Experiment 1
Introduction
During the Noetics Conference (see Guest Page, August 2001), one of the speakers, Professor Y, described how experiments that he had carried out showed that EVP was due to an electrical effect rather than an acoustic one.
This then led to the current design of the NI system unveiled at the Conference.
However, such findings seem to contradict those obtained with the Alpha Interface System (AIS) over almost 20 years.
As no formal experiment had been carried out here in the past to demonstrate that, contrary to Prof. Y's assertion, EVP, (or in this case, ASP), was an acoustic phenomenon - the following experiment was carried out.
Expt. 1.1 Two Microphone Alpha Interface System
Objective: To demonstrate whether or not ASP effects occur in both microphones of a two microphone system.
If ASP is due to an electrical effect then it is unlikely to occur equally in two separate microphones.
If it is an acoustic effect then it should occur equally in both microphones - provided the sound source can be centrally located.
According to the N.I. seminar, EVP would only occur in 1 out of six microphones used during their experiments - thus proving that it was not an acoustic effect.
It is our main objective here to test that assertion.
Apparatus:
A.I.S - Spring 2001 lab hookup based on earlier Alpha Mk 3.5.
Sound Source - LW receiver producing average sound power level at microphones of 60 dBa, when the Alpha is operated.
Microphones - 2 x Radio Shack Sound Level meter 33-2050., set to 'C weighting' and 60 dBa FSD.
Recording Tape deck - Memorex, record controls balanced and set to 0dB.
Playback Tape Deck - Aiwa with output of monitor socket taken directly to Sound card mic input.
Analysis - PC with Creative Labs Soundblaster Card and Cool Edit 2000 software package running at a sample rate of 44kHz and 16 bits resolution.
Method:
The receiver was placed at a distance of 100 cms from the microphones, which were placed 12 cms from each other.
The following table describes the condition under which ASP was obtained and the conditions under which it was not. In the following Y =yes, N = No.
Is the Alpha on? |
Is the Alpha being operated? |
Is the Receiver on? |
Are the Microphones on? |
Was ASP recorded? |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Table 1
As you can see, it is only when the Alpha is on and being operated, the receiver is on, and the microphones are switched on, that ASP can be obtained.
When those conditions existed then here is a summary of the findings.
Results
Under the conditions stated above,
1) Both ASP and normal speech levels were equal in both channels. There was no case of ASP occurring in only one channel.
2) When one microphone was wrapped in thin aluminum foil, grounded, (its own little Faraday cage), the ASP and normal speech levels remained balanced in both channels.
3) When one mic was wrapped in acoustic insulating material there was a fall off in the response from that mic, for both ASP and normal speech.
4) When one of the relatively directional sound-meter mics was placed facing the opposite way its output decreased, for both ASP and normal speech.
5) When the gain of one of the mics was switched down by 10dBs the signal corresponding to the ASP and the sound of my own voice both decreased accordingly. There was no change in the output of the other mic..
Conclusion.
These points are submitted as proof that EVP in its ASP version is an acoustic rather than an electrical effect.
QED.
Addenda
There is another possibility that no one has mentioned.
a) An energised loudspeaker produces magnetic waves corresponding to the acoustic output.
b) Magnetic waves will induce electrical currents in nearby conductors.
To investigate b), another experiment will be carried out soon, and will be reported here. It will be on the lines of repeating the above experiment but replacing one of the microphones with a connection to the voice-coil of the loudspeaker. In the past this has indicated that the receiver provides the raw material for ASP in a crude form which is further refined acoustically - but no formal experiments were done.
Footnote:
There is a limit beyond which it no longer makes sense to spend research time on seeking to prove to those who cannot take the subject on board that it is actually real. (Let me make it clear that I am here referring to the parapsychological establishment - not Profesor Y nor the Institute of Noetics.) For example, in the past (and in the future) the AIS has used a system called synchronous detection which makes any perceived need for Faraday Cage tests no longer valid. Our objective is not the seeking of approval from closed minds, our objective is to get results and to forward the technology. In the end there is no arguing with results, it just takes more patience.