EVPs more information.....

Since the group I belong to has been very active with EVPs lately, I thought I would reprint this. The activity also gave me some ideas about more that needs to be said. I will start with the "more" and then reprint the original post.

The "more":

First of all EVPs are not things that you hear with your ears. If you heard it, it can be a ghostly phenomenon, but not an EVP. An EVP is "Electronic Voice Phenomenon", when you hear it with your ears, it isn't electronic.

EVPs usually don't echo. I will explain that "usually" part in a minute. First of all, something that only appears electronically cannot cause echo in the space you are in, because technically it isn't in that atmosphere. It is in another sound range, and like a dog whistle being blown, we don't hear it OR the echo from the whistle (if there could be one). So when you hear a voice and it echos off things, it isn't an EVP. There is no way any of the environment you are in can effect that EVP. (I actually like physics).


Now the "usually part". When it is a true EVP (not something you are hearing with your ears),then it may have an echo if it is a residual EVP, and there was an echo at the time it occurred. For example, if a person screamed in an empty hospital hallway 50 years ago , and it echoed, that residual EVP which is out there to record, will also echo. It will be an exact representation of the sound.

EVPs have a certain sound and tone to them, picking them out will get easier as time goes by. Use software that shows if you are picking up a voice in our sound range, EVPs are not in our sound range.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you should always mark your recordings, audio and video. When there is a conversation downstairs, note it. Later if you think it is possible the "EVP" is part of that conversation, you have to toss it out. When you mark your recordings well, you won't have to wonder if something is an EVP. When you hear something with your ears, a "ghostly voice" or sound, immediately go and check with the others in the area to see if they were the ones speaking or making the noise. This means also knowing where you are in relation to everyone else in the building.

 When you are investigating with a team you should NEVER BE ALONE. There are several reasons for this, but if you hear a voice, it is easy to have that person check and see if someone just said " hello" somewhere else in the area. Otherwise you can be hearing ANYTHING and think it is an EVP. My husband is hard of hearing, and it is important to make sure you are hearing well, as you may not hear the conversation with your ears when it happens, but you will later with your ear buds in, and think it is an EVP when it is not. 


People can speak 2 floors below and come up on a recorder. Just because you are "alone" doesn't mean voices aren't coming through, and our recorders don't filter out chatter like our brains do, they simply record it. Don't fool yourself. Following the guidelines will keep you from having to guess later.

Do not doctor EVPs, some will be Class A and some will not, that is OK. It doesn't mean that you did anything "wrong" or that people won't appreciate it. It is nice to know what they are saying, but we won't always have that luxury.

I do go by the rule....when in doubt, throw it out. Well, I check it out first, but if I can't say for sure, I toss it. Meanwhile, if you follow the guidelines below (like not whispering and talking in other voices), you probably won't have "doubt" EVPs.

Always run them by another person who is experienced with EVPs. As I said earlier, they have a certain tone and sound to them, even when clear. The other person may recognize a voice as a home owner, or person who is new to the group.

Residual EVPs will not respond to you, nor continue. So if you get a word, then nothing for the next 20 minutes, it is probably residual. When the response has no relationship to the question, then it is probably residual. When you have no questions answered all night long, and just words here and there, they are probably residual. That means there are no spirits making the sounds, it is just like a tape playing over and over. Just because there are words and sounds in a building doesn't mean there are ghosts in the building!

I have been watching ghostly behavior most of my life (I lived in 2 VERY haunted houses for over 15 years), and have had the privilege of learning from experienced mediums, parapsychologists and ghost hunters. I have a healthy does of skepticism to my evidence, and it really is necessary. When you put stuff out there that isn't authentic, people stop listening to it and watching it. Be your own worst critic. And please remember that the TV shows just give you a glimpse, you learn a little from them, but there is much more to things.They are also learning as they go, trying things out.  Let people who have experienced paranormal activity for years , who aren't trying to turn an explanation in to 1 minute sound bite, help you out. As always , strive for authenticity, in your teachers, your evidence, and your search. Use the best equipment you can afford, and know how to use it properly.


...and now back to the last EVP blog......


Someone asked me yesterday how I got so many EVPs from Villisca. I think it was mostly Villisca itself, not me for the most part, but there are ways that will get you more EVPs.

First of all, being psychic helps. The spirits see a bright light around psychics and mediums, a little neon "open" sign, so they come to communicate. Psychics receive their messages differently than mediums do ,but the messages still come through. So, I guess I have a little advantage right off the bat, but that doesn't mean non psychics don't get EVPs , they do!

The key is to talk to spirits as if they are a live human standing in front of you. If you were trying to talk to someone, would you whisper, cut them off before they answer, be carrying on a conversation with someone else at the same time, be confrontational just because they are not answering? No, of course not, yet people do that all the time while gathering EVPs.

