Tools and Technology
I think it's safe to say that as a paranormal investigator sometimes you have to be a little resourceful, using things that may work in one field and adapting it to your own. For instance, EMF (electro-magnetic field) detectors. Once used for the DIY electrician, paranormal investigators soon began using it to find a source of spiritual activity. This led to studies which told us that instances of high EMF can actually cause hallucinations! So, below are listed some of our favorite tools, some are made for the paranormal others, we have adapted to it. Either way, they work great and we have collected some excellent data with their use.
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iWay Planchette
Maker: Shannon Sylvia, Mitch SilversteinUses: the iWay Planchette provides feedback via its LCD screen allowing better control over the experiment. Maintaining the lightest touch will help rule out direct manipulation of the instrument. With a little practice, even and consistent pressure from all participants can be assured. The iWay Planchette allows you to challege the old ways and apply a modern scientific approach to controlling the session.
In The Field: While in North Carolina at PhantomCon 2009 Beckah got the chance to check out the iWay! Here is what she thought of it:
'I love using the iWay! We love using glass divination in Ghost Quest, the LCD monitor on the iWay is really easy to read even in pitch darkness. This is a great piece of technology as a substitute for glass divination or the planchette on a ouija board. I absolutely love it!'
To get your own iWay go to Shannon Sylvia's Website
K-II Meter
Maker: K-II EnterprisesUses:The K-II is a glorified EMF detector, the company that manufactures them claims that they are simply a "safe range EMF detector" unlike other Electro-magnetic field detectors that have to be placed near live wires in order to respond the K-II meter can detect these fields even when across the room from the electrical source. So how does this work for ghost hunting? Well there is a theory that ghosts emit this same electro-magnetic field that appliances do and where the K-II is so much more sensitive. Many believe that it makes for easier communication.
In The Field: Ghost Quest has used the K-II many times with excellect results however, caution must always be taken. We find that it's best to go around and take base readings with your K-II and your standard EMF detector, if they both go off consistently than it may not be a ghost issue at all but one of high EMF. If the K-II goes off and the EMF doesn't or vice versa it may be worth further inspection. I have heard some claim that the K-II does not go off near light sources, this is simply not true! Time and again we have tested it and yes it is very reactive near lights as well as other electrical systems.
EMF Detector
Maker: Sonic TechnologyUses:This is your standard EMF detector, with it's pick up coil in the nozzle like tip this one is really sensitive picking up readings between 1.5 and 30 milliGauss. What's cool with this EMF detector is that the nozzle piece actually rotates in case you are trying to get to a specific point for a reading.
In The Field: We use the EMF most often for base readings, it is a great preliminary tool and awesome for collecting important data in that respect. We have used the EMF meter during vigils with some results however, we have not as of yet found any conclusive evidence that is in fact spirit related and not some other source of energy. SO we continue to use it for base readings and will have it with use just in case during vigils.
Dowsing Wands
Uses:Historically dowsing has been used to find water, ore and minerals, treasure, boundaries, land mines and more. Back then they used a branch with a forked end. The process was simple, hold the forked end loosely in your hands and you will feel the pull of the rod. Another way is by using a pendulum, typically a crystal, piece of carved wood or ornament hanging from a chain. However, with Ghost Quest we use a more modern version of the split twig. These are two seperate pieces of copper wire bent in an 'L' shape and then inserted into copper tubing with a little give so that the wire can freely rotate. We ask for signs from spirits of their presence by doing things such as crossing the wires, rotating them in a full circle, pointing to specific objects and so forth.In The Field: We love using the dowsing wands, because of the tubes they are difficult to manipulate. They swing freely, allowing for full rotations and more!
Infra-Red Camcorder
Maker: PanasonicUses: An infrared camcorder is an essential. If you buy Sony which trademarks the nightshot technology Ghost Quest as found that although it may be effective in the shortrange, it needs at least one lightsource to be able to function. With the IR we have put the camera in the darkest of places and still come out with clear picture. It's IR comes in three different colors: Black and White, Green, and Blue. The Panasonic has a 300x digital zoom and records to MiniDV which is great because when it comes time to present evidence we will always have it in raw format. It also accepts SD cards.
In The Field: This is one piece of equipment we use all the time from psychic walkthroughs to vigils and challenges. The IR is a godsend that has helped us on more than one occasion when we are in complete darkness and still hoping to catch phenomena. It has an extended battery life of over four hours and takes a quarter of that time to actually charge. Love it!
Digital Camera
Maker: FujiFilmUses:Digital cameras are great for catching a moment in time. However, it is still highly debated among paranormal groups as to the validity of these devices for scientific investigation. Why? Because the pictures taken from a digital camera are much easier to manipulate than those of a negative from a 35mm camera. However, much like everything else in the world, when a new product comes out so do new skills and technology to catch up to that product. Ghost Quest and other paranormal investigators have found these wonderful people called digital analysts, who act as objective third parties and validate that the photo was not tampered with.
In The Field:Clear, crisp pictures. Although we believe that no matter what you do digital cameras will always be more sensitive than a 35mm. Having tested them we found that digital compared to 35mm when taking side by side photos are vastly different. So we use digital for preliminary pictures and during investigation in conjunction with the 35mm.
