Thursday, December 16, 2004

The American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomena - AA-EVP

AA-EVP.com, The American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomena is the first site that I find in my search for EVP knowledge. Seems like a good place to start.

They describe themselves as:

The American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomena (AA-EVP) is a nonprofit educational association that is dedicated to the support of people who are interested in or who are studying Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and Instrumental TransCommunication (ITC). This web site offers examples, techniques and concepts concerning Electronic Voice Phenomena and Instrumental TransCommunication.
Bingo! Just the type of site I was looking for. Although some of it is member's only, there is a plethora of information for the public as well. These seem like level headed people using care in their research of a paranormal phenomenon. This is no alien abductee site or a bunch of hoaxters out for publicity.

They struck me more as a group of serious scientists trying to explore a newly discovered phenomenon without any religious or cultural preconceptions. Some of their basic precepts are stated on the about us page:

Members understand that this "objective evidence" must be based on good science. As such, you will see that great care is taken by the members
to maintain an objective view of the phenomena. Yes, the evidence does
strongly indicate that the messages are nonphysical in origin; however,
members recognize that there are other possible explanations.

So they seem open minded and without some hidden agenda or epidemic mental illness. They go on to describe themselves as a well rounded group of people with three main hypothesis:

  1. Most members have come to believe they are communicating with people who have transitioned out of physical life.
  2. Some believe that there is a good possibility that the voices they record are little more than residual energy from the past imprinted into the fabric of the physical world. Or else we somehow trancend the limits of time and space and may actually travel back in time to some extent when recording voices or seeing apparitions.
  3. A few think the idea that the messages are nonphysical in origin is all nonsense, and are trying to prove this by determining their physical source.

And, as I suspected from the tone of the site, they claim many of their members (and it seems quite a few EVP researchers in general) are skilled scientists conducting serious experiments and not a bunch of wackos with no experience:

It is interesting that several AA-EVP members are research scientists. You will
not see their titles on our member lists, though. Just as you may be feeling
considerable doubt about this phenomena, and therefore our sanity, so too do
many institutions feel that a true scientists would not associate with
organizations like AA-EVP.

As usual with anyone interested in the paranormal no one wants to talk in public for fear that people will think them crazy. It's understandable. I don't think I've mentioned my real name yet either. Thank God for Internet nicknames, eh?

Well, it seems I've found a great place to start my exploration of EVP. I'm curious to hear what an actual EVP recording done in a somewhat scientific setting might sound like. I can't imagine them being as clear as the ones for the White Noise movie.

I'm anxious to be creeped out and amazed by some actual samples; aren't you?


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