Digital audio (and video) recorders are crucial tools in modern paranormal investigations.

  1. Capturing EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena)
    Investigators use digital recorders to document unexplained sounds or voices—typically inaudible during the investigation but detectable upon playback. These recordings offer clearer and more analysable data compared to older analogue tape recorders, which often introduced hisses or distortions misinterpreted as paranormal voices.

  2. Practicality and affordability
    These devices are small, portable, and relatively inexpensive—ranging from £20 basic models to a few hundred for professional-grade units—so investigators can deploy multiple recorders simultaneously across a site

Paranormal investigators often use flashing "cat balls"—small, motion-activated LED pet toys—as low-cost trigger objects during ghost hunts. They scatter the balls in suspected hot-spots and invite any spirits to touch or move them; if the ball flashes, it signals possible interaction in the dark.

While the bright lights offer a clear visual cue, these toys aren’t scientifically precise. To improve reliability, investigators often control placement and ask spirits to light the ball on command.

 

Paranormal investigators use temperature pods (like ambient temperature deviation detectors or digital air thermometers) to monitor sudden shifts in air temperature—typically drops of around 5 °F or more—which are believed to indicate a spirit drawing energy from the environment and creating localised “cold spots”. These devices help teams differentiate genuine anomalies from everyday variations and lend a veneer of scientific credibility to investigations

REM-Pods and REM-Wires are popular tools in paranormal investigations for detecting immediate, close-range disturbances and environmental shifts:

  • REM-Pods generate their own electromagnetic field via a telescopic antenna. If anything conductive (like a hand or other object) intrudes into this field, the device lights up and emits tones to indicate proximity—investigators then ask spirits to “touch the device” as a potential form of interaction.

  • REM-Wires are similar but extend the detection range. Instead of a single antenna, wires (typically 3–4 ft long) radiate the field over a broader area. When movement or a conductive presence crosses the wire's field, it triggers alerts—offering more dispersed coverage than a REM-Pod.

Paranormal investigators often use EMF detectors (Electromagnetic Field meters) under the theory that spirits may disrupt ambient electromagnetic fields—so sudden spikes in readings (typically in the 50/60 Hz range) are interpreted as potential evidence of ghostly presence.

These devices are sensitive and can show changes visually (lights, sounds, or numerical spikes), which researchers may use to attempt communication—asking spirits to “zap” the meter to answer questions.

EMF meters pick up everything—from wiring, appliances, cell phones, to even geological fluctuations, they’re useful for detecting electromagnetic anomalies, but interpreting those anomalies as ghosts requires strict control and critical analysis.

 

 

Proximity sensors—like PIR, or the classic REM‑Pod style instruments—are favored in ghost hunting because they provide real-time alerts to movement or environmental disturbances in areas investigators aren't directly observing. They trigger audible beeps, LED lights, or other signals when something enters their detection zone, making them useful for detecting unexplained movement or interactions during investigations—especially when correlated with other anomalies like EMF spikes or cold spots.

The Spirit Box SB7 is a handheld spirit box designed specifically for paranormal investigations:

  • It rapidly sweeps through both FM and AM radio frequencies—scanning 320 FM channels and the full AM band—creating a dynamic “white noise” backdrop that purportedly allows spirits to manipulate audio fragments into responses.

  • Key features include an adjustable sweep rate (forward or reverse, from as fast as 50 ms to 350 ms), built-in white noise generator, noise-cancellation circuitry to reduce static, and both speaker and headphone outputs for flexible listening options

The SLS (Structured Light Sensor) camera, often adapted from a Microsoft Kinect, projects an invisible grid of infrared dots into a room. By measuring the reflections and distortions of this grid, it constructs a 3D depth map and attempts to identify human forms—displaying them as glowing stick figures even in darkness.

Paranormal investigators believe these stick figures might reveal spirits or entities not visible to the naked eye because anomalies in the infrared grid could indicate presence of something unusual.

Traditional methods of paranormal investigation often rely on intuitive and spiritual practices to communicate with the unseen.

Glass divination, also known as glass moving, involves participants lightly touching an upturned glass on a smooth surface, allowing spirits to guide its movement to spell out messages.

 A planchette is a small, wooden board on wheels, equipped with a downward-pointing slot or hole for holding a pencil or pen. Its purpose was to facilitate automatic writing during séances in the Victorian era.

 Scrying uses reflective surfaces like mirrors or water to induce visions or impressions from the spirit world.

Table tipping involves a group placing their hands on a table, which is believed to tilt or move in response to spirit energy. 

 Spirit knocks—a hallmark of early séances—are unexplained raps or taps interpreted as direct responses from spirits, often used to answer yes/no questions.

These time-honored techniques, rooted in Victorian spiritualism, continue to captivate modern investigators seeking a more personal, sensory connection to the paranormal.