New user with first impressions

Hi everyone. I am returning to the world of light-sound stimulation after 7 year hiatus.

I have been experimenting with l-s machines for nearly 30 years. I stopped because I got bored, my brain was habituated and nothing new was happening.

I still think this technololgy lags 20 years or so behind other portable electronic devices. Now bluetooth, wifi, streaming media, wireless headphones are standard. As well, this device should be lithium rechargeable.

The editor should not look like it was conceived in DOS and the advertising for features like Synchromuse and colored Ganzfield would be better worded as geeky options if you want to spend hours experimenting.

I read every post since the beginning of this forum in 2006, and little if anything is different nearly 6 years later. It's not mind place in particular I'm disappointed with, it is the whole industry. Where is the promised innovation and user friendliness? And by "user friendliness" I mean both software and hardware.

One more idea: why not a dial on the machine to add or remove color on the fly, that would really bring in the fun.

I had to get that off my chest so I could get to the positive stuff I am appreciative for and a few comments about early on exploration.

The size and elegance of the Procyon is miles ahead of heavy black multi-buttoned machines of the
past. One point I have not seen noted is that the kickstand can snap onto a shirt pocket while reclining to keep wires separated and let you have the unit within arms reach for easy sound and light intensity alteration.

I have only experimented with a few programs but they have been great.

I'm glad the 10 sec. get ready part is omitted.

My first session, #25, led me into state of easy, deep sleep. colors were rich, tone could be adjusted to right level easily,enjoyed first sojourn very much.

Next morning used #29, and could stumble out of bed for first cup of coffee!

Could not resist random #00. That was a joyride of swirling colors and way too much to describe. If that could only be done manually....

Mid day I tried Rejuvenation #37. This was my sweetspot: colored balls spinning around central post clockwise and then with a blink counterclockwise, in addition my mind was filled with original ideas, humorous insights and then the phone rang. I popped out of the entrainment no worse for the startle. I gazed outside and the sky seemed surreal-- so close.

Night time about 10pm used night voyager #27.
Enjoyed bathing in shimmering green light and... goodnight. Awoke still hooked up. Finally up well rested 5 hours later.

I am very much enjoying this gadget and noticing every use how much more aware I am becoming of subtle different states of consciousness.

I want to say thanks to Robert, Andy, Marisa, Neuroasis, TomC, CraigT and other contributors for the info I have gleaned to get the Light-Sound adventure going again!

And gratitude also goes to Anji for her great customer service and speedy overnight shipping!:eusa_clap:

Hello Hecolobus1 and welcome to the forum!

It's great to hear that you are getting back into Light and Sound. Honestly, I did the same thing with a big involvement early in the introduction of the technology and then a hiatus for a number of years.

Concerning the seeming lag. It is a valid observation. However, you have to take into account that you are dealing with very small manufacturing companies with limited resources and budgets. These are genius engineers but custom microchips, oled displays, wireless technology are very expensive in small production runs. The devices you see coming out are almost always from a small number of huge manufacturers: Apple, LG, Samsung, Microsoft, Sony and so on. Billion dollar companies, all of them.

It is not that MindPlace doesn't want to or won't, it is just allowing these technologies to trickle down into the realm of the commonplace and affordable. Significant progress has occurred in this in the last couple of years.

MindPlace strives to make the machines affordable for everyone. This is a primary goal.

Now I am the most geeky person you can imagine and I dig all my little tools and toys and love to stay on the cutting edge. However, what we are really talking about is a high precision delivery of flashing LEDs, synched with sound. The real technology is your brain. LCD screens, wireless headphones, online connectivity and so forth is really nice but it is not required for the experience. What is required are comfortable, bright glasses and precise controllable frequency delivery.

What I have seen most lacking in the industry is session creation and moving the 'art form' forward. The original inventor of the Dreamachine Brion Gysin said something to the effect, "that the final form of art will be viewed with closed eyes". I believe that. That is what I have decided to change to the best of my abilities. It doesn't happen overnight and I certainly cannot do it alone. I would love to get people more involved and creating works of their own.

More great things are coming, I promise you that and I am very happy for your insights and participation....all of you!

Enjoy the ride,
Scott

Thanks for the welcome, Scott. I will try to make my future posts more reasonable and on purpose to the current capabilities of the Procyon. Will

Hi Wil,
As mentioned your comments are very reasonable and it is good to be able to address things in the open air. Lots of people have these impressions and we work very hard to do what time and budget allows. We are all big dreamers and want the coolest gizmos possible. At the end of the day though, we want a machine that does what it promises. If you put in the work (which is fun) it will reap rewards for years to come.

