6/20/2015

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.

Analysis of forensic sound is not as easy as listening to the radio. Sound has many layers and each must be isolated to be analyzed thoroughly. The audio's authenticity is challenged to be certain that it is worthy to be passed as evidence in a court of law. If it is confirmed authentic, the crucial portions in the sound such as ambient sounds and dialogue are enhanced for improved audibility. People talking in the clip must be identified because they are part of the crime scene. Dialogues are transcribed and the persons involved will be identified and tracked down by investigators.

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.

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.

A crime scene is composed of many factors, one of which and often overlooked is the sound. Recordings provide proofs in terms of alibis, motives and persons associated and present in the crime. Audio forensics covers this aspect and is crucial in an investigation, giving life to the recreation of a crime scene.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment