INVESTIGATION MANUAL JAN 2009
Table of Contents Introduction: How to use this Manual Section 1: Philosophy and Methodology Why we Created Paranormal Inc Methods we Endorse Section 2: Pre-Investigation Research Case Perform Equipment Maintenance Gather Paperwork Check Clothing Section 3: Investigation Be On Time and Professional Perform a Walkthrough Perform Interviews Set Up Appropriate Equipment Set Up Live Monitoring Station Brief Team Turn on Equipment Rules of Investigation Section 4: Post-Investigation Make a Diary of Personal Experiences Compare Anomalous Readings with Base Readings Carefully Review all Evidence If Necessary, Return to Site to Verify Evidence Prepare an Investigation Report Share Evidence With Owners Section 5: Chain of Investigation Detect, Interact, Capture Step One: The Vigil/Establish a Presence Step Two: Basic Interaction Step Three: Advanced Interaction Step Four: Provocation Remember to Utilize Ongoing Tools Attempt at Least One Experimental Technique Section 6: Basic Investigation Techniques Investigation Log Photography Videography Wireless Audio
Electronic Voice Phenomena Using Detection and Measurement Devices Environmental Monitoring Devices Section 7: Experimental Investigation Techniques Singapore Theory Red Light/Black Light Assist Infrared Photography UV Photography Live EVP Session ITC (Television Static, Radio Static, Voice Generators) Infinite/Feedback Loop Session Ouija/Table Tipping Section 8: Forms and Checklists Sample Interview Questionnaire Location Release On-Camera Release Sample Investigation Report
Introduction: How to use this Manual This manual lays out the basic steps necessary for researching and investigating a reportedly haunted location. It is broken down in nine sections: Section 1—This is about our philosophy concerning ghosts and hauntings, as well as what methods we employ at Paranormal Inc. Since we are a fact-based organization, rather than a faith-based or psi-based group, we spend the majority of our time at an investigation using scientific instruments and gathering scientific data and evidence. This is explained in more detail in this section. Section 2—This section covers the things you need to do before rolling out to the actual investigation/location. Oftentimes, investigators will skimp on research or inadequately prepare for an investigation; this section makes sure that we do not do this. Section 3—A step-by-step procedural guide is included here for investigating a haunted location. Everything but the specific techniques are covered in this chapter, including dealing with the client, lights-on procedures, and the nuts and bolts techniques you will employ over the course of the investigation. Section 4—Review and reporting is covered in this section. Archiving original data and logically employing the results from an investigation is a must in the paranormal investigation world; the steps for a successful post-investigation are covered here. Section 5—This section is about the actual process of performing an investigation. There is a definite chain of events that needs to occur when investigating a haunting—and depending on the particular things that are going on around you—there is a definite hierarchy of approaches that need to be followed. Following the step-by-step in this section will ensure you have success. Section 6—These are the basic investigation techniques that are the bread and butter of all paranormal groups around the world—with a Paranormal Inc spin. Experience and research has given us a focused approach to each of these. The procedures for performing these techniques are laid out in this section. Section 7—There are also ‘experimental’ techniques used in the paranormal investigation world—some good, some great, some terrible. These are the techniques we currently employ and why. Since there will always be new technologies, ideas, and approaches, this section will change from time-to-time. Section 8—Forms. At least the ones you really need. This is about covering your arse legally and presenting a professional report to the client. Read the sections and employ them. Keep the manual in your gear and refer to it when necessary. This manual is intended to make sure you cover everything during an investigation and that everything is done properly.
Section 1: Philosophy and Methodology Why we Created Paranormal Inc Though ‘officially’ Paranormal Inc was created in 2004, the truth is that we have been interested in, studying, and investigating the paranormal since 1994. Both of the founding members, myself (Rich Newman) and Mike Uelsmann, have had personal experiences that go even farther back than that. So needless to say we have a vested interested in understanding exactly what is going on around us—particularly in the world of the ‘paranormal.’ So what is paranormal? You can take the Spartan definition of the word and simply say it’s ‘anything outside or above the normal,’ or you can approach the field in a more specific manner and say that paranormal events fall under four major categories: Haunting, Ufology, Crytozoology, and Psi. Though we are interested in all four of these categories, I must admit that Paranormal Inc (at this point) is most concerned with hauntings. This manual reflects this. In the not-so-far future, though, we will be investigating more ufology and crypto cases, though, and manuals for those types of investigations will follow as well. Methods we Endorse So, how exactly do we investigate the paranormal? There are lots of different approaches and methods concerned with identifying and capturing paranormal evidence—and most groups use many different techniques out there in the field. But most of the philosophies that paranormal groups follow fall under three categories: Fact-based, Faith-based, and Psi-based. Fact-based investigation means exactly that: Finding facts, gathering scientific data, and relying on personal experience and technology to investigate a haunted location. Faithbased investigations tend to use more prayer and ritual in their investigations, while Psibased investigators incorporate psychics, empaths, and intuits in their groups. For us at Paranormal Inc, we feel that the non-paranormal world will take a fact-based approach more seriously and will scoff at the use of controversial methods (such as dowsing rods, wiccans and psychics) to investigate an already controversial subject. This doesn’t mean that we scoff at those types of investigators, though. We respect everyone’s right to investigate the paranormal in any way they see fit. We simply do not employ priests or psychics at our investigations. So how does Paranormal Inc investigate a case? With vigilance, technology, and careful examination of evidence. It’s that simple. In the end, all paranormal investigations must come down to one simple philosophy: Evidence,
not experience. If we simply want experience, there’s no need to be an investigator. Go to a haunted B&B, check in, and enjoy what interaction with the spirits you manage to get. This is thrill seeking. We are investigators and we employ investigative techniques to gather audio, video, photographic, and eyewitness evidence. That said, we do like to experiment. There are always new techniques and technologies becoming available in the field. Whenever we encounter these—and they fall within the scope of our fact-based philosophy—we usually try to incorporate them into an investigation. Isn’t the use of Ouija boards and table tipping controversial? Yes they are. But it’s usually an individual’s attitude towards these techniques that make them so. Do you believe that a Parker Brothers’ board game is ‘evil’? Or magic? We at Paranormal Inc do not. We believe it is a board game. What we also know is that there have been many people over the centuries who have thought of these games as evil. It is this fact that we are exploiting. Follow this logic: If a spirit in the house believes that a Ouija board has the ability to talk to the dead, when one is employed during an investigation, the spirit will feel compelled to speak—either through use of the board or by other means. So, in the sense that Paranormal Inc uses these techniques, they are merely what we call instigators—items that we use to instigate a reaction from the spirits of a location. In a lot of ways, the use of trigger objects and K2 meters are other instigators. Is the Ouija board magic? No. Are there people/spirits who think so? Yes. That is a fact. Use it to your advantage. It’s another tool for your kit. The final aspect of our philosophy at Paranormal Inc that I want to stress is our concept of ‘live investigations.’ When you watch paranormal programs on television you find out pretty fast that most evidence of a haunting is gotten in ‘post’ or during the ‘review.’ You don’t actually hear or see spirits during an investigation. You hear them through EVP’s and see them through photographs and video while going over the data collected. This is not how we do it at Paranormal Inc. We do, indeed, go over our evidence (and very carefully at that), but we do our best to interact with spirits at a haunted location while we are there. Our experience has told us that once you get an entity interacting with you, the stronger the entity gets and is able to make his or her presence known. In line with this philosophy, we follow a strict hierarchy of techniques that are intended to facilitate this. In addition to performing the basic techniques used by most paranormal groups (EVP work, photographs, use of EMF detectors, etc.), we use a number of live techniques that are geared towards interacting with the entity or entities at a location while we are there. This increases our chances of getting quality evidence and, ultimately, substantiating a haunting at the location.
