no question to what the voice is saying. Low Hz levels do not always apply with true Class A EVP. Some have registered on a higher frequency as the team present, other data to support the potential EVP claim, such as other tape recorders, and or video gear.
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Class B EVP - Practically audible, some doubt to the interpretation, syllables & consonant pronunciation is questionable. Appropriate tone & timing to question or statement made by team member. Frequency levels are also undetermined, but usually found on the low end of the spectrum. Non English EVP are placed in this category.
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Class C EVP - Frequency levels support this unexplainable voice, not always audible, but some constants are present. Timing & tone apply to this category. Direct response is not required. Random voices or tones apply in this category. Out of text words or phrases that are not explained by correlating data. Audible, but faint, not a whisper or murmur those will fall into the Class G category.
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Class D EVP - Non published or announced EVP. This may be an EVP, but it is too questionable to declare as paranormal. Whispers, faint murmurs, breathe like sounds and airy sounding voices. This classification is not the trash barrel for EVP; it is simply a holding area until the EVP has been validated by all data. Usually Class D EVP are not published or presented as paranormal phenomena.
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Class G EVP - If you have to work that hard to clarify or understand the potential EVP, then its probably not an EVP. G stands for GARBAGE. Trash it & keep trying.
Mandatory things to remember with EVP!
· Do NOT whisper! Sounds simple doesn’t it? Its not, just listen to your tape. Even the most experienced EVP collectors are caught whispering. Remember if you can’t speak loud and clear then don’t speak at all!
· Avoid collecting audio outside.
· Make note of shoes, clothing, equipment and other tools on your person that make noise. (test it out)
· If your stomach is upset, hungry or just noisy, you may want to skip EVP collections this time around, or drink some Pepto!
· If you are collecting audio, keep your recorder away from your walkie-talkie.
· Use brand new clean tapes. Low Noise/High Bias tapes work best.
· If you kick or hit something, DO NOT announce to everyone that “that was me”.
· If something random pops into your mind, say it out loud.
· Outside traffic and noise. If it is that noisy, close up shop try again later.
· Limit speaking until everyone is ready to speak.
· Do not shout at the ghosts, for the love of God, DO NOT shout at the ghosts!
· Do not ask the ghosts stupid questions like “are you here?” or “can I see you”. Because that is just stupid. Think about it! Always assume and always allow a building to be what it is!
· When analyzing, if it is a whisper like quality voice, find out which one of you did it before assuming it was a ghost. It has never been proven or disproven that ghosts whisper.
· Be critical before you put your name behind a paranormal claim.
· Avoid using psychics while collecting EVP.
· Allow the ghosts plenty of time to answer you.
· Listen to the room.
· Control your breathing and your voice quirks.
· Relax and allow the room to be what it is.
The best part in my research has been discovering that the majority of EVP’s that are turned in to me are nothing more than a voice trick. Team members unknowingly making strange noises without even consciously realizing they are doing it. Everyone does it, a slight coughs, one of those funky logy phlegm breaths, a mumble, and a sigh, a murmur of being cold and tired.
This is the most common of all EVP mistakes that are known to the field. Operator or team member error, if you do not believe me, just record you and a couple of your friends just sitting and talking, talking about anything, you will play it back and learn very quickly that a person voice is capable of doing all kinds of tricks. Tricks that are later assumed to be “voices from the grave”. You might say I am being overly picky, well, yes I am.
When a person stakes a claim that they have crossed a path in life and death and actually succeeded in collecting a voice from beyond, that is a very important claim to make. You better make sure that your claim is what it is. One of the easiest ways to validate your audio is to video tape your team members faces and actions. I have personally watched my team members on video moving their mouths at the same time a possible EVP was collected. They made the EVP, not the ghost. Use your video camera to back up your EVP claims, especially if furniture and doors are not flying across the room while you are on your investigation. Catch the culprit then declare your voice!
By Tonya Hacker
The idea behind EVP: Go into an area that could contain spiritual entities and literally have a conversation with the ghosts. Ask them a question, wait a few seconds, then ask another question. It's not important to actually hear the ghost's response to the questions. If you do hear a verbal response then excellent. When you've finished,listen carefully from the beginning to the end for anything out of the ordinary. You have to listen closely, the answers are not always clear, and may even be in a different language.
Tips to Good EVP Recordings:
• Use a full size tape recorder, not the handheld models. The small tape recorders are fine for witness interviews but not for EVP recordings.
• Use an external, static free microphone.
• Always use brand new, high quality tapes. Never record over old tapes. There's always a chance that the overlapping recordings will mix and you'll hear things that shouldn't be.
• Don't bump the microphone and if you do, make a verbal note of it on the tape. You may also want to note any other nature sounds such as gusting winds, creaking doors, etc.
• Record in 20 to 30 minute sessions. You can record longer, but keep in mind that you have to listen to the tape later. If you record two hours of tape then you have to listen to two hours of tape. That can be very time consuming.
• Ask clear and precise questions.
• Don't whisper during the recordings. You are not going to scare the ghosts away.
• After each question wait at least 10 to 15 seconds before asking the next question. It won't do much good if you never let the ghost get a word in edgewise.
Anyone that wants to listen to EVP recordings made by other investigators you can find samples of them on the Internet. They're on almost every paranormal webpage. You can find them by searching for "EVP Ghost Recordings" on Internet search engines.
