Binaural Beats in Club Setting?

[mosc]

This is not the subforum for this, but since it is where my other binaural beats topic is, it will have to do, for now.

I received the below included message via email about using binaural beats in dance music played in clubs.

Answer:

Binaural beats will only work with headphones, or in perhaps some special ambiophonic setup that hasn't be described yet. I think there are two reasons for this.

1) Each ear must be presented with tones differing by some small frequency, like 2 or 4 Hz. There can be no cross talk. PA systems in clubs or even conventional HiFi stereo systems can not do this, even with the material 100% separated in left and right channels. Ambiophonic can cancel the inter aural cross talk, but ambiophonic binaural beats haven't been tested formally.

2) Dance music contains main rhythmic elements that I think will overload the hearing and dominate over any more subtle effects. If the beat is a solid 120 BMP, then that will overload the binaural effect.

The binaural effect we are talking about is when you can coerce the brainwaves to reduce in frequency by listening to binaural beats in headphones. When this happens, it has been observed that there is synchronization between the left and right hemispheres in the brain; similar to what is observed in experienced meditators during meditation.

I do think that using panners that are synced to the BPM of the dance music can certainly enhance the music. I'd suggest using even divisions of the BPM as well. This will provide the listeners with an additional way to perceive the rhythm of the music.

It is surprising to me that most clubs use mono sound systems. It has been told to me that is is because getting a good stereo image in a club room is virtually impossible. Mono just makes it simpler and solves completely any stereo related problems.

But, binaural beats aside, having the music pulsate rhythmically between the two channels can be very effective, even when the listener is not in the sweet spot. Much of the dance music I enjoy takes full advantage of this. The music seems designed for two channels, not necessarily stereo. In this case "stereo" being used to describe a system to set up a 60 degree wide sound stage where the "instruments" can be placed anywhere in the sound stage. In dance music, it seems to me, this is not really the goal. Rather, the objective is to fill the space with pulsating sounds that moves the listener, in as many ways as possible.

So, forget the binaural beats, but focus on two channel.

[x_x]

I've always wondered what specific regions of the brain does binaural beats affect? All of it or only the right hemisphere where music or sound is processed? I've also wondered if binaural beats affect the amplitude of the brainwaves or only the frequency of the waves?

[mosc]

I'm not able to recall the specific names of the brain, but I've heard it explained by people that can explain it. Maybe someone can chime in here.