| You can use any kind of recorder for capturing | | | | Keep your hands away from the recorder and avoid |
| electronic voice phenomena (EVP). EVPs have been | | | | brushing against the recorder. When you talk, speak in |
| even captured on phone message machines. It does | | | | your regular voice because some ghosts speak in a |
| not matter if your EVP is caught on a digital or a tape | | | | whispered tone. Stay still during recordings as |
| recorder. Some people prefer one or the other | | | | footsteps can obscure any other recorded sounds. |
| according to their own personal preferences. | | | | If you are doing an outside recording, choose a calm |
| Some paranormal investigators say that the first | | | | day without any wind. Record the sounds of yourself |
| generation digital recorders made noises that were | | | | moving around so you know what it sounds like. Sound |
| sometimes mistaken for EVPs. The following | | | | can travel farther than you think. |
| generations of digital recorders do not have this | | | | You will have to decide on how long you will be |
| problem. You can use whatever recorder you have | | | | recording. Most of your recording will be silence. It |
| although there are some disadvantages to using | | | | depends on how much patience you have to carefully |
| recorders with a built in microphone. A built in | | | | listen to a silent tape. Some paranormal investigators |
| microphone may pick up noise from the recording | | | | leave the recorder on for the entire length of the tape |
| machine itself. | | | | and others may record for only a few minutes. |
| Another consideration about recording equipment is to | | | | Depending on your EVP recording style, you may just |
| choose a recorder with a counter so that if you do | | | | leave the recorder on while you leave the area or you |
| find an EVP on your recording, the counter will make it | | | | may stay near the recorder. You could do an |
| easier to locate the EVP on the recording. If you have | | | | interview type of recording. Some investigators say |
| a recorder with a built in microphone, use its jack for a | | | | that by talking to the spirits beforehand, you may be |
| corded microphone. Get a microphone with a | | | | able to capture EVPs in only minutes. If you try to |
| three-foot cord so any recording does not pick up any | | | | interview any nearby ghosts, have some questions |
| noise from the recorder. | | | | ready. Do not ask questions that will upset the ghosts. |
| Before you do an actual recording for EVPs, do a | | | | Ask only respectful questions that will not make the |
| two-minute test with your recorder. Set your volume | | | | spirit angry. |
| on its highest setting and then record the silence. Listen | | | | When you are done recording, you will have to listen to |
| to your recording for any machine noise or other | | | | your recording for any captured EVP. Wearing |
| interference. If you get too much sound from the | | | | headphones will make it easier. Some paranormal |
| recorder, you should switch to another machine. | | | | investigators advise listening to the recording at a low |
| Record at the same speed as your tape if you have | | | | volume. This is because if you do capture an EVP, you |
| that option. | | | | could get actually frightened if the volume is too loud. |
| When you are ready to do the recording for EVPs, | | | | As you listen, notice the background noise so that you |
| set the recorder down on a level surface. Do not set | | | | will be able to recognize any unexplained voices on top |
| the recorder near windows because sound travels | | | | of the background noise. You may only get one or |
| easily through glass. Do not set the recorder near any | | | | two words. You may recognize an emotional human |
| doors, heaters, vents or air conditioners or power lines | | | | sound but be unable to tell what is actually being said. |
| as these can all cause unwanted noise. | | | | You just might get lucky and get a clear EVP your |
| Always use new tapes and keep extra batteries | | | | first time. If not, do not get discouraged. Keep trying |
| handy. Record with the volume at its highest setting. | | | | and you are bound get an EVP surprise. |