learning machine sound quailty??

[minatour87]

hi,
i just bought learning machine off of ebay and it has this buzz at my guess about 5Khz. it is distracting...i forget it about some time later but it is distracting......i have had supermind now for over 10 years and the sound quailty is alot better but it is different type ...
any comments or suggestions would be good,
i am a electronic tech for a living so any tech. i can understand...
peace
robert phipps

[minatour87]

hello to all,
since i have dug around on this fourm, since zygon was sold in 1996, where can i get contact information on a repair shop for my learning machine.
at least i could have them check it out.
lastly, who holds the rights to this design? the learning machine could use a upgrade and i have some ideas for it but i would like to get to the source..
peace
robert phipps

[aviswanath]

Hi,
Just wondering whether there was a reason for this sound or better yet a solution?
Cheers
Al

[Atroy]

Ok folks, here's the deal with the Learning Machine. I've been using it on and off for 10 years, and I probably have more software than most for it. And I actually love it, despite the very bad press. Maybe you don't learn languages over night, but if you stick with it, its actually effective.

Anyway, the sound issue. This machine doesn't work well (high pitched sound, etc.) when plugged into a portable CDdrive like a computer or diskman. In fact, it seems to only work well when plugged into a stereo/home entertainment system CD player, or something that has the capacity to to emit a lot of sound output. A laptop/portable cd player just won't cut it. This usually gets rid of the problem, because once the volume is turned up past a certain point on the stero (usually the 4th or 5th notch on the circular knob), the high pitched sound will go away.

Regarding finding a repair shop for it, good luck! I took mine to radio shack once and they did something with it, but i ended up saudering wires myself at home to fix it. Which failed anyway. I have acquired 3 of them on ebay over time, and just store them in case one breaks. I've been lucky so far. Let me know if you have any other questions. --ABT

[Atroy]

You need to plug in the learning machine into a stereo system or something with a higher sound output than a portable CD player or a laptop. That has eliminated the sound buzz for me. --ABT

[Atroy]

Hi all,

Ok, I fixed the sound quality problem once and for all!! I posted the solution on google groups because the mindtek groups weren't working for a while, but I'll repaste my message here. If you have any questions, send me a private message through mindtek because I don't check the groups that often. Sorry in advance for the long post. --Adam


Hi all,

There have been several questions posted about the Zygon Learning
Machine all over the web, and I just wanted to post this general
response to answer them. (I apologize in advance for the long post).
For those of you that aren't familiar with the Learning Machine (LM),
it is a combination meditation/hypnosis/learning device that uses
headphones attached to a visor that flashes lights to emulate/stimulate
brain wave patterns (i.e., alpha, beta, delta, and theta) for various
states of relaxation/consciousness. More information can be found at
http://www.altered-states.co.nz/index2.htm?/zygon/learn.htm . It was
developed and distributed by Zygon circa 1993-1994, and the company
stopped producing it and is now operating under Mind Tek research
(www.zygon.net) with the same Director (Dane Spotts). The questions
I've been seeing on the internet are as follows. I've posted my
answers below.


1. Where can I get the LM?


There are no companies actively distributing it right now. The last
one I knew of was the New Zealand based "Altered States" (the website
above), but no longer. The only option for obtaining the LM or the
CDs/software is ebay or other auction sites.


2. Is it worth the money?


I absolutely love the LM. People are always wondering if it "works."
If by work, you mean, is it relaxing and do the 10 or 20 minutes your
listening to a meditation/hynosis track feel really calming and
meditation-like, and actually make you feel energized afterwords? If
that's your question, the answer is yes. Can it teach you languages
and give you a photographic mind overnight? No, but with months of
hard work, you can learn a decent amount of a given language or memory
tricks if you progress through the lessons.


3. How can I get rid of this high pitched buzz that is heard while
listening to the CDs?


The CDs play a high frequency tone to activate the light shield. If
you play the CDs through normal headphones/speakers it will seriously
hurt your ears and might break your speakers. Playing the CDs through
the learning machine should filter out the entire buss when in
translates it into light patterns. Unfortunately, in many cases it
doesn't, particularly when playing the CDs through portable CD players
like a discman or laptop. What works a little better is plugging the
LM into an system with higher sound output like an old style boombox or
a home entertainment stereo system cd/dvd player. Unfortunately, many
of them don't have headphone jacks. So, the unique solution? Import
the CD tracks into your ipod using the itunes MP3 encoder at the
highest quality (192 kbps), optomized for MMX/SSE. This filters out
99% of the high pitch noise when played at a normal volume through your
ipod when your LM is attached. If you turn the volume all the way up,
you can still here the tone, but at normal listening volume, the pitch
is unnoticeable. I tested this with in Ipod 4th generation. This also
takes care of the problem of worrying about damaging CDs (considering
they're pretty much irreplaceable), because you now have a digital
copy.


4. I hear the machine breaks often, is this true?


I've read reports that it is fragile, and can break. I haven't
experienced that problem myself, but I do have more than one that I've
purchased off of ebay, just in case. If they break, there is no one to
fix them. I tried to fix it myself once, and I broke one. So if you
can afford it, collect them when you can.


