1. How are Total Mind CDs produced?

   For an explanation of how Total Mind CDs are produced, please click here.

    

2. What are binaural beats?

   Binaural beats are a naturally-occurring, acoustic "illusion" that is created when two pure tones of slightly different frequencies are simultaneously introduced into each ear. Like an optical illusion, these two frequencies cause the audio logical processing centres of the brain to make the listener imagine that they are hearing one sound that is fluctuating, vibrating, or "beating"—sort of like the sound you hear when a violinist is putting vibrato onto one note they are playing.

   Listening to binaural beats on their own has a limited capacity to modify brainwave states. When combined with pink sound (see question 3), the effect is enhanced considerably. When the brain hears a combination of pink sound and binaural beats, the brain will begin to follow the frequency combination that is being presented to the ears. So, for example, if the left ear is presented with a steady tone of 400Hz (hertz, or cycles per second) and the right ear receives a steady tone of 410Hz, these two tones combine within the brain. The difference between the two tones is 10Hz, which is in the beta frequency range—a state of high alertness. And after awhile, the brain begins to come in line with that 10Hz differential, and the brain begins to have a vibrational frequency of 10Hz. This phenomena, of the brain matching itself to a frequency differential, is called the Frequency Following Response, patented by Robert A. Monroe.

    

3. What is pink sound?

   White noise is something you hear when, for example, your television is put on to a channel that is not tuned to a station. You see "snow" on your screen and you hear a loud sound that is undefined as to a particular pitch. Like white light being the sum total of all the colours in the visible spectrum, white noise is the sum total of all the available pitches in the audio spectrum that is audible to the human ear.

   Pink sound is essentially the middle band of this spectrum, with the highs and the lows cut out. When you hear pink sound, it is a gentle, soft sound that people tend to describe as a soft hissing, whooshing, or watery sound. Pink sound has been shown to be far more effective at enhancing the effects of binaural beats than any other sound frequency band.

    

4. Who should NOT use Total Mind CDs? (Disclaimer)

   Total Mind CDs support the listener in different states of awareness. When we are wide awake and alert, we are predominantly in the beta state of brainwave frequency. When we are falling asleep, relaxing or meditating, we tend to be in the alpha or higher theta brainwave frequency states. When we are asleep, we usually cycle through alpha, theta and delta frequency states.

   Total Mind CDs use sound to stimulate the electrical impulses of the brain to induce the frequency following response (see binaural beats, question 2.). This works on people with normally functioning brains, on people with good overall physical health. But because certain products can support people in a deep level of relaxation, certain effects can result that may not be beneficial for people with certain conditions.

   For example, people with epilepsy or a tendency towards seizures should not use Total Mind products, as these people have some kind of electrical disorder within the brain with which we do not want our products to interfere.

   Likewise, the relaxation response may not be suitable for people with diagnosed heart conditions or low blood pressure. This is because we do not want our products to intensify any problems the listener may have in maintaining a healthy heart rate or normal blood pressure levels.

   Also, the muscular relaxation that can occur is not appropriate for women who are in the last trimester of pregnancy or any woman with a history of miscarriage that has been linked to a prematurely-opening cervix.

   Finally, some Total Mind products can lead to great insight, access to higher or different states of consciousness, or interactions with non-physical levels of reality. If you are in intensive psychotherapy or are currently using any recreational drugs, or prescription drugs designed to alter moods (e.g. Prozac), please check with your doctor or therapist before using these products.

5. Are your CDs backed up with clinical trials and research?

In a word, no. Total Mind is a small, privately-owned company that is not a research institute or linked to any healthcare or pharmaceutical organisation. Our mandate is to create products using time-tested, proven, safe technologies that have already been demonstrated by those with greater access to testing facilities, and simply expand on them. Our evidence is purely anecdotal, coming from the feedback from our listeners. We acknowledge that this information would not count as scientific "evidence", as we do not carry out any kind of formalised studies. Still, we are open to anyone with the equipment, knowledge and time to carry out such studies, to use our products in research projects.

6.    What ages are suitable for which Total Mind CDs?

Use any Total Mind CD with complete confidence for anyone over the age of fourteen. For younger children, some of the verbal titles, such as Insight or Body Healing, may be slightly confusing because of the vocabulary and the concepts involved. However, Memory and Power Nap are suitable for anyone aged twelve and over. Non-verbal titles such as Focus and Super Study are suitable for anyone over the age of three. There is no upper limit as to age.

7.    How do I listen to each CD, and how often?

Most Total Mind titles are designed to be used on an as-needed basis. In other words, you make your own decision as to when to listen to them, and how often. However, some titles out of the Accelerated Learning System should be used regularly as part of your study process, particularly "Memory." Please note, too, that the titles "Focus", "Super Study" and "Vitality" are all non-verbal and can be played without headphones WHILE you are doing other activities. But do NOT listen to any of these titles in the car!

"Verbal" titles, i.e. titles where you hear someone’s voice, should be listened to over headphones, and in most cases when you are lying down in a darkened room when you will not be disturbed. Loosen any restrictive clothing and keep a blanket nearby, as your body will probably cool a little as you relax into the exercise. You might fall asleep during an exercise, which is fine—you will still get the benefit of deep relaxation. But if you are worried about oversleeping, simply set an alarm clock to waken you at the appropriate time.

