Technical Notes

There has been an influx of ads, sales pitches and the like concerning the use of laser thermometers for use during psychic investigations. The ads state that so and so was able to detect a psychic cold fifty feet away. First, let’s discuss the basic principle on how laser thermometers work and the applications they were designed for before we discuss their uses in psychic investigations.

A laser thermometer uses, as the name suggests, a laser to detect the heat radiated by any particular object at which it is aimed. A red or infra-red dot is projected onto an object and the hotter the object is, the more of that dot will be reflected back to the sensor. Conversely, the cooler an object is, the less the dot will be reflected back. The temperature sensor located in the gun “sees” the dot, computes the difference between the transmitted levels and the received levels and translates that difference into a temperature measurement. The key point here is that a reflection must be received at the sensor in order to achieve an accurate temperature measurement.

These units were designed to enable technicians to take temperature measurements of machinery and electronics (fuses, circuit boards, etc) that are not easily accessible or just to take quick measurements without the need of placing a bulky thermometer actually on the item of interest.

In short, laser thermometers are not designed to be pointed up into space and give an accurate temperature measurement of the atmosphere. They CAN be of use, however, in a house where psychic colds can typically appear against walls or in corners of a basement. The question you need to ask yourself is, is it worth the several hundred dollars to measure temperature when a twenty dollar digital thermometer will work quite adequately?

Many books and magazines sell “ghost meters” at prices ranging from thirty to two hundred dollars. You may ask yourself “What are these things?”, “What do they do?”, or more importantly, “What can they do for me in a haunted house?” The “ghost meter” is actually called a Gauss meter or Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF) meter. They are used to detect the presence of electro-magnetic energy in the atmosphere. As commonly believed, spirits are made up of, or utilize electro-magnetic energy. That is, when a spirit is present usually an “electricity” can be sensed, smelled, or felt. Spirits also use electro-magnetic energy to gain the power to manifest as what was experienced by several people near Union Cemetery in Connecticut, when the White Lady of Union Cemetery appeared after a nearby electrical transformer exploded, spewing an enormous amount of electricity into the atmosphere. Gauss meters can be used to detect the energy given off by these spirits. Of course there are both high and low quality Gauss meters, which brings us to the following:

Question: What else gives off electro-magnetic radiation?

Answer: Almost everything! Almost everything that runs on household electricity and many battery powered devices (especially camera flashes) radiate EMFs.

When you purchase a Gauss meter, pay particular attention to its frequency response, if none is listed, ask for it. Many less expensive models have responses between 20-1000hz. Household electricity runs on 60hz, meaning the Gauss meter is easily triggered by any electrical wiring, lights, fans, appliances, etc. There are other models that have higher frequency responses (thus, higher priced) so they are not as prone to false triggering by standard household items. Regardless of the type purchased, keep this in mind… Gauss meters were designed for one main reason, to detect SCIENTIFIC magnetic energy radiated from EQUIPMENT, not ghosts, so there will always be interference in one form or another, it’s up to the user to be able to distinguish between the two.

Most modern Gauss meters display from 0-199 milligauss and for our purposes, anything over 10mg could be a sign of a spirits presence. Before relying too heavily on a gauss meter, consider the following; not only can household electricity adversely affect the reliability of these units, solar flares, sun spot activity, atmospheric conditions, and normal global magnetic changes can affect them also.

When you first enter a house, walk around the entire area with the Gauss meter and take readings. Make several passes to ensure a good, accurate reading is received. Make estimations of where electrical wiring may have been run within the walls as well as the locations of any electrical outlets. These can be major sources of interference. If spikes are noticed after you are seated in a “clear” area, ensure no heavy appliances (such as a refrigerator, microwave or air conditioner) have just started up. In short, Gauss meters can be good aiding tools but should not be relied on too heavily due the reasons stated above. Your instincts and senses will tend to be more accurate.

In previous Technical Notes, we’ve covered many different forms of electronic equipment useful in gathering evidence while conducting an investigation but have never really focus on new digital products.  In this Tech Note, we will discuss some of the new technology and what kind of evidence gathering capabilities we can expect.