How do you get evidence and interaction live? That’s all covered in this manual. If you follow the guidelines laid out in this book for Pre-Investigation, Investigation, and Post-Investigation—as well as stick to the Chain of Investigation—you will greatly increase your chances of getting interaction and evidence. Also, you will increase your chances of having fun. Hey, we’re not thrill seekers, but we do like to have fun on a case. Read on and learn how to conduct an investigation the Paranormal Inc way…
Section 2: Pre-Investigation Research the Case Before you ever step foot at a new location, you will want to find out three things: 1. Can you get permission to investigate there? 2. Is there current activity? 3. What is the case history? You will find out these three things through one thing: Research. This means scouring the internet, visiting local (to the case) resources, and visiting the book store. Basic information regarding hauntings are often available in regional publications and can be found and purchased online. Libraries will often answer basic questions over the phone—and tell you whether or not they have information for you in their collections— but you’ll probably have to visit them in person for anything in depth. Other local resources include the Sheriff’s office and City Hall. They often know a lot about the history of a particular location and, specifically, who may own the property if you are looking for permission to investigate. Once you have secured permission, and you have moved on to the actual case history, pay attention to the details. Note the chain of ownership of a property (somewhere in here might be the person haunting the location), major events that took place there (such as a battle or murder), and any ‘stories’ that may contain helpful clues to the activity taking place. Once you have the history of a location and the haunting, attempt to verify facts and throw out anything that smacks of ‘rumor’ or ‘legend.’ Once you get to the location and visit with the owners and other locals, you will have the opportunity to verify facts again. Perform Equipment Maintenance In the days prior to an investigation, you will want to go through all of your equipment and perform routine maintenance. This means changing out batteries if necessary (I recommend getting rechargeable), cleaning equipment (especially lenses on cameras), and checking your gear bags against your equipment list. You should always keep a list of all the equipment you carry, as well as what bag/case the equipment belongs in. This will ensure you never leave home without a valuable piece of equipment—or that you leave it sitting somewhere in the field! You will also want to make sure you have enough ‘expendables’ for the case: Extra batteries, video tape, duct tape, bottled water, snack food, etc. This will make your investigation run much more smoothly. Gather Paperwork
Your bag or briefcase should also contain all the necessary paperwork you will need at the location, including Location Releases (written permission for you to be there), On Camera Releases (if you interview anyone on camera), Proof of Insurance (if the location demanded it), your research notes, the equipment checklist (for wrapping up) and an interview questionnaire for those you speak to at the site. This will cover you legally and make sure you don’t forget any of your research details. Check Clothing Finally, you will want to make sure that your personal gear and clothing fits the needs of the investigation. Are you going to be outside? Does the location have heating/air conditioning? Will it be raining during load in/load out? Dress to impress and to fit the needs of the environment. The more comfortable you are, the longer you will be able to focus during the investigation.
Section 3: Investigation Be on Time and Professional Always leave for the investigation with plenty of time so that you can arrive on schedule. This will enhance your professional appearance. Always be courteous, avoid using curse words and slang, and make sure that at all points of the investigation the owners know what you are doing. Once you have introduced the group and gotten past the courtesies you will want to do a couple things before diving into the actual investigation. The first thing is to do a walkthrough. Perform a Walkthrough Simply have the owner of the location—or locals if it is a public location—take you on a tour and show you where the paranormal activity has happened. Be sure to get as much information regarding what occurred and where. As you take the tour, you can have a team member go behind you and gather base readings for electro-magnetic fields and temperature. If there’s another team member present, he/she can take reference photos of each room and paranormal hotspots. Perform Interviews The next thing you will want to do is to interview the owner and any witnesses to paranormal events. This can be done on camera, on audio, or simply by taking notes. In addition to the paranormal events, make sure you record any key or significant historical events in the location, as well as specific names of past inhabitants or tragedies. There are some helpful questions in the last section of this manual. Once you have interviewed everyone, you should give the owner a brief rundown of what you will be doing over the course of the investigation; this will prevent any misgivings, mistakes, or regret after the investigation is over. Set up Appropriate Equipment After these preliminaries, you can then move on to the actual investigation. Begin by placing appropriate equipment throughout the house—audio recorders at areas of voices/footsteps/etc, video cameras in areas where apparitions are seen, etc. The remaining equipment can be distributed however you feel is best. Be sure to once again check batteries and AC power as you place the equipment. Making sure everything is fully charged is the best way to know if you have actually experienced battery drainage over the course of an investigation. Set up Live Monitoring Station