It should be quiet. VERY quiet. There should only be one or two people asking questions and they should stay on topic. Speak up, in a normal voice, not only so they can hear you, but so that later your whisper isn't confused as an EVP. Many times it takes tremendous effort to answer us. Some spirits are able to use energy from us or our equipment to answer us, but that sometimes takes time. Sometimes it may take 20-30 seconds for them to answer. It may have to travel over a few dimensions to get to you. Give long , quiet pauses in between.

When you hear a voice with your ears, it technically isn't an EVP, note when you hear things live, so that you can differentiate them later. A spirit you can hear is a powerful one. 

Mark noises that may be misinterpreted as an EVP. If you knock something over and it thumps, note it. When you are moving to a new location on a squeaky floor, say "walking", if you aren't making noise, just comment "moving to the living room", you don't have to note every step, camera beep and sneeze. You do have to note thumps, creaks, bangs, sighs, and if you forget...whispers.

Don't be confrontational unless the spirit is. How would you like someone coming in to "your house" and screaming "talk to me now!". That is when I would clam up except maybe for a "get out".

Leave your recorder running. I have an EVP from between the house and barn at Villisca. Spirits are always talking, not just when we turn on our recorders. I have a class A from Villisca when we stopped for a minute becasue kids were outside climbing on the clothesline poles, if I would have shut off my recorder I would have missed an awesome EVP!  The new recorders have digital files that go on forever, it is not like the old days when you would run out of tape, so keep it rolling!

Spirits can lie in death , just like in life. They can be nasty, hateful, and they can also be helpful. You have to treat EVPs as if you are talking to a live human. Keep conjecture out of your questions. Don't ask something like "You killed Mary becasue you hated her and she was wearing Donna's dress, right?" Just ask "Why did you kill Mary?". People like to "play psychics", PLEASE leave the psychic conjecture to the professional psychics and mediums. We not only can pick up on the message that is being sent, but also if the spirit is indeed who they say they are , and if they are being truthful.

Many of my clearest EVPs have been when I wasn't questioning. I was just being in the space and investigating. It is then that spirits strike up a conversation or you catch residual EVPs.
Try to build a rapport with the spirits. You want them to like you. When you are noisy, annoying, confrontational, disruptive, they will simply go and hide in the basement .


Don't talk in other voices. Don't talk "baby talk" or make silly noises just becasue there are child spirits in the room. They can be mistaken for EVPs of children later on. Talk in YOUR normal voice so when the recording is listened to, it is clear that it is YOU and not a spirit!



Then there is the techno side. Buy the best recorder that you can afford. I recently bought one that is a little higher end, and I can hear SO much more that maybe was there before, but I couldn't hear it. It is clear, sharp, and loud enough to make out what is being said. My first recorder cost $30, this one was $60, and it is more than twice the quality.  Well worth every penny.  Don't use things like cell phones, they won't pick up much, heck you sometimes can barely  hear your friend you are calling well, you want to hear spirits 3 dimensions and 4 decibel levels away?

Have software to check your EVPs, this way you can isolate them, slow down some speedy spirit voices so you can understand them, and see by sound waves that the voice is a team member whispering, not an EVP.


Try to eliminate as much outside noise as you can, or at least note it. This isn't always possible, but when you can , do it. Don't have 4 different meters with you going off near the recorder, they can drown out the sound of the EVP and drive people crazy. They are there to get your attention to start EVPs, take pictures, or ask for movement, not to listen to. They are also NOT to be used as communication devices. I don't care what the TV shows do, they are NOT reliable as communication devices, nor is that what they are designed for. There are many reasons for it, but let's say for example I am a child ghost, one who is a bit of a prankster. You ask if I am Mr Smith who owned the house, and I pass my child hand near your meter to make it beep. You think you are "talking" to Mr Smith and you are doing nothing of the sort.

Test all equipment BEFORE entering the location. Make sure the batteries are fresh (if they are almost dead, replace them before starting). The spirits aren't going to repeat something just because your batteries died. Make sure that you are familiar with your equipment, and that you have fresh batteries. Have a SMALL flashlight with you if you need it to see the buttons on your equipment. Try to be familiar with it so that you can operate it without the flashlight.

When equipment fails, step away and fix it, or replace it. I have a back up recorder, batteries, and flashlight with me at all times. Also extra anything....food, water, blankets, etc. Act as if you are going camping, many times you actually are.

DON'T practice getting EVPs in your home. You become a radio station that all the spirits want to be on. They will start to wake you at 2 AM to chat. This can be cool once or twice, but when it starts happening all the time, you won't think it so cool. Your attention to them can attract more into your home. Before you know it, it will be crowded in there. I have seen three instances of hauntings becoming a problem because someone wanted to play with EVPs all the time.

Be safe, be careful and be respectful. The spirits can hurt you, not badly, but enough to get your attention. Don't go into their "home" and upset them. It is not fair to them, and can get you in trouble. It can also get you hours of blank recordings.




Peshaui Wequashimese




(C) 2012 Dr R M Wolf, may not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission