Binaural Beats?

[fretho]

Everyone who hasn't already, check out this link: SBaGen -- Binaural Beat Brain Wave Experimenter's Lab.

It's a free binaural beat generator. I love it.

The syntax is easy:

sbagen -i 100+7/10

Want pink noise?

sbagen -i pink/10 100+7/10

That's a 10db pink noise (a soothing sound made by combining a full range of audible frequencies) and a 7 hertz binaural with a 100hz carrier also at 10db. So it plays 96.5 in one ear, and 103.5 in the other. Use - instead of + if you want to switch headphones.

[wayne]

I agree, I use SBaGen a lot. It can be a bit hard to understand at first so I have created a forum where people can help each other and post presets.

HealingBeats.com :: Index

There are also a bunch of free mp3s and sequence files on the main webpage.

Originally Posted by exquisitive

I'll toss in a plug for SBaGen.

SBaGen -- Binaural Beat Brain Wave Experimenter's Lab

It's easily the most obscure user interface of the bunch - no GUI, it's all DOS-based, but once you work through the user instructions, it's pretty powerful and it comes with a large number of samples to get you started.

What I like:

• polyphonic - I've had it running at least 5 voices simultaneously - much past that and I have a hard time hearing it
• able to produce "presets" by editing text files
• portable - I run it off a removable USB drive
• small - 2.8 MB
• exports to WAV

I've only been using it a few days, but so far it seems pretty good. I'm still new to the binaural beats thing, but I'm interested in seeing if it can help with dream recall/lucid dreaming.

[Billy]

I tried the Holosync program for about three months but found aftrer about 2 that my thoughts were getting just too weird, I was seeing people in such a different way that I was glad when it wore off about a month after I stopped. And before I paid the absolute fortune for anything else that they sold.

[carriespry]

Hey all,

I've been working with SBagen and Neuro Programmer.

It's a lot of fun and have had success with both programs. Neura Programmer does cost money, but it is more user friendly.

I've come across this list of frequencies if anyone is interested.

Frequencies List | Biological Advantage

Wish everyone luck.

[Mynder]

Does this stuff take longer exposure to be effective? I've been to a website that said these should have noticeable effects even on first usage, but trying it out for a few days has shown none for me.

Depending on what kinds of things that are used to "gloss over" the frequencies themselves these tracks even distract me more than they help me relax or meditate.

Am I the only one who feels like this?

[theastounding]

If you are willing to pay for this sort of braintraining it will be worth it for you. But it doesn't need to be expensive. If you want to try out bianural beats you can get all the beat types super cheap from the Binaural Beatbox (The Binaural Beatbox — Welcome).

Alternatively there are online beat generators available if you are willing to put the time in. I had made some custom beats for a sleep schedule but it was alot of work and then the file was too big to convert to mp3 (my converter couldn't handle it!).

I find isochronic beats to be a better option. Headphones are not required. According to wikipedia and some other more-official sources, isochronic beats may actually have superior impacts on your brainwaves.

I use these beats regularly because they make me dream much more, and using transitional beats I fall asleep very quickly (I used to have trouble with this).

For people wanting to Lucid dream, listening to theta beats is highly recomended. This takes dedication to learn to do frequently however, I still only manage it occasionally.

Can anybody share their experiences with learning to lucid dream?

[theastounding]

I find that if you drown out the beat, you drown out the effect. I use pure beats for meditation. For sleeping (and dreaming, with a theta beat) I use beats that have an ocean surf in the background. Personally, I find this other sound soothing and, if anything, intensifies my dreams. NB: it does NOT impact the clarity of the beat!

your brain has to notice the beat, to some extent focus on it to get the effect. I think most of the binaural beats available on a lot of sites are nonsense - you can't here any beat! I think of it like this: Flashing light causes an epileptic to have a seisure. Fine, now turn all the lights on so bright that that flashes are no longer percieved by the brain, and what is the effect? None.

What people don't understand is that your brain operates at many frequencies at once. When we say we are in an alpha state (e.g. meditation), or Beta state (awake), that is the dominant frequency one would detect if you were having an encephalogram done. Not the only operational frequency occurring in your head. Binaural or isochronic beats influence the dominant frequency operating in your brain. They don't force the frequency. Just because you play a nice alpha frequency doesn't mean you will drop into 'your level' in meditation. If you are running around the house scolding kids you probably won't even percieve the beat. For those who do not find the beats effective, they need to understand that they need to be prepared to relax and let the beat to occupy their mind.