You will then want to set up the Live Monitoring Station. For most groups this would be called ‘Command Central’ or something along those lines, and it would be placed somewhere outside the activity, such as in a van or a room with no paranormal reports. We at Paranormal Inc actually use a computer and other equipment to monitor activity live, and as such, require that the station be set up in the area of the MOST activity. This is necessary due to the fact you will be doing many ‘live’ functions there during the investigation, such as Live EVP sessions, environmental monitoring, and other techniques. Brief Team Once the Live Monitoring Station is set up, you then need to brief the team. Discuss strategies and who will be performing what functions. Set a time to meet back at the station and trade out chores. You will also want to point out any specific house rules for the location and any areas that should be avoided because of danger, low visibility, or that have been designated ‘off limits.’ At that point you will also want to make sure that any air-conditioning/heater systems in the house are turned off as they will contaminate the audio and video evidence. Also make sure that no team member is carrying a cell phone with them that is turned on! Cell phones interfere with environmental monitoring devices and can contaminate evidence with a ring. If communication is necessary at the location, use FRS Radios. Turn on Equipment At this point you can turn on all the equipment, go lights out, and begin the actual investigation following the Chain of Investigation (Section 5) and the Paranormal Inc Rules of Investigation. Rules of Investigation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Use a Neutral Approach to Investigating, Not Believer or Debunker Always get Permission to Investigate a Location Use the Smallest Possible Team to Avoid Contamination of Evidence Always Keep a Co-Investigator in Line-of-Sight Be Aware of Team Presence Silence is Golden If You Speak, Speak Loudly and Clearly 7. Be Considerate/Respectful of Co-Investigators and Owners/Locals Everyone Uses Different Investigation Methods 8. Use Trigger Phrases to Escalate or Change Investigation “I’m beginning to think the spirits here don’t like us.” 9. Use the Present Tense and Use Generic Gender/Person Questions First 10. The Goal is Evidence, Not Experience
Section 4: Post-Investigation Make a Diary of all Personal Experiences Before you start reviewing the hours of audio, photographic and video evidence you will want to make a short diary of all the personal paranormal experiences that occurred during your investigation. Be specific as to what was seen or heard and where. Do this while the investigation is still fresh in your mind and you still remember all the details. Compare Anomalous Readings with Base Readings Next, you will want to add to the diary any instances where environmental readings in an area were contrary to the base readings. In other words, instances where the temperature dropped dramatically creating a cold spot, or an EMF detector spiked considerably. Log all data collected and any discrepancies in this regard. Carefully Review all Evidence Now you will want to find a QUIET room to review all the evidence gathered. I must stress quiet! There are tons of EVP’s that would have been missed had I not been in a place of complete silence. Note all the photos that seem to exhibit anything paranormal, and add the times during an audio or video recording that seem to also have paranormal evidence. Using a computer editing system, extract short clips from the original audio and video files of anything you feel is paranormal. Archive the original recordings, then concentrate on enhancing the individual clips. Using Audacity, or your audio editor of choice, only use features that ‘clean up’ or ‘clarify’ the clip: Click Removal, Amplify, Noise Reduction, and Low/High Pass Filters. Anything beyond that is tampering with the evidence. Make sure to keep a copy of the original, un-enhanced clip along with the enhanced version. You can now repeat this process using your video editor of choice—note that, if the evidence captured by the video camera is audio only, you can usually export the sound from a video clip, then open it in your audio editor for review and enhancing. Again, keep the original video clip, though! Once you have all the evidence from a case in a file, have other team members review the evidence with you and gather opinions. If the team used ‘Team Awareness’ during the investigation, the members may remember that there was something entirely ‘normal’ going on within the clip, thereby dismissing that piece of evidence. Never assume anything you are hearing is paranormal until your team is able to rule out the mundane. If Necessary, Return to Site to Verify Evidence
If there is a piece of evidence—especially photographic or video—that begs to be verified, if it is possible, return to the location and see if the evidence can be debunked. If the location is far away, you may want the owner to do it for you once they have received and reviewed the evidence you collected. Always attempt to debunk your own evidence if it is logistically viable. Prepare an Investigation Report Now you will want to prepare a proper investigation report for the owner and for archiving in the Paranormal Inc research files. Make sure to note the investigation details (date, time, etc), the types of hauntings experienced (include ‘real’ orbs, ghostlights, or vision), all personal experiences, the electronic data gathered, and an explanation of every piece of evidence. When you archive a CD—or burn one for the client/owner—there should be a word file investigation report with a folder of all the evidence. Anybody reviewing the report should be able to match the report to the evidence: Photo 1, Photo 2, EVP 1, EVP 2, etc. Share Evidence with Owners Before anyone outside the group—and certainly before anything is posted in any form of media or online—the evidence should be shared with the client/owner of the location. Discuss all the evidence that was gathered and your impressions of the location as a whole. Once they are familiar with the evidence and have a copy for their own use, then note whether or not the owner minds you posting any evidence online, or in media. They may be alright with you sharing evidence, but insist on keeping the location anonymous. This is their right. Respect it. If you choose to post evidence online or in media, present the evidence ‘as is’ without any artistic illustration or embellishment. People will either accept it or they will not. There is no need to ‘sell’ the evidence. Also, NEVER EXHIBIT ANY EVIDENCE YOU AREN’T WILLING TO STAKE YOUR REPUTATION ON. Paranormal Inc is only as good as its worst piece of evidence. Keep that in mind before labeling something as ‘paranormal’ and presenting it to the world.
