Equipment Used in Documenting Paranormal Activity

DVR System (Digital Video Recorder)  - A very valuable tool in paranormal investigating but also one of the most expensive.  It can record multiple cameras at the same time on to a hard drive installed in the system. Recording times vary depending on the size of the hard drive but will usually record a minimum of 16 hours with todays hard drives. Cameras being recorded can be watched in real time with use of a flat panel monitor.
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Infrared Night Vision Camera  - Used in conjunction with the DVR system, these cameras are equipped with infrared LED lighting to see in complete darkness. Their night vision capability is only affected by the number of and strength of the LED lights. The more LED's the brighter the picture and generally the greater the distance seen.
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Sony Mini-DV HandyCam VIdeo Recorder  - Another very valuable tool in paranormal investigating due to its versatility. This camera can be placed in a stationary position on a tripod or can be carried by the user. It is equipped with night vision lighting and can see in complete darkness. It's only shortcomings are that you need extra infrared lighting, pictured above with camera, due to the fact that the IR light built in the camera will only give you about 15 feet of viewing in complete darkness. It is also limited in recording time to the mini-DV tapes which range from 60 to 120 minutes. A high capacity battery is also required because the standard battery gives you very limited record time.
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Digital Audio/Voice Recorders - Some of the best evidence of paranormal activity is caught on digital voice recorders. Used to capture EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomenon- not heard at the time of investigation),  disembodied voices (heard at the time of investigation, along with responsive activity from an intelligent haunting. The hours of record time is dependent on the size of factory installed memory.
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Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder -The H2 has 4 built-in microphone capsules, whose signals are decoded and combined to create a fantastic stereo image. You can record from the front at 90°, the rear of the unit at 120°, or you can record 360° to create a 5.1 mix of your audio. The microphones are incredibly  sensitive and noise levels are extremely low. Records to an SD card and capacity is only limited to the size of card you use. We use a 16GB card and that gives almost 20 hours of recording in full 360 degree mode. It can run off of two AA batteries or it can be plugged in using the supplied AC adapter.

Audio-Technica 200 Series Freeway VHF Wireless Microphone System - This wireless microphone system allows to place the microphone and transmitter in a remote location and record directly to a laptop computer. It allows real time monitoring of any frequency change from the computer and is very low noise. However, it does have several downsides to it. The maximum range between the wireless transmitter and the receiver is 200 feet....and that is pushing it. Also, it is open to outside interference due to the VHF antennas which can be a source of contamination for any possible evidence. Also, due to the amount of time it takes to set up, you will almost come out ahead just using a good quality digital voice recorder. 

Geophone - A geophone is an electronic seismic recording device which converts ground movement (displacement) into voltage. Basically, inside the box is a seismic measuring device. When something, even the slightest tapping, is detected it sends an electronic signal to the circuit board on top in which lights the lights up based on how strong the ground disruption is. The purpose of this is to help validate any footsteps that are captured by a video & audio recording device. There is a sensitivity adjustment knob on the top and and on/ off toggle switch. We built this model ourselves but they can occasionally be found for purchase online.

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Ambient Air Thermometer - Used to measure fluctuations in the air temperature around you. It is believed that when there is spirit energy around it can lower the temperature by drawing the energy out of the area when trying to manifest and creates "cold spots". Is important that when using this device for documentation, that you take a base reading of the area first to have a starting point to work with.
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Non Contact Spot Thermometer  - They are sometimes called laser thermometers due to the laser used to help aim the thermometer, or non-contact thermometers to describe the device’s ability to measure temperature from a distance. This thermometer was widely used and is still being used by paranormal investigators and measures a wide range of temperatures with great accuracy. However, the biggest problem with this type of thermometer is that it is made to measure surface temperature and not air temperature. Some models are equipped with a "k type" probe that can measure air temperature also but is generally much more expensive. The non-contact thermometer can still have it's uses in paranormal investigating when measuring objects like beds and chairs that spirit energy may be occupying.
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EMF  Detector (Electromagnetic Field) - EMF detectors were originally used to measure excessive radiation caused by improperly shielded power lines whether in a home, overhead or buried underground. It is believed in paranormal investigating that when a spirit attempts to manifest, it can disrupt or create a magnetic field due to a spirit needing energy to draw upon to manifest. This is also attributed to sudden losses of battery power in equipment when investigating the paranormal. Again it is important to get a base reading of the area and also check for non-paranormal reasons for the EMF fluctuations. Extremely high EMF readings can usually be traced to a non-paranormal source. Individuals continuously exposed to these extremely high readings can also experience symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, paranoia, and even hallucinations.
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Digital Camera - A basic but important piece of equipment in paranormal investigating, digital cameras allow immediate analysis of photographs for any possible paranormal activity. It is important to analyze all pictures careful for any anomalies. At the same time it is important to make sure any anomalies found are not caused by any lens flares or reflection of lights. The only drawback to the digital camera is that they seem to show up more "dust orbs" caused by the light from the flash and picked up by the digital sensor.

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Green Laser Grid - Laser grid system is used in conjunction of a video camera to help detect movement within the recorded area. The theory is that if anything enters the room, even if it can not be viewed with the naked eye, it may break a series of beams to indicate movement. A couple of draw back to these lasers are that they do occasionally overheat and thus shutdown and they do drain batteries fairly quickly.

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35mm Film Point & Shoot Camera - The most basic but sometimes the most reliable of all paranormal investigating equipment. Some of the best photographic evidence of paranormal activity have been caught on 35mm cameras and many investigators still swear by them. Generally the best film to use is either 400 or 800 speed film. The main problem with using this type of camera is the fact that you are not aware of what you have captured until long after the investigation.
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Motion Detection Sensor - This equipment is still being tested on investigations and has not provided any proof of paranormal activity as of yet. Many investigators have had claims of unexplained entry into areas so we are giving a try. If nothing else, these devices can be used to secure an area that is being taped to make sure there is no non-paranormal interference.
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2-Way Radio Kits - Communication between members of an paranormal team is one of the most important aspects during an investigation. It allows members to communicate with each other and your base station to relay information. It can also be used to track members locations and alert other members to possible paranormal activity. They are especially crucial on larger investigations where members are more spread out.
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    Video / Electric Cord Reels -A very basic piece of equipment but allows for quicker set up and tear down. Especially when you use cables of 150 feet or more.