# Binaural / entrainment candidate pool — stress-relief "Music" tracks (2026-07-02)

> **PARKED (2026-07-02):** the operator dropped the binaural direction in favor of
> **mellow chordal synth music** — see `docs/music-candidate-pool.md`. This file is kept
> as the record of the binaural exploration (and its NC-licensing dead-ends).


Candidates for evolving the **Music** audio option into a stress-relief set of
**binaural-beat / brainwave-entrainment** tracks that **crossfade between each
other** (not a single loop). Operator brief: "binaural beats for stress relief."

**All 11 below are CC0** (public domain — no attribution legally required; we credit
anyway as courtesy), **all stereo**, all sourced from freesound.org and license-
verified by fetching each page. Review gallery (gitignored, local-only, like
`review_audio.html`): `simulator/static/review_binaural.html` → open
`/review_binaural.html` with the sim server running. It streams each track's public
HQ preview so you can audition + tick keepers.

## Caveats (operator, read before picking)

- **True binaural (#1–7) needs headphones.** The beat *is* the L/R frequency
  difference, so on speakers it collapses to a steady carrier tone (no entrainment).
  **#8–11** are ambient sub-bass / pulsing drones that keep the calm feel on speakers.
- **Band coverage:** heavy on **delta (0.5–1.5 Hz)** + one clean **theta (4 Hz, #2)**.
  **No CC0 alpha (8–12 Hz)** track surfaced — widen to CC-BY (FMA/ccMixter) if wanted.
- **No clean CC0/CC-BY isochronic or monaural** (the speaker-correct entrainment type)
  was found — every hit was NC/SA or unlicensed (see rejects). For speaker playback,
  lean on #8–11 for the "beat" feel.
- **Previews vs originals:** the `cdn.freesound.org/…-hq.mp3` URLs are public streamable
  previews (verified live, HTTP 206). The **originals** (WAV/AIF/full-MP3) need a free
  freesound login; CC0 permits self-hosting, so for keepers download the originals and
  host on R2 — do not hot-link the CDN in production.

## Candidates

| # | id | title | artist | source page | license | dur | type | beat / carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | `fs75309`  | 60-64-delta | iantm | https://freesound.org/people/iantm/sounds/75309/ | CC0 | 0:30 | true-binaural | 4 Hz · 60/64 Hz |
| 2 | `fs457654` | Binaural Beats (Theta Waves 4 Hz) | Fabrizio84 | https://freesound.org/people/Fabrizio84/sounds/457654/ | CC0 | 30:00 | true-binaural | 4 Hz theta |
| 3 | `fs803742` | 1.23456789 Hz binaural beat (69L/70.23R) | itchytooth | https://freesound.org/people/itchytooth/sounds/803742/ | CC0 | 60:00 | true-binaural | 1.23 Hz delta · 69/70.23 Hz |
| 4 | `fs414271` | Binaural Delta 440/440.5 Hz | pbabin | https://freesound.org/people/pbabin/sounds/414271/ | CC0 | 10:00 | true-binaural | 0.5 Hz · 440/440.5 Hz |
| 5 | `fs414272` | Binaural Delta 500/501.5 Hz | pbabin | https://freesound.org/people/pbabin/sounds/414272/ | CC0 | 10:00 | true-binaural | 1.5 Hz · 500/501.5 Hz |
| 6 | `fs414273` | Binaural Delta 52/52.5 Hz | pbabin | https://freesound.org/people/pbabin/sounds/414273/ | CC0 | 10:00 | true-binaural | 0.5 Hz · 52/52.5 Hz |
| 7 | `fs414274` | Binaural Delta 60/61.5 Hz | pbabin | https://freesound.org/people/pbabin/sounds/414274/ | CC0 | 10:00 | true-binaural | 1.5 Hz · 60/61.5 Hz |
| 8 | `fs856225` | Delta Pulse Subharmonic Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856225/ | CC0 | 5:00 | ambient+beats (speaker-ok) | delta sub-bass (procedural) |
| 9 | `fs854874` | Void Monolith Subharmonic Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/854874/ | CC0 | 5:00 | ambient (speaker-ok) | dark sub-drone |
| 10 | `fs860122` | Expanding & Vibrating Stereo Pulsating Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/860122/ | CC0 | 2:00 | ambient+beats (speaker-ok) | slow stereo pulsation |
| 11 | `fs493524` | Pulse Breath *(lower pref)* | phylobates | https://freesound.org/people/phylobates/sounds/493524/ | CC0 | 1:40 | ambient binaural | octaves of G / G♭ |

Preview MP3s (for the review page) follow `https://cdn.freesound.org/previews/<dir>/<id>_<uploader>-hq.mp3`
— exact URLs are embedded in `review_binaural.html`.