Section 5: Chain of Investigation Detect, Interact, Capture This is, in its most basic essence, the way we want to investigate a location. We want to detect what is going on, interact with the presence or entity so that the activity can gather momentum, and then capture that activity with as much audio, video, and photographic evidence as possible. In order for us to do this, we must follow a very specific Chain of Investigation. Here are the steps for doing this: Step One: The Vigil/Establish a Presence This is often the most overlooked part of an investigation: Sitting still and being quiet. By doing this, you will be able to hear subtle sounds—paranormal and mundane—and notice anything going on around you. You are also allowing yourself to get a ‘feel’ for the environment and to get your ‘night eyes.’ This routine is called a ‘vigil’ and is simply watching or staking out an area. When you start a vigil, set a specific time to perform it and stick to it. Even if you start hearing or seeing something. Refrain from speaking and simply point if you must to indicate hearing or seeing something. Once the vigil is over, discuss what you saw/heard and note anything going on that could be mistaken for paranormal. If there were elements of the paranormal at play, respond accordingly. Move audio or video equipment if you must to accomplish this. React to an event by investigating it! The next thing you will want to do is get the entities in the location to interact with you. Step Two: Basic Interaction There are several different things you can now do in the investigation to start getting interaction. The first is to perform an EVP session. Electronic Voice Phenomenon is the act of capturing a voice on audio equipment (sometimes video equipment) that is not heard by human ears. We do this by asking questions and hoping that the entity will respond with an answer. The more specific your line of questions (remember to stay person/gender neutral) the more likely you’ll get a response. Ask questions about the house, or general questions that would identify who the entity is. Do this even if the owner believes he/she knows who the entity is. When your questions start getting personal to the entity you may notice more interaction—such as shadows moving about the room, ghostlights, or some of the responses may gather strength and move into the human audible range.
Another basic interaction technique is to attempt to gather photographic or video evidence. Set up in an area where this phenomena is reported and ask for the entity to move in front of the camera. Explain that the camera is not a weapon and will not hurt them. Also, ask for permission to take their photograph. The entity may know what this is and become curious. You can also attempt to establish a presence by using electronic equipment such as an EMF detector or infrared thermometer. Due to the amount of energy that may be necessary for the entity to manifest itself, it may take a while for momentum to gather for anything of significance to occur. Once something significant occurs and the interaction is becoming more predominant, you can move on to more advance interaction techniques. Step Three: Advanced Interaction These are participatory events that you can do as an investigator to get additional interaction with an entity. They usually require much more energy, so they should be initialized after establishing a strong presence in the location. The first of these techniques is to use a ‘specialized’ EMF detector such as a K2, K3, or Ghost Meter/Cell Sensor type device. These particular devices are designed to respond to electro-magnetic fields by sounding an audible alarm or lighting up in some way. You can use this reaction by asking the entity to move towards the device and to trigger it. When the entity starts doing so on command, this indicates there may be an intelligent haunting in the home. You can even tweak this strategy to make ‘answers’ to questions, such as “If you light this up, I will take that as a yes. Are you alone in this house?” If the entity lights up the device, this is a ‘yes’ response. Always make sure you are not near anything that may be giving you false alarms—and make sure NOBODY HAS ON A CELL PHONE. Another great way to advance interaction is to use a combination of motion sensors and trigger objects. Place a light object—especially one that would be significant to the house or past inhabitants—between motion sensors and ask the entity to move it. You can video tape this or use photography. Get shots before you begin the session and shots afterwards for comparison. Also, avoid using a ball or anything round for the trigger object as even a slight breeze can cause these objects to move. A simple way to establish more interaction is to ask the entity to manifest itself or to ‘touch’ you. Though this may only end up being a personal experience, it’s a great way to ‘involve’ the entity and allow momentum to gather. Just try to stay calm if you are actually touched in any way as your fear may cause the entity to flee. Our final suggestion for advanced interaction is to use one of two tried-and-true techniques: The Ouija board or table tipping.
