Instructions & User Guide

Threshold: Spirit Box Lab is a focused paranormal investigation app built around a sensor-driven Spirit Box with saved Sessions, Areas, generated-word history, and Trigger Details.

Magnetic Field Monitor and Vibration Beacon are supporting live instruments. Their readings are not saved to Sessions.

Recommended first setup

1. Open the app.
2. Create a Session.
3. Add one or more Areas when useful.
4. Open the Spirit Box.
5. Select the Session and Area where the run should be saved.
6. Choose sensitivity and speech settings.
7. Start the run and allow calibration to finish.

Back to top

Sessions

A Session represents one investigation, location, or event. It can contain investigation details, Areas, and saved Spirit Box runs.

Areas

Areas represent rooms, floors, zones, or locations inside a Session. Examples include Attic, Basement, Upstairs Hallway, Front Parlor, Exterior, and Unassigned.

Changing the selected Session resets the Spirit Box Area to Unassigned so an Area from another Session is not carried over accidentally.

Back to top

1. Open Sessions.
2. Select New Session.
3. Enter the Session title and any available location, primary Area, investigator, and notes information.
4. Save the Session.

Open a Session to edit its information, add or manage Areas, review saved Spirit Box runs, or delete the Session.

Deleting a Session may permanently remove its saved runs and related investigation data.

Back to top

The Spirit Box uses calibrated magnetic-field and device-motion activity to produce indexed word outputs from a curated 2,048-entry production vocabulary.

1. Open the Spirit Box from the Lab screen.
2. Select a Session.
3. Select an Area or use Unassigned.
4. Choose Low, Medium, or High sensitivity.
5. Enable or disable spoken generated words.
6. Start the Session.
7. Keep the phone reasonably consistent while calibration completes.
8. Continue the run while observing fused activity and generated outputs.
9. Stop the run when finished.

The most recent generated words appear in the live workspace. Completed runs are saved to the selected Session and Area.

Back to top

Spirit Box Lab uses live sensor activity, trigger accumulation, cooldown behavior, and deterministic indexed selection.

Outputs are not manually chosen during a run and are not released on a simple repeating timer. Sensor activity contributes to trigger timing and to the indexed vocabulary selection.

Sensitivity changes how responsive the trigger system is. Higher sensitivity can respond to smaller changes; lower sensitivity requires more activity.

Back to top

Place or hold the phone in the position you intend to use before calibration begins.

Readings and trigger behavior can be influenced by:

• Phone handling and hand movement
• Speaking while holding the phone
• Footsteps, impacts, and surface vibration
• Changing phone orientation
• Magnets, speakers, charging devices, watches, and electronics
• Metal objects, appliances, vehicles, and electrical wiring

For more stable comparisons, keep the phone stationary and document known environmental changes.

Back to top

A completed run includes a run summary and generated-word history. Saved information may include:

• Date, start time, end time, and duration
• Session and Area
• Sensitivity and speech setting
• Generated words and elapsed timestamps
• Absolute timestamps
• Fused activity
• Contributing sensors
• Calibration and technical context

Open a saved run from Session details to review its outputs.

Back to top

Trigger Details provide technical context for a saved generated word. Depending on the run, they may include:

• Word Index
• Accumulator level
• Magnetometer contribution
• Device-motion contribution
• Cooldown duration
• Deterministic trigger signature

These details support investigation review and comparison across outputs and Sessions.

Back to top

Magnetic Field Monitor uses the iPhone magnetometer to display magnetic-field strength and changes from a calibrated baseline.

1. Open Lab.
2. Select Magnetic Field Monitor.
3. Place the phone in a fixed position.
4. Start the tool and allow calibration to complete.
5. Observe current readings, baseline change, peak, and response level.
6. Recalibrate after moving or rotating the phone.
7. Stop when finished.

Nearby magnets, electronics, speakers, charging equipment, metal objects, wiring, vehicles, and changes in phone orientation can affect readings.

Magnetic Field Monitor provides live readings only. Results are not saved to Sessions.

Back to top

Vibration Beacon uses device-motion sensors to display movement and vibration affecting the iPhone or the surface beneath it.

1. Open Lab.
2. Select Vibration Beacon.
3. Place or hold the phone in the intended position.
4. Start the tool and allow calibration to complete.
5. Select the desired sensitivity.
6. Observe movement level, state, and event count.
7. Stop when finished.

Hand movement, speaking while holding the phone, footsteps, nearby impacts, furniture movement, traffic, appliances, and unstable surfaces can affect readings.

Vibration Beacon provides live readings only. Results are not saved to Sessions.

Back to top

Complimentary access

• 15 minutes total active Spirit Box monitoring
• 5 minutes maximum per run
• Calibration time is not deducted
• Partial runs deduct only the active monitoring time used
• Saved runs remain accessible after complimentary time is exhausted

Spirit Box Lab Pro

The one-time lifetime purchase unlocks unlimited Spirit Box monitoring, complete session history, Trigger Details, Magnetic Field Monitor, and Vibration Beacon.

Back to top

No generated words

Confirm the run is active, calibration completed, sensitivity is appropriate, and the phone and environment are producing enough sensor activity. Do not shake, strike, or expose the phone to strong magnets to force a result.

Magnetic readings change constantly

Move away from electronics, magnets, speakers, charging equipment, metal objects, and vehicles. Put the phone in the intended position and recalibrate.

Vibration Beacon responds while handheld

Small hand and body movements can affect the reading. Place the phone on a stable surface for a steadier baseline.

Run saved to the wrong Area

Open the saved run from Session details and use Assign Area.

Speech is silent

Confirm Speak Generated Words is enabled and the iPhone volume is audible.

Back to top

Readings and generated words should be reviewed alongside questions asked, timing, surrounding conditions, movement, nearby electronics, and other investigation observations.

Some outputs may feel relevant or responsive within the context of a Session. The app preserves the generated word, timing, and available Trigger Details so the investigator can review and interpret the event.

Interpretation remains with the investigator.

Back to top

Sessions, Areas, saved Spirit Box runs, generated words, Trigger Details, and app preferences are stored locally on the iPhone.

The app does not require an account and does not use a developer-controlled cloud database for investigation Sessions or runs.

Deleting a run, Session, or the app may permanently remove locally stored information.

Read the complete Privacy Policy for details.

Back to top

For help, visit the Spirit Box Lab Support page or email appsbyromero@gmail.com.

Include your iPhone model, iOS version, app version, screen involved, expected result, actual result, and steps that reproduce the issue.

Back to top