How to use the noise generator
- Choose a noise colour: white, pink, brown or green.
- Press Play and set a comfortable volume, lower than you think; noise works best at a gentle level.
- Set the sleep timer if you want it to fade out after 15 minutes to 8 hours, or download a 60-second WAV loop to play on another device.
White, pink, brown and green noise explained
Noise colours describe how the sound's energy is spread across frequencies. White noise has equal power at every frequency, which our ears hear as a bright hiss because there are more high-frequency hertz in each octave. Pink noise drops by 3 dB per octave so each octave has equal energy; it sounds balanced, like rain, and is used in audio testing as well as for sleep. Brown noise (named after Brownian motion, not the colour) drops 6 dB per octave and sounds like a deep rumble or distant surf; it became popular for focus on social media. Green noise is an informal name for noise concentrated in the middle of the spectrum.
Steady background noise masks sudden sounds such as traffic, snoring, neighbours or office chatter, which is why many people find it helps them fall asleep or concentrate. Research results are mixed but some studies report better sleep onset with pink noise. Keep the volume moderate (below about 50 dB for sleep) and, for babies, follow paediatric advice to place devices well away from the cot. The noise is generated live in your browser, with no streaming, so it works offline once loaded.
Which noise is best for sleep?
It is personal. Many people prefer pink or brown noise because they sound softer than white noise.
Will it play with the screen off?
On computers yes. On phones, browsers may pause audio when the screen locks; download the WAV loop and play it in a music app instead.
Does it loop seamlessly?
Yes. The loop is crossfaded so there is no audible click.