Overview
Neurotinn is a binaural beat generator. It plays two precisely tuned pure tones — one to each ear — engaging your brain's natural frequency-following response: a well-documented mechanism by which brainwave activity synchronises toward a rhythmic external stimulus.
Unlike masking devices, which cover the ringing with competing noise, Neurotinn works through brainwave states: its four presets correspond to the states most people want more of — deep sleep, meditation, relaxation, and focus.
This manual covers all controls, all presets, recommended session structures for common tinnitus scenarios, the complete 30-day onboarding protocol, and the underlying neuroscience for users who want to understand the mechanism in depth.
Before You Begin
Equipment
Stereo headphones are required. This is not a preference — it is a functional requirement. Binaural beats only occur when each ear receives a different frequency in isolation. If you use speakers, both tones mix in the air before reaching your ears, and the beat frequency is never generated. The effect simply does not occur.
You do not need expensive headphones. Any standard stereo headphones or earbuds — wired or wireless — will work, provided they deliver true stereo separation. Most modern earbuds meet this standard.
Environment
Neurotinn works in any environment, but effectiveness improves with reduced external distraction. A quiet room is ideal, particularly for Delta and Theta sessions intended for sleep or deep meditation. Alpha and Beta sessions are more tolerant of ambient background — they are designed for active or semi-active contexts.
If external noise is unavoidable, use a background texture (Pink Noise or Brown Noise) at a moderate level. This masks intrusive ambient sound without interfering with the binaural beat mechanism.
Volume
Set your device volume to a comfortable listening level before starting a session. The binaural tones should be clearly audible but not fatiguing. A common mistake is setting volume too high in an attempt to "overpower" the tinnitus signal. This is counterproductive — excessive volume triggers stress response rather than calming it.
Posture and Position
For Delta and Theta sessions (sleep and meditation), lie down or recline comfortably. For Alpha sessions, seated or reclined is fine. For Beta sessions (focus), remain upright and alert — the purpose of Beta is cognitive engagement, not relaxation.
Understanding the Interface
The Neurotinn interface is organised into five panels, each controlling a distinct aspect of the session. Here is a functional overview of each:
Frequency Monitor
The Frequency Monitor displays a live waveform visualisation of the tones being delivered to each ear. When a session is active, you will see two separate sine waves animating in real time — one representing the left channel, one the right. Below the waveform, three values are displayed:
Session Timer
The timer panel allows you to set session duration and tracks your progress through it. A thin progress bar fills left-to-right as the session runs. When the session ends, the audio fades gracefully over 1.5 seconds to prevent abrupt interruption from a deep or meditative state.
Brainwave Presets
Neurotinn offers four preset brainwave frequencies, each matched to a common goal. The preset determines the beat frequency — the perceived difference tone your brainstem generates from the two channels. Selecting a preset changes this frequency instantly, even during an active session.
The 30–60 minutes before sleep, or during any nighttime waking caused by tinnitus. Also useful for extended rest or recovery periods during illness or high stress.
Delta (0.5–4 Hz) is the dominant brainwave rhythm of deep, slow-wave sleep. A slow 2 Hz target gives your brain something steady and low to settle toward, which is why many people find it easiest to fall asleep with Delta running.
30–60 minutes. Begin immediately before sleep. Allow yourself to fall asleep during the session — the audio will fade and end automatically. Carrier frequency between 150–200 Hz is recommended for Delta sessions; lower carriers feel more naturally 'heavy' and support sleep onset.
Do not use Delta while driving, operating machinery, or in any situation requiring alertness. Delta is deeply relaxing — most people feel drowsy within 10–15 minutes.
During dedicated meditation sessions, during acute tinnitus distress spikes, or in the 20–30 minutes following a high-stress event. Also effective in the afternoon as a reset between work periods.
Theta (4–8 Hz) is the drowsy borderland between waking and sleep — the state of deep calm where the day's tension tends to unwind. If the ringing bothers you most when you're stressed or lying awake, Theta is the state to aim for.
20–30 minutes. Seated or reclined in a quiet space. Use Pink Noise or Brown Noise as background texture. Carrier frequency between 180–220 Hz. This is the most frequently recommended maintenance frequency for people with high emotional distress around their tinnitus.
Theta sessions often produce vivid hypnagogic imagery or a strong sensation of floating or sinking. This is normal. It subsides immediately when the session ends or you move.
During daytime rest, light reading, or any low-demand activity. This is the recommended baseline maintenance frequency — most users using Neurotinn for the first time should begin here.
Alpha (8–13 Hz) is the brain's natural 'resting awake' rhythm — calm but present. Sitting back into that state regularly gives the ringing less room to dominate attention, which makes Alpha the most versatile starting point for new users.
