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accidentally (or not) erased or over-recorded 18.5 minutes of audio from the Nixon Whitehouse tapes.
The 18.5 minutes contained a conversation between Richard
Nixon and former Chief of staff, H.R. Halderman and was believed
to contain incriminating evidence in the Watergate conspiracy.
This erasure set into motion the current science of Forensic
Audio. Judge John j. Sirica assembled leaders from the
scientific community and the Audio Engineering Society and asked
them to examine the tapes in question. The results of the
advisory panel found that the 18.5 min was probably the result
of five or more over recordings using a Uher 5000 tape recorder. In
1974 President Nixon became the first President to resign from
office.
Forensic Audio -The scientific
examination of Recorded Evidence for Indications of tampering,
editing, alteration, omissions, inclusions, and inappropriate
recorder actions (Stop/Start/Pause/Voice Activation, Insertions
and Omissions) in pertinent areas of the conversation.
Tape Authentication- In order to introduce recorded evidence
into a civil or criminal court action, the recorded evidence must
meet the following seven criteria's. *
1. That the recording device
was capable of taking the conversation offered in evidence.
2. That the operator of the device was competent to operate the device.
3. That the recording is authentic and correct
4. That the recording has been preserved in a manner that is shown to the court.
5. That the speakers are identified.
6. That the conversation elicited was made voluntarily and in good faith, without any kind of inducement.
It is the forensic examiner who must address the issues of Authenticity as related to originality of the recording, the capabilities of the original recording equipment and the scientific determinations of tape tampering,
alteration, deletions, omissions or any other means of tape editing.
The Forensic Examiner utilizes specific equipment and procedures to determine Authenticity including:
Critical Listening
Physical Inspection of Recording and Recording Equipment
Waveform Analysis
FFT Spectrum Analysis
Magnetic Development
Spectogram Analysis
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