21.6.15

What You Stand To Gain By Understanding 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 different components. One of the most important jobs is to make sure the sound is authentic. A sound analysis must make sure a recording hasn't been altered with or tampered from its original state. It must be evaluated to make sure it is okay to be used in a courtroom.

In authenticating a recording, it is important to first determine whether a recording has been tampered with in any way. It requires a very specific skillset and equipment, and is not an easy task to carry out. New technology allows for authenticating to be done in alternative ways, though it is currently under scrutiny.

There are many different techniques used thanks to technology. Digital signal processing involves using math to manipulate an information signal. It messes with time and the frequency of the sound to better understand it. One trick is to reverse engineer a noise to determine where it came from. An analysis must be careful not to destroy important evidence while cleaning recordings. Discrete Fourier transform orders sounds by their frequencies as a way to interpret sounds better.

Sound analysis first came onto the scene during the Watergate scandal, when investigators had to pick apart the audio recordings ceased in the course of the investigation. In those days they had racks of huge equipment to help them. Today, however, most of the work is done digitally, on computers. Today's technology can achieve what would have been impossible back during the Watergate investigation. However, a working knowledge of the old equipment is still welcome and appreciated even in today's digital world.

Because sound recording may come from different devices, a crime scene may involve many sound recording devices. Audio recordings are available from 911 calls, voicemails, and memory cards from mobile devices and computers. Consequently giving tons of clips to analyze. A forensics audio lab needs to be organized and thorough as they handle tons of recordings. Their work is crucial because a legitimate sound lab analyzes these recorded sounds and makes sure that they are permissible in court.

Sometimes, these forensic technicians must testify in a courtroom. They describe the sound and their analysis of the findings. It is important that they do an accurate and efficient job in analyzing sound from crime scenes. Their work plays an important part in the court of law and solving a crime. Their work is under careful observation in court and they must be able to defend their findings.

Audio forensics is an important part of a crime investigation. Recordings might reveal who is at the scene of the crime and can help establish things such as motives and alibis. As new technology changes, advances in technology will be able to interpret sounds in different ways and do a better job of analyzing sound recordings. It is not an easy job, but it is an important part of trying to solve a crime investigation.




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