It’s a while since I wrote “Quick Looks” at my collection of mind machines. In the intervening time nothing has come to my attention that I have felt need to follow-up.
The Procyon remains my most used machine. It does nothing that makes me think, “Damn, I wish I was using the other machine!” I use its standard sessions whenever I want a break from my own MWS sessions. I find the character of its light pleasing and the degree of control excellent. In As AnL (analog audiostrobe), with light control mapping to red/green, it is the reference machine for my sessions. Compared to any number of pieces of software I use, the Editor is perfectly fine. Careful consideration of the number of functions being controlled makes it obvious why it’s going to have a bit of a learning curve. There’s not a lot of ways to present the controls in as appropriate manner
Lori is in love with the Laxman. In spite of all the other options at her disposal, she is wholly content with the Laxman. The standard sessions cover all the popular frequency ranges and the session audio and lightshows are stunning. While there’s a few open-eye glasses out there, the Laxman goggles are still the ones to beat. Apart from being pricey, and not having any sort of audiostrobe compatibility, there is but one thing to be aware of – the Laxman goggles need to be treated with care, as excessive flexing of the bridge of the nose will damage the connections. I tend to forget we have the Laxman, as it’s hidden away in Lori’s lair, but when I notice it and settle into a session, I fully remember why I have so highly praised it. Quite a few of the Audiostrobe CD titles have been translated to Laxman and are available from the audiostrobe.com store.
When I want to work with a therapeutic protocol, especially if it involved asymmetrical sessions, I’ll usually start with the David Pal 36. CES tends not to be used – I get such favourable results from sound and light that I feel inclined to focus my efforts on enhancing what I know works. For me a huge part of the appeal of the David is psychological – I like that it’s a very no-nonsense, clinical box, that the sessions are simple but well structured, intended to deliver protocols that have better than average trial support. The David, for me, fully supports the belief aspect that is so valuable for any therapeutic measure. It delivers top-knotch stimulus. While I don’t think anyone’s got it quite right, the Omniscreen glasses are the best implementation of individual left/right visual field stimulation currently available.
I routinely use all of the machines I have to maintain a good perspective on session design and to verify that the visuals I create that please me so much on the Procyon, also behave much as I intend on other devices. There’s probably room for a few more incremental enhancements, but I feel that there is going to be a significant end of this generation and beginning of a new approach. I’m excited to say that I’m just awaiting a little bundle of eval tools and electronic gizmos so that I might be a contributor to “the next big thing”.
CraigT AVS 