Understanding the Mechanisms of EVP

In January 2002, a team of paranormal researchers explored a deserted mental institution located south of Chicago, Illinois. The facility had a grim history, having once housed criminally insane patients before its closure in the 1970s. It was also known for the execution of criminals via electric chair during its operational years.

Exploring EVP: A Visual Collection

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The investigative team moved through Manteno State Mental Hospital, capturing both audio and video footage. During their exploration, they noticed nothing unusual. However, upon reviewing the recordings, they were shocked to hear a clear female voice paging Dr. Martin (the last name is uncertain but believed to be "Martin"). This occurred in the vacant, electricity-free hospital.

This mysterious voice was captured by the Southern Wisconsin Paranormal Research Group, a leading organization among many worldwide that delve into electronic voice phenomena (EVP). EVP involves capturing unexplained sounds and voices on tapes, videocassettes, and other electronic devices. Proponents argue these recordings are attempts by spirits to communicate, while skeptics attribute them to radio interference or auditory illusions.

This article explores how researchers investigate electronic voice phenomena, examines the debates surrounding its validity, and presents some of the most compelling voice recordings ever captured.

EVP Communications

EVP involves capturing mysterious voices on various recording devices like tapes and reel-to-reels. A more modern term, instrumental transcommunication (ITC), highlights the use of technology to record these enigmatic sounds.

Many who frequently record these voices believe they belong to spirits — individuals who have passed away and are attempting to communicate from the afterlife. Without physical bodies or vocal cords, these spirits are thought to use their energy to shape sound into something that mimics human speech.

These voices are typically not heard during recording but only upon playback. They can range from faint whispers to heavily distorted sounds, often requiring repeated listening to decipher their meaning. The voices may speak in any language or even a mix of languages (known as polyglot). Occasionally, they respond to questions, address the researcher by name, or share personal details. Some recordings even feature what sounds like singing.

Researchers classify these recordings based on their clarity and audibility:

No matter how clear the recording, the voices typically last only a few seconds. Researchers often spend countless hours replaying these brief snippets to uncover their hidden meanings.

How is EVP Recorded?

EVP researchers utilize a variety of recording devices, ranging from vintage cassette or reel-to-reel recorders to modern digital equipment. Many experts claim that the price of the recorder doesn't matter, as budget-friendly devices can perform just as effectively as high-end models.

An external microphone is connected to the recorder, with a cord long enough to prevent interference from the recorder's own sounds. This setup allows researchers to document their observations during the session. Headphones are frequently used to detect faint voices that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Jennifer Lauer, the director and founder of the Southern Wisconsin Paranormal Research Group, is often sought after by businesses and homeowners to investigate paranormal occurrences. She outlines her team's recording methodology:

Analyzing an EVP Recording

Once the recording is complete, researchers meticulously review the tape multiple times, searching for any auditory traces resembling a voice. They may also employ a computer to scrutinize any detected voices. Below is an example of the analytical approach used by The Ghost Investigators Society:

Researchers often utilize software to enhance the clarity of recorded sounds. "I use tools to eliminate background noise, amplify voices, or remove clicks and hisses from recordings," says Dave Oester, Ph.D., cofounder of the International Ghost Hunters Society. "Some EVP recordings are crystal clear without any filtering. These voices are emotionally charged and never monotonous."

When employing a low-noise cassette or reel-to-reel recorder, researchers frequently introduce background sounds like a fan, radio static, or prerecorded multilingual chatter during playback. They believe this ambient noise aids in the formation of voices on the recording, theorizing that the communicator transforms the noise into coherent speech.

EVP Skeptics

Not everyone is convinced that the voices captured by EVP researchers are from spirits. Some skeptics argue that EVP is merely radio interference, while others suggest that those who hear these voices are either imagining them or interpreting random sounds as meaningful speech, influenced by their expectations or desires.

"Many of these 'voices' likely result from people assigning meaning to random noise, a phenomenon known as auditory pareidolia [perceiving patterns where none exist] or apophenia [connecting unrelated events]," explains Robert Carroll, Ph.D., on his website, The Skeptic's Dictionary.

"Humans excel at detecting patterns in noise," notes Edwin C. May, Ph.D., president of the Laboratories for Fundamental Research. "Our sensory systems are wired to notice changes." Thus, when exposed to repetitive sounds, our brain isolates and assembles fragments that resemble speech. Dr. May argues that if you sift through enough audio, you’ll eventually find something that sounds like a voice. "It’s akin to the infinite monkey theorem."

EVP researchers argue that the interactive nature of their communications cannot be dismissed as mere interference or mental illusions. "As an amateur radio operator for four decades, I’ve never encountered artificial interference captured on tape or digital recorders," states Oester. "Moreover, how can interactive EVP, where spirits respond to questions or comment on statements, be explained as interference?"

History of EVP

Thomas Alva Edison, one of the world’s most renowned scientists, believed that a machine capable of facilitating communication with the deceased could one day be created. He once remarked:

Sadly, Edison never witnessed the realization of his envisioned invention.

In 1949, Marcello Bacci of Italy began capturing voices using an old tube radio. Individuals visited Bacci's home to communicate with deceased loved ones. A few years later, two Italian priests, Father Ernetti and Father Gemelli, attempted to record a Gregorian chant on their magnetophone, but the device repeatedly malfunctioned. Frustrated, Father Gemelli looked up and asked his late father for assistance. To his astonishment, his father's voice responded through the magnetophone, saying, "Of course I’ll help you. I’m always with you."

EVP Researchers

One of the most prominent EVP researchers of the 20th century was Friedrich Jurgenson, a Swedish opera singer, painter, and film producer. His fascination with electronic voice phenomena began in 1959 when he recorded birdsong in a forest. Upon playback, he heard a woman’s voice say, "Friedrich, you are being watched. Friedel, my little Friedel, can you hear me?" It was his deceased mother’s voice. Over the next four years, Jurgenson recorded numerous voices and authored two books: "Voices From the Universe" and "Radio Contact with the Dead."

Dr. Konstantin Raudive, a Latvian psychologist, learned about Jurgenson's experiments years later. Initially skeptical, he decided to test the method himself and ended up capturing numerous voices, including that of his late mother.

During the 1960s and 1970s, EVP emerged as a legitimate, though contentious, branch of paranormal research. American researchers George and Jeanette Meek, along with psychic William O'Neil, documented hundreds of hours of EVP using radio oscillators. They asserted collaboration with another scientist, Dr. George Jeffries Mueller, who, notably, was already deceased.

Sarah Estep, a prominent EVP researcher, founded the American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomenon (AAEVP) in 1982. She reported interactions with thousands of spirits and even extraterrestrial beings.

EVP research continues globally, with findings shared on numerous websites and in various publications.