Evidence Review Video

The Evidence Review Process: Video

By Arthur Matos | E-Mail

    In this section we come to one of the most important factors of paranormal investigation that there is, the visual aspect. I will take you through most of the different types of video equipment as well as the still photography equipment that EPIC uses on many of its investigations and research.

The Equipment

    We use a plethora of video equipment to record and capture visual evidence. We start with the introduction of our recording system called the JPEG-2000 DVMR (Digital Video Multiplex Recorder). While many groups still use the standard VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) which inhibits the amount that one can record, we use a DVR system. This system lets us run multiple hard line and wireless cameras into each room and lets us survey different locations in the home on a 20 inch VGA Monitor. These units are available with multiple camera hook ups such as 4, 8, and 16 cameras running at one time. It then takes this information, separates and stores each camera recorded onto a self contained hard drive, which in turn lets us playback and view the evidence recorded at the time of the analysis review or immediately if need be, without interruption of the data being recorded.

    The DVR system is capable of handling several cameras all hooked up together. We use infrared technology cams such as the Sony super hats, Sony B/W infrareds, and the Sony wireless High Resolution. Most of these cams come in a variety of Multiple LED's reaching anywhere from 104 LED to 9 LED cams for smaller rooms.

The second piece of equipment that we use are camcorders. We use multiple Sony Hi 8's as well as Sony Mini DV Handy cams, not only for recording in low light/Close-up situations but in those areas where we want to do walk-throughs and document the investigation.

The third piece of equipment that you will see us using are still photography cameras, such as our Cannon SLR and Cannon Super Shot 35mm cameras. These cameras produce hard to disprove still photos and are generally backed up by negatives. Even though we also use multiple Kodak Sure Shot digital cameras, we integrate any and every piece of equipment into an investigation.

The Process

Once we have recorded approximately a basic 6 to 8 hours of evidence during an investigation, and the break down of the equipment is carefully accomplished, at a later time we then set up the DVR and monitor at headquarters. The DVR system lets us review each and every camera individually or simultaneously. It allows us to timestamp and data log each and every event that we deem as possibly paranormal. When and if we see something out of the norm, we then time stamp it and record it onto a CD/RW; this way the information is on a disk for the client's records.

Afterwards, we then review and go over every second of the video captured on the Hi 8's as well as the Mini DV cassettes. This is a laborious task but it must be done with care and concentration.
Again, if anomalies are found on the Hi 8's or Mini DV tapes we then transfer the clip of video and transfer it onto a computer's hard drive. It is then stored until an analyst can retrieve it and restructure it onto a file using software such as Pinnacle 9 (video/photo editing) program.

One of the most tedious tasks that falls upon an evidence analyst is still photos; these must be handled with care as well, due to their delicate nature. The stills are examined one by one and surveyed trying to retract any possible anomalous phenomenon in the film itself. Even the most mundane photo must scrutinized and examined to the point of exhaustion. Digital photos are a bit simpler to deal with since they get transferred directly from the camera to the PC.

Conclusion

Upon careful review and collaboration of each piece of video/photo evidence, only the findings are presented to the client, due to the factors that just as much time goes into the video review as well as the audio. These are just the basic tools which we use on the field. Other tools may also include but not be limited to night vision monoculars, Infrared Photography and Thermal Imaging, which we hope to acquire in the very near future.

Hopefully you have enjoyed a brief but concise description of the Equipment and how we apply it to this field in the technical sense.