Lars Lentz Audio™

I looked for a way to add binaural beats to my music, and I found it in the most unusual place – Valhalla’s FreqEcho. It is so easy; it is unreal. Oh, and it’s free.

I learned of this from this ValhallaDSP blog post: https://valhalladsp.com/2010/05/28/valhallafreqecho-binaural-beats-and-the-strange-mechanism/

Below, I’ll tell you how I used it to create music that you can relax to or even fall asleep to. Binaural beats can entrain the brain into a slower frequency of brainwaves. If you pick a frequency that is at one of the brain frequencies of interest (like Delta for sleep, for example), you can induce that state.

1. Download the free FreqEcho plugin from Valhalla DSP. Put it on a mix bus like one with many pianos or synths.
2. Make these settings:
   1. Delay at the lowest.
   2. Feedback zero.
   3. Low cut lowest.
   4. High cut highest.
   5. Output mode should be Stereo.
   6. Set the shift to a value that is half the frequency you want.
      • See the brainwave frequencies in the section below and set the shift to half of that.
   7. The mix knob is where it gets interesting. I like automating it from 0 (no beats) and ramping it upwards to as high as 50% (half-mixed beats with the music). Even lower ranges such as 30% seem to cause an induction of the desired wave function. For example, I can sleep when I mix in about 30% of a Delta wave frequency, but I will often mix it in slowly or sporadically throughout a song to give the listener time to acclimate to it. Toward the end of a song, I will ramp it to nearly 50% for full effect.
   8. Also, automating the shift knob a bit can transition the listener from one set of waves to another, so experiment with that too!

Brainwave Frequencies

Brainwaves are categorized based on their frequency, measured in hertz (Hz), and each type is associated with different mental states and activities. Here are the five major brainwave frequencies:

1. Gamma Waves
   • Frequency: 30 – 100 Hz, set Shift on ValhallaFreqEcho to 15 – 50 Hz.
   • Associated State: Heightened perception, learning, problem-solving, and cognitive functioning. Gamma waves are linked to peak mental states and are often observed during intense focus and information processing.
2. Beta Waves
   • Frequency: 13 – 32 Hz, set Shift on ValhallaFreqEcho to 6.5 – 16 Hz.
   • Associated State: Alertness, active thinking, and normal waking consciousness. Beta waves are prominent during tasks that require concentration, decision-making, and problem-solving.
3. Alpha Waves
   • Frequency: 8 – 12 Hz, set Shift on ValhallaFreqEcho to 4 – 6 Hz.
   • Associated State: Relaxation while awake, calmness, and creativity. Alpha waves are typically present when the eyes are closed and the mind is relaxed, often occurring during meditation or light daydreaming.
4. Theta Waves
   • Frequency: 4 – 8 Hz, set Shift on ValhallaFreqEcho to 2 – 4 Hz.
   • Associated State: Creativity, intuition, deep relaxation, and light sleep. Theta waves are prevalent during deep meditation, daydreaming, and the early stages of sleep.
5. Delta Waves
   • Frequency: 0.5 – 4 Hz, set Shift on ValhallaFreqEcho to 0.25 – 2 Hz.
   • Associated State: Deep sleep and restorative processes. Delta waves are the slowest brainwaves and are crucial for healing and rejuvenation during sleep.

Understanding these brainwave frequencies can help in various applications, including meditation, relaxation techniques, and cognitive enhancement strategies.