A Ouija is fairly self-explanatory. Remember what was stated in the first section of this manual—it is only a board game. Use two people when performing the session, though, so another investigator can verify or corroborate any movement by the planchette. Table tipping is another great way to get some activity. This is basically a séance without a psychic or medium. Have 2-4 people sit around a light table and place their hands gently on the surface. Somebody should then begin talking to the entity and asking for them to use the ‘group’s energy’ to move the table. This technique can take some time to get going so be patient. Oftentimes, we have discovered that doing Ouija/table tipping sessions can trigger events to happen in other areas of the house, so be aware of this by placing equipment away from the session or have investigators elsewhere to monitor. Of course, if you have gotten no basic interaction, you probably haven’t gone on to advance interaction. If, after you have exhausted approximately half of the investigation time, still have gotten no discernible interaction with any entities at the location, you may want to move on to provocation. Step Four: Provocation Provocation should be a last resort if for no other reason than if the place has an ‘intelligent’ haunting, the entity may be offended and decide to withdraw from the group. In our team experience, though, reluctant spirits seem to respond favorably (to us anyway) to provoking. Note that provoking does not mean cursing! You are still gathering audio evidence and you don’t want to have to censor your own language in your data! Instead, use insults that are specific to the past inhabitants of the house, or general insults such as ‘coward’ to get results. Once you notice that results are being obtained, you can stop provoking the spirits and begin again with basin interaction techniques. Also, start mild with the provoking and slowly escalate if necessary. Remember to Utilize Ongoing Tools You will probably go through the entire night with a camera around your neck and an infrared thermometer in your pocket, so don’t forget to use them! Just because you’re doing a different technique doesn’t mean you shouldn’t snap a few pictures or get a quick reading. Random investigations have had their results! Also, don’t forget that your Live Monitoring System is going strong in the most haunted area of the house. Try to monitor the activity there using the computer as often as is possible. Attempt at Least One Experimental Technique
Investigating also means learning and experimenting. Though the bulk of an investigation should center around techniques that have proven effective over the years, don’t be afraid to try a new piece of gear or technique. In fact, you should attempt to work in at least one experimental technique over the course of the evening. It doesn’t always have to be something entirely new—it can simply be a new brand of digital recorder, a new microphone, or a different type of EMF detector. Expand your tool belt and keep learning. This is the essence of an effective investigator.
Section 6: Basic Investigation Techniques These are the basic things you will do at an investigation to track your progress, record evidence, and progress through the Chain of Investigation to advanced interaction. Investigation Log This can be kept at the Live Monitoring Station. Anything that is witnessed or recorded at the investigation should be logged briefly. I.E. 8:30pm, 4mg spike on EMF detector, living room. The better you are at logging your investigation and experiences, the better you can correlate data collected to what was actually happening in the house. For instance, if you log that Team A is going into the basement at 10pm, then at 10:20 you get an EVP of a man’s voice, you can immediately rule out any males that were in the basement. Your log is also a great way to refresh your memory when you are working on the investigation report after the review of evidence. Photography There are two basic types of photography we will be working with: Film and Digital. Though working with film is costly, it is still a viable option. In a lot of ways, even HD video does not compete with the resolution and clarity of film when used correctly. Just remember to buy appropriate film (400-1000 ASA) for working in the dark and keep in mind that you probably will have to use a flash. As for digital photography, the upside is that you are only limited by the amount of memory you have for your camera. These days, though, this usually means you can take, literally, thousands of photos. Just remember, these will all have to be reviewed very carefully! Remember, also, to make sure your camera is on AUTO instead of a preset. This will make sure that shutter speed, etc. is adjusted appropriately for the setting of the photograph. You can, however, experiment with other ‘presets’ such as the ‘Night’ or ‘Portrait’ modes as they can slow the shutter speed. Just realize you will have to steady the camera to avoid getting light streaks that can be mistaken for paranormal activity. Another great photography technique is to use filters in order to take photos in IR or UV light. Many investigators feel that entities may reside on a lower radiation spectrum, so taking photos with these filters may result in better odds of capturing an apparition. Sony Nightshot still cameras are also equipped with an IR shooting mode to take photographs in the dark and can be used much like a Sony Nightshot camcorder. If you really want to drop the big bucks, you can purchase a camera designed for forensics that photographs in ‘full spectrum’—meaning, visible, IR, and UV light. These cameras are costly, though, and usually are ‘hacked’ versions of regular digital cameras. Videography
