Brown Noise
- Low20–250 Hz
- 95%
- Mid250 Hz–2 kHz
- 5%
- High2–10 kHz
- 0%
- Level variationP90–P10
- 4.4 dB
ST-90 · SIDE N · NOISE, THREE COLORS
Brown Noise for Sleep & Focus.
Brown noise is the deep end of the noise family — a soft, steady rumble with the hiss rolled off. Preview it below, compare it with white and pink noise, and loop it all night (or all workday) in NoiseTape.
01 — LISTEN
Hear the difference.
Yes. The 126 sounds marked with a play button loop continuously in this browser player — free, with no sign-in or time limit. The NoiseTape app includes all 126 sounds, offline playback and a fade-out sleep timer.
These curves are calculated from the actual loops on this page. Compare their tonal balance and how much the level changes over time.
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02 — WHAT IT IS
White, brown, pink — what actually differs.
All three are broadband noise: sound spread across the whole audible range, which is what makes them good at masking. The difference is how that energy tilts. White noise is perfectly flat — equal energy at every frequency — which our high-frequency-sensitive ears perceive as bright, hissy static. Brown noise tilts hard toward the bass (−6 dB per octave), so it lands as a deep, almost physical rumble. Pink noise splits the difference (−3 dB per octave): balanced, rain-like, the most "natural" sounding of the three.
| Noise | Spectrum | Sounds like | Reach for it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Flat | TV static, radio hiss | You need maximum masking of voices and clatter |
| Pink | −3 dB/octave | Steady rain, wind in leaves | White feels harsh but you still want full coverage |
| Brown | −6 dB/octave | Waterfall, airliner cabin, distant surf | Sleeping, deep-focus work, sensitive ears, low-frequency neighbors |
In practice most people pick by feel in under a minute: play each for ten seconds and one of them will simply be less noticeable than the others. That is the one to sleep with — masking works best from a sound your brain is happy to ignore. In NoiseTape all three are seamless loops, so whichever you pick holds perfectly steady until the sleep timer fades it out.
RECORDING NOTES
What you are listening to.
Deep, low-frequency noise for long focus blocks and a softer sleep backdrop.
- Composition
- Broadband random signal falling 6 dB per octave
- Duration & loop
- 9.5-second seamless source loop · unlimited playback
- Browser playback
- Continuous, unlimited browser loop
- Audio quality
- 48 kHz mono AAC · approximately 228 kbps in the app
Deep workLow-frequency maskