White Noise and Digital Recorders?

Question

When using white noise generators on paranormal investigations, how loud do you need to play the white noise for digital voice recording? Also, how far or close does the digital voice recorder need to be in relation to the white noise source?

Answer 1

You want the white noise loud enough such that the noise can be recorded so that it can later be interpreted as words spoken in a clunky, stilted manner that nobody ever sounds like.

Seriously, the white noise is just there so that it guarantees that there is a sound there that you attempt to extract words out of. You can't extract words out of pure silence. What you're really doing is engaging in pareidolia, search for familar patterns in random noise. I personally think EVP is nonsense, but if you're going to do it, do it honestly and don't purposefully introduce random noise into your recordings.

Answer 2

Why would you want to go out and buy equipment you needn't even spend money on?

    I have been in a Paranormal Group for a Long time and we have never used anything like you are talking about.

What we do is just turn down the volume of your digital recorder and that cuts out the white noise and it does work well as I and others in the group and other groups do it this way and all have gotten voices and strange sounds.

     Give this a try first before going out and spending money on something that does the same thing and you have money for something else.

Answer 3

This is a crock of c**p - therefore place the equipment whereever you want.

Answer 4

I agree with Buttons she knows what she is talking.

Answer 5

I agree with Buttons. You don't need white noise generators just do what she said and remain objective when interpreting the results.

Answer 6

i worked with white noise only once and i have a program called audacity that creates the white noise on the computer which would take away the need to know how far away. i find that it is easier to just set up the voice recorder and let it run and you can hear the voices easier

Answer 7

your kidding, Right? A white noise generator? No wonder we cant get anyone to take us seriously.

Answer 8

Before you start using EVP detection equipment, I think it's important to understand the technique.  It is thought that by producing the white noise, ghosts can draw energy from it to help them form their own words.  Skeptics, like TR, believe that the whole thing is a charade and that anyone could pull the words out of the white noise.  In some cases this may be true, but in others where the white noise is very quiet (almost unnoticeable) investigators have had some limited success acquiring EVPs.  Another very good sign of a successful EVP is if the ghost is intelligently answering your questions.  This does happen, but it is the rare exception.  Usually, you'll get an EVP that has nothing to do with the questioning.  Anyhow, place the white noise generator near the recording device.  Maybe even strap it to the wrist that your holding the recorder with and experiment with volume.  Louder white noise doesn't necessarily mean louder EVPs.  Set it so that the conversations going on around you by other people are still very distinguishable, but the white noise is still loud enough to be noticeable.  It will take some getting used to.  Good Luck.  Have fun with it.

EDIT:  There are a couple different ways to get the results you are looking for.  I have tried both white noise generators, be it something as simple as a blank tape playing on another recorder, and I have tried using nothing more than a digital recorder.  Unfortunately, EVPs are few and far between by both methods, but I have had success with both.  I currently do not use a white noise generator as I don't care to handle a bunch of equipment that may not be necessary,  but did find that without a generator I did have to up the ante on getting a better digital recorder.   I do, however, think that both methods are acceptable.

Answer 9

Don't play it so loudly that it overpowers the other white noise that the EVPs come from .