20–45 minutes, once or twice daily. The 20-minute afternoon session is the core recommendation of the 30-day protocol. Any background texture works well with Alpha. Carrier frequency of 200 Hz is a reliable default.
Alpha is the safest preset for beginners. If you are new to binaural entrainment, start with Alpha for your first week before exploring Delta or Theta. It is gentle enough for extended daily use without adjustment periods.
During focused cognitive work — writing, analysis, study, detailed tasks — when tinnitus is creating a competing distraction. Also useful before mentally demanding meetings or performance situations.
Beta (13–30 Hz) does not quiet the tinnitus signal — it works through a different mechanism. By delivering a consistent, structured rhythmic input at 20 Hz, it gives the auditory cortex a 'task' to lock onto. The brain's attention resources naturally orient toward the structured binaural beat rather than the chaotic phantom signal. The ringing doesn't disappear, but it loses the foreground position it normally occupies. Think of Beta as occupying the auditory cortex rather than quieting it.
15–30 minutes, before or during focused work. Keep the background texture level low or at zero during Beta sessions — you want the binaural beats to be the primary auditory input. Higher carrier frequencies (250–300 Hz) work well for Beta; they feel more 'alert' and less relaxing.
Beta is stimulating, not sedating. Do not use it before sleep or in situations where you need calm. Some users find extended Beta sessions (45+ minutes) produce mild fatigue — limit to 30 minutes and follow with an Alpha or Theta session if needed.
Controls & Parameters
Four parameters control the precise character of the binaural sound delivered during a session. Each can be adjusted before a session or in real time while one is running.
Carrier Frequency
Why it matters: While the beat frequency is the primary variable, the carrier affects comfort and subjective feel. Lower carriers (100–180 Hz) feel deeper and more physically resonant. Mid-range carriers (180–260 Hz) are neutral and work well for most users in most contexts. Higher carriers (260–400 Hz) feel brighter and more alert.
Binaural Tone Level
Background Texture Level
Background Textures
Neurotinn offers four background texture options. Each has a different spectral character and a best-use case.
Session Design
Different tinnitus situations call for different session configurations. Here are the recommended setups for the most common scenarios:
Sleep Onset — Tinnitus Preventing Sleep
Begin the session 20–30 minutes before your intended sleep time. The binaural tones will fade and end automatically — you do not need to manually stop them. Lie down with headphones on and allow sleep to occur naturally. Do not try to force sleep or monitor whether you're falling asleep. Simply follow the tones.
Acute Distress — Sudden Spike or High-Intensity Episode
Use as soon as you notice a significant spike. The goal here is emotional de-escalation — Theta is the calmest waking state in the set, which is why it's the pick for spikes. Find a quiet space, sit or recline, and give the session your full attention for the first five minutes. After that, you may read, rest, or let your mind wander.
Daytime Maintenance — Baseline Daily Session
This is the foundation of the 30-day protocol. A single 20-minute Alpha session in the early-to-mid afternoon, repeated daily, is the easiest routine to keep up. Consistency outweighs session intensity — one 20-minute session every day is more effective than an hour-long session twice a week.
Focus Work — Cognitive Task with Active Tinnitus
Run the Beta session before or during focused work. It is designed to occupy, not sedate. Keep background texture minimal — you want the binaural beats as the primary auditory anchor. Most users find they can focus for longer periods without the tinnitus claiming foreground attention during a Beta session.
30-Day Protocol
The following protocol represents the recommended progression for first-time Neurotinn users. It is designed to give you a structured, graduated start — beginning with the most accessible frequency and progressively adding the other presets.
- 1 × 20-minute Alpha session daily, early-to-mid afternoon.
- Carrier: 200 Hz. Texture: Pink Noise at 30–40%.
- Focus on consistency above all else. The goal this week is simply to establish the habit and allow your auditory system to acclimate to binaural entrainment.
- Some users notice a mild improvement in background tinnitus volume by Day 5–7. Others notice nothing yet. Both are normal responses.
- Continue the daily 20-minute afternoon Alpha session.
- Add 1 × 45-minute Delta session before bed on nights when tinnitus disrupts sleep, or nightly if sleep quality is consistently poor.
- Delta Carrier: 150 Hz. Texture: Brown Noise at 35–45%.
- By the end of Week 2, many people notice better sleep, calmer days, or both.
- Continue daily Alpha. Continue Delta before sleep as needed.
- Add Theta (20–30 min) on days when tinnitus distress is elevated, or as a fixed mid-day session if your schedule allows.
- Theta Carrier: 190–210 Hz. Texture: Pink or Brown at 35%.
- Week 3 is when many people begin to notice a shift — not necessarily in the volume of the ringing, but in how much attention it demands during quiet moments.
- Morning (optional): 15-minute Beta session before demanding cognitive work.
