Bruce E. Koenig, Founder — BEK TEK LLC

Audio Forensic Services

Authentication of recordings: Authenticity examinations of audio and video recordings are normally conducted on the alleged original media, and can usually determine whether the information is original, continuous, and unaltered. The analysis consists of, as appropriate, listening, physical, visual, magnetic, instrumental, and computer evaluations, which can identify alterations and duplication processes.
Identification and Classification of Non-Voice Signals: Examinations of non-voice signals, conducted with original media, include electronic signal analyses of recorded gunshot sounds, telephone signaling, mechanical sounds associated with weapons firing, room acoustics, and various background noises.
Voice intelligibility enhancement: Enhancement examinations of audio information are normally conducted on the original media, and can often attenuate reverberation, tonal sounds, noise outside the frequency range of the voice material, and certain types of environmental and system noise; level the amplitude differences between louder and quieter voices; and correct speed errors. This analysis uses specialized forensic digital filters, gain-reduction devices, dedicated software, and unique playback systems, as appropriate.
Duplication of Unique and Specialized Audio and Video Formats: These duplication processes allow for the copying of many unique and specialized media to standard formats readily usable by the client. Submitted media often include miniature, professional, unique on-the-body systems, antiquated, and proprietary digital formats.
Preparation of video/audio sequences for court or other display purposes: These procedures produce professional-quality video and/or audio clips of interest in a designated display sequence. Effects can include transitions, looping, slow motion, zoom, magnification, and titling.
Redaction of designated information from recordings: This examination allows for specific talkers or certain phraseology to be removed or isolated. This procedure is often requested based on a legal decision that certain recorded statements cannot be played to the jury, or when only certain designated voices in a conversation are pertinent.
Repair of broken or damaged media: Broken or damaged tapes, housings, and other components can often be repaired, which will allow proper playback and duplication.
Preparation of transcriptions: Transcriptions are normally prepared using the original media, and state-of-the-art playback and enhancement equipment, and by careful, repeated review of the recorded speech information using professional-quality headphones.
On-Site Evaluations: On-site evaluations of acoustical sounds and environments require BEK TEK LLC personnel to travel to the designated locations, perform appropriate acoustical testing, analyze the collected information in the laboratory, and then draw conclusions regarding the collected material. Examples of these analyses include on-site testing of the audibility of speech in different locations in a building, and evaluations of equipment that cannot be removed from its present location.
Expert Testimony Support: Provide expert testimony regarding laboratory examinations and on-site evaluations conducted by BEK TEK LLC personnel, and assist attorneys in cross-examination of opposing experts regarding their prior testimony, the scientific validity of their findings, their background and experience, and the methodology of their laboratory work.
Technical Support and Training: Instruct attorneys, investigators, laboratories, examiners, and others regarding the scientific basis and methodology of forensic examinations of audio and video recordings; this can either be an individual consultation, or in a formal classroom environment. BEK TEK LLC personnel can also technically evaluate appropriate recording and analysis equipment.
Research: BEK TEK LLC personnel can either provide technical assistance or conduct appropriate research in support of forensic areas, such as voice identification, digital authenticity, enhancement, and signal analysis.

