Having trouble nodding off? Similar to how a ceiling fan may drown out a barking dog or the roar of traffic, these white-noise applications provide a variety of soothing sounds that can be used to calm the mind.
White Noise: How Does It Work?
Not surprisingly, many people report that they have an easier time falling asleep and staying asleep when a fan or air conditioner is on. Since white noise has the same level of noise throughout all audible frequencies, it has a calming effect on the human mind. When we’re trying to get to sleep, external noises like traffic or a snoring partner might be distracting and stimulating, but the way white noise is dispersed can help us tune them out and have a restful night.
Not all noise is white; pink noise, for example, is the second most discussed color of noise after white. The difference between pink noise and white noise is that the former contains more energy in the lower register, making it seem like white noise but with more of a bass rumble, similar to environmental sounds like rushing rivers, thunderclaps, or the wind.
Pink noise may not be as helpful as white noise at helping your brain relax and tune out undesirable stimuli, despite the fact that many people find it more peaceful than staticky white noise. Pink noise, however, has been proved to improve memory, so it could be better for learning, while white noise is best for sleeping.
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Smart Home Assistants And White Noise
You can get the advantages of white noise without ever having to buy a white noise machine or use a white noise app. Simply asking your Google Home, Apple Homepod, or Amazon Echo for white noise will have the same effect. More sound options and personalization possibilities are two advantages of utilizing a white noise app.
Tips For Choosing A White Noise App
The functions of these apps are generally intuitive, though some may offer more features than others. What makes a good white noise app, and why these characteristics are essential, are outlined below.
Plentiful, Customizable Sounds: There’s no need to settle for just one. White noise apps that truly get it provide a variety of sounds to pick from. Some let you combine and modify sounds, compose your own sounds, or adjust knobs to achieve your desired effect.
A Timer: You should not let your phone’s battery go out, so make sure your white noise app has an automatic shutoff feature after a certain amount of time has passed. For those who need to catch a few Zs here and there, several apps provide an alarm function to rouse you from your nap. Apps that can be left running in the background as you switch between them get extra points.
Saved Settings: A saved settings feature would be useful if you discovered a certain white noise sound to be relaxing or helpful and didn’t want to have to listen to them all again to find it. High-quality white noise apps let you save your preferred settings for later use.
External Device Support: Look for apps that support Bluetooth, Chromecast, or AirPlay if you want to listen to audio on a speaker or a TV instead of your phone, as this is also true of music.
Ad-Free: Ads are bad at any time, but hearing one blare at 3 a.m. would be a nightmare. Some of these apps may use banner adverts, but they shouldn’t ever use pop-up windows that are so loud that they drown out your white noise. If you’re interested in using an app that does contain advertisements, but would rather not be bothered by them, you may want to consider purchasing a paid subscription.
Best White Noise App: myNoise
myNoise (Free/$5+ contribution) is the greatest white noise app since it allows you to choose from more than 200 different sounds. myNoise was created and is managed by Dr. Stephane Pigeon, an engineer with a Ph.D. in signal processing and a sound designer. With myNoise, you can choose from a variety of soothing white noise and background noise variations of varying intensities and quality. This software is great since it allows you to set a timer and continues to work in the background without interrupting your workflow.
The software has eight presets of varying quality, such as “White Noise & Co.” and “Tibetan Choir.” There are ten sliders for each audio setting. From deep bass to soaring treble, or everything in between, these can vary widely depending on the environment. Adjusting the volume of each element is a lot of fun to play about, and it’s also useful if you find a certain element to be too obnoxious.
Beyond those initial eight, MyNoise offers a plethora of additional sound effects for download and enjoyment. Making a one-time payment of $10 or a recurring donation of $5 per month will get you permanent access to the site. Even though it’s a lot to spend, the money goes toward Stephane’s ongoing work on the project and the frequent release of new music.
Even if you aren’t trying to fall asleep or focus on your work, you may still have pleasure browsing the app’s (and website’s) extensive library of high-quality audio. MyNoise is not just a terrific software in general, but also the best white noise app available, thanks to developer Stephane Pigeon’s obvious enthusiasm for creating high-quality sound.