- Afternoon: 20-minute Alpha maintenance session.
- Evening/pre-sleep: Theta or Delta as conditions require.
- By Day 30, you will have accumulated 20–30+ hours of sessions. The routine is cumulative — comfort at Day 30 typically exceeds Day 14, which exceeds Day 7.
- After Day 30, the protocol becomes self-directed. Most users settle into a daily 20-minute Alpha session as their minimum maintenance, with Delta and Theta deployed as needed.
Troubleshooting
I can't hear the binaural beats.
Check that your device is in stereo mode and that headphones are properly connected. Increase the Binaural Tone Level to 70–80% while testing. The tones are pure sine waves — they sound like soft, continuous musical notes, not a pulsing beat. The 'beat' is a neural perception, not an audible flutter in most cases.
The tones feel uncomfortable or cause a headache.
Reduce the Binaural Tone Level to 30–40% and add a background texture at 40–50% to smooth the sound. Ensure carrier frequency is within the 180–250 Hz range — very high or very low carriers can cause discomfort in some users. If discomfort persists after adjusting, stop the session and try again the following day with reduced intensity.
I fell asleep during a session — is that okay?
Yes. Falling asleep during a Delta or Theta session is completely normal — that's exactly what those sessions are designed to encourage. The session will end automatically and the audio will fade.
My tinnitus seemed louder during the first few sessions.
A temporary increase in tinnitus awareness during the first 1–3 sessions is occasionally reported. This is likely a contrast effect — the absence of external stimulation makes the phantom signal more noticeable before the entrainment takes effect. It typically resolves by the 3rd–5th session. If it persists beyond a week, reduce session intensity and consider starting with shorter (15-minute) sessions.
I'm not noticing any change after two weeks.
First, confirm you are using stereo headphones — not speakers. Second, review your session consistency. Two weeks of once-daily Alpha sessions is a fair trial — many people notice at least a mild shift by then. If nothing seems different, try adding a Theta session and extend Alpha sessions to 30 minutes. Some users respond more readily to Theta than Alpha — experiment with the preset combination.
Can I use Neurotinn while doing other activities?
Alpha and Beta sessions can be used during light activity (reading, walking, light work). Delta and Theta sessions require you to remain still and undivided in attention — do not use them while driving or operating machinery.
The Science
Central Gain Amplification
The auditory hair cells in your cochlea were the original source of the damage that preceded your tinnitus — whether from noise exposure, aging, medication, or vascular change. However, those cells are no longer the active generator of the phantom sound you hear.
When auditory input is reduced, the brain's auditory processing centres respond by increasing their own spontaneous firing rates. The auditory cortex, deprived of its normal input signal, amplifies its internal gain to compensate. This is called central gain amplification, and it is the mechanism responsible for the persistence of tinnitus long after any cochlear damage has stabilised.
The Frequency-Following Response
The frequency-following response (FFR) is a well-documented neurological mechanism by which the brain's electrical activity synchronises toward a rhythmic external stimulus. When your left ear receives a tone at 200 Hz and your right ear receives a tone at 202 Hz, your brainstem computes the mathematical difference — 2 Hz — and begins generating endogenous neural oscillations at that frequency. This is not metaphor. It is electroencephalography-confirmed neurophysiology, reproducible under laboratory conditions.
The relevance to tinnitus is direct: by guiding the brain toward slower rhythms like Delta, Theta, or Alpha, the aim is to move it out of the alert, high-activity state that keeps the ringing in the foreground. The goal is to shift the brain's state, not to cover the sound.
The Limbic Amplification Effect
The limbic system — the brain's emotional processing and threat-detection network — plays a critical and underappreciated role in tinnitus suffering. A ringing that is genuinely constant and cannot be switched off will, over time, be classified by the limbic system as a threat. Once classified as a threat, the limbic system amplifies its signal. This is why tinnitus gets worse under stress: the cortisol-driven upregulation of the threat-response loop directly increases perceived tinnitus intensity.
Theta and Alpha are the go-to states here because they pair naturally with deep calm. By regularly returning to quiet, low-stress states, the aim is for the ringing to lose its "emergency" status over time. The ringing doesn't disappear — but it stops being a crisis.
Neuroplasticity and the Long Game
Neuroplasticity — the brain's capacity to reorganise its own structure and function in response to experience — is why consistency is the whole approach. Neural pathways that are repeatedly activated are strengthened; pathways that fall into disuse are weakened. The central gain loop that generates your tinnitus has been reinforced over years of continuous activation. Reversing that pattern takes sustained, repeated interruption — not a single intervention.
This is the honest case for consistency. People who complete the 30-day plan and keep a short daily session often describe the weeks after it as the calmest part of the whole process. Change comes slowly, and that's expected. Patience is the whole game.