Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Beyond Human Binaural Creation for Beginners

Just been poking around the forum for a couple of hours.... very interesting!!

I'm really curious about binaural beats / holosync style stuff, and looking into this is what lead me to your site. But despite a wealth of information, here and on the net, I still need to put together a few basics and I'm hoping one of you kind Sirs or Madams could help me.

For example, I know that the difference in the freqs of the 2 stereo channels should induce that freq in the brain. So can you go straight into a 7 hz difference to hit theta or is it better to start at a beta difference (say 16hz) and to work my way down?

Also, is there any difference between using just one tone in each ear, or using many? And if using a few at once, are there any guidelines on how they sould be put together?

And regarding the commercially available programs like holosync / xtrememind.... do you think it would be possible to put together programs of a similar quality for myself? I have been experimenting with an audio program called Audacity (free - and pretty damn good for it - if anyone's interested!). Audacity allows me to create sine waves of my desired frequencies in either right or left channels. I've tried using a tone in each ear, with about 8hz between the two..... it kind of spaced me out but nothing profound. I'd like to experiment further. Any ideas for good starting points?
Another question regarding the commercial progs - I have read that they sould be used for an hour a day or so........ doesn't listening to binaurals for that long send you.... mad or bored or irritated? It starts to do my head in after a couple of minutes. But then I'm probably not doing it right.

I know this is a massive post, with a lot of questions (sorry) but there's one more thing that I've been unable to find infor about. I have done a bit of self hypnosis in the past and wondered if I could use this technology to enhance the experience? Maybe make it quicker or more powerful. The 2 ideas that initially occur to me are:

1. Having the stereo vocal channels identical but separating the frequencies by say 8 hz so as to help induce a theta state.

2. Using binaurals to "go under" quickly before implementing the suggestions.

If anybody has any relevant knowledge, ideas or suggestions I'd be delighted to read. Thanks!!