Also see: Recording EVP Using a Telephone and EVP Using VoIP and Telephones
The above device permits the connection of a household phone (and phone line) to a tape recorder or computer soundcard for EVP voice recording purposes.
The device input taps directly onto the (undisturbed) phone connection wiring, with the output having a microphone (or sound card) audio plug via shielded cable.
When used in this way, the telephones are used as a modified form of tape recorder microphone for receiving EVP voices as per the standard microphone method. The procedure that has been mentioned previously in the AA-EVP newsletter may be useful – that is, letting the phone go “dead” after picking up the handset – then recording. A faint background sound source may be useful with this microphone method – perhaps a local radio tuned to static / low level voice babble.
If there are two phones on the same line, both may be used simultaneously (see later comments).
When used, the phone network supplies power to energize the telephones when the handset is lifted, and the device then channels the audio to the recorder or sound card.
Older models of telephone may work better with this method, one reason being due to them having the older carbon microphone, rather than the more modern electric version.
Circuit Details
The two 100N caps connected to the line are to isolate the phone line DC from the transformer, preventing any call set-up requests to the phone exchange when the device is connected (phone exchange will not sense this device). Device connects to red and green wires (in USA) of phone termination. Do not remove any existing wires at termination.
The transformer provides balanced input to unbalanced output, so the microphone plug can be grounded via the recorder without upsetting phone line balance.
The 100K / 4K7 resistors drop the line audio level so to be compatible with normal microphone input sensitivities.
The two cross connected diodes ensure that any ringing voltages do not damage the tape recorder (if the phone rings while this device is connected the tape recorder will not be damaged).
Construction
A metal enclosure would be preferable to avoid hum pick-up.
Shielded cable should be used between microphone plug and the box and its components. The metal case (if used) should be connected to the cable shield ground.
Simulated Local Telephone Network
(not connected to phone company)
A couple of stand-alone telephones can be energized locally to form a simulated network (see above diagram) for experimentation. The output shown, connects to the phone interface.
A 30V (approximately) supply is used to energize the phone, and this voltage is fed to the phone via two sets of relay coils and resistors. The coils ensure that derived audio is not attenuated by the power supply, and the resistors set the standing current flowing through the phones. This current should be set to 30mA per phone. If preferable, the power supply voltage can be altered instead, to achieve the 30mA.
The use of two telephones may provide advantage over a single unit for the purposes of EVP reception, as there is a circulating interaction of simultaneous audio currents between the two units, which may aid reception.
The two 2uF capacitors may not be needed if the above device only connects to the interface unit – as the interface already has DC input blocking.
A distinction is made between phenomena which are always present and phenomena which are transient features. A face seen in the decomposition pattern of a leaf is more or less always there, as opposed to a face found in moving water or video-loop noise. As a general rule, “always there” phenomena appear to be formed by opportunistically adapting naturally occurring processes to express the message, assuming one is intended. If perceived as phenomena, “always there” features would be considered Type 2.
As Margaret Downey explains her experimental set-up, “I have a Canon PowerShot A75 Digital camera. It allows me to do thirty seconds of video at a time. I leave it on the highest resolution (640 x 480 pixels). For effects, I use the function button to set the camera to shoot in sepia (a brownish tone), tungsten (which makes it blue), and black and white. I also do a session using just normal settings.
“Once in awhile, I’ll place a crystal or a crystal ball in the water. And sometimes I ask my hubby to shine red and blue lights in the water.
In one experiment, Margaret asked for her grandparents and received this ITC picture of a bearded man she feels is her Great Great Grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Main Sr. He was a physician and Baptist minister who crossed in 1913. Today, he and his grandson, Lewis (Margaret’s grandfather who crossed in 1993), help her in making connections to other people.
Margaret also has captured a picture of a face that she feels is her Indian guide, Walking Sun, who she had asked to come through during an experiment. Margaret had a reading from a Shaman who told her, “Margaret’s heart hears the drum beat of Mother Earth and her spirit finds the stairway to Father Sky.” She told Margaret that if she asked for her guide, Walking Sun, he would come. Margaret says, “One of the Shaman’s comments in my reading was that people with “dove medicine” can see between the worlds and the veil between earth and the spirit world is thin for them. She talked about being clairaudient and hearing spirit/sensing vibrations. It was so fun to be able to tell her after the reading about EVP/ITC!”
In the last NewsJournal, we reported about how Margaret Downey conducts visual ITC experiments using moving water for optical energy. The article can be read in the 
This article presents an experimental approach for making EVP recordings. Its purpose is instructional and to help promote an understanding of vibrational energy and how we may better perceive it.
The technique involves use of a single, widely available electronic component called a phototransistor. This is not the same as a diode which was used by early EVP researchers. The phototransistor I recommend is available at any Radio Shack store or available from them online. The part number is 276-145. My tests have shown that the device is responsive to infrared, visible and ultraviolet light. All of these frequencies of light mentioned are well above radio broadcast, cell and microwave transmission frequencies.
Solder the phototransistor to the phone plug as follows: The phototransistor has a flat edge on its case, this is the collector mark. The remaining lead is called the emitter; Connect (solder) the collector to the short pin of the phone plug; and, the emitter connects to the long pin of the phone plug. The photo shows the completed assembly ready for use.
For example, a quartz-tube space heater at full power (glowing) will produce a very pure thermal white noise. Place the recorder in your car and drive around. You may be surprised at what you can hear in the filtered sunshine as the levels of light change as you drive. If you have a crystal or mineral collection you may try recording reflections or direct light shined through a crystal (sunshine, LED flashlight or a laser pointer works well).
Hold the completed Photophone so sunlight reflected from the surface of the shiny, flexible mirror shines on the phototransistor. Now speak closely and loudly to the surface of the Photophone. On playback you should hear your own voice. The quality will depend on how well your voice vibrates the surface of the Photophone. For more controlled experiments, you can connect the loudspeaker to a stereo or amplifier and play different sounds through it to vibrate the film. Just place the speaker so that sunlight reflects from the surface to the phototransistor. Try using music, Spiricom tones, babble or even white noise, as an example.
You may wish to build a phototransistor cable that can be used with your home computer sound card for recording. The Radio Shack part number of the cable to use is 42-2434. The six-foot cable has a molded 1/8” plug on one end and tinned leads on the other end, ready to connect the phototransistor. The connections are as follows: inner conductor of cable connects to phototransistor collector (flat edge), outer (shield) connects to emitter.
these lamps is cotton and works well. I have begun tests with other wick materials as of this writing. I attach the phototransistor and cable assembly to the lamp with a thick rubber band. A reflector is required to be placed behind the phototransistor. A white 3 x 5-file card is excellent for this purpose. This simple reflector greatly increases the gain of the microphone. If your sound card allows audio monitoring, you can experiment with the flame level for best reproduction of your voice. A high flame level can overload the phototransistor. Start with a low flame and ratchet it up slowly. Speak into the chimney of the lamp or across its top if you are sensitive to the exhaust fumes. Use an ultra-pure liquid paraffin lamp fuel for lowest odor.
