How to Create Binaural Beats with a Synth

In this case we are using Digitalism 2000 to create Theta binaural beats for brainwave entrainment. There are lots of synths that could work for this process. If you know of a synthesizer that could create binaural beats, I would love to know about it. Please leave suggestions and comments below, or in the comment section of the YouTube video.

The key to creating these binaural beats involves having 2 parts, or layers, voices, samples, whichever terminology your particular synth uses. One part is panned hard left and the other part panned hard right. This creates a stereo image. Then detune one of the parts by some amount. In this case it’s 16 cents. So there is a slight difference in pitch between the left and right ears. It’s about 5hz frequency difference in this example. This encourages a theta meditation state when using headphones. I’m working on producing some music with this sound, which will be released soon.

The video below demonstrates how I achieved the theta brainwave binaural beat with the synth.

You can see how the parts are panned and also the detuning. Many synths use different terminology, the dials and setting may be in different places. Check it out in your favorite synthesizer. Also use a tuner capable of showing frequency in hertz to verify the sound.

One of the important things to remember in Digitalism is to keep the reverb, delay and glide turned off. Otherwise it will blend the two parts in the stereo field and ruin the binaural effect. I used the meters within loopy pro to verify this, while I adjusted the volume of the left and right parts.

I also used the Nembrini tuner to verify the frequency of my sounds. For this video I used the note C5, that is C in the 5th octave.

Playing a different note will produce a different frequency difference between the left and right ears. Changing the number of cents in the detune amount will also make a change in the frequency hertz variation between right and left. In a future video I will dive deeper into the math, so you can dial in just the right binaural beat.

Binaural beats are used to encourage meditation, relaxation, sleep, focus and other brainwave states. I am exploring the research behind brainwave entrainment. It is quite fascinating.

You can see in the image below how I have the 2 parts panned left and right. Then the detune is set. In some synthesizers it’s called fine, instead of detune, for a fine adjustment of the semitones.

Love to hear your comments, ideas and suggestions. Tell me about your favorite synth or you meditation experience.