Since it is directly applicable to the aim of using these beats and this thread, I'll mention the Silva Mind control method. It's been around for ages, and is very wellknown. Although I think alot of the claims are nonsense, it is EXCELLENT in teaching people in how to meditate/relax quickly, and also increase memory abilities. I read the book a few years ago after my girlfriend gave me it (she had read it as a child) and I still use key methodology I learned in that book. I already knew how to meditate etc, but learned a much faster method to reach my level and other neat points from the book, and i highly recomend it (and yes, I really believe my memory/recall improved alot!). That said, it says nothing about these beats which I think are highly useful.

I've pasted in the link where I got the beats I am most recently using (the ones with the ocean surf background). I use the transition beats for falling asleep quick.

The Binaural Beatbox — Welcome (the binaural beatbox)

[Dan Adrian]

Originally Posted by valpal215

Does anyone have experience with using binaural beat recordings (like Holosync) for meditation? Is it worth investing in one of these programs?

Thanks

Val

It very much depends on what you understand by "meditation".

[Bliss Sage]

Why are people paying money for binaural beat recordings when they are free online to download? What do the "programs" and manufactured products have that is more than just the binaural beats?

[theastounding]

Originally Posted by Bliss Sage

Why are people paying money for binaural beat recordings when they are free online to download? What do the "programs" and manufactured products have that is more than just the binaural beats?

With programs you can be specific about the pitch, and customize beats. Free downloads leave you stuck with whatever freebies are available at the moment. I had trouble getting the specific beats I wanted, and the right characteristics (length, volume of beat vs background). In fact I found it very hard to get any beats at all for free (that actually worked), and most 'free binaural beats' links ended up with me stuck at the unexplainables store where you can apparently buy audio that repairs your DNA and whatnot. mm-hmm. I experimented making a few of my own beats, and in the end found it easier to pay a few bucks and just download everything. It's like eating out. you can make dinner yourself, why pay for it? It's just easier and you get something others already tested to be suitable for listening.

Does anyone have experience using audio cues to promote lucid dreaming?

[Mood Coach]

I should just start another website and call myself a mood coach because it seems in the end with all the binaural beat therapies and life coaching I give people, in the end all people care about is one thing....elevating their mood. All agree? With that said Ive been a holosync user for 8 years and while I believe it has value, for ME and many of MY clients, there are cheaper alternatives, but here is what my personal research with binaural, monaural, Isochronic tones and other brain/mood improvement products show, especialy the binaural beat products: Some products work fabulously fior some, slightly for others and not at all for the rest. Some people get physically sick from listening to binaural beats, others dont. Some have bad days, others always feel good using a particular product. Ive tried or use :Awakened Minds, Steve Mckenzie, and many free ones. Hint: Price is usually not the determining factor as to how good these products work. Some are worthless. I would say give Holosync a shot for several reasons , one because they give you a year to try it before the sale is final. I must admit I love the chimes on awakening prologue. Binaural Beat therapy works......but not for 100% of the population. So yes, you can spend 10 years listening to them and be out a lot more than money. But then again..............if youve been listening to binaural beats for years or even months and enjoy them, you have already gotten the payoff, havent you? Just maybe not all the wild claims half these companies make about meditating like a zen monk in 9 minutes. Uh uh. Never happen.

After all is said and done, unless you want to consult with me or an unbiased veteran user of these products, be prepared to try 3 or 4 different binaural beat products before you know which is the best one for you. I would recommend Holosync and the centerpointe organization much more highly if their prices were fair. I dont believe they are. Yet, if you cant make up your mind, if the myriad of deifferent products imitating holosync confuse you.... try holosync. They are the plain vanilla dependable Toyota with Rolls Royce prices. Secret:Youll never need to buy even half the levels they sell to get the MAX benefit!

As I am writing this I am thinking it might do my career some good and be of service to you folks on this board if I asked all of yu for exact feedback/result on every binaural beat or Isochronic tone product youve used and then publish and discuss the results here and wherever people need feedback. Sort of use this and other boards as a research dept rather than just my own findings. I never thought of that, simple as it sounds because I have so many people who know Ive used Holosync for so many years, I get huge amounts of email now just to ask my opinion on it. Hey I don't mind, but I need information and can help so many more people when all of you are candid and share your experiences as well. So people, feel free to email me and let me know what youve tried in the past and I will add your input to my records.

Also, I am thinking of starting a binaural beat meditation and discussion group in the Delray Beach, florida area on a twice a week or more basis. I only want mature people over the age of 21 as this will likely attract people from 25-65. Possibly a lecture to follow.

I will say that binaural beat therapy has changed my life so much that if you offered me 10 million dollars to never have used the binaural products Ive used, I'd have to think about it! And no , your IQ wont jump 24% in 2 weeks nor will you make contact with angels and all kinds of nonsense like that. The more claims a binaural company makes, the higher the chance of them not being legit.

Namaste,
Coach