The important thing to remember when choosing an audio recorder is that there is no such thing as a dedicated "EVP recorder." You don't need to buy a specialist device from a ghost-hunting store. You just need a normal, off-the-shelf recorder.

There are countless makes and models of audio recorders available on websites like eBay, Amazon, or electrical stores.

The most popular devices are digital voice recorders, most often either Olympus or Sony, which range from about $75 up to $180. The lower-priced recorders in this range are great entry-level devices which have an outstanding battery life and in-built memory that will allow you to record for hours on end. Those at the higher end of this price range are used by many well-established paranormal investigators.

Most of these devices make it easy for you to skip backward and forward when you review a recording. Many of the Olympus models have a button...