Binaural Audio

Binaural Audio: A sound technology and cousin of the mind

The Technique:

Binaural recording is done with two microphones placed in locations similar to the position and distance of the human ears (about 7’’ apart). In the past they actually used to stick micrphones to a mannequin head. In super high quality recordings some engineers will even use ear canal shaped tubing to filter out sound.

The Interface:

Binaural Audio will only work with stereo headphones or a stereo dipole. The listening experience trancends regular stereo sound.  The listener is given a 360 degree world of sound where things can sound above, below, beside, and behind the listener. New levels of brain connectivity have been reached and discovered through this technique.

The Development:

The First basic binaural recordings were conducted in 1881 for a carbon telephone called the Theatrophone. The knoweldge and technology was always in the mind of audio producers and sound engineers but was kept on the backburner until our technology was suitable. Today a huge influx of people experimenting with this technique as appeared. Binaural audio now has uses in Health, conciouness studies, entertainment, mediation, and etc.  The more popular function of this technique is called Binaural Beats. Two frequencies closer in distance are played on opposite sides (left and right). Consequently, a differential tone is produced in the brain that can alter the neural state. 100hz +112hz creates a differential of 12hz in the brain. The brain will from then on will start to resonate at 12hz. These frequencies are two low for any speaker to generate but this technology utilzes the brains own electrical emissions to create its own frequency responses. Through binaural beats, one can entrain their brain into most any state from stress to relaxation to full out of body experience. Binaural beats have also been used in 3d game worlds and for any immersive media that uses headphones.

> 40 Hz Gamma waves- Higher mental activity, including perception, problem solving, fear, and consciousness

13–39 Hz Beta waves- Active, busy or anxious thinking and active concentration, arousal, cognition, and or paranoia

7–13 Hz Alpha waves- Relaxation (while awake), pre-sleep and pre-wake drowsiness, REM sleep, Dreams

8–12 Hz Mu waves- Mu rhythm, Sensorimotor rhythm

4–7 Hz Theta waves- Deep meditation/relaxation, NREM sleep

< 4 Hz Delta waves- Deep dreamless sleep, loss of body awareness

The Peak:

      The Peak has not happened yet, this is a form of media that affects entertainment, health, and science very profoundly. It opens up energetic fields of study that have been previously rejected by the science and medical communities. When Neuroplasticity is as important as diet in our society, binaural technologies will thrive. Since the 80’s and 90’s the Monroe institute and many other smaller institutions have been developing their own recordings for enhancing the human experience. Today, in 2013 however, there is far much more information regarding brain states and far more interest in exploring it. Recordings can be found at unexplainablestore.com, i-doser.com, themonroeinstitute.org, brainwaveplanet.com, and Youtube.com

An example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXrx_523qQU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WSQlh0gfGA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWrug6W-pI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9CsHnc2YWc

Speculate wildly about the future:

       I believe that sound technology will be the platform for mental, spiritual, and physical health in the future. If humanity could finally understand that we are fully electromagnetic beings, our brains would begin to change. New neural networks can be built, even new bands of frequencies can be perceived. With the subtle help of sound, people can get closer to their inner calling and learn to relax at new levels. These technologies are already used in subliminal advertisement, dance music, and pop industry recordings, so beware! Most importantly though, take responsibily for your perceptions and work towards understanding your brain and body. Something like binaural beats can help you feel what its like to be in Delta as opposed to Theta and how it affects your decision and feelings. It will create a huge emersion of people that are concious of their own emotional and mental bodies.