5. What are the different software options?


I've pasted below the list of CDs I own, some of which are ones that
come with the machine and also many others (particularly, the complete
language series). If anyone has any questions about the LM and related
items, please let me know and I will try to answer them. --Adam


Track Album


Super Memory Enhancement Brain Supercharger


Exercise Motivation Habit Control
Permanent Weight Loss Habit Control
Eliminate Procrastination Habit Control
Quit Smoking Now Habit Control
Meet Your Deadlines Habit Control
Always on time Habit Control


Dream Therapy Healing Music 1
Healing Dreams Healing Music 2
Super Zen States Meditation


Learning Accelerator Mental Expansion
Super Intuition Mental Expansion
Lucid Dreaming Mental Expansion


Quick Energy Mind Power
Creativity Booster Mind Power
Virtual Vizualization Mind Power
Stress Zapper Mind Power
Brain Tune-Up Mind Power
Imagination Stimulator Mind Power


Attracting Prosperity/Wealth Motivation/Productivity
Time Management Motivation/Productivity
Creativity Motivation/Productivity
Effective Public Speaking Motivation/Productivity
Increase Focus and Motivation/Productivity
Super Memory and Learning Motivation/Productivity


Building Self-Esteem Personal Growth
Eliminate Fear And Anxiety Personal Growth
Projecting a Winner's Image Personal Growth
Attracting Love Personal Growth
Health and Healing Personal Growth
Expanding Psychic Powers Personal Growth


Photographic Mind 1 - Intellectual and Emotional Memory
Photographic Mind 2 - Link System
Photographic Mind 3 - Loci System
Photographic Mind 4 - Peg System
Photographic Mind 5 - Phonetic System
Photographic Mind 6 - Phonetic Peg List
Photographic Mind 7 - Remembering Names and Speeches
Photographic Mind 8 - Remembering Cards


Savanah Night Savanah Night
Spring Day Spring Day


Super Speed Learning Super Speed Learning


Teacher Teacher


Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Moodscapes
Dreamtime Transcendental Mind Series


Beginning French - Lessons 1 and 2
Beginning French - Lessons 3 and 4
Beginning French - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning French - Lessons 7 and 8
Advanced French - Lessons 15 and 16
Advanced French - Lessons 17 and 18
Advanced French - Lessons 19 and 20


Beginning German - Lessons 1 and 2
Beginning German - Lessons 3 and 4
Beginning German - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning German - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning German - Lessons 7 and 8
Beginning German - Lessons 9 and 10
Intermediate German - Lessons 11 and 12
Intermediate German - Lessons 13 and 14
Intermediate German - Lessons 15 and 16
Intermediate German - Lessons 17 and 18
Intermediate German - Lessons 19 and 20
Advanced German - Lessons 21 and 22
Advanced German - Lessons 23 and 24
Advanced German - Lessons 25 and 26
Advanced German - Lessons 27 and 28


Beginning Italian - Lessons 1 and 2
Beginning Italian - Lessons 3 and 4
Beginning Italian - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning Italian - Lessons 7 and 8
Beginning Italian - Lessons 9 and 10
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 11 and 12
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 13 and 14
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 15 and 16
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 17 and 18
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 19 and 20
Intermediate Italian - Lessons 19 and 20
Advanced Italian - Lessons 21 and 22
Advanced Italian - Lessons 23 and 24
Advanced Italian - Lessons 25 and 26


Beginning Japanese - Lessons 1 and 2
Beginning Japanese - Lessons 3 and 4
Beginning Japanese - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning Japanese - Lessons 7 and 8
Beginning Japanese - Lessons 9 and 10
Intermediate Japanese - Lessons 11 and 12
Intermediate Japanese - Lessons 13 and 14
Intermediate Japanese - Lessons 15 and 16
Intermediate Japanese - Lessons 17 and 18
Intermediate Japanese - Lessons 19 and 20
Advanced Japanese - Lessons 21 and 22
Advanced Japanese - Lessons 23 and 24
Advanced Japanese - Lessons 25 and 26
Advanced Japanese - Lessons 27 and 28
Advanced Japanese - Lessons 29 and 30


Beginning Spanish - Lessons 1 and 2
Beginning Spanish - Lessons 3 and 4
Beginning Spanish - Lessons 5 and 6
Beginning Spanish - Lessons 7 and 8
Beginning Spanish - Lessons 9 and 10
Intermediate Spanish - Lessons 11 and 12
Intermediate Spanish - Lessons 13 and 14
Intermediate Spanish - Lessons 15 and 16
Intermediate Spanish - Lessons 17 and 18
Intermediate Spanish - Lessons 19 and 20
Advanced Spanish - Lessons 21 and 22
Advanced Spanish - Lessons 23 and 24
Advanced Spanish - Lessons 25 and 26
Advanced Spanish - Lessons 27 and 28
Advanced Spanish - Lessons 29 and 30