Using video cameras or a CCTV system to monitor areas is a great way to gather evidence. You just want to make sure to use cameras that are equipped with infrared technology for shooting in total darkness. Sometimes cheaper cameras have a pretty poor infrared illuminator built in, so you may also want to add an ‘IR illuminator,’ which is an infrared spotlight to help the camera see in total darkness. A great way to tell if your camera needs an illuminator is to look at the ‘lux’ the camera shoots in. If it’s anything more than 1 lux, you probably need an illuminator. Another factor when choosing your camera centers around editing. Since you will want to be able to extract ‘clips’ from your videos, you probably want to make sure the camera shoots digital video and is connectable to a computer via USB or Firewire. Wireless Audio This is essentially, a wireless lavalier microphone that is commonly used in television and film production. They can be obtained rather cheaply, though if you intend to use more than one, you will want to make sure they have different RF frequencies so that they do not interfere with each other. You can place the microphone in an area you want to monitor live, then connect the receiver to a computer. You can record audio evidence using an audio editor program (like Audacity) or use the wireless for Live EVP sessions using DC7 Software (more on this later). Electronic Voice Phenomena As discussed earlier, EVP’s are a staple of any investigation. Almost any digital recorder can be used for capturing EVP, though some have better onboard microphones than others and some require a proprietary program for downloading the audio data to a computer for editing. A rough guideline for performing a quality EVP session includes: Use a quality external microphone for clarity, make sure the recorder is on dictation instead of conference, and purchase audio recorders that are equipped with a USB plug. I would also suggest purchasing USB recorders that record in a native MP3 format, so you have ‘drag and drop’ ease of getting your audio to your computer, instead of converting files first. You will also want to have a quality audio editor for your computer. Audacity is usually the weapon of choice since it is available as a free download. I would suggest complementing this program, though, with Soundforge Audio Studio since it is reasonably priced and DC7 if you intend to do Live EVP work. Again, in order to get the best responses, do EVP sessions in areas of high activity and use gender/person neutral questions. Speak clearly and at a regular voice volume. Avoid whispering as that can be confused with an EVP response.
When you are reviewing EVP’s, note that you should classify your EVP’s using the standard class system. This essentially consists of Class A (Clear and audible), Class B (audible but unclear), and Class C (Faint and unclear) EVP’s. Using Detection and Measurement Devices There are many scientific and paranormal devices in the field that are made to monitor and record various types of data—but there are several that are specifically and commonly used by paranormal investigators. EMF detectors are probably the most common and come in different varieties. As a standard pocket tool, you should go with a common analog or digital EMF detector that can measure between 1 and 100 mg. It can also be helpful if it can measure in microgauss (though this should only be used in an area that is ‘flat’ on the EMF detector as almost anything can register that minute a reading). Spirits are commonly thought to be made up of energy—specifically, electro-magnetic energy—so an EMF detector is a logical device for your investigation. The next gadget worth using is a Passive Infrared Motion Detector. This is a motion detector that is able to pick up temperature changes and movement, as well as regular motion. When used to monitor an area or with a trigger object, a PIR motion detector can alert you in ‘real time’ if something is going on. Other ‘environment’ monitors you can purchase in a handheld device are Ion detectors, Geiger counters, and infrared thermometers. They are used for the obvious reasons—just make sure to get base readings for these devices in every room prior to using in the investigation. There’s also a special note we should mention concerning infrared thermometers: Since most non-contact thermometers are ‘infrared’ thermometers, these devices actually rely on a laser to get a reading. This means you are not measuring the temperature of the ambient air around you, but the spot the laser is hitting, so make sure you get a digital thermometer that specifically measures ambient temperature as well as incorporates a laser system. Environmental Monitoring Devices These are specialized devices that usually run directly into a computer that measure environmental changes in real time. They can be scientific devices, like a weather station, or paranormal devices like the Paranormal Puck or Ghost Watchdog. They are basically arrays of sensors that record data to a computer program that you can later review for dramatic fluctuations or changes. They can be quite useful for gathering corroborating evidence and should be an ongoing tool during the investigation.
