THE SCEPTICAL THEORIES
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There are naturally and quite rightly, a few sceptical theories out there as to what EVP is. I have to say though, that 3 of the 5 have been extensively investigated and experiments run to ascertain the likelihood of them being applicable.
Although plausible from a very staunch and distant aspect, in reality the chance of them being responsible for EVP that I work with is not just slim, but pretty much non-existent.
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Investigator, author and publisher, Peter Bander once said that if these theories were indeed to be correct, it would be akin to the proverbial chimpanzee at the piano playing all of Beethovan's sonatas note-perfect.​ It would be like one person winning several lotteries daily, every day for the rest of their life - not impossible, but highly unlikely!
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However, I must tell you the top theories because what kind of investigator would I be if I didn't?
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1: False radio waves transmitted from an outside source, imprinting on to my recorder.
Well for starters, I use a professional recording device. How useless a device would it be to journalists, those in the media, students etc, if you're one day interviewing someone really important and instead you get random bursts of radio? The type of captures that I get are not of radio quality, and some of the content is definitely NOT radio worthy!! The captures are personal, and of a type. Some 'ghost hunters' use 'spirit boxes' that sweep rapidly up and down radio stations, laying down a sound canvas, if you will - white noise over which sometimes, clear loud and slowly speaking human voices speak. Every so often in these cases you will hear little snatches of actual radio - and you can tell the difference. But I don't use spirit boxes, I stick to my recorders. And I give you my absolute word that these captures are not stray radio waves.
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2: Thought imprinting.
This one is even more unlikely than the radio theory. The chance that I so desperately want to hear something on my recorder on playback being so great (apparently, according to one particular highly renowned group) that I allow my thoughts to imprint in voice form on my recorder. This is so improbable that it makes the chimpanzee metaphor look like a sure thing! No.Just no. If I placed my recorder in a room full of people and asked them all to be silent but think really hard, what do you think would happen? Nothing! The theory is just so utterly ridiculous that it's hard to take it seriously. But then I suppose that what I'm suggesting, to some sounds even more crazy. From my own work and the work of the pioneers in the late 50's and beyond, the voices themselves claim to be those of people who have gone beyond death.
3: False vocal cords
The sceptics like to think that EVP investigators are again so desperate to get 'evidence' that we use our false vocal cords to produce voices. Quite why I would do this is unclear, because as I work alone to get the best sound quality, what would be the point? Surely if I'm going to speak, I'd well, speak normally. Often EVP occurs at the same time as I'm speaking which is really annoying, because it's harder to decipher what may be being said.
If you want to hear the use of false vocals in a paranormal setting, look no further than young Janet Hodgson of the Enfield Poltergeist case. YouTube or the excellent Apple documentary are good places to start to hear the original recordings made by Maurice Grosse at the house in Enfield.
So do I use false vocals? Did my sceptical father use false vocals when he inadvertently got his first captures? No. Did my 9 year old niece use her false vocals when I took her to the prison and shut her in the oakham sheds? No. And yet did they all get captures? Yes.
Sorry, but this one's gone to room 101 also!
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4: Paraedoilia or misinterpretation
The most likely pitfall of anyone recording or listening to EVP, and naturally we've all experienced it. Our brains are hardwired to find patterns in everything, whether that's visually or in an audio setting. Thankfully due to the technology we have now, it is possible to quickly and thoroughy pinpoint any places on the audio time line that is questionable, and thus we are able to amplify and slow down clips.
Debunking, as it's become known, is easier than ever, and if there is any doubt over a capture's origin, it's best to throw it out. However, some captures leave the listener in NO DOUBT whatsoever as to their authenticity. By being thorough and diligent, by following strict protocol whilst recording, it is easy to safeguard genuine evidence. And therefore to give it credence, much care must be taken in the recording process. And that is why working alone and in as much silence as can be expected, is the way forward. Audio interference even from a second person, degrades recording quality to a point where it's just not worth doing. Say what you see, say what you hear. Dogs in the lane, birds, the roof heating up... so if you then get a child saying, "Miss you!" into your mic', you know it's the real deal!
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Like I said, yes, this is a factor to bear in mind - but misinterpretation is easy to debunk.
5: Fakery
You have my word on my life, that I do not fake, never have, never will. I have no time for anyone that does, or for anyone who dramatises their evidence. This is an important and fascinating subject that deserves recognition and study - those who fake bring us all down.
So I could just be lying. I could speak in funny voices to myself, tell you that I heard nothing at the time. But I'm not lying - and I'm not mistaken. Perhaps there are fakers out there, in fact I have no doubt. But I'm not one of them.
My recordings, the EVP that I work with is the real deal.
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I believe that EVP is the strongest link to disembodied consciousness, a projection of the self. For a more in-depth look at what I personally feel EVP to be, please head to 'My Personal Statement'. Thank you!
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