Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) is a method of using light and sound waves to alter consciousness by modulating brain waves. The idea is that neurons fire in response to sensory input, creating “training wheels” for the brain.
AVE has been a curiosity of mine ever since I first saw such products in the Tools for Exploration catalog at my grandma’s house!
It’s a perfect combination of my interests in consciousness and technology. In addition to my expertise in digital signal processing and audio synthesis – what I specialized in grad school at MIT and Stanford, e.g. “Virtual Analog Synthesis with a Time-Varying Comb Filter” – I am also an expert in brainwave states from my work with Innerdance.
During the Pandemic, my friend Larry Minikes asked me to help him build a new version of his portable MindSpa unit. We collaborated with some friends in China to prototype it. I was responsible for the embedded system architecture and software implementation.
It was essentially a fancy audio-visual synthesizer project with an ARM Arduino with million-color RGBW LEDs. I also created a software DSL and modular sequencer for playback of the custom presets stored on chip. Unfortunately there was a shortage of chips during that time, and the extra delay put the project into limbo.
Another audio entrainment project I have worked on is my clone of the BAUD device, which has therapeutic applications for anxiety and addictions.