Recording Sounds Into A Computer

Recording Sound into a Computer

These instructions apply to a PC type computer.

Some EVP experimenters use the computer as a tool for editing sound tracks, reviewing what they have recorded either in a computer or on a tape recorder and for sending samples via email.  Getting sound into the computer can be complicated, and each version of Windows poses different solutions.  In general, these are the steps you should look for:

The computer should have a LINE IN somewhere.  It may be on a speaker, but it is probably on the back of your computer.  If all you have is a MICROPHONE IN jack, then you may need to use an impedance matching cord.  (It can get to be complicated trying to match inputs and outputs, so the best thing to do is plug in a see if it works.)  An impedance matching cord is designed to connect the low impedance of the SPEAKER OUT jack in a recorder (around 8 ohms) to the high impedance of the LINE IN jack of the computer (around 10K ohms).  Such a cord is available at Radio Shack.

You want to connect your tape recorder to the computer--ideally LINE OUT of the tape recorder to LINE IN of the computer.  Connecting the tape recorder HEADPHONE or SPEAKER OUT jack to the MICROPHONE IN jack of the computer may work, or any combination of these.  If there is any problem, it will show up as a recording level problem or noise.

If you have Cool Edit, then you can use it as a tape recorder.  If not, on a PC, look under START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, ENTERTAINMENT for something like a SOUND RECORDER.  You can use that as a tape recorder as well.

Go to START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL and open something like SOUNDS AND MEDIA.  (It is good to make a shortcut for this icon on your desktop so that you can get to it easier.)  You will see a SOUND PLAYBACK and a SOUND RECORDING VOLUME button.  Click on the recording button and you will see that you can select LINE IN or MICROPHONE IN volume controls (Windows 2000 me).  These need to agree with the input jack you use.

The rest is just like running a tape recorder.  Most of the time, you will be able to simply plug in and begin recording.  Also, different tape recorders and microphones work in different ways on the computer, so switch things around to make it work.  A very good microphone MAY not work while a cheep one designed for the computer will.

There are considerations about the best type of file you should use for saving sound tracks.  Some people are beginning to save in MP3, which has a higher compression ratio than the usual WAVE file, but WAVE is still the standard.  Cool Edit is by Syntrillium, and can be downloaded from http://www.syntrillium.com/cooledit/index.html.  Other editing software may be good, but Cool Edit seems to be the standard.  A license to operate their software is not too costly.

The higher sample rate you use, the more memory the sound track will take.  16 to 22 K is good, but in reality, much lower samples should work.  (Our target frequency range is around 100 Hz to 3KHz.  For 3 KHz, you only need to sample 6 KHz to recover the data in digital.)

Editing sound with Cool Edit

In Cool Edit 2000, we have found that you can select a few seconds of sound track that has typical noise but no voice (or no suspected voice).

* Under TRANSFORM, NOISE REDUCTION, you click on GET PROFILE FROM SELECTION.

* When the application has finished, click on CLOSE (do not click on OK) and then select the entire sound track.

* Then open the NOISE REDUCTION window again and click on OK.  This will filter the entire sound track based on the profile of the previously

    selected noise.  (You can undo this if you do not like the results.  Just make sure UNDO is enabled.)

* Depending on the uniformity of the noise on the track, what will be left is other "intelligence," such as the voices.

More on Recording Using a Computer

Everyone has their personal way of doing things and there is an assortment of equipment available to them. However, once the personal variables have been stripped away, most experimenters follow these general steps:

Tools For Using a Computer

You will need a personal computer; however, it need not be a very powerful one.

a.       The computer must be equipped with an audio card that has a microphone connection.

b.      You need a computer application that simulates a tape recorder. Cool Edit is frequently used for EVP. A shareware version can be downloaded from http://www.syntrillium.com/cool.htm. There is a small charge for the licensed version.

c.       You need a microphone that is compatible with a computer audio card. If you experience a buzz when trying to record with a microphone designed to be used with a standard tape recorder, you may need to purchase a microphone specifically designed for a computer.

d.      You will need about 100 Meg of extra hard disk memory for audio files. Although not required, a way to move audio files onto audiotape or CD is a plus. These files are generally too big for 1.4 Meg floppy disks.

Sound Source

You will want to have a sound source that can be placed near the microphone. The communicating entities seem to use this sound source as a "carrier" for their words. EVP Experimenters have found that the entities will actually remodulate ambient sounds as they are picked up by the microphone, and within the magnetic recording medium. There are currently two schools of thought concerning the nature of a good sound source.

a.       Many EVP experimenters prefer white noise because it is much easier to distinguish a voice from the ambient noise. For this, a radio tuned to an unused portion of the dial, a scanner radio or even a fan will work. The noise source should not be loud enough to drown out your voice on the recording.

b.      A recording of crowd babble that has no distinguishable words, or a radio tuned to a broadcast of a language that you do not understand, will work.

c.       You will come to notice that even your words may be changed. It is common to detect a change in the modulation of otherwise mundane sounds. It is important that you look for this.

