Wednesday, June 17, 2015

The Need To Understand Forensic Audio Analysis

By Freida Michael


There are many components involved in solving a crime investigation. Forensic audio analysis is a process that involves investigators examining and analyzing different types of sounds from a crime scene. These sounds usually include recordings such as from phone calls or other devices. Audio forensics is an essential part of any crime investigation.

The analysis of forensic sound has many components. First the authenticity of the sound must be confirmed. Then it must be evaluated in order to assure that it can be used in a court of law. If it passes both of those it is enhanced in order to ascertain that nothing was missed in the initial listening and in order to improve audibility. Then the sounds on the recording -- such as people talking -- must be identified. If there is someone talking on the recording, it is the job of the investigators to figure out who it is. Any dialogue is transcribed, and the recording is used to set up the scene of the crime through sounds.

State of the art equipment are used to authenticate an sound recording. Although many question this process, validating the sound may be done in multiple ways. With an excellent ad skilled personnel or engineer and hi tech equipment, tamperings are identified in the clip if present. This new technology allows for authenticating to be done in alternative ways, though it is currently under scrutiny.

Static and unwanted ambient sounds clutter the sound and to enhance it, this clutter must be removed. This process must be done carefully because an important faint dialogue may be mistaken for a useless ambient sound and removed. Carefully cleaning the recording will uncover pieces of evidence without destroying the sound. "Reverse Engineering" a noise can also be doe to determine the sound wave's origin.

Investigators must listen to people talking on the audio and transcribe the dialogue. They must determine who the people talking are. This can help them determine who was at the scene of the crime and provide any evidence. The crime scene is set up through sounds. The history of this analysis started with the Watergate Scandal that occurred in the 1970s. They used sound as evidence during the investigation and had to pick apart several sound recordings.

On an average day, a forensics audio lab will handle a lot of sensitive sound recordings. For example, they analyze emergency calls to 911, voice mails from cell phones, memory cards recovered from mobile devices, and computer recordings which are all connected to crimes of some sort. It is the job of the lab to analyze these recordings and sounds and maker sure they are reliable in a court of law.

Aside from the recording itself, the sound engineer or technician is also invited to testify and confirm the contents of the recording. As professionals, they have to be 100% sure that the recording they presented is authentic, clear and able to withstand scrutiny. Once on the witness stand, they have to answer all questions related to the sound recording and their findings.

Audio forensics is an important part of an investigation. Recordings can help unravel things like motives and alibis, and can even help with determining who is at the scene of a crime. It is a difficult task to undertake, and an important part of trying to solve a crime.




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