Pink noise: sound, difference and use in the evening

What is pink noise?

Pink noise is a steady noise in which every octave carries the same energy. Because octaves get wider toward the top, the level at each pitch falls gently toward the top, by about three decibels per octave. The ear hears it as balanced: lows, mids and highs are all present and nothing sticks out.

The name comes from a color analogy with light. There, pink sits between white and red; in sound, pink noise sits between bright and dark noise. Many people compare it to steady rain, a distant waterfall or wind in leaves.

Pink, brown and green noise compared

Noise colors describe how loudness is spread across pitches. Taceora has these three:

Which color you like best is a matter of taste. Try them one after another on a single evening.

What people use pink noise for

A steady noise has no melody and no rhythm to follow. That is why many people use it like this:

• to fall asleep and to fall back asleep, as a calm bed of sound
• to soften street, neighbor or household sounds
• in the background while reading, studying or working
• as an alternative when brown noise feels too dark and muffled

Try it in your browser

At the top of this page you find the noise generator with pink preselected. Start quietly, switch between pink, brown and green and set a timer if you like. The noise is created live in your browser; nothing is downloaded or stored.

Pink noise in Taceora

In Taceora, pink noise sits in the Noise group, together with brown and green noise, waves, wind and a fan.

• Free to use: warm brown noise and the ocean, no account needed.
• With Complete (one-time purchase, no subscription): pink noise, green noise, deep brown noise and all other sounds.
• Sleep timer: 15, 30 or 60 minutes, or no time limit; with a timer the sound fades gently at the end.
• Keeps playing with the screen locked, and works offline after the one-time download.

How to use it in the evening

Many people use pink noise to fall asleep, to fall back asleep at night or to soften background sounds.

1. Pick pink noise or another noise color.
2. Keep the volume low: you should only just notice the noise.
3. Set the sleep timer to 30 or 60 minutes.
4. Put the phone aside. The sound keeps playing with the screen locked.

Whether noise helps you fall asleep is individual, and the research is limited. Taceora is a relaxation product, not a medical device; if you have lasting sleep problems, talk to a doctor.