In T.R.I.P.R.G., there is an expectation that all members of the group, even the sensitives, must function as regular investigators as well. They train on the standard ghost hunting equipment but usually find they have developed a particular affinity for one or two of the technologies.

In T.R.I.P.R.G., although all members must be trained in the use of paranormal investigative tools, sensitives may often bring their own specialized tools along to the investigative site. These tools must be portable enough to be practical in a field investigation and can be anything from a pendulum to a dowsing rod.

An Ear for Sound

Maggie Florio is particularly good with EVPs and has very good luck with her digital tape recorder in capturing spirit voices. She has found as many as eighteen separate EVPs from a single one-night session. She is also good at spotting them when the data is reviewed after an investigation, even though she suffers from slight hearing loss. She thinks the fact that she has to pay stricter attention may have something to do with her talent for EVPs. At one of her favorite investigative sites, the Paine House Museum in Coventry, Rhode Island, Florio has become so comfortable with the entities in residence that she often catches EVPs of them commenting about the investigators and interacting with one another.

Spirited Comments

The ghosts of Paine House sometimes make very personal remarks about the investigators. Because the team has been there so many times, the ghosts often even refer to them by name. Florio admits that she and her fellow sensitive Kym Black find this all rather amusing and enjoy the interaction with the fascinating presences in the old house. She and the team have been investigating there for about four years, and new situations and phenomena continue to arise.

About EVP Work

Florio says of her EVPs, “I use a digital voice recorder. Sometimes I carry it around with me and sometimes I place it in an area that is active. I usually ask a few questions like: ‘What is your name? Did you live here (work here, play here, etc.)? How old are you? Can you see me? Are you aware that you are no longer on the earthly plane?’ I wait about thirty seconds in between questions for any answers that may come. I try not to record longer than one hour, because it is tiresome to review. I sometimes play one section a half dozen times if I think there is an EVP. I write down the time and what I think the EVP says.”

The Paine House in Coventry has long been the object of investigation for Rhode Island paranormal research groups.

Photo copyright Melissa Martin Ellis, 2008.

Cleaning Up the Talk

Most people who use digital voice recorders upload their files to a computer to tweak the sound quality and boost the signal. Most also use some sort of audio software program to clean up the recording for optimal quality. Florio uses Wavepad and a regular computer microphone to review her tapes. “I don't mess with the EVP very much,” she says. “If I can't hear what is being said, I may amplify it to eliminate the hum and hiss, but that's about it. If I want to play something backwards to hear a message, I'll dig out the Beatles White Album from my collection.”

My Favorite Things

Both Kym Black and Maggie Florio are big fans of the K2 meter. They are very comfortable with their EMF meters and have even used the meters, which are equipped with flashing lights, to interact with the entities. They use T.R.I.P.R.G.'s paracode system — two flashes for yes, three flashes for no. They have been able to have many two-way communications using this method at psychic sessions they call sit-downs. These sessions are held when they get the sensation that the entities wish to communicate. They are also comfortable with more traditional technologies, often using pendulums or dowsing rods as tools to facilitate communication. Florio's favorite tool is a pendulum, and she has found her abilities with it have increased over time.