One of the greatest things about the MindPlace machines is that with care the consoles last for years and years and years. Original Synetics machines are still in use to this day. There are hardly any posts on this forum that say 'my machine is broken' or I got 'a malfunctioning unit'. Mostly, it is software stuff and issues with the computer or the drivers. The cords on the glasses could have problems over time maybe if dropped or pulled or something.

That is a track record that MindPlace is proud of. Any new releases and technology that is incorporated must live up to this standard.

Rock on!

Will,
I really like posts like yours. They get to the core of many issues. On user friendliness... that can certainly be improved and I have some things in the works that will go a long way to ease the learning curve. I can't possibly think of everything of course and when someone looks at something with fresh eyes it can make all the difference. It is hard for us to go back to the beginning and understand what is easy and what is hard. So your (and everyone's) suggestions and experiences will be very much appreciated and taken into consideration.

Scott.

Scott, thanks for your aditional responses I am glad to be aboard for the ride. I think I came on board at an exciting time just when the Synchromuse videos are coming to completion and Soundcloud is filling with new material. I look forward to new levels of exploration.

Yesterday I only made time for one session, #24 at bedtime.Nothing to report except I awoke again having to unwire. What a great sleep aid! And my dreams seem more dramatic and colorful. Will out.

I have to agree with Scott that this industry is largely small independent companies filling the needs of a small demographic. BWE and AVS are still not recognized by the general public, regardless at the scientific proof of it's usefulness. Corporations with mega $$ would rather invest in drugs that can generate much more $$ that a device that can be purchased once and used the rest of your life. I also believe that if this technology would be useful to the military, loads of research and development would be invested.

That being said, there are advancements such as affordable personal EEG devices (which are developed and marketed mostly as a gaming device) that show that industry is interested in this type of equipment. If it catches on and money is being made, big business will follow.

If only we could have gotten Oprah hooked on AVS! :)

More program first use impressions:

Got tired early last night and went to bed around 9pm. Hooked up for #49, Pyromania but was too tired to appreciate it. That will take a replay. Moved to a 60 min. meditation program, #19 remember little of this for I was soon in dream-filled sleep and later had to unhook.

I awoke about 3:30am and decided to do another wakeup program
to see if again a burst of beta got the juices flowing. This time I went with #28 and sat upright for the 10 min. session. Visuals were colorful and kaleidoscopic and return to room awareness was easy. I felt inspired to get up and clean the dishes. Nice fresh start to the day.
Will out.

I agree. First thing in the morning sessions are great stimulants. They also work very well for focusing thought on the tasks ahead. Mind machines are primarily thought of and marketed as 'meditation' devices. In reality they are very good for stimulation as well.

My original idea was to blog my impressions/results of all the 51 inbuilt sessions in numerical ascending order but that was just too repetitious and all I was measuring was time differences. So I changed tack and now am starting with lowest number in each grouping for maximum contrast.

#1 Lights were mostly busy reds with some orange and yellow and on full intensity both light and sound my mind was a chatterbox. When it was over I did feel more focussed.

#15 Everything about this session was different, easy alpha entrainment, softer, gentler light patterns, more colors, mind more playful, appreciated sharp light and sound ramp transitions because each time I became a little more conscious and a time or too was awakened from sleep.

#9,#9,#9...... Quick and lively light changes, much volume spread, engaging like I would imagine piloting a space ship would be. The 15 minutes went fast and I found myself ready to be active. Will out.

Brain Brightening 12min session. Today I downloaded the Brain Brightening sessions to Proc and decided to get a quick sense of what might be different with these progs. First thing they are smooth.Colors stay bright up till the end; sound fits so easily you almost forget it is there. Phone interrupted me during last minute but rapid awake did not affect ability to talk altho just might have been a bit more light-hearted and more jovial then usual. I like the effect and will be "Brightening" my brain some more.

Hey Will,
This would be an excellent contribution to user information. It is great idea and I encourage you to continue with the write ups.

Scott

Thanks for the kudos, Scott. I will continue with my reports. Expect something later today.

I had gotten to that state of frustration where the Procyon would be set up by my bed and I would want to use it with the computer in another room or laying back in a lounge chair in another location.

The solution came like the proverbial light bulb: a serving tray, you know those with two handles. I found it was just the right size to hold the manual, glasses, headphones, and unit.

Now all I have to do is grab the tray and go to the place I want to.


#31 Used this morning: gentle,easy ramping wakeup to full alertness. No coffee needed.

#37 Mid afternoon.Fell asleep, not much more remembered. When awake, a little out of it. Did feel like being active and caught up on the dishes. This time I piped in some music from streamed radio through Mind Stereo and enjoyed the addition.

Last night tried Calm Mind1 from Brain Brightening series as sleep aid. Not so good for this because of long ramp back to normal awareness. Will out.