Section 7: Experimental Investigation Techniques Since everyone in Paranormal Inc is an investigator, it behooves us to always try new techniques and equipment in the field. That said, there are several methods that we have already used and approve of... Singapore Theory This is basically playing music to create an environment that would be appealing to an entity. In other words, playing appropriate music that the spirits would have listened to when alive. Though there are obviously folks who die every day, this technique seems to work best with ghosts from the 1800’s and first half of the 1900’s. Since that music is seldom heard these days, playing it strikes a memory and can cause activity to occur. We suggest keeping MP3’s of music of the Civil War era and early 1900’s in your computer for use in this technique. Red Light/Black Light Assist This is a technique that can help with UV or IR photography. Red light acts as a ‘spotlight’ in infrared photography and will help illuminate that spectrum much better for your camera. The same is true of a black light used in conjunction with UV photography. Using these lights also helps us to see possible manifestations in the visible light realm since the room will have more light in it. Live EVP Session This is doing EVP work using a microphone attached to a computer and monitoring ‘live’ responses through a program called ‘DC7.’ This program actually filters audio live and lets you hear what you are recording with only a miniscule delay. How many times have you reviewed evidence and heard an EVP response and wished you had heard it live while at the site? This program allows you to do this. You ask a question, hear a response, and then you can follow up by asking another question or indicating to the entity that you heard him/her. There are a couple things you will need to accomplish this, though: A computer, an external microphone, DC7, noise isolating headphones, and two people. Since there is a slight delay in the audio, it is hard to listen to the EVP questions live and on the laptop at the same time, so one person should listen through the computer via noise isolating headphones (to block out the live questions) and one person should be asking the questions. When an answer is made by an entity, this should be indicated by the listener. This is a great way to experience a haunting live and interact. ITC
This is Instrumental Transcommunication. In other words, letting ghosts speak to us by using an instrument or device. This is usually through the use of television white noise or a voice/phoneme generator (Puck, Ovilus, Radio Shack hack, etc.). Though this is a highly controversial technique (since it relies on the spirit to manipulate an actual device), it can sometimes produce startling results. Use with caution and a grain of salt, though. Infinite/Feedback Loop Session This is connecting a video camera to a television, then point the camera at the television to create a giant, never-ending hole of the camera looking at the TV. It’s believed that spirits will sometimes make their presence known in the images on the television. This is also a controversial and strange technique that has, indeed, produced results. It’s called an infinite loop when it looks like a long line of tunnels, it’s called a feedback loop when the TV image actually blinks in and out in response to feedback. Ouija Board/Table Tipping Pretty self explanatory, though you should sometimes make sure nobody is going to ‘freak out’ if you use a Ouija board. Since it has been the subject of several horror movies and books, some people believe that a Ouija is ‘evil’ and using it around them may cause an escalation of fear (though this additional energy is not always a bad thing).
Section 8: Forms and Checklists The following forms should be used on all cases: Location release, on-camera release, and investigation report. If you’re doing interviews, you should make an interview questionnaire with location-specific questions prior to going to the investigation. You should also keep a running checklist of all equipment you have to make sure nothing ever gets left behind. What follows is our standard location release, on-camera release, and sample investigation report and questionnaire. These should be adjusted to fit the needs of the location.
Sample Questionnaire 1. What paranormal events have occurred at this location? 2. Who? What? Where? When? How? For every incident. 3. How many people have witnessed these events? 4. If it was a visual experience, describe its size and movement. 5. What was the color? Light, dark, or a shadow? 6. If it was an audio experience, describe its intensity and content. 7. How did you feel during the event? 8. Do you feel threatened in the location? 9. Have you experienced any olfactory incidents (smells)? 10. Have you ever been touched by an entity? 11. Have you seen objects moved? 12. Do you believe in ghosts? 13. Are you religious? 14. Were you under the influence of drugs or alcohol during incidents? 15. Do you believe in evil? 16. What are your overall impressions of the location? 17. What are your overall impressions of the entities?
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Investigation Notes General: List the date, time, location, weather conditions, base readings, and any specifics necessary to remember the environment or circumstances of the investigation. Personal Experiences/Anomalous Readings: List in numerical/chronological order all personal experiences and anomalous readings during the investigation. Audio Evidence: List in numerical order the EVP’s gathered. Numbers should correspond to audio clips. Video Evidence: List in numerical order the video evidence gathered. Numbers should correspond to clips. Photographic Evidence: List any photographs that seem to capture paranormal activity. Numbers should match photos. Conclusions: Sum up the investigation and your impressions of the location and type of haunting, if any, that is occurring. You can also include recommendations to the owner/client.