Ghost Box or Digital Recorder- Which One to Use?
There Are Distinct Differences Between a Ghost Box and EVP Clips
The differences between a Ghost Box and capturing EVPs show the various ways the voices of spirits are captured on a digital recorder vs. a Ghost, aka, Spirit Box device. Also learn the three classes of EVP.
If you love shows on hauntings or are interested in some form of ghost hunting, you’ll want to know all about Spirit Boxes and EVPs.
Ghost Boxes, or Spirit Boxes, are designed to specifically capture voices of earthbound spirits and spirits in the afterlife using a special device built for just that purpose.
Standard digital recorders record voices of spirits just by turning on the device and begin asking questions. These are called EVPs, or Electronic Voice Phenomena. Often voices will answer a question with a word or even a phrase. However, there’re various categories of clarity for these responses which are are listed below.
A specially designed spirit box will also capture spirit voices. However, a recording device must be used in tandem with the Spirit Box to record the voices that the Spirit Box produces.
How a Ghost Box Works
A Ghost Box, or Spirit Box, is a device used for contacting spirits through radio frequency sweeps.
A spirit manipulates the energy of these audio fragments to form words in answer to questions asked.
Ghost Boxes Go Back a Long Way
The notion of using radio frequencies to enable spirits to speak is nothing new. There have been numerous pioneers in the spirit communication realm beginning with the inventor, Thomas Edison, just prior to his death.
I was a skeptic when I first saw a Spirit Box demonstrated on a TV show. I bought one out of curiosity and immediately became a fan for life.
In my very first session, spirit voices coming through actually answered my questions. I knew it couldn’t be a CB radio or radio station supplying the answers. It’s impossible for radio stations or CB enthusiasts to hear my questions. Therefore, how can they provide answers through a hacked transistor radio?
I primarily use a PSB-7 Spirit Box, but I have others boxes . I even managed to hack a few radios to sweep stations like my 12-589 Radio Shack radio and DT 200x transistor radio.
Unfortunately, hackable radios are now hard to come by as now manufacturers have virtually made their newer models unhackable.
When Spirit Communication Enthusiasts Began to Alter Radios
The first Ghost Box Hack was created by Frank Sumpton in the 1990’s. Sumpton (now deceased), was inspired by a 1995 Popular Electronics article on spirit communication. He began experimenting with EVP-Maker software.
Sumpton soon invented “Frank’s Box”, which was the first Ghost Box hack. This radio utilized a rewired AM radio. Others soon followed with their own version of a spirit box. The most notable, are Andy’s Box, and the PSB-7 Spirit Box which is the one I mainly use.
Many Spirit Box responses and EVPs, are usually not noticeable in real time. However, a few responses can be heard quite clearly while recording.
The PSB-7 Spirit Box Was Invented by Gary Galka
When his daughter tragically died in a car accident, Gary wanted a way to communicate with her in the afterlife.
As Gary is a talented engineer, the P-SB7 Spirit Box was invented and eventually became a highly popular Spirit Box. It’s small, easy to use, affordable, and beautifully captures snippets of spirit voices. You can find this Spirit Box on Amazon, eBay, Ghost Stop, or any trusted ghost hunter on-line store.
Tips for using a Ghost Box aka Spirit Box:
- State your questions clearly and wait for a response. It’s been our experience that you generally get responses quickly rather than having to wait for a long period of time.
- Do your research and ask questions related to the entity you believe is there.
- Remember that you won’t always get a response.
- Train yourself to hear responses but always record your sessions then listen later.
- Good practice for the above is to state your name out loud and politely ask them to repeat it.
- Often you’ll hear responses that you either missed or that clearly weren’t there during your sessions. So always record!
- Leave your recorder a few feet away from the box.
I’ve recorded far more Ghost Box recordings than EVPs as I primarily use a Spirit Box while investigating. However, I ‘ve also captured several excellent EVPs over the years.
What EVPs Are
EVP stands for Electronic Voice Phenomena; voices caught on recording devices such as tape recorders or digital recorders. EVPs are spirit voices that are recorded on electrical or digital equipment outside of the range of the human auditory faculty.