Today my email had a link to a podcast on the values of Reishi mushroom. I had some caps and decided to make an elixir of them, cacoa pwdr, maca and moiringa and then plug in to the Procyon. Just for additional out of box play I added weird ambient background music from downloaded brainwave mp3 "Awakened Mind" and chose Brain Brightening1 for a 15 min. ride. My mind was really racing down a negative thought speedway the first go around so I decided to entrain further. Changed background from music to thumping binaural beats in the same awakened mind series and went with Brain Brightening2.

This was a very different session. The light seemed to pulse toward me and then away and the sound cacophony kept my mind busy and about 5 min into it, it happened...

The negative chatter stopped and I could not keep myself from grinning-- a smile so wide it felt like my lips were wrapping around the back of my neck. My eyes felt like they were being stretched out the top of my skull and ecstatic rushes washed over me until the lights faded to black. The joyous feeling gradually faded and a calmer state of mind remained. Will out.:cool:

Sounds very engaging, Will.. cool stuff. Overcoming the negative chatter is always a deeply refreshing event. It is great when we can get out of the way of ourselves...

Crashed my computer and had to install win 7 fresh.

I'm a kind of moody guy and today started out a downer. Somehow I remembered that l/s might be a tool to at least examine, if not improve my outlook.

1/30/2012 1:45pm
Mood: down, not motivated
Phys: ankles swollen, uncomfortable walking, various aches, pains
Mind: neg, without hope
Choice: #20 15 min. Meditation
Conditions: background ambient sound through open air
Position: sitting, leaning back
S/L Effect: started soft, increased to dk reds alternating with dk greens, later into lighter greens and blues. ended with rapid red.
Personal: more alert, at least motivated to jot down these notes.
Fell asleep for short period. Body more relaxed, less aware of pains and aches.

1/30/2012 2:26PM
Mood: less down, still poorly motivated
Phys: less pains and aches
Mind: thoughts more easily flowing (note: in last session, #20 spent some of time creatively fantasizing).
Choice: #36 25min Rejuvenation
Condition: through air spacey music (Comcast-Soundscapes).
Position: sitting, leaning back
S/L Effects: vivid patterns alternating with soft ones
Personal: Some loss of consciousness, lots of dreamy thoughts. Still little motivation but mood brightened, relatively pain free.
Note: 15 min later- mood quite better, more social.

1/30/2012 3:10PM
Mood: OK with things-- aware of sadness
Phys: still lessened aches and pains after moving around
Mind: slightly less negative thinking
Choice: Brain Brightener #3
Conditions: Soundscapes from TV
Position: sitting, leaning back
3:40PM S/L Effects: As with BB1 and BB2 great light show with everything from"globs" of glowing light to laser-like pulses and wonderful hum-thob sounds.
Personal: mood much better, thoughts easier and more flowing, more contented, mind more focussed. Feeling of enough L/S for now.:cheers:
Will out.

It is very good that you are taking positive action to lift your mood. I see that you got some use from Joseph's Brain Brightener sessions. I think these are good choices as they are more 'broadband' stimulation and less structured. That helps to break up patterns. There is a whole new Procyon OS called MindBrite based around this concept that is in testing and looks to me ready for release if people are willing to try it out. PM me or Robert if you are interested.

Found myself busy with other projects and have been neglecting the Procyon lately.I did pickup a pair of bose speakers on craigslist and now use them on a stand at the head of my bed when getting ready for sleep. They produce gentle, clear binaural sound and one less strand of wires to untangle my self from. Also nice for music addition.

Today I am feeling foggy-headed as I write this. The plan is to stop noting and do l/s session for rejuvenation and then add a few thoughts here. Will out.

Chose #31 a 35 min. prog suggested for boosting abbreviated sleep awareness.AS it started the colors were rich pulsating reds and oranges which appeared to speed away from me into the tip of a cone, like a wormhole. I was leaning back in short back chair and noticed that a dozen or more times I lost consciousness and my head would fall back and I would wake with a start. Thoughts were busy and 2/3 through I was wishing the prog would end. Then sound changed and patterns of light altered and I sat up more alert. The session seemed to end with the orange-red lights rushing out of the cone back toward me.

My alertness and hand-eye coordination have changed for the better. I would say my morning cup of coffee has finally caught up with me! Will out

I enjoy reading your descriptions. I find the best visuals occur right at the edge of falling into sleep. When you 'tune in and out' of consciousness things get really interesting... I also have strange time compressions and expansions sometimes. In some cases, the same session can seem to last forever and it is an effort to hold on until the end. Other times, that same session ends unexpectedly fast and I am surprised it has been say 30 minutes or so.

It must have to do with the level of absorption and the speeding up or slowing down of normal brainwave patterns. I'll have to do some research to look for studies of altering the perception of time.