located throughout the app for guidance on specific features.
In addition to customizing the stack, you can also create your own custom programs. The benefit of creating your own custom program is that you can fine tune order of the stages and the ratio of time that each stage is played. If you're creating a brainwave program
you can also set the beat and carrief frequencies for each stage, allowing you to create a program that is tailored to your specific needs. Once you've created your own custom program
you can save it and re-use it in your stacks.
Customizing an existing program
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Contact Support
Please contact support@banzailabs.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. You can do this by tapping "Email Support" in the app. | |||
Quick Notes: |
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Help Topics:
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| Warning: Do not use while driving, operating machinery, cycling or walking near traffic. |
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| 1. Brainwave Entrainment | |||
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Brainwave entrainment is a method that uses specially designed audio to
encourage your brain's natural oscillations to synchronize with specific target frequencies.
When exposed to a rhythmic stimulus, such as pulsing audio, the brain can naturally align its electrical activity to match the frequency of the audio due to the brain's "Frequency Following Response" (FFR). Brainwave Entrainment can occur when the frequency of this audio is within the range of human brainwave frequencies and is sustained for several minutes. Brainwave Frequency Ranges
This app is unique in that every program in the app can be played using one of four different modes of audio stimulation.
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| 2. How to use the app | |||
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What is a stack?
Tapping the Now Playing button at the bottom of the screen opens the current stack. A stack is combination of different audio/visual elements including brainwave entrainment audio, background ambience, nature audio, guided breathing, and more. When a stack is played all the elements begin playing their respective programs simultaneously. To see the available stack elements you can tap the 
button at the bottom of the screen to open the stack element selector.
A program can be selected for each stack element by tapping the 
button in the stack element to
open the Program Menu, and then tapping the program selector button
to open the Program Selector.
You will then be presented with searchable lists of programs included with the app along with programs that you have created.
To get started, we're going to use pre-built Explore Stacks that you can customize and save as your own. Once you've gotten used to the app you can create your own stacks from scratch by tapping Create on the main screen, adding elements to the stack, and selecting programs for each element.
1. View Explore Stacks
On the app's main screen you'll find the Explore Stacks section organized by genre: Focus, Relax, Meditate, and Sleep. Scroll to the genre that aligns with your goal.
2. Choose a Category
For each genre, you'll see a list of categories. For example, under "Sleep", you will see a list of sleep-related categories, such as Power Nap, Deep Sleep, or Lucid Dreaming. Select the category that best aligns with your goal.
3. Select an Explore Stack
After selecting a category you will be presented with a list of suggested Explore Stacks. Tap the checkmark button to the right of the stack name to load the stack. You will see the stack name appear in the Now Playing button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Play the Stack
An Explore Stack can be played as-is without any customization, so if you like, you can stop here and listen to the stack as-is. To play the stack, simply tap the the play button to the right of the Now Playing button at the bottom-right of the screen.
5. Open the Stack Composer
Tap the Now Playing button at the bottom center of the screen to open the Stack in the Stack Composer. This will allow you to customize and save the stack to My Stacks.
6. Select Tone Mode
Choose from Binaural, Monaural, Isochronic, or Binaural+Isochronic modes by tapping the
button in the tone mode selector:
This will open the Tone Mode Selector window. The Tone Mode Selector window provides a detailed explanation and comparison of each tone mode, including sample audio and graphs.
7. Select Listening Duration
When the Explore Stack is loaded it will have a preset duration. To change this duration tap the duration button 
at the top of the Stack Composer to open the Duration settings.
You will be able to select from preset durations, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour, or select a custom duration. You can also set a duration based on when you want to the program to end. For example, you can set a Deep Sleep stack to end at 8:00 am.
8. Plug-in headphones or earbuds
Headphones/earbuds are required if you plan on listening to the tones in Binaural or Binaural+Isochronic mode. They are recommended for Monaural and Isochronic tones for a more immersive experience but not required.
9. Check device volume
Check that the physical volume controls on the device are adjusted to your comfort level. The relative volume of each stack element can be adjusted, but the overall volume of the audio is set using the device's volume buttons.
10. Play the Stack
Tap the  button to begin playing the stack.
11. Adjust stack element volume levels
Use the volume sliders located in each stack element to adjust the relative volume of each element. The overall volume is controlled using the device's physical volume controls.
12. Save to My Stacks
Once you've saved your stack you can open it later by tapping 'My Stacks' in the stack menu. Customizing and saving an Explore Stack creates a new copy of the stack in My Stacks, leaving the original Explore Stack unchanged.
12. Press stop when ready to end session
Tap the  button to stop playing the stack.
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| 3. Enhancing the experience with breathing | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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The brainwave entrainment process takes several minutes to take hold and is best achieved by not consciously
"trying" to achieve the given state.
It's more important to relax than to try to consciously focus your mind on the brainwave audio.