8.    Why do I need a stereo player for Total Mind CDs?

Total Mind CDs all use binaural beat frequency combinations (see question number one for more on this.). The efficacy of having binaural beat and pink sound combinations supporting you in alternative states of consciousness depends on how clearly the brain can perceive the binaural beat/pink sound effects. When you listen to the titles on stereo headphones, extraneous noise has been significantly reduced, and the binaural beat frequencies go directly to the audio logical processing centres of the brain with far less interference than if the signals had passed through a longer distance of atmosphere.

Some titles (see question 4) are designed to be listened to "over-the-air", but these are exceptions and the frequencies have been slightly changed to deal with the atmospheric degradation. Still, all titles should be listened to on some sort of stereo player. Fortunately, nearly all Walkman/Discman-type players these days are stereo players. The only ones you should avoid are those old mono-type tape recorders, and some alarm clocks that have a built-in mono cassette player. Also, make sure you are listening to your exercises on headphones, not just one ear-jack. If you are listening to a sleep title, for example "Power Nap" or "Deep Relax", and you are uncomfortable lying on your back, you can always substitute regular headphones for the sports-type, "ear bud" headphones". This is the type that doesn’t use the solid band going over your head, but instead uses two cords hanging down, that meet in the middle. (Think of someone jogging, listening to a Walkman, and you’ll get the picture!)

9.    Can I use Total Mind CDs with sound and light machines?

Many people have experimented with brainwave technology tools, such as glasses with flashing lights and accompanying soundtracks, which take the listener through various preset and custom exercises. Sometimes, listeners like to substitute binaural beat audio tracks for their exercises, to see if this intensifies or alters the effect of the light machine’s function.

Total Mind CDs are designed to be used on their own. As the creator and manufacturer has no idea as to what light machines or other brainwave instruments our listeners may be using, we cannot recommend that you use them with our products. This is because we don’t know how they will interact with each other. There is really no way for us to know, much less control, what you are doing in conjunction with our products. If you still choose to experiment, then you are doing so with the knowledge that we cannot take any responsibility for the effects that result from your experimentation. (See more on our disclaimer on question 4.)

10.  What’s so special about Total Mind CDs?

Total Mind CDs feature a wide range of tools that can be used individually or combined into powerful combinations for personal transformation and improved intellectual performance. More titles are being created as we speak, and these titles will be taking Total Mind technology one step further, by featuring cutting-edge hypnotherapeutic techniques as well.

11. I had an unusual experience when I listened to one of your CD’s. Is that normal?

    Many listeners let us know that they have experiences that feel unusual or strange when they listen to our titles. It is not uncommon that people will have visual experiences of seeing colours, light patterns, symbols or other images. Furthermore, some listeners may perceive unusual sensations in their bodies, such as a feeling of heaviness or lightness, tingling or numbness, or that their physical size has grown smaller or larger, or even that their body has shifted position or even moved to another space. Sometimes, clarity or a certain kind of "knowing" will come to a listener about a particular situation. And sometimes, combinations of all these sense perceptions will occur.

    These feelings and experiences are normal and indeed quite common when someone is in an alternative state of awareness combined with a certain amount of sense deprivation (darkened room, static body position, reduced environmental noise). Using Total Mind products and many other binaural beat technologies can support the listener in accessing his or her own hypnologic, mental worlds. Increased sensitivity to the physical and non-physical worlds can occur, as well as increased access to the subconscious mind. These sensations are nothing to worry about, and will gradually and easily subside after the listening session. Do NOT use Total Mind products if you are routinely using "recreational" drugs. Likewise, check with your doctor if you are on any mood-altering medication, or your therapist if you are in intensive psychotherapy. For more on our disclaimers, please see question 4.

     

12. Do Your Products Use Subliminals?

    Not yet! We at Total Mind have been intrigued by the fact that some subliminal technology seems to work very well with some people, some doesn’t work for anyone, and sometimes different titles using the same manufacturer’s technology can work and not work for the same person. Lana Phillips, the creator of Total Mind, is looking into using subliminals in the future. But that won’t happen until she can either find the most effective subliminal technology around and can get the rights to use it, or she can discover it herself. At the moment, no Total Mind products use subliminal programming messages.

     

13. What new titles will Total Mind be launching in the future?

    This is a very exciting question and we want YOU to answer it! We want to find out what kind of products YOU would like to see made, so we can serve you better. We are looking in to future products incorporating cutting-edge hypnotherapeutic techniques and subliminal technology, in an extension to our developing Total Mind audio technology. In terms of titles, we are considering doing individual titles on general self-improvement (lose weight, stop smoking, self-confidence, public speaking, phobias and fears, etc.), and albums and home-study programmes on metaphysics, business performance improvement, sales and fitness.

    We would like to hear from you! If you wish, take a minute or so to fill out our survey as to which product you’d like to see us produce next. We are listening to you and want to know what you think! To participate in our survey, please click here.

     

14. I’m interested in becoming a distributor of your products. What do I do?

    We’re glad to hear it! There are lots of ways you can become a distributor of Total Mind products. As we are still a small company, the best way to do it is to send our head of sales and marketing, Jim Phillips, a quick email with your contact details. Add a brief statement as to who and what you are, and what you would like to do with our products within the framework of your existing business. To send this email, click here.

15. None of these answers deals with my question! What do I do?

    To send us an email with your question, click here.

     

16. I’d like to give you some feedback on your products. What do I do?

       To send us feedback, which we greatly appreciate, click here.