Video Forensic Services

Authentication of recordings: Authenticity examinations of audio and video recordings are normally conducted on the alleged original media, and can usually determine whether the information is original, continuous, and unaltered. The analysis consists of, as appropriate, listening, physical, visual, magnetic, instrumental, and computer evaluations, which can identify alterations and duplication processes.
Duplication of Unique and Specialized Audio and Video Formats: These duplication processes allow for the copying of many unique and specialized media to standard formats readily usable by the client. Submitted media often include miniature, professional, unique on-the-body systems, antiquated, and proprietary digital formats.
Separation of multiple video camera views: This examination identifies, separates, and speed adjusts the images from different cameras that were recorded on time-lapse, quad-display, and other surveillance systems. The results of these digital de-multiplexing and separation procedures can then be viewed as either real-time video or as still images.
Video imaging tracking, stabilization, and averaging: These digital analysis procedures center, remove/reduce motion effects, and average multiple fields/frames of moving objects in video recordings. Specific examples include faces, license plates, and lettering that are difficult to discern due to camera shake, vehicle motion, time-lapse recording, or other movement problems.
Video image enhancement: This analysis includes numerous digital procedures to improve the quality of the video image, including magnification, de-convolution, filtering, masking, zoom, slow motion, looping, and gamma changes.
Preparation of video/audio sequences for court or other display purposes: These procedures produce professional-quality video and/or audio clips of interest in a designated display sequence. Effects can include transitions, looping, slow motion, zoom, magnification, and titling.
Preparation of hard copy and digital images from video sources: This examination allows for the accurate digitization of analog video images, and the proper transfer of digital images, which are then used to prepare archival hard copies and digital images, in appropriate formats and sizes, of the individual video frames/fields.
Redaction/highlight of designated information from recordings: This examination allows for specific aural and/or visual information to be obscured, removed, or isolated, as appropriate. This procedure is often requested based on a legal decision that certain recorded statements or individual's faces cannot be presented to the jury, or when only certain designated voices or individuals are pertinent.
Repair of broken or damaged media: Broken or damaged tapes, housings, and other components can often be repaired, which will allow proper playback and duplication.
Preparation of transcriptions: Transcriptions are normally prepared using the original media, and state-of-the-art playback and enhancement equipment, and by careful, repeated review of the recorded speech information using professional-quality headphones.
On-Site Evaluations: On-site evaluations of recorded visual information and environments require BEK TEK LLC personnel to travel to the designated locations, perform appropriate testing, analyze the collected information in the laboratory, and then draw conclusions regarding the collected material. Examples of these analyses include testing for the determination of the speed of a vehicle captured in a video recording, and evaluations of equipment that cannot be removed from its present location.
Expert Testimony Support: Provide expert testimony regarding laboratory examinations and on-site evaluations conducted by BEK TEK LLC personnel, and assist attorneys in cross-examination of opposing experts regarding their prior testimony, the scientific validity of their findings, their background and experience, and the methodology of their laboratory work.
Technical Support and Training: Instruct attorneys, investigators, laboratories, examiners, and others regarding the scientific basis and methodology of forensic examinations of audio and video recordings; this can either be an individual consultation, or in a formal classroom environment. BEK TEK LLC personnel can also technically evaluate appropriate recording and analysis equipment.
Research: BEK TEK LLC personnel can either provide technical assistance or conduct appropriate research in support of forensic areas, such as analog and digital video authenticity, enhancement, and signal analysis.

Image Forensic Services

Authentication of images: Authenticity examinations of digital still images, often in a JPEG/JPG ("Joint Photographic Experts Group") format, are normally conducted on the alleged original or clone digital file, and can usually determine whether the image has been duplicated, transcoded or altered. The analysis consists of, as appropriate, digital file metadata reviews, visual inspections, and image data structure evaluations using specialized computer algorithms.
Identification of image characteristics: Using EXIF, MAC stamps and other Unicode hex information, determine the various properties of the image, such as camera make/model, camera date/time picture taken, date/time of transfer to a computer system, exposure information, and lens description.
Duplication of unique and specialized digital image formats: These duplication processes allow for the copying of many unique and specialized images files to standard formats readily usable by the client.
Image enhancement: This analysis includes numerous digital procedures to improve the quality of the digital still image, including magnification, filtering, color correction, sharpening, de-blurring, and contrast expansion.
Redaction/highlight of designated information: This examination allows for specific visual information to be obscured, removed, or isolated, as appropriate. This procedure is often requested based on a legal decision that certain individual's faces or other specific objects in an image cannot be presented to the jury, or when only certain designated individuals or objects are pertinent.
Photogrammetry: This examination examines a specified object or objects within certain video frames or still images to determine characteristics such as speed/velocity, size, light direction, height, and other parameters.
Expert testimony support: Provide expert testimony regarding laboratory examinations conducted by BEK TEK LLC personnel, and assist attorneys in cross-examination of opposing experts regarding their prior testimony, the scientific validity of their findings, their background and experience, and the methodology of their laboratory work.
Technical support and training: Instruct attorneys, investigators, laboratories, examiners, and others regarding the scientific basis and methodology of forensic examinations of digital image files; this can either be an individual consultation, or in a formal classroom environment.
Research: BEK TEK LLC personnel can either provide technical assistance or conduct appropriate research in support of forensic areas, such as digital image authenticity, enhancement, and specialized analyses.