Introduction

Audio review is one of the most time-intensive parts of paranormal investigation. Even a short EVP session can mean listening through hours of material once you factor in multiple devices and angles. But with the right method, you can catch subtle voices, knocks, or other anomalies that you never noticed during the investigation.

Why Careful Audio Review Matters

  • Evidence Discovery – EVPs and unexplained sounds often go unnoticed in real time.

  • Verification – Cross-check audio against video, EMF spikes, and notes.

  • Credibility – Reduces the risk of mistaking normal noises for paranormal ones.

Preparing for Review

  • Work in a quiet room with minimal distractions.

  • Use quality headphones — avoid cheap earbuds that miss low-level sounds.

  • Have your investigation logs ready for cross-reference.

  • Keep a notepad or digital document open for timestamps and notes.

The Audio Review Process

1. Start in Real Time

  • First listen at normal speed to get a feel for the background noise and identify obvious anomalies.

2. Second Pass with Focused Listening

  • Slow playback to 75–90% speed to catch softer or quicker sounds.

  • Pay attention to gaps between questions in EVP sessions.

3. Tagging

  • When you hear something unusual, note the timestamp, file name, and a short description (e.g., “whisper — male voice? — 00:13:42”).

4. Cross-Check

  • Compare with video footage or other audio devices from the same moment.

  • See if the sound can be explained by movement, radio interference, or team chatter.

5. Light Filtering (Optional)

  • Use software like Audacity to remove background hum or boost specific frequencies.

  • Avoid over-filtering — too much editing can distort or create false “voices.”

Common Audio Contaminants

  • Clothing rustle

  • Whispering teammates

  • Outside traffic

  • HVAC systems

  • Wildlife (owls, insects, rodents)

Pro Tip: Always verbally “tag” noises during the investigation (“That’s me moving my chair”) to save guesswork later.

Interpreting Possible EVPs

  • Class A: Clear and understandable without prompting.

  • Class B: Audible but requires some interpretation.

  • Class C: Faint or unclear — avoid presenting these publicly unless corroborated by other evidence.

Case Study

During a schoolhouse investigation, a faint “Get out” was recorded on one device but not another. Cross-referencing notes revealed a truck passing nearby at that exact time. Spectrogram analysis showed the “voice” matched the truck’s horn frequency, proving it was not paranormal.

Action Step Before Moving On

  • Record 5 minutes of silence in a quiet room using any recorder you have.

  • Listen back in real time, then slowed to 80%.

  • Note any anomalies and see if you can determine a natural cause.

Closing

Audio review demands patience and discipline — but the reward is capturing voices and sounds that may be the most convincing evidence you’ll ever present.

In the next lesson, 6.3 – Analyzing Video & Photos, we’ll turn to visual evidence and learn how to spot anomalies while ruling out the countless false positives that can creep in.

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