White Noise Generator

White noise contains equal power at every frequency across the audible spectrum — it sounds like static or an untuned radio. Pink noise has equal power per octave, meaning it emphasizes lower frequencies — it sounds like steady rainfall or a waterfall and is the most studied noise color for sleep and focus. Brown noise (named after Brownian motion) has even stronger low frequencies — it sounds like deep wind, ocean waves, or distant thunder. Many people find brown noise the most pleasant for extended listening.

Research suggests white and pink noise can improve cognitive focus, particularly in noisy open-plan office environments. The mechanism is "stochastic resonance" — background noise can mask distracting environmental sounds, reducing cognitive load. A 2014 study in Psychological Science found moderate ambient noise (around 70 dB) can boost creative thinking. For focused analytical work, pink or brown noise is generally preferred over white noise due to its more pleasant tonal character.

Yes, at moderate volumes. The key is keeping volume below 85 dB to prevent hearing fatigue — listening to anything loudly for extended periods can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage. For background focus use, set the volume to a level where you can comfortably hold a conversation. Never use headphones at full volume for extended periods.

All noise types are synthesized in real-time using the Web Audio API's AudioContext and a ScriptProcessorNode (or AudioWorklet). White noise is generated by filling audio buffers with uniformly distributed random values. Pink noise applies a filtering algorithm to white noise to achieve the -3 dB/octave roll-off. Brown noise applies further low-pass filtering to achieve the -6 dB/octave slope. No audio files are downloaded — the sound is created entirely by mathematics.

Yes. The White Noise Generator uses a separate Web Audio context from other browser audio. However, the mixing happens at the system level, so the total volume depends on both sources. For best results, lower the system volume of other applications when using noise for focus, or use the generator as your primary audio source through headphones.

They suit different goals because of their frequency balance. WHITE noise (equal energy at all frequencies, sounds like static) is best for MASKING — it covers a wide range of intrusive sounds like conversations and keyboard clicks, good for noisy open offices. PINK noise (more low-frequency energy, sounds like steady rain or a waterfall) is the most-studied for SLEEP — research links it to deeper slow-wave sleep and better memory consolidation, and it's gentler than white. BROWN noise (even stronger lows, sounds like deep ocean waves or distant thunder) is many people's favorite for deep FOCUS, and is widely reported to help those with ADHD concentrate; its rumble is the least fatiguing for long sessions. A rough guide: brown for focus, pink for sleep, white for blocking out specific distracting sounds.

Yes, at a moderate volume — the key variable is loudness, not duration. Keep it below about 85 dB (well below that for sleep — a soft background level is plenty), and continuous overnight play is generally considered safe for adults. The cautions: don't sleep with earbuds at high volume (prolonged loud audio close to the ear can cause hearing fatigue or damage, and earbuds are an earache/hygiene risk overnight) — speakers at low volume are safer for all-night use. For infants, audiology guidance recommends keeping noise machines at low volume and not right next to the crib. As a simple test, set the volume to a level where you could still comfortably hold a conversation over it; if you have to raise your voice, it's too loud.