I've read the recent discussions regarding centerpointe and just wanted to add my $.02
I started using HS 11/01 after a few months of attempting to meditate on my own. I found it almost impossible to focus on my breath and sit still for more than 15 minutes. I found the centerpointe web site and after listening to the demo I could feel that the sounds did have a noticable effect so I purchased AP. I benefited greatly from AP but was very skeptical of the marketing touting the benefits of the upper levels. With some reluctance I decided to try out AL1, it arrived 12/2002 and I've been using it since then almost everyday. Upon switching to the new level I immediately noticed some physical responses to the new "stronger" stimuli. so I was pretty happy with that purchase.
I totally agree with those of you who hate the CP marketing program, I think it is totally over the top. SO my dilema is how to keep on improving(as rapidly as possible) without spending $1000's where it doesn't need to be spent.
I am very skeptical of the silent subliminal technology and I don't know how your mind/body can react to something that can't be heard. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Thanks to all who contribute here I have found out about all of the competitive products available besides HS, hemisync, brainsync, the kitchen sync :-), and most interesting to me, BWGEN.
Now the only concerns against the brainwave generator that I've heard are regarding the quality of the soundcard in the computer. But BWGEN gives you the ability to create WAV files that will play in a cd player. I created a 60 minute WAV that was 620 MB. This leads me to believe that the WAV file should contain CD quality sound.
I found a post from garics on apr 4th, 2003 that described in pretty good detail how the different HS levels are designed. This info seemed familiar like I've read it somewhere in the HS literature so I believe it is accurate. Now armed with this information I am leaning towards using BWGEN to create the deeper levels rather then spend $300 for an identical set of CD's with the only difference being the carrier frequency.
I have to admit that some of the centerpointe support material has led me to some other topics, such as cleansing the physical body. I think I've only needed to use the support line maybe once or twice. I really only called because it was there, I could probably have easily figured out the questions on my own. Overall the over-hyped marketing really turns me off from the company and the support does not justify the price tag. Anyway the best support is in the monthly emails which are free anyway.
SO my question, besides BWGEN, are there any other ways to create binaural beats on your own?
My plan is to attempt to create AL2 using BWGEN and use it for a while to see if I feel the same effects of going from AP to AL1.