The suggested stacks will each include a Guided Breathing element. Meditation and sleep programs will typically use a deeply relaxing 4-7-8-0 breathing pattern, while focus-oriented stacks will often use a 4-4-4-4 breathing pattern. You can select from a variety of different guided breathing programs with different patterns. You can also create your own custom breathing programs, with your preferred text, animation shape, color, and breathing pattern. You can even customize the guided breathing text to display affirmations or mantras to help you focus your mind. Use guided breathing when the program begins to center your mind and declutter your thoughts. To begin, tap the  in the Guided Breathing
stack element to
open the Guided Breathing window. This will display a breathing animation and text that will guide you through the breathing pattern.
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| 4. Play alongside Other Apps | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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By default, when you first install the app, “Allow Playing with Other Apps” will be enabled in the app's global settings.
Access the app's global audio settings by tapping the Settings button at the top of the main screen and then selecting Audio. iOS Instructions On iOS, the ability for an app to play alongside other apps also determines whether iOS will place the app on the lock screen and whether it can receive commands from earbuds, AirPods, or headphones.
If you're playing alongside a music app such as Spotify and want to be able to skip tracks or pause the music app from the lock screen, you can start NeuralStack first and then start the music app. However, some Android devices may not allow NeuralStack to continue playing if it is started first. This behavior varies by device manufacturer and their specific Android version. The app's global audio settings also allow you to enable Reduce Other App Volume (Volume Ducking), which will reduce the volume of other apps by 50% while NeuralStack is playing. Stack-level Overrides Both "Allow Playing with Other Apps" and "Reduce Other App Volume" can be overridden at the stack level, allowing you to customize these settings for individual stacks. Tap the settings button at the top of the Stack Composer to open the stack settings. This will open the Stack Settings window, where you can override these settings. For example, you may have a Focus Stack that you intend to use alongside a music app with Reduce Other App Volume enabled. |
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| 5. Bluetooth and AirPods | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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Most audio apps, including this one, do not directly manage Bluetooth connections and don’t
have permission to do so.
Instead, iOS manages those connections and routing of audio to your preferred headphones or speakers.
There are two steps to using new Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with an audio app. The first step is pairing them with your device, which this video does not cover, as the process can vary by manufacturer. Your headphones should come with instructions for how to do this. Once they are paired with your device, they will be available for connection. To connect them, first ensure that they are powered on. Next Steps on iOS:
AirPlay on iOS If you are using AirPlay-compatible speakers or headphones, and you have followed the above steps to connect them with your device, you can select them by tapping the AirPlay button in the top-left corner of the Stack Composer. This will open the iOS AirPlay device selector, where you can choose your AirPlay device. iOS will then route the audio to that device. Note that Binaural mode requires headphones or earbuds so that the left and right and right tones are isolated to each ear. Casting on Android If you are using Cast-compatible speakers or headphones, and you have followed the above steps to connect them with your device, you can select them by tapping the Cast/Bluetooth selector button in the top-left corner of the Stack Composer. This will open the Android Cast device selector, where you can choose your Cast device. Android will then route the audio to that device. Note that Binaural mode requires headphones or earbuds so that the left and right and right tones are isolated to each ear. |
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| 6. Customizing a stack | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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1. Adding/Removing Stack Elements
Once you've loaded an Explore Stack you can customize it by adding or removing stack elements. For example, a suggested stack may include both musical ambience and nature sounds, but you may prefer to have only nature sounds. To enable or disable a stack element tap the
button at the bottom of the screen. This will open the Stack Element Activator, where you can choose from a list of available stack elements.
2. Changing the program for a Stack Element
Select a program for a stack element by tapping the
button in the stack element to
open the Program Menu, and then tap the button to
open the Program Selector.
The Program Selector window will appear showing a searchable list of all programs available for that stack element. Tap the  button to load the program.
Then tap the close button at the bottom of the window to close the Program Selector and return to the main screen.
3. Saving your custom stack
Once you've modified the stack you can save it by tapping the 
button at the bottom of the screen to open the Stack Menu, then tap the 'Save' option. You will be prompted to enter a name and a genre (Focus, Relax, Sleep, or Meditate) for the stack.
4. Loading your custom stack
To load a saved stack tap the
button at the bottom of the screen to open the Stack Menu, then tap the 'Open' option. This will open the Stack Selector window, where you will find your saved stacks
under the 'My Stacks' tab. Tap the for the stack you want to load and
you will be returned to the main screen with the stack loaded.
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| 7. Program Stages | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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Each program is composed of one or more stages. Some programs do not require multiple stages in order to achieve the target mental state, while others require several stages. Tapping the Expand Details arrow  in a Stack Element will show details about the program, including the stages it contains and the
progress through those stages.
