Covering up noisy neighbours, traffic and snoring
Background sound can't make a noise go away, but it can make it much less noticeable. This is called masking: a steady sound fills in around the noise, so your ear stops picking it out. Doing it well comes down to one rule.
The rule: match the pitch
A sound covers best what is close to it in pitch. A bright hiss does little against a deep bass thump, and a deep rumble does little against a high voice. So start by asking whether the noise you want to cover is low or high.
Which sound for which noise
| Noise | Low or high | Try |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic, trucks, buses | Low | Brown noise, airplane cabin, heavy rain |
| Neighbours' music, bass | Low | Brown noise, waterfall |
| Snoring | Low to middle | Brown or pink noise, fan |
| Voices, TV through the wall | Middle to high | Pink or white noise, rain |
| Footsteps and doors | Low thuds | A deep, steady sound helps a little; see below |
Not sure? Mix them. Turn on brown noise for the low end and add some rain for the middle. That is what the sliders under each scene are for.
How loud?
Turn it up slowly until the noise blends in, then stop. It doesn't have to be louder than the noise, only loud enough that the noise no longer stands out. Going louder adds little and wears on your hearing, especially if you play it all night. The sleep guide has more on safe volume.
What masking can't fix
- Thumps and footsteps are short, deep and often felt through the floor as much as heard, so sound covers them only partly.
- Very loud noise needs a sound so loud to cover it that it isn't worth it. Earplugs, or earplugs plus low background sound, do better.
- Sudden one-off sounds such as an alarm will still get through, which is usually a good thing.
Tips
- Put the speaker between you and the noise, for example near the shared wall or the window.
- Use steady sounds. A thunderstorm or fireplace has its own pops and booms, which can bother you as much as the noise.
- Save the mix that works for your room under My mixes.