Digital audio recorders:   Digital audio is, by far, the best type of audio that can be used when attempting to record EVP’s.  A high quality (hand held) recorder practically does away with hissing and high frequency interference that is common among standard analog recorders.   This is accomplished by converting standard audio frequencies, in their analog (sine wave) format into a digital (voltage stepped) sine wave.  The digital sine wave is a much “cleaner” sine wave than analog and therefore reduces standard tape “hissing”.  In the figure below, the dirty audio (towards the left side of Fig. 1) is what produces hiss and makes differentiating EVP’s. difficult.  Fig. 2 is a sample of a digital recording.  Notice the lack of noise?  That results in excellent quality recordings and makes picking out EVP’s. much simpler.

Digital audio recorders are still expensive in relation to their analog counterparts but are well worth the investment.   Remember, to get the best quality recordings, you must use a high quality microphone.  Do not use standard electret microphones because they naturally produce excessive hiss and will negate the usefulness and purpose of a digital recorder.

Digital cameras:   Now that digital cameras are so more widely available, acceptable, and affordable, many more people have begun using them as their primary camera, tossing their “antique” 35mm’s on the top closet shelf.  What advantages and disadvantages do digital cameras have over 35mm’s?

Advantages (technical and otherwise):   One of the main advantages of the digital camera is its ability to review a photo immediately after being taken.  Not only does this reduce the cost of film developing but also is an easy visible indication of a spirit’s presence.  What makes it different from standard 35mm cameras is the photographic medium.  35mm’s use a film that chemically reacts when exposed to light.  Historically, most common psychic photos were taken using some form of chemical film process and have proven quite effective, but the digital camera takes this process the next step.  Instead of using a chemical film, the digital camera uses a series of electronic “eyes” that, as an entire unit, are called a “Charged-Coupled Device”, or most commonly known as a CCD.   The CCD electronically reacts to light and color and when the photo is taken, the camera’s processor maintains the signals sent from the CCD as an image and stores it on disk or in memory.  What really separates the two apart is the fact that it is commonly known that spirits have an uncanny ability to manipulate electronics, thus would be much easier for a spirit to reveal itself electronically (through the CCD) than to force changes in a chemical film.  A new function of some digital cameras is their ability to also produce short time frame motion videos.  Although digital cameras have only been widely available for a relatively short time, they have proven to be extremely effective in the role of psychic photography.

Disadvantages:  The digital camera has two main disadvantages over the 35mm.  First and foremost is the difficulty of producing quality, hardcopy photos.  Most people cannot afford a true photo printer which is required for the expected standard 35mm photo results.  Many photo developers now offer digital photo developing but at a significantly higher price than standard 35mm’s.   The second disadvantage is their susceptibility to electrical interference.   Due to the fact that spirits can manipulate electronics, they can (when it’s to their advantage) have the ability to more easily affect the operation (or lack of) of the camera.

Digital Camcorders:  Over the last year or so, many improvements have been accomplished dealing with digital camcorder technology.  Although many high quality digital camcorders are still fairly expensive, there are many models that would fall into the price range most people are able to afford.  Digital camcorders use the same CCD technology as digital cameras and the differences between the two are surprisingly minimal.  The digital camcorder has many advantages over standard analog camcorders in that because the video and audio signals are purely digital, they produce a much “cleaner” quality.  The playback video is usually much less grainy and fuzzy and the audio has much less hiss.  Also, because it is digital, it can be manipulated much easier.  Some examples would be the higher magnification, the new image stabilizing function, and the static free “freeze frame” capabilities.

One of the better digital camcorders on the market is the Sony Night-Shot camcorder.  Along with the typical digital capabilities, it also has a setting for “night vision”.  With a flick of a switch, you can now view and record in complete darkness.  This is NOT a true night vision, but close enough for all intents.  It uses a very low lux imager that is infra-red sensitive, combined with a built in infra-red light source used to “light” up the viewing area.  It also has much less snow when viewing in night vision mode than standard “Starlight” scopes and 3rd generation night vision viewers.  This particular camcorder has proven to be VERY effective in recording psychic phenomena like globules, mist, vales… etc.

Most digital cameras use special digital video tapes that are not directly compatible with a standard home VCR and require re-recording to VHS format.  Although some signal loss (and quality loss) will occur during the transfer, the quality of the video and audio will still be very good.

We highly recommend the use of digital products to any serious ghost hunter who wants top of the line quality and the best opportunities of capturing the paranormal for evidence.

With video and camcorder technology at its advanced state, their use is an extremely valuable tool. Unlike photography, video shows activity unfolding continuously, which helps in the process of documenting events as they occur. Many types of video cameras and camcorders are widely available and each will be discussed along with their pros and cons.

