What is white noise?
Textbook white noise holds equal energy at every frequency. Plotted across the spectrum it is a flat line, which gives it a bright hiss with no particular pitch standing out. This player begins with that signal, then softens the top end with two low-pass filters, so the output is intentionally gentler than a perfectly flat definition.
White noise can make voices, a television or changing background sounds less distinct by adding a steady hiss. How well it works depends on the sound you want to mask, your speaker and the volume you find comfortable. It does not cancel noise or soundproof a room.
Softened white noise output by frequency
Sounds likeTV static, a rushing shower, an untuned FM radio.
Try it forMaking voices and changing background sounds less noticeable.
Skip it ifThe hiss reads as harsh or tiring. Try pink or grey.
What white noise may help mask
A steady background can reduce the contrast between a quiet room and an intermittent sound. Try it during a work or study session if nearby conversations distract you, or at bedtime if changing background sounds are the problem. Whether it helps is personal; more volume is not automatically better.
If the hiss is distracting, compare pink noise for a softer high end or brown noise for a deeper sound. Keep whichever feels comfortable at a low volume. White noise is a listening tool, not a treatment for sleep or attention difficulties.
How loud should you set it?
Start with your device volume low, then use the player slider to find the lowest comfortable level that makes the disturbance less noticeable. The percentage on the slider is not a decibel reading: the output also depends on your device, speaker and distance.
If the noise itself feels intrusive, turn it down or try a different color. Read the guide to choosing a masking volume for a practical starting point.
How this generator actually works
This player generates its audio on your device with the Web Audio API, using a port of the generator in Veil. It does not stream a recording or download an audio track.
The source is raw uniform random noise, then two low-pass stages at 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz. That shaping matters: textbook white noise is perfectly flat, and left unshaped its top end is the part most people describe as piercing. Rolling it gently keeps the masking power while taking the edge off.
Two independently generated buffers, about 30 and 37 seconds long, play together with crossfaded loop boundaries. Their lengths are chosen to avoid a short shared repetition period. This is designed for continuous listening without an obvious repeating join.
What the research says
A small 2021 study of ten New Yorkers who reported noise-related sleep difficulty found improvements in some sleep measures during one week with a white noise device. It does not show that white noise helps everyone. Read the study on PubMed.
A 2014 measurement study found that some infant sleep machines could produce potentially harmful levels when used at maximum volume close to a crib. That supports careful placement and the lowest useful volume. Read the study on PubMed.
Try the other colors.
Which color works is personal, and a minute of listening settles it faster than any chart. Each of these is a live generator like this one: Pink noise Brown noise Green noise Grey noise Blue noise. Or hear all six side by side. If noise is not the right texture, there are also seven fan sounds.
Common questions.
What is white noise?
Is white noise or pink noise better for sleep?
Is it safe to sleep with white noise every night?
How loud should white noise be?
Can I run this all night?
Is this white noise generator free?
Can I download white noise or listen offline?
Created by Colin Hanson, maker of Veil. The player uses the same procedural audio approach as the Veil app.