The Ultimate Green Noise Guide
If you have heard of white noise, you may be curious to learn about its lesser-known sibling: green noise. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of green noise, discussing its unique properties, how it differs from white noise, its applications, and how you can listen to it. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of green noise and how it can benefit your everyday life.
What is Green Noise?
Green noise, also known as the mid-frequency noise, is a type of noise that is characterized by a flat energy distribution in the middle frequency range, typically between 500 Hz and 5,000 Hz. This frequency range corresponds to the most sensitive hearing range in the human ear. Green noise gets its name from its similarity to the color green in the visible light spectrum, which lies in the middle of the spectrum between the lower-frequency red and higher-frequency violet.
Understanding Green Noise
Green noise is a frequency within the white noise spectrum. It evokes a sense of nature more than other frequencies, hence the term green noise. White noise encompasses all possible frequencies in the sound spectrum, with equal parts of each, according to WebMD.
White noise may resemble the sound of an air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, fan, or airplane engine, while green noise might remind you of soothing nature sounds like wind or water. Huffington Post reports that green noise is around a frequency of 500 Hz.
Brown noise, on the other hand, has a lower, deeper feel but still contains every frequency like white noise. The New York Times describes it as comforting, steady, and rumbling, and notes that it gained popularity in online ADHD communities in 2022.
Dr. Laura Purdy, a psychologist and primary care physician, describes green noise as ambient noise in nature, which some people find more calming than brown noise. She adds that it has a distinct sound compared to other noise colors, making it more relaxing for those who struggle with sleep.
What is Green Noise Used For?
1. Relaxation and Sleep: Green noise can be particularly effective in promoting relaxation and sleep. Since green noise emphasizes mid-range frequencies, it can help mask disruptive sounds that might otherwise interrupt your sleep, such as traffic noise or conversations from adjacent rooms.
2. Tinnitus Relief: Green noise can help provide relief for those suffering from tinnitus, a condition that causes ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in the ears. By providing a soothing background noise, green noise can help distract the brain from the annoying tinnitus sound.
3. Sound Masking: In office environments, green noise can help mask unwanted noise and improve privacy. By playing green noise in an open office space or through a sound masking system, it can make it harder for people to overhear conversations, thus reducing distractions and increasing productivity.
4. Audio Engineering: Green noise is sometimes used in audio engineering to test the performance of audio equipment or to simulate background noise when mixing or mastering recordings.
Green Noise vs. White Noise
Green noise and white noise are similar in that they both consist of random, continuous noise signals. However, the key difference lies in their frequency distribution. White noise has equal energy across all frequencies, creating a constant hiss sound. On the other hand, green noise has a more focused energy distribution in the mid-frequency range, providing a more balanced and natural sound that is easier on the ears.
Choosing the Right Noise for Sleep
You have a variety of sleep noise colors to choose from. Selecting the best color for you may require some experimentation and understanding of what you are listening to.
The difference between pink and white noise is that pink noise has some of the higher frequencies reduced, so it sounds a little lower pitched compared to white noise. Some people find pink noise more soothing than white noise because the high-pitch frequencies are reduced, Purdy explains.
In comparison, brown noise emphasizes lower frequencies and minimizes higher frequencies even more than pink noise, according to Purdy. Brown noise can have a more coarse sound than pink noise, resembling strong winds or rushing rivers.
Various studies support the effectiveness of different noise types. A 2022 study found that white noise reduced the time it took participants to fall asleep by 38 percent compared to normal environmental noise. Researchers also identified pink noise as helpful for reducing the time spent trying to fall asleep and suggested that brown, purple, and blue noise might also help, although less research is available on these frequencies.
Another study concluded that pink noise was the most effective, and even proposed that color noises might improve productivity in the workplace.
Who Might Benefit Most From Color Sounds for Sleep
Your upbringing and environment play a role in determining the sounds you find comforting and relaxing for sleep, explains Purdy. Some people might prefer the sounds of traffic or silence, depending on their individual circumstances.
Dr. Kristen Casey, a psychologist and insomnia expert, explains the connection between soothing color sounds and sleep problems. For some, complete silence can induce anxiety. Having some background noise is helpful — we often suggest different varieties of white noise, such as green noise, pink noise, or brown noise because it helps the person have mental safety of knowing there is noise there but it is not going to cause awakening.
For some individuals, it can be challenging to switch off their minds, and the quiet of nighttime can intensify racing thoughts or feelings of being alone with your thoughts. (This is relatable to anyone who has gone to bed only to be haunted by an embarrassing comment made years ago at a party.)
Purdy suggests that if you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you can start experimenting with different noise types to find the best fit. “Green and brown noises are thought to help with falling asleep, while brown noises are thought to assist with staying asleep. Pink and white noise can also be helpful for sleep, as they all block out external sounds,” she says.
Sleep noise has been shown to be therapeutic for children with ADHD, babies who struggle to sleep, and those with health conditions, in addition to adults with sleep issues due to anxiety or other causes.
Purdy also notes that white and brown noise might be helpful for those with noisy sleeping partners, such as snorers or parents conditioned to wake up easily for their children.
Finding Your Ideal Sleep Noise
Both sleep experts concur that discovering the ideal sound for you is not formulaic; it depends on personal preference and trial and error.
Casey initially highlights what shouldn not be your go-to noise—television. Some individuals might choose familiar shows, believing they are not genuinely paying attention, but she asserts that your brain is still actively processing the input.
Your brain actually takes in information even when we are sleeping, disrupting the whole sleep cycle, she says. She advises turning off the television and trying white, green, pink, or brown noise from the frequency spectrum instead, which could improve sleep quality and serve as a home remedy for some of the over 70 known sleep disorders.
Adjusting the volume might be challenging at first. Whenever it is too loud, you will find yourself waking up throughout the night. If it is too soft, you might feel anxious that the noise is not there, Casey explains.
You can also set a timer for the sound to turn off if your issue is solely falling asleep, not staying asleep.
For example, if it takes you 20 minutes to fall asleep, consider setting the noise to stop 45 minutes later, just to be safe.
Integrating these natural sounds, such as ocean waves or white and pink noise, into your sleep routine can contribute to better sleep quality.
How to Listen to Green Noise
Listening to green noise is as simple as finding a suitable audio source and playing it through speakers or headphones. There are many ways to access green noise:
1. Online streaming platforms: Many websites and apps offer green noise tracks or generators, which allow you to stream or download green noise for your listening pleasure. Examples include YouTube, Spotify, and dedicated white noise apps.
2. Standalone devices: You can purchase dedicated green noise machines, which often include customizable features like volume control and timers for your convenience.
3. DIY: If you are tech-savvy, you can create your own green noise track using audio editing software like Audacity. Simply generate a white noise track and apply an equalizer filter to emphasize the mid-frequency range.
The Roundup
Green noise, with its emphasis on the mid-frequency range, offers a range of benefits and applications, from promoting relaxation and sleep to providing tinnitus relief and sound masking in office environments. By understanding the key differences between green noise and white noise, you can choose the most suitable option for your needs. Give green noise a try, and you may find it to be the perfect solution for your auditory comfort and well-being.