You may find that the stages of some programs can sound similar, particularly when using Binaural Mode. This is because the when the brain hears 2 different frequencies, the sound that is heard is the average of the two tones, which is known as the carrier frequency. Different binaural tones can sound the same when this carrier frequency is the same for both. For example, a 4 Hz theta wave stage may use a 140 Hz left tone and a 144 Hz right tone, resulting in a beat frequency of 4 Hz and a carrier frequency of 142 Hz. Similarly, an 8 Hz alpha wave program may use a 138 Hz left tone and a 146 Hz right tone, resulting in a beat frequency of 8 Hz and a carrier frequency of 142 Hz. Because the two stages have the same carrier frequency, they will sound the same, but their beat frequencies and the frequencies they induce will be different. If the brainwave program you're using is composed of multiple stages you will hear each stage fade-out before the next stage fades-in. This is to prevent interference between consecutive stages. To adjust the duration of the audio volume fade tap the 
button to open the Global Settings.
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| 8. Customizing a program | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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1. Re-Mix an existing program
To customize a program tap the button in the stack
element to open the Program Menu, then tap the  button to
create a copy of the current program and open it in the Program Creator.
2. Re-Order Stages
Once in the Program Creator you can re-order stages by holding and dragging the  located
at the far right of each stage.
3. Add New Stages
To add a new stage tap the button at the bottom of the screen
to open the Program Creator Menu, then tap 'Add Stage'. For brainwave programs you will be given the option to add stages from an existing program or add a custom stage with
a configurable tone frequency. Ambience, Noise, and Nature programs don't have the option to create a custom stage, but you can choose from the built-in audio available in the
app.
4. Modifying the stage ratios
If your program contains more than one stage you will see the stage ratio button 
on the stage. Tapping this will open the Stage Ratio dialog.
5. Saving a custom program
To save your custom program tap the Program Creator Menu button at the bottom of the screen and select 'Save'. You will be prompted to enter a name and a genre (Focus, Relax, Sleep, or Meditate) for the program.
6. Loading a custom program
Once you have created your own programs you will see them under the 'My Programs' tab in the Program Selector when you tap 'Open' in the Program Menu of a stack element. |
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| 9. Custom Audio Stack Element | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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Use the Custom Audio element to incorporate your own audio files (wav, mp3, etc) into a Stack.
This feature can only be used with apps that support File Sharing and cannot be used to import copyright or DRM protected audio,
such as audio from streaming services and music apps.
When audio is shared with NeuralStack it will automatically create a Custom Audio program, which can then be selected in the Custom Audio stack element. When using custom audio, your personal audio files remain on the device and are not stored in the cloud, so if you delete and re-install the app, or you upgrade your device, you will need to edit your custom audio program and re-select your audio file. Alternatively, you can share the audio file again with the app and it will automatically re-attach the audio file with the Custom Audio program. If you have created an optional account and are using NeuralStack on multiple devices, you will need to ensure the audio is physically present on each device, and you will need to edit the Custom Audio program and select the audio file because your custom audio files are only stored locally for privacy and to support larger audio files. Example: Adding an audio file from the Files app to a stack:
1. Share the audio from another the app to automatically create a Custom Audio program
a. Open the Files app and locate the audio file you want to add to NeuralStack.
b. Tap the "..." menu button next to the audio file and select "Share" to open the Share Menu. c. In the share menu, scroll through the available app icons and select NeuralStack. d. NeuralStack will open and automatically create a Custom Audio program using the shared audio file.
2. Add the new Custom Audio program to a stack
a. Open the stack you want to add audio to in the Stack Composer and enable the Custom Audio element.
b. Tap the Custom Audio program menu and choose "Select". c. Select your newly created Custom Audio program from the "My Programs" tab.
3. Add silence for padding if needed
If you're added a voice recording, such as a mantra or affirmation, you may not want it to play continuously. In this case, you can open the Program Menu, select 'Edit' to modify the program. Then tap 'Add Stage', and then select 'From Program'. Then in the Program Selector, tap the 'Library' tab and select 'Silence'. This will add a silence stage to your custom audio program.
4. Adjust Stage Ratios
If your program has two or more stages, your custom audio and a silence stage, for example, you will see buttons with percentages. You can tap these to enter the percentage of the playback duration you want the stage to play for. By default, if there are 2 stages, both will be set to 50%. Tap the ratio button for you custom audio to open the Stage Ratio window.
Here you can change the percentage of the playback duration that the stage will play for.
You can also set a maximum duration for the stage. The stage will then play for whichever is shorter,
the percentage of the playback duration or the maximum duration.
For example, you can set your custom audio stage to play for 20% of the program or a maximum of 5 minutes, whichever is shorter. The app will automatically adjust the duration of the silence stage to fill the remaining time. If don't want your recording to play continuously, but instead to at different times, you can tap the stage menu button 
and select duplicate. You can do the same with the silence stage and use the move button
to re-arrange the stages to create a program that alternates between your custom audio
and silence. You can also edit the stage ratios for each stage to fine tune when your custom audio plays.
