Hands-On Review--Pzizz 2.2 (Universal), Nap/Sleep Software

Pzizz 2.2 from Brainwave is audio software for your Mac or iPod that is designed to help you nap or sleep. We were curious enough to try it and we're glad we did.

According to Brainwave,

"pzizz software contains age-old proven ways for people to relax. It uses a combination of music, sound effects and voice. The music and sound effects are soothing and relaxing. The spoken suggestions employ language patterns that are designed to help you get into a deeply relaxed state as quickly as possible and then help your subconscious to achieve the maximum benefit from your time out."

The Pzizz application has two modules, Energizer and Sleep, that may be purchased separately or together for a discount. The Energizer module is designed to produce so-called power naps and the sleep module is designed to help insomiacs go to sleep quickly.

The Pzizz application is used to create sound tracks ("presets") from the modules designed especially for your needs. The presets can be run from your Mac or exported to your iPod, the way that we have used Pzizz since we have no problem with insomnia.

Each preset starts at a random location, so each is different, and you can control whether the sound effects are stereo or Aurora 3D, whether there is a voice intro/wakeup or not, the relative mix of voice and music, whether there is some action at the end (e.g. shutdown the computer) and how long it lasts. Pzizz 2.2 has a simple video tutorial and the Pzizz Web site is full of useful information.

To use Pzizz help produce a short power nap, you need to either be the boss, have permission from the boss to power nap or be in a situation where it doesn't matter like traveling on a plane. Sleeping on the job can be a quick firing offense in some jobs, worse than being late.

We used the Pzizz and the Energizer Module to produce three power nap presets of 10, 20 and 60 minutes in length and exported all to iTunes and then loaded them on our iPod with video. We tried stereo and Aurora 3D sound but all had the intro and wakeup. The latter is really important if you are operating on a sleep deprivation schedule (i.e. less than 7-8 hours of sleep per night) and want only a short nap--believe us on this one.

Pzizz really worked for us and we like the Aurora 3D sound best. We found the 10-minute nap to be too short and the 20-minute nap to be about right, producing maybe 15 minutes of light sleep. We tried the 60-minute nap on an airplane trip and it worked too, waking to the soothing voice and then fully awakening at the sharp sound after exactly one hour.

We think Pzizz 2.2 is terrific--it's simple and effective. It really works for us to quickly induce a short power nap and to wake us up feeling refreshed. Pzizz 2.2 is $29.95 with one module and $49.95 with both. Brainwave also has a free demo of Pzizz to try out so you can't go wrong. [Bill Fox]