35mm Camera
Maker: FujiFilmUses: 35mm's and Polaroid are the best to take your pictures with. Why? Well because with both of these types of cameras you cannot really mess with the end result. In the case of validating the evidence it is the best. However, it is not cost effective which is why many paranormal groups have moved to digital photography.
In The Field: We use 35mm a lot, to keep expenses down we have gone to a local mom and pop camera shop, making a deal with them for bulk film and digitizing. Usually we go in at the end of the week with something between 10-15 rolls of film. We have gotten some wonderful pictures and whats great is that we can prove it hasn't been tampered with.
Digital Audio Recorder
Maker: RCAUses: Again we come up against Digital vs Analog, Ghost Quest uses both. We have placed them side by side during investigations and found the sensitivity of both systems to be similar. However, with a tape you always have the backup, with digital you need to be cautious, it is tempting to clean the audio to better hear the spirits. If you do, then technically you have messed with the evidence and it could be considered faulty or invalid completely. Ghost Quest motto is "If you can't hear it clearly straight out of the recorder. Move on."
In The Field: Clear audio, with a slight noise in the background. But we've gotten quite a few good evp's using this machine, and validated it with the analog.
Analog Audio Recorder
Maker: SonyUses: This wonderful machine is great for EVP's we were using analog when we first started out and although it is an investment tapes aren't so expensive and unlike photos you don't need to have them digitized (and if you want to post them on the web you can do it yourself by buying a simple mic to hook up to the computer). Much like with the digital audio recorder it is tempting to mess with the tape by slowing down the playback speed or ramping it up, however, that it tampering with the tape and if you can't hear it on normal frequency then it may not be a true EVP. Ghost Quest motto is "If you can't hear it clearly straight out of the recorder. Move on."
In The Field: Can't say enough about this recorder. We've had ours for almost five years now and it still records beautifully even after our sometimes not so gentle handling.
IR Temperature Gauge
Maker: MastercoolUses: Temperature gauges are awesome for both base readings (where you collect preliminary information to give a total evaluation of the environment before beginning the investigation) and to use for finding coldspots or spirit manipulation during the event.
In The Field: The Mastercool Dual Temperature Gauge is great, it has a laser pointer so you know exactly what you are aiming at. This is a wonderful feature because after a while, your muscles may relax and the position of the gauge may change. This way we can be sure of accuracy at all times. It has a bunch of different functions, one of which is the average temperature, this is great when taking base readings. We have had spirit manipulations on command, some as excessive as 30 degrees!
Tripod
Maker: Small: Pedco, Large: SlikUses: Tripods are essential for investigations, when you don't have a place to put your camera in a clients home in order to observe a room or vigil.
In The Field: We love using the UltraPod II for tabletop vigils or tabletipping for under the table views. It's great when you don't have a lot of space for a tripod or just need something on top of a surface to get a full room view. The full size tripod is an awesome addition especially when we are trying to get steady shots or continous shots leaving the camera in the room to monitor activity while we continue investigations elsewhere or leave the house. It's really good when you have an attic space you can't quite reach up to as the tripod head raises and extra two feet!
Walkie-Talkies
Maker: UnidenUses: Keeping in touch during investigation and sometimes even spirit communication!
In The Field: Love these walkies they work really well, give great reception whether inside or outside. Have gotten a couple of freaky voices coming through (definitely not truckers or cb interference as they happened when we were literally in the middle of no where) they have a 2-mile reach which is more than enough for paranormal investigations.
Free Software
EVP Assistant V 1.0 ~ EVP Assistant was designed by Mark Andrew Turner of the EVP Research Association UK as a basic noise generator for use with Electronic Voice Phenomena experiments. The featured noises can be played through your desktop PC or laptop speakers as a carrier sound for inter frequency experiments. The featured noises are white noise, pink noise, brown noise, waterfall and Spiricom. EVP Assistant is a flash based program that allows you to play the featured noises alone or together in any combination for 30 minutes at a time.
The Spiricom noise was taken from original recordings by George Meek and William O'Neil. Due to the frequency of this noise, we do not recommend listening to it for long periods of time. The Spiricom noise fades out then back in again every 30 seconds, this goes on continually for 30 minutes and was designed this way because the noise can be quite exhausting to listen to. Combining the Spiricom noise with other noises featured in EVP Assistant can make for some interesting experiments.
Free Audio Editor 2009 ~ 
Edit audio files visually; Record audio from a microphone or any other available input device; Apply various effects; Burn audio CDs from MP3, WMA, WAV, and OGG; All in one program, simple and intuitive - FAE (free audio editor). Completely free!- Powerful audio recording feature Edit audio files visually
- Apply various effects easily Powerful noise reduction tool
- Easy to use interface will get you started editing in just minutes
- Real-time effect preview is supported
- Easy to use bookmark and region manager
- Supports a number of file formats including wav (multiple codecs), mp3, wma, ogg and many more.
- Burn your sound
Ghost-Tech P.I. V 1.0 ~ Is your free one stop resource for documenting your paranormal investigations. Features: track investigators, track equipment, document locations, document investigations per location, document investigation interviews, picture slide show, picture effects (non destructive).