First is the standard VHS camcorders. These are the full sized camcorders. Because they use standard VHS tapes, a full six hours of record time can be used on one tape then plugged directly into any home VCR for review. They are relatively large in size, therefore battery life usually will not exceed two hours. The use of a wall adapter is highly recommended for extended recording times.

Compact VHS or VHS-C camcorders have the same capabilities as their bigger brothers with a few exceptions. As the name suggests, these units are more compact, making them easier and lighter for use in all applications, specifically ones requiring portability. The drawback to these camcorders is tape length. VHS-C tapes are compact versions of the standard VHS tape and can only provide twenty to thirty minutes of record time. They can also be used with any usual home VCR, provided that an adapter cartridge is used. Many department or electronic stores carry the VHS-C to VHS adapter cartridge at prices ranging from twenty to thirty dollars. Battery life of VHS-C camcorders will normally be a little greater than VHS types, about two and a half hours or so.

Next comes old faithful, the Beta camcorder. Beta camcorders are generally smaller than VHS camcorders and are usually thought of as being older equipment (remember, older does not necessarily mean lower quality). The tapes used are not compatible with any home VCR but the camcorder itself can be used to transfer the tape to VHS format. If you have or can acquire a Beta camcorder or Beta VCR, they will usually have more capabilities and better picture quality (when reviewing, such as fast, slow, or reverse viewing, pausing, or frame by frame) as compared to standard VCRs.

8mm camcorders are very compact, making them easy to use and ideal for portable applications. Functionally, the 8mm is the same as any of the previous types except that the mechanical parts are much smaller. 8mm tapes are just slightly larger than regular audio tapes but can record a full six hours per tape. Just like their Beta counterparts, 8mm tapes are not compatible with any home VHS VCR, but the camcorder can be used to transfer the video to VHS format or a 8mm VCR can be purchased for about four hundred dollars or so. Battery life of an 8mm camcorder will usually run at about two to three hours.

Newer to the scene is the digital camcorder. These units have few moving parts, which make them extremely light, reliable, compact and battery efficient.  As digital camcorders become more available and inexpensive, a large amount of people are now turning to it for use in investigations.  Typically, digital camcorders provide the best picture quality available and therefore provide the best opportunity for capturing supernatural phenomena.  Similar to digital cameras, because they are completely digital, electronic, the ability for a spirit to manipulate it is much higher, providing either outstanding supernatural evidence or, conversely, a non-functional unit… remember, spirits have a knack for manipulating electronics and can just as easily cause a digital camera or camcorder to STOP working.  Newer Sony units even have built in “Night-Shot” technology, built in infra-red imaging.

Lighting requirements is an important issue dealing with video recorders. One term that needs discussion is “Lux”. Lux is a unit of measurement assigned to the intensity or brightness of light, the amount of light a particular camcorder requires for it to “see”, as we will use the term. A standard camcorder requires about two to three lux to be effectively used (candle light at ten feet is equivalent to about one lux), but some higher end (and, obviously, higher priced) models are sensitive to one lux. If using a camcorder in a house with all the lights out, it is suggested that a flashlight or nightlight be used at the far end of the viewing area. There are trade offs to be concerned with when talking about ambient light levels. The lower the ambient light, the better the chance of detecting ghost lights but the lower the chance of detecting shadow ghosts, and vice versa.

Starlight viewers would be excellent for use in a dark house with very low ambient light levels or outside at night with the moon or stars visible (never turn on a starlight viewer while the sun is out, that my result in overload and/or burnout of the imaging tube). These units are fairly expensive, a cheaper model will cost about two hundred and fifty dollars. Remember, starlight viewers work by amplifying what little ambient light is available, so on a cloudy, moonless night or in a pitch black house, these units will be of little use unless an infra-red light source is also used. They also tend to be very “grainy” or “snowy” regardless of the amount of ambient light available and that may make differentiating ghost lights from snow difficult at best..

Also available are the Infra-Red Video Cameras. Most of these models can be purchased through many types of suppliers at prices around one hundred twenty five dollars and usually come without a case (which will have to be constructed by the purchaser). These cameras differ from starlight viewers in that they do not amplify light, they are just sensitive to lower light levels. They are also very small in size, most commonly sold models are only one and a quarter square inches in size. I-R cameras are basic video cameras but only display black and white and are sensitive down to 0.1 and even 0.01 lux. A separate VCR is required to perform the actual recording so it is not as portable as a standard camcorder. Also, in extremely dark environments, an external infra-red illuminator will be required. A flashlight with an infra-red filter cover can illuminate an entire room as far as the camera is concerned but to the human eye, it will still be pitch black. These units have proven very good at discerning ghost lights as compared to standard camcorders.