Tape Recording

You can record onto an audio recorder and then play the results into the computer for listening and editing. This is a good way if you intend to archive all of your recordings, because a typical two-minute recording can produce a computer file of two to three Meg. You can store the audio file on the tape rather than in the computer.  However, the tape may be altered over time by the entities, so a second option is to store your files on a Compact Disk with a read-write drive.

1. If the tape recorder just has a SPEAKER OUT, rather than a LINE OUT jack, you will need an adapter cable to connect the low resistance output jack of the tape recorder to the high resistance LINE IN jack of the computer audio card. Radio Shack sells such an adapter cable.

Recording Session

A typical recording session is about two minutes. You will want to listen very carefully to every click and syllable you record—many times, so two minutes is just about right.

a.       In Cool Edit, under FILE, selecting NEW with Sample Rate=16000, MONO and 8-BIT will give create a 2 Meg file at two minutes. Also, setting up Cool Edit for stereo playback may help you listen to the file.

b.      In Cool Edit, you can select and save just the portion of the file you want to keep. When you do, be sure to keep enough sound track before and after the voice to give you a context. It is good to include your voice.

c.       Be sure to do a SELECT ALL and reverse the file so that you can listen to the sound track in reverse mode. Many experimenters have found good voices on the reverse. It is possible to reverse the tape in a reel-to-reel or reconfigure the read head in a cassette; however, use of the computer avoids this.

How It Works

There is considerable support for the hypothesis that mediumship is an integral part of EVP. However, there is no consensus. The following statements are intended as a guide, but not to be the final answer.

a.       The operative assumption is that there is an aspect of reality that is not yet defined by physical science. This may be termed "non-physical reality."

b.      Entities exist in non-physical reality. Evidence indicates that there are the following types of entities:

1.      Self that has survived physical death. When you transition out of your body at the time of death, you as Self, apparently continue to exist in non-physical reality. Self appears to be focused on experiencing reality, as opposed to operating reality. These discarnate Selves appear to reside on many levels of existence. They also represent many different levels of spiritual maturity. In other words, contact may be made with lower vibration, near-physical entities or high-vibration, spiritually advance entities.

2.      Entities who are Self, but who have not experienced physical existence.

3.      Entities who are focused on the operation of reality, rather than experiencing reality. These are sometimes known as angelic or devic entities.

4.      Entities who may actually be Self existing in other parts of physical reality, but who have learned to transition in and out of non-physical reality at will. Extraterrestrial?

c.       There is an energetic difference between physical and non-physical reality. Bridging this difference is not a trivial task.

d.      A working principle of the hypothesis is that non-physical objects, including things, emotions and ideas, must somehow energetically agree with the level of reality that it is to occupy. In other words, if long-dead Uncle John is to communicate with you, he must find a way to bring his words in physical substance.

e.       The EVP experimenter provides a way for the entity to communicate through technology and the non-physical energy he is able to gather for the entity to use. This statement represents a logical leap, the explanation of which goes beyond the scope of this document. In simple terms, the experimenter is able to make energy available for communications. Exactly how this is done is not clear; however, it appears that this is a learned ability and is influenced by attitude.

f.        There is much evidence that a group of discarnate entities have gathered together to work on communicating with us, just as we in EVP have come together to communicate with them. Our friends in Brazil appear to be in contact with such a group. Indications are, this same group is now trying to communicate with folks in the Northern Hemisphere.

Meditation

Meditation is a tool for gathering energy during a recording session.

a.       Before beginning the recording session, take a few minutes to centre your attention on your intention to communicate. Some experimenters make it a habit to meditate a while before recording. Come to the recording session as if you are coming to see an old friend. Be grateful for the communication that will come. Clear your mind of visualized doubts and fears.

b.      Many experimenters try to record at the same time of day, believing the entities will learn when to make themselves available. To be simplistic, a busy living Uncle John will also be a busy dead Uncle John.

c.       Some experimenters record in a group of people. This may well be the best thing a person can do to increase the energy necessary for communication. Group rapport ha been shown to be important as a source of energy that entities can draw from for communication.

Making Contact

There are no rules, but experience has shown that a two-minute recording session should provide time for four or five questions with open microphone time between the questions for the entities to respond.

a.       It is a good practice to vocalize your questions, and to make them short. For instance, you may want to focus on one entity to contact during any single session. You might ask, "Uncle John, do you have a message for me tonight?" After a pause, you might then ask "Uncle John are you interested in working with me on EVP?" Use your imagination and follow your personal need.

b.      After you have made a recording, take time to listen very carefully. You may occasionally record a voice so strong that there is no doubt that it is a paranormal voice.  However, most messages will be hidden in the noise. Perhaps you will know that "something" is there, but will be unable to understand the message. This is normal. It takes a while for a person to train their ears for the subtleties of EVP.

c.       Messages often do not make sense. Think of it this way: you need to communicate with a friend living across the valley, but all you have is a smoky fire and a blanket. What do you do? You keep your message as short as possible. It appears that the entities might have a similar quandary.  Most messages are just one or two words long.

d.      Experimenters often receive message that sound as if they have tapped into a party line.  In other words, the person recording hears entities talking to one another who are seemingly unaware of the person doing the recording.

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