Brainwaves without the headphones!

[Pandragon]

Ok, so I stumbled on this website:

www.transparentcorp.com

And it has two software programs that enable you to record your own brainwave CD's that theoretically work without headphones. They have Lucid Dreaming files along with various others. Plus you can custom make your own brainwave files like BWGEN, but with more versatility (I think). These can then be applied to your own music files, soundscapes, etc.

For some reason (blind desperation?) I went ahead and bought the BSS (Brain Sound Studio) program without doing much research on it ahead of time.

:P

It appears to be worth the $45 so far. I made a simple Alpha Cd in less than 30 minutes and I'm testing it out now.

The thing is, I'm really not very skilled with this kind of software and it looks somewhat complicated, at least to me that is. So it may take me awhile to do anything practical with it...

But I figured there are probably plenty of other folks around here like me who were looking for some way to use brainwave entrainment to induce lucidity, but can't fall asleep wearing headphones. So if you're one of them, this might be what you've been looking for.

:!:

Unfortunately, I have no idea when I'll actually have an LD CD finished to test and post a report about.

I think there's a 15 day trial version for anyone who'd like to check it out. So please feel to give it a shot and report back here with your results. Chances are, you'll have one finished before me.

:roll:

[Merck]

I have never used any of the various systems that are available to stimulate brainwave activity so as to induce a lucid dream. Please let us know how well it works. If it would help in any way to induce a LD I would get one, I'm just kinda skeptical right now.

[Pandragon]

So far, the only problem with their LD programs is that they are 120 minutes long, so I can't burn them to CD's. They're designed to be played on a loop from your computer while you sleep. Am I the only person in the world who doesn't sleep next to their computer at night???

Anyway, I made my own LD program and burned it to a CD. I designed it to start playing in the morning to spark lucidity. It entrains from Delta (dreamless sleep) into Theta (dreaming) into Alpha (relaxed consciousness).

Only problem is now there's construction going on in my apartment building and they're hammering outside my window when the CD starts playing. Ruins the whole effect. Wish I could play it earlier, but my wife can't sleep with noise in the room.

:roll:

So for now, I'm just gonna test out the Alpha Cd I made and see if the technology really works. I'll report back with the results.

[Raylin]

The reason you usually need headphones is that you can't hear sounds at the low frequencies that your brain works at, so you have to synthesise these by using slightly different sounds in each ear. That's the whole binaural thing.

I'm wondering how this works though...it mentions binaural and monaural, but I'm not certain exactly how it'll do it.

I'll try out the free trial...it might mention how it works in the actual program.

[Pandragon]

The program has 7 different ways to entrain brainwaves. But only 2 are practical options without headphones:

"Pulsing" and "Low-Pass Filtering."

Here are the descriptions :

2) Pulse (Isochronic / Volume Modulation) - This method simply increases and decreases the volume of the sound files in a triangular pattern at the specified rate per second. This is the oldest and, according to many, the most effective form of entrainment - though it is probably the least subtle.

This method will work with mono or stereo files and doesn't require headphones.

3) Low-Pass Filter Modulation - This method removes high frequencies in sine waves at the specified rate per second. Used properly, it can be an incredibly effective and subtle way to present a repeating stimulus. It can also be used to make "ocean wave" sounds out of noise or similar sound arrangements.

This method will work with any sound file and doesn't require headphones.

Today I finally had a chance to try an Alpha-Theta program I made using both of these options with a new age soundtrack. It was definitely effective. But unfortunately, the construction workers (whom I thought were done for the day) started hammering outside my apartment again about 30 minutes after I started the program. I do NOT recommend being exposed to loud hammering in the middle of a Theta state!

:|

But, I can at least verify that the entrainment does work without headphones. Although I still have yet to try it for LD's. Hopefully the construction will be over in a couple days and I can finally try some of the LD programs I made.

One suggestion though: If you buy or download the trial of this program, I highly recommend investing in some CD-RW's. I went through a bunch of my CD-R's from trial and error...

[dreamboat]

I just bought a cheap headphone extension lead and left the pc running. Not tried any presets for BWGEN yet, but the general sleep one had me "Out" like a light. How can the other programme discern right and left patterns without headphones anyway.

[Pandragon]

Ok, read this again...

"2) Pulse (Isochronic / Volume Modulation) - This method simply increases and decreases the volume of the sound files in a triangular pattern at the specified rate per second."

What this is saying is that the program alters the volume of the soundtrack in a way that creates a pattern. Your brain entrains to that pattern of sound and that's how it works.

Think of it this way - people go to the beach and trance out listening to the waves of the ocean. Basically, the sound of the waves creates a kind of brainwave entrainment that is very relaxing because the sound is moving in an out in a rhythmic pattern and your brain mimics it, resulting in a relaxed state of mind.

So it's not necessary to have two separate tones, one in each ear to create brainwave entrainment. What's important is that the entrainment, whether audio or visual, is in a long, consistent pattern.

That's how those light and sound/mind machines work without any audio. The lights are used to create a consistant pattern of flashes and your brain attunes to it.

Another example would be native american rituals that involve long periods of rhythmic drumming. The drum beats create a pattern that your brain follows, creating altered states. It doesn't matter where the drums are, only that you are exposed to the rhythm for an extended period of time.

What the pulse program does is it causes the volume of the music/soundtrack to rapidly "bounce" up and down and that bouncing creates a pattern. As your brain attunes to that pattern, your brainwaves become entrained.

It's actually pretty simple. But I think it's easier to understand if you hear a sample of it.

http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/bs...bss/samples.php (http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/bss/samples.php)