MicroBeatMini

Title: MicroBeatMini, the Ultimate All-in-One AudioStrobe Light & Sound Mind Machine

Author: Innovex

Format: Audiostrobe decoder / L&S Machine

Source: www.microbeatmini.com

Price: $299

Rating: good

The MicroBeatMini (mBm) is a fascinating innovation in the world of audio-visual stimulation machines. All other "mind machines" have consisted of goggles, headphones, and a box they plug into—the box being the brains of the operation, the part that allowed you to select various brainwave frequencies or programs to experience. As an add-on to the typical pre-loaded programs, most L&S machines can serve as AudioStrobe decoders, allowing them to take any AudioStrobe mp3 or CD signal introduced through an auxiliary port and output the necessary sound and light signals. (If you're not clear about what AudioStrobe is, you can read about it here.)

The mBm cuts out the middleman: rather than generating and storing its own BWE programs, it just serves as an AudioStrobe decoder, plain and simple. Here's how it works:

You play an AudioStrobe file on your computer, CD player, or mp3 player. (Be sure it's at 320 bit rate—the highest quality.) Instead of plugging in head phones or speakers, you plug in the MicroBeatMini. (It looks like a pair of space-age super goggles that would be at home on one of the X-men.) Then you plug in the head phones to the goggles. Thus, it's entirely an output device, but it's also a completely self-contained unit that you wear on your face.

In keeping with that economy of design, all the controls are right there on the goggles: audio volume controls, a brightness button, and a "mode" button that switches the lighting between green, red, white, and any combination thereof. That's right—unlike the older photic goggles, which came in one color each, the mBm has a total of sixteen (16!) LEDs implanted in a mirrored, concave surface, for an unprecedented light show. So by dropping the pre-loaded content, mBm was able to really step up the quality of photic stimulation.

One of my favorite things about the mBm is the flexibility in the audio output. In keeping with its all-in-one theme, the mBm comes with a pair of discrete ear buds that can actually be stored in the goggles unit. No more fighting the inevitable cord tangle that comes with every other L&S machine I've ever used! For those who don't like ear buds, there is a head phone jack, and the mBm comes with a pair of light-duty Koss head phones that blow away the bargain basement head phones shipped with some mind machines. Of course, audiophiles might prefer even fancier headphones, like these.

Another nice accessory is the removable rubber shield that prevents bleed-over. As with the Laxman, this keeps the flashing lights from annoying my wife if I feel like using the MicroBeatMini in bed at night. For those who find the rubber a bit humid, the shield is easy to remove and re-install.

The MicroBeatMini runs on internal rechargeable batteries, much like an iPod; in fact it recharges with a USB cord that shares a port with the data input. It can take up to two hours to fully recharge. Having no on/off switch and no power saver mode, it loses power any time the input cord is attached. This arrangement has two disadvantages. First off, you can be either recharging it or using it; because both cords use the same port, it can't recharge while in use. Second, you can't store it with the input cord plugged in. Now, if you're a very organized person who always disassembles the unit and puts all of the cords back in the carrying case each time, that is not a problem. (By the way, the mBm comes with an excellent carrying case, complete with side pockets, that easily fits the unit, all the accessories, and the manual.) However, if you're like certain people I know who are genetically incapable of remembering to unplug a machine or stow the cords, this set-up is disastrous, especially when you consider that some of the necessary cords are not exactly available at your corner electronics store. So I'd say that aspect is my least favorite element of the mBm.

Although the mBm cannot come with any preset programming, the package does include a complimentary AudioStrobe sampler CD with some very enjoyable tracks. Now, if you rip that CD to mp3s, remember to do it at top quality (320 bit rate), or the photic signal won't come through, and you'll be wondering why the heck your machine isn't working. You'll also get a chance to discover, as I did, how polite and helpful the mBm customer service folks are.

Of course, the sampler CD is just the beginning. There are plenty of AudioStrobe recordings out there, and you can even get software to create your own (as I will discuss in upcoming reviews). There are also smart phone apps that will interact with your AudioStrobe device.

As a personal-use device, the MicroBeatMini is elegant and self-contained. Yes, it relies on an audio output device, such as a computer, phone, tablet, or CD/mp3 player, that must be purchased separately, but seriously, who doesn't have something like that these days?

As a device to use with clients, the mBm has a few minor most drawbacks, notably that it cannot charge while in use and must be disconnected while not in use. Fumbling with electronics during a session does not make the best impression on clients. On the other hand, operation during a session is simple—just hit play on your iPod.

My favorite use for the mBm is in conjunction with computer software packages such as Mind Workstation (which I will review in an upcoming post). It plugs right into the head phone jack on my PC, making it ideal for working software.

So, all-in-all, compact, efficient design combined with unprecedented photic quality make the MicroBeatMini a great product for the price.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The makers of MicroBeatMini were kind enough to provide me with a unit to review.