CPI Audio & Video Evidence Review 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When reviewing IR (infrared) video footage, which artifact is most commonly mistaken for a paranormal anomaly?
- Dust particles reflecting IR light (orbs) (Correct answer)
- Camera lens flare from visible light
- Audio bleed-through causing visual distortion
- Frame rate mismatch creating ghosting
Correct answer: Dust particles reflecting IR light (orbs)
Dust particles in close proximity to the IR illuminators reflect light and appear as bright floating orbs, the most common camera artifact misidentified as paranormal.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of using a digital voice recorder with a built-in noise-reduction feature during EVP sessions?
- To automatically flag potential EVP responses in real time
- To reduce background hiss so faint anomalous voices are more audible (Correct answer)
- To eliminate wind noise only during outdoor investigations
- To compress the audio file for easier sharing
Correct answer: To reduce background hiss so faint anomalous voices are more audible
Noise reduction lowers the ambient hiss floor, making any anomalous sounds stand out more clearly against the background.
Question 3: A Class B EVP is best described as:
- A clear voice that requires no filtering and is understood by all listeners
- A voice that is audible but requires some audio enhancement and may not be agreed upon by all listeners (Correct answer)
- A voice so faint it can only be heard with headphones after significant amplification
- An EVP confirmed by a panel of at least three independent investigators
Correct answer: A voice that is audible but requires some audio enhancement and may not be agreed upon by all listeners
Class B EVPs are audible without major processing but are not universally agreed upon; they occupy the middle tier of the EVP classification system.
Question 4: Which video review technique helps investigators determine whether a moving anomaly is on the camera lens versus actually in the room?
- Increasing playback speed to 2x
- Checking whether the anomaly moves in relation to fixed background objects (Correct answer)
- Converting the footage to grayscale
- Reducing the video resolution to remove compression artifacts
Correct answer: Checking whether the anomaly moves in relation to fixed background objects
An anomaly on the lens will not move relative to the fixed background, whereas something genuinely in the room will shift position against background reference points.
Question 5: What does 'gain staging' mean in the context of EVP audio review?
- Setting each amplification stage so that signals are boosted without introducing clipping distortion (Correct answer)
- Positioning microphones at different heights (stages) in a room
- Using a multi-band equalizer to separate frequency ranges
- Recording EVPs in multiple sessions to compare results
Correct answer: Setting each amplification stage so that signals are boosted without introducing clipping distortion
Gain staging is the process of managing volume levels at each step in the audio chain to maximize signal quality while preventing clipping or excessive noise.
Question 6: During video review, a shadow anomaly is observed crossing a wall. Which control condition BEST rules out a natural explanation?
- Rewatching the footage with the lights on
- Checking simultaneous footage from a second camera covering the same area (Correct answer)
- Converting the video to a higher frame rate
- Applying a brightness filter to the anomalous frames
Correct answer: Checking simultaneous footage from a second camera covering the same area
A second synchronized camera provides an independent vantage point; if the shadow appears on one camera but not the other, it suggests a camera artifact rather than a real phenomenon.
Question 7: What is 'apophenia' and why is it relevant to EVP analysis?
- The tendency to hear meaningful patterns (such as words) in random noise (Correct answer)
- A form of audio compression artifact that mimics speech
- The technical term for electromagnetic interference on a recording
- A classification for EVPs captured in foreign languages
Correct answer: The tendency to hear meaningful patterns (such as words) in random noise
Apophenia is the human tendency to perceive meaningful patterns in random stimuli; in EVP analysis it can cause investigators to 'hear' words in white noise or static that are not actually present.
CPI Audio & Video Evidence Review 2
When reviewing IR (infrared) video footage, which artifact is most commonly mistaken for a paranormal anomaly?