Most electronic or digital recording devices are wonderful for capturing EVP’s because they have the sensitivity to record sounds outside of the range of human hearing—just as dogs can hear sounds humans cannot.
Just about any kind of digital recorder works.
Important! Get the kind of recorder that you can transfer audio files to a computer or another device that can hold an audio editing program.
Electronic Voice Phenomena was the first form of spirit voice capture. EVP practically became a household name for ghost hunters due to the many ghost hunting shows that have exploded onto the scene in the last decade.
EVP’s can be recorded on any type of audio recording device. What many don’t realize is that several pioneers for attempting to catch spirits communicating started with Thomas Edison.
Well into the 20th century, other paranormal pioneers such as Attila von Szalay, Freidrich Jurgenson, and Tom and Lisa Butler, carried on the work.
Some EVP’s can be quite clear but many sound like hoarse whispers, soft far-away voices. or a voice make be detected but it’s unintelligible.
EVP’s do not require additional energy known as white noise to record voices from beyond the grave. However, EVPs, unlike ghost boxes, are far more elusive to capture. Although some advocate the use of white noise, using white noise may just muddy up the sound and thus, makes it more difficult to detect an EVP response within an audio clip.
The Golden Rule of Recording Spirit Voices
Classifications of EVP’s
EVPs are ghostly voices recorded from an environment and are not usually audible during a recording session. It’s important to understand that there are different qualities of ghost voice captures on a recording device Ultimately, an EVP classification system was thought up by Sarah Estep to separate the qualities.
WEAR HEADPHONES LISTEN TO ALL CLIPS BELOW.
AA-EVP Classifications
Sarah Estep, founder of AA-EVP (https://atransc.org/about-aaevp/), created the Estep EVP Classification Scale. In Sarah’s model, there are 3 categories of EVP set as a quality grading standard. Below, you’ll hear EVPs from my visit to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
Classification A:
A clear and distinct voice or sound that is universally accepted and undisputed because it’s clearly understood by by all. Additionally, a class A EVP is also understandable without the use of headphones.
Investigating the Queen Mary 1 – Going down to the bowels of the ship I caught this weird EVP at 5 Sec. The voice says, “It’s not.”
Classification B:
A voice or sound that is distinct and fairly loud. This class of voice is more common and can be heard by most people after being told what to listen for. It is usually audible to experienced persons who have learned the skill of listening to EVP. It can sometimes be heard without the use of headphones.
I’m calling out to the child Jackie, who’s said to haunt pool area. At 1 sec. a little girl says, “Hi.”
Classification C:
A faint or whispery voice, or sound that can barely be heard and is usually unintelligible. Most investigators initially disregard this class of EVP, but some save the voice clip for re-examination later.
Queen Mary Pool Area Paranormal Tour – Whispery Voice Saying “Smoke” During Talk at 6 Sec. It’s hard to hear but definitely there.
In conclusion:
As you have read, there are distinct differences between Spirit Boxes and recording EVPs with a digital recorder. Spirit boxes are handy when you want to get direct answers to questions asked. An EVP will do the same, however, the voices are less discernible and harder to capture.
Importantly, you can choose one method that works best for you. Or like myself, you can use both methods in an investigation.
Remember, please don’t forget the golden rule of not trying to call in spirits in your home in order to capture the voices of spirits. This may be detrimental in that you may be stuck with the spirits that you call in. More importantly, you’ll want to protect yourself and perhaps family members. It’s best to use the voice capture methods described above somewhere else.
Another source you might be interested in: Electronic voice phenomenon-Wikipedia
Wanna read all about ghosts? Get Carol’s book, “Ghosts, Hauntings, and Other Things Supernatural.”
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Carol Nicholson is thirty-five years a professional Psychic Medium and author of numerous Psychic and Spiritual courses since 2001. Subscribe for more posts like this, get a FREE Psychic-Medium Starter eGuide, and notification of fantastic coupon deals.