While it may take a few steps to create the perfect personal affirmation program, when you're done, you'll have a reusable program that you can use in any stack.
5. Saving a custom program
To save your custom program tap the Program Creator Menu button at the bottom of the screen and select 'Save'.
6. Loading a custom program
Once you have created your own programs you will see them under the 'My Programs' tab in the Program Selector. To open the Program Select tap the Program Menu in the Custom Audio stack element and choose 'Select'.
7. Important: You will need to re-select the file if you reinstall the app or switch devices.
If you have subscribed and created an account your stacks and programs will be saved to your account, but personal audio files are not saved to cloud. This is both for privacy reasons and because it would require size restrictions on the files. If you delete and reinstall the app, or if you upgrade your device, you will need to edit your custom audio program and tap the Custom Audio stage file button and re-select the audio file. |
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| 10. Alarm Stack Element | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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The Alarm Stack Element plays a gentle alarm sound when the stack completes. A variety of gentle alarm sounds are available. When the stack ends, you will hear the alarm begin to play. To stop the alarm, tap the main stop button .
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| 11. Account | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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If you have a subscription, NeuralStack.io provides the option to create an account to save your stacks and programs to the cloud. You can choose to sign-up using either Apple or Google authentication. If you do not create an account, you can still install the app on other devices and recover your subscription by using the Platform Restore option in the Onboarding Flow. To access the restore options, tap the 'Restore Purchases' button at the top of the Onboarding screens. For example, if you subscribe on an iPhone and then want to use the app on your iPad, you can download the app on your iPad and use the Platform Restore option to restore your subscription. However, recovering your subscription on a platform other than the one you purchased through requires that you create an account and use the Sign-In Restore option on the Restore Purchases screen. Account creation is optional, but not available during the Trial period to keep the subscription price low. Trial users typically outnumber subscribers, sometimes by 100x to 1000x, which is one reason why so many apps that require account creation during their trial often cost $10/month or more. Benefits of creating an account:
1. Go to Account Settings
To create an account tap the button at the top of the home screen and then tap 'Account'.
2. Sign up with Google or Apple
Tap either Google or Apple to sign-up for an account. You will be prompted to sign-in with your Google or Apple account. An account is not the same thing as your subscription, but creating an account will allow you to access your subscription on other devices. Password Security When apps such as NeuralStack.io use Google or Apple for authentication, they do not have access to your password. The Apple and Google sign-in prompts that appear run completely outside of the app, and your password is never transported though, or seen by the app. Instead, once you have signed-in through their sign-in dialog, the Google or Apple authentication system will send a randomized token to the app signifying that you have been authenticated by their system. If you are using Apple Sign-In and you plan on signing into the app on other platforms, it is strongly advised that you uncheck 'Hide My Email' when signing up. 'Hide My Email' creates a randomized email address that relays emails to your real address. If you create an account with 'Hide My Email' enabled, you will have to use this randomized email to sign-in on other platforms, such as Android, which isn't user-friendly.
3. Deleting your Account
In compliance with GDPR and other privacy regulations, you can delete your account at any time. To delete your account, tap the 'Delete Account' button in the Account Settings. This will delete your account and all of your saved stacks and programs from the cloud. If you delete your account, you will still be able to use the app, but all custom stacks and programs will be saved localled to the device and will not be available on other devices. Deleting your account does not cancel your subscription. If you would like to cancel your account follow the instructions in the 'Manage Subscription' section below. |
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| 12. Managing Subscription | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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You can cancel your subscription at any time. The easiest way to cancel is to go to the App Store or Play Store where you subscribed and cancel your subscription there.
Canceling subscription on iOS
Open the App Store app on your iOS device, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap 'Subscriptions'. You will see a list of your active subscriptions, tap your NeuralStack.io subscription and then tap 'Cancel Subscription'. Following cancellation, your account data will be deleted automatically at the end of the billing cycle. |
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| 13. FAQ | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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| 14. Contact Us | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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Please contact support@banzailabs.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. You can do this by tapping "Email Support" in the app. Support Contact: support@banzailabs.com | |||
| 15. Apple Silicon Mac Support | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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Macs using Apple Silicon (M1, M2, etc) are able to run this app using iPad emulation.
Intel-based Macs are not able to run this app because Apple does not include iPad emulation with Intel-based Macs
as they are based on a different chip architecture. |
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| 16. Spatial Audio | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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| 17. Mindfulness | ⇑Top ⇑Back ⇓Next | ||
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| 18. Prevent Car Audio Auto-Play | ⇑Top ⇑Back | ||
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| Copyright © 2025 BanzaiLabs Inc. All Rights Reserved. | |||