What is EVP?
Essentially, true EVP is the audio recording of paranormal phenomena. This could be spirit voices, it could be other sounds that have their source in the spirit world. Of course, voices are the most exciting, and for us, they have been the most rare. In fact, we have only one recording of a ghostly voice in probably 3 dozen recordings covering about 70 hours.

How does it work?
Based on evidence gathered from electro-magnetic field detectors, and the general observation that ghosts seem to have a particular fondness for electrical devices (like your television set or your computer) we can assume that ghosts are electro-magnetic in nature. Obviously, tape recorders are too, and cassette tapes use magnetism to record. Through this common attribute they can communicate directly with the tape more directly and with greater ease than they can with you or I. The exact method through which this is accomplished is as yet unknown.

How do you record EVP?
First you need the right equipment. Any analog tape recorder will do, but never use the inboard microphone. Plug an external microphone into the microphone jack and place it no less than 3 feet from the recorder. The reason for this is that you don't want to capture the normal sounds made by the internal workings of the recorder. They can sound a lot like EVP. Second, you need a good high-quality tape of 90 minutes or less. The reason you shouldn't go above 90 minutes is that in order to get the longer tapes, manufacturers "stretch" a 90 minute tape. This stretching process means that the tape is thinner and you will run a greater chance of bleed-through sound from side B and your tape will wear out faster. Begin recording and seal off the area. Anyone who enters the area should state their name to the recorder. Note any unusual loud external noises you hear that might show up in the recording.

A word on white noise:
Some recommend the use of white noise in the background. White noise includes things like the washing machine humming, or the vaccuum cleaner running, or a radio tuned to an empty channel and receiving static. I don't recommend this for one reason. White noise uses most, if not all, of the human range of hearing. When this happens, the brain gets confused, and when the brain gets confused it "runs home to momma" (to quote The Hunt for Red October). It interprets what it hears as something familiar, like human voices whispering, or your mother/child calling for you. White noise introduces an additional question to worry about, and you can be just as successful without it. I have yet to see any evidence that ghosts require this extra factor to communicate with a tape recorder.  

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