SMAPIS News and Paranormal Blog

The SMAPIS ghost hunters have much to say about the paranormal. Read their opinions, investigation notes, findings and post comments here. If you disagree with their evidence, tell them! They love a good debate.

The Art and Science of Capturing EVP

Thursday, August 20, 2009

EVP stands for electronic voice phenomenon. Simply put, its the capturing of a voice on an electronic recording device that is not heard by the observers at the time of the recording.

I first experienced this phenomenon about 13 years ago when trying to communicate with a deceased occupant of the rental house I was living in. I created a parabolic microphone out of a computer condenser mic, milk carton, egg carton, fishing line, coat hanger, Elmer's glue stick, and aluminum foil. I began asking questions of the etherial resident such as, "How did you die? How old are you? What is your favorite food?" etcetera. To my surprise, when prompted, "Tell us your name," a voice was captured on the tape that clearly said, "I don't want to." This recording was thoroughly scrutinized by industry experts with the conclusion that it was not a fake. I have since lost the clip due to a flood that destroyed the tape.

There are several theories for and against the validity of EVPs as proof of an afterlife. Many conventional scientists believe that EVPs are merely auditory hallucination or auditory suggestion.  This is a phenomenon where a person listening to a supposed EVP will subconsciously fill in the blanks to create vocal phrases out of otherwise random noises in the environment. Some parapsychologists believe that electronic recording devices are capable of capturing the electro magnetic energy emitted by a spirit who is trying to say something. This energy is not audible to the human ear, but is transfered to the tape as voices we can decipher.

I learned something that fateful night thirteen years ago. I learned that, regardless of how scientists interpret EVP, I know in my heart of hearts that there are spirits in that nether realm trying to communicate with us.

Thanks for reading,
-Rodger

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posted by SMAPIS Admin at 3:15 PM  – 1 Comments

The act of powdering

Friday, May 1, 2009

Very few ghost hunters today, practice the dying art of powdering. This is the act of sprinkling baby powder in and around areas of investigation. Covering floor boards, table surfaces, and any other flat objects in hopes to track the physical movement of an entity.

Since the dawn of paranormal investigation, many cases have been reported. One in particular involves baby powder footprints across a hardwood floor. On an investigation in the spring of 1926, Dr. Horris Buchenstein, curator of the Philadelphia metropolitan museum of natural history, placed such powder across the floor of a 1750's inn. To his amazement, baby footprints extended from the closet to the entrance on the opposite side of the room. His findings were scrutinized by various members of the press to the conclusion that indeed, a ghostly baby inhabited the old inn.

My recent attempts with this technique have not been quite as fruitful, but my research is ongoing. I have been conducting controlled experiments using various powders, such as powdered sugar, baking powder, bleached and wheat flour, baking soda, Chinese 5 spice, nutmeg, comet cleanser, powdered milk, facial powder, bullion granules, ranch dip powder, vanilla pudding powder, malted milk powder, non-dairy coffee creamer, and white cake mix. I will continue to update this post as new information arises.

Please share your powdering techniques and findings here.

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posted by SMAPIS Admin at 10:16 PM  – 1 Comments