## Round 2 — musical / evolving (the "not boring" set, 2026-07-02)

Operator found the pure-tone set (#1–7) too plain. **Reality:** truly *musical* tracks
with a **confirmed** binaural layer are almost all NC (see rejects). Best legitimate
options — pick for how they *sound*; treat binaural as a bonus:

| id | title | artist | source | license | dur | binaural? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `fs856223` | Theta Gateway Sacred Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856223/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable (theta band; not certified on render) |
| `fs856221` | Raga of Stillness Sacred Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856221/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable (Δ/θ/α/β optional) |
| `fs856220` | Ice Cathedral Sacred Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856220/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable |
| `fs856224` | Vowel of the Deep Sacred Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856224/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable |
| `fs856222` | Stellar Vowel Sacred Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856222/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable |
| `fs856329` | Harmonic Chamber High-Frequency Drone (MANTICE) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/856329/ | CC0 | 5:00 | capable |
| `fs854438` | Immersive Ethereal Generative Ambient (Floating Harmonics) | bassimat | https://freesound.org/people/bassimat/sounds/854438/ | CC0 | 11:33 | no (richest single piece) |
| `fma_cosmic` | Cosmic Waves | HoliznaCC0 | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/cosmic-waves/ | CC0 | 33:04 | no (long-form melodic pads) |
| `fma_dream` | DreamScape | HoliznaCC0 | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/dreamscape/ | CC0 | 21:59 | no |
| `fma_rain` | Rain / Sleep / Meditation | HoliznaCC0 | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/rain-sleep-meditation/ | CC0 | 14:35 | no (rain + pads) |
| `ccm_shagrugge` | How to Get Rid of a Dream (real imagination mix) | shagrugge | http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/shagrugge/12629 | CC BY 3.0 | ~ | yes-ish (binaural-filtered vocals; experimental) |

- The MANTICE **Sacred Drone** series is the composed extension of Round-1 #8–10 (same
  generator; the generator *does* binaural entrainment across Δ/θ/α/β, but the individual
  freesound renders don't certify the beat is on — bassimat could confirm/render on request).
- **HoliznaCC0** (FMA, CC0) = the strongest pure-*music* options; no binaural layer.
- FMA `files.freemusicarchive.org/...` URLs verified live (206) — safe to self-host.
  The **ccMixter** shagrugge URL is **hotlink-protected** (403) — download in a browser and self-host.

### Opt-in (outside the CC0/CC-BY rule — needs operator OK)

- **"Hang Binaural" — Mindseye** — https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MindsEye/single/hang-binaural
  — **CC BY-SA 4.0**. The single best musical+*confirmed*-binaural fit (hang-drum music +
  real binaural beats, 3:36, stereo), but ShareAlike copyleft. Add only if SA is acceptable.

## Rejected / could not verify

- **archive.org "Binaural Beats – Alpha/Beta/Theta/Delta"** & **"Isochronic Tones &
  Binaural Beats Combined"** (loopool / Jean-Paul Garnier) — **CC BY-NC-SA 3.0** (NC).
  The most promising isochronic set — rejected for the NC clause.
- **archive.org "Om Alpha Brainwave Entrainment Loop"** (Entraino / KS Chauhan;
  freesound chauhans/100370) — **CC BY-NC 3.0**. Rejected (NC).
- **archive.org "1hr 30 Min Theta Binaural Beat (7 Hz)"** (Chari G) — no license shown.
  Rejected (unverifiable).
- **freesound "deadthetawaves.wav"** (NoiseCollector/43295) — license fine (**CC BY 3.0**)
  but "evil sounding loop of the living dead" — rejected for *fit*, not license. Back
  pocket only if an unsettling deep-scale track is ever wanted.
- **TunePocket / dialedggsound / miraclefrequencies / audio.com "Theta 7Hz"** —
  "royalty-free"/commercial pages, murky redistribution, no per-track CC license.
- **Round 2 NC drops** (great content, non-commercial licence): "Fear Nothing (Relaxation
  Mix)" — Jeris (CC BY-NC), "On the Earth" — Quarkstar (CC BY-NC), "Timeless (Binaural
  Beatmix)" — duckett (CC BY-NC), "Ambient Meditation" — Scott Holmes (CC BY-NC). ccMixter's
  binaural tag is overwhelmingly NC; only shagrugge (CC BY) survived.

## Next

Operator auditions `review_binaural.html`, ticks keepers (Copy picks). Then we wire the
playback: the **Music** source becomes a multi-track set that crossfades between the kept
tracks (architecture decision — replace vs. join the ethereal loop — deferred to that
step; see [[audio-music-option]]).