Lastly, Thermal Imagers. If you can afford the eight to fifteen thousand dollar and up price tag on one of these models, get one. They are very expensive but thermal imagers display heat signatures vice actual images as seen by the human eye or any other type of video camera. Two main types are on the market, black and white or color. Thermal imagers are ideal for paranormal research because they will easily detect the familiar “psychic cold”. You will be able to WATCH one move about as was seen on a sightings episode two years or so ago. They are VERY sensitive to ambient light and if they are exposed to direct sunlight, the lens and imaging tube will be permanently scarred making further use impossible.

An option available primarily to infra-red video cameras is the use of a wireless RF transmitter. There are some pros and cons to keep in mind if you are considering using a wireless video system. The great advantage to using a system such as this is that you can monitor an area from a distant location (should you chose) or an area where the use of cabling is restrictive. Some problems with using a wireless system: 1. If you chose a cheap RF transmitter (49 Mhz) the range will be minimal, about 50-100 feet. 2. Even the better quality 900Mhz and 1.2 Ghz transmitters are susceptible to interference, especially when we talk about paranormal activity. 3. A 900 Mhz or 1.2 Ghz transmitter generally cost about one hundred fifty dollars each, so for a two or three camera setup, the price will start increasing drastically.

To close, whatever form of recording device you decide to use, remember to double check your batteries. They have an uncanny habit of draining themselves, even when not being used. Keep in mind what we are dealing with. Also, bring a plug-in power pack, you may find it necessary even if you bring two freshly charged batteries.

This is the last issue dealing with the audio aspects of psychic investigating. We hope you found it insightful.

 

In the last Technical Notes, we discussed general audio concepts and equipment, tape types, and other aspects of audio recording. This Technical Note will focus on microphones, spectrum analyzers, and audio manipulating computer software.

Microphones are one of the key components involved in the recording process. The better the microphone, the better the quality of the recording, making it easier and more pleasant when it comes time to review the recordings.

The first type of microphone is the standard Electret Mic. These are the standard, general purpose, omni-directional microphones. They are the most popular because of their easy acquisition and five to twenty dollar price range. The drawbacks to this type are the high noise levels and lower quality. They are designed to hear anything within earshot and with their higher gain levels, are good for hearing distant or low-level sounds. They do tend to create excess hiss which can be very distracting and can impede the playback process.

The next type are the Cardioid or directional microphones. These types usually offer much higher quality and would be preferred for psychic recordings. Because they are directional, they must be pointed at the area of interest to be of any use. Cardioid microphones are designed primarily for vocal recordings where the singer or person speaking is close to it, so it is less sensitive to distant or low-level sounds than the electret mics. These units usually cost between twenty and one hundred dollars and are worth the investment.

The last type of microphone we will cover is the High-Gain microphone. These are directional mics that offer the best characteristics of both of the previously covered types. They offer the high quality, low induced noise levels of the cardioid microphones and gain levels higher than electret microphones as well as better filtering circuitry to cut down unwanted hissing. The high gain microphone would be the optimum microphone to be used for psychic recording but can be harder to find and will usually carry a high price tag (approximately one hundred fifty dollars or more).

Two more issues need to be addressed to conclude this series. First is the use of equalizers/spectrum analyzers. These units are a necessity if you do not plan on using a computer to analyze your recordings. A basic ten band per channel equalizer is all that is required for basic audio filtering and enhancement. They are used to cut/reduce unwanted frequencies and boost frequencies of interest. Spectrum analyzers are merely designed to give visual representations of the audio being heard. Many equalizer units may come with built in spectrum analyzers, these units are connected between the tape deck and amplifier of a component stereo system and will only take two or three minutes to connect. They can be found at any department or audio specialty store for prices ranging from eighty to two hundred or more dollars.

Finally, computer audio software. Many software programs, such as Cool Edit, have extremely useful tools to cut, boost, equalize, compress, etc the audio that has been stored in memory. These programs, if available, are THE best way to bring out the sounds/ frequencies of interest. Some of these heavy-duty programs can get fairly expensive but for a little money, the payoffs in good quality audio will be worth it.

This concludes the audio series of Technical Notes. The next issue deals with video, including camcorder types and formats, infra-red, night vision, and thermal imagers.

 

This is Part 1 of a two part series dealing with audio recording concepts, terminology, equipment and usage.

Note:  The below are based on techniques used by the Warrens prior to Ed Warren’s death.

    In this Technical Note, equipment and equipment terminology will be focused on as well as their uses, capabilities, and drawbacks. Audio is one of many key factors for gathering evidence or data when investigating a haunted location. Many people have asked “Why bother, we know it’s haunted”, but to put it simply, can it be PROVED that a given site is haunted? Not unless evidence is taken at the sight. Audio alone cannot substantiate a haunting but when used in conjunction with Video, photos and witness statements, audio will prove its worth.

The use of audio to record the unnatural has been used since the advent of practical recording technology. Many researchers have recorded some of the most phenomenal events such as a case in England in which two investigators drove two metal spikes into a stone wall, connected a low voltage power source to the spikes and attached a microphone to the wall. What was heard was an organ playing and witch hunt trials of the 17th century. It is believed that these events were psychically imprinted into the walls and by channeling power into them, the walls acted as a playback medium of prior events. These sounds are now part of an audio collection by the investigators.

Sound recording equipment varies from the extremely simple and inexpensive to the complex and pricey. Obviously, the better the equipment used, the better the quality of the end product recording. In general, all tape recorders are functionally the same. They use an electromagnetic head that imprints the tape with frequencies identical to what is heard at the microphone. Three major types of recorders can be used. Reel-to-Reel recorders are the first, and are excellent for sound recording because they can be used to speed up, slow down or play backwards. A modest, new reel-to-reel usually will have a performance characteristic competitive to a higher end cassette recorder but is generally much heavier, bulkier, and more expensive. The second type of audio recorder is the standard cassette recorder. These units are less expensive, more compact, and easier to operate than their predecessors. Some models of portable cassette recorders have the voice activation system (VOX) built in, therefore giving the unit the ability to record only when an audible sound activates it. This function is very good for extending the useful recording period of a single cassette. DO NOT USE THIS FUNCTION if it is available though, many sounds captured by audio recorders are never actually heard and if VOX is enabled, the sound may not be recorded. The third type of recorder is the digital cassette recorder. Digital cassette recorders are relatively new to the consumer market and carry a high price tag. Recorders of this type are very useful because the primary cause of distractions, tape hiss, has been effectively removed. These units can be very small in size, which make them very useful in investigative work.

Regardless of the type of recording equipment used, there are several types of tapes to be familiar with: Metal, Chromium Oxide (CrO2), and standard. Use either metal or CrO2 when recording as standard tapes generally create too much hissing and are of lower quality. ALWAYS use new tapes when attempting recordings of this nature. Used, erased, or degaussed tapes may not have been completely erased or may have lowered quality which may impede the recording process.

With computer technology at its current state, recordings can be made and later stored on computer hard drive for further analysis. Storing audio is memory intensive (i.e. One Minute of stereo recording set at a sample frequency of 44 Khz will use One Meg of hard drive space), but with a decent audio program, it is worth the extra memory. The audio can be manipulated in any way imaginable; slowed down, sped up, reversed, equalized, frequency enhanced, etc.. Even the basic Windows based sound recorder, with a sound card, can provide the basics needed to utilize a computer. Prices have fallen so drastically lately, it should be within reach of almost everyone to use a computer to analyze audio.

It is commonly believed that spirits imprint their message directly to the tape itself (using electromagnetic energy), bypassing the microphone and sometimes, the human ear. Remember, sounds do not necessarily have to be voices. Screams, banging, scratching or other unusual noises are possibilities. A person may not hear anything directly but when a tape is played back, the sounds are there. As was the case in a prior investigation where the investigators set up a video camera to record in a bedroom. At one point in time the three investigators where all in that bedroom and later, upon playing the video tape back, a distinct voice is heard telling the group to “get out of here right now”. No one in the room heard a voice when it happened. Conversely, people have often heard psychic sounds clairaudiently which never appeared on tape.

One last hint. If direct taped communication is attempted, ask a question, wait fifteen seconds or more (this gives the spirit time to reply), then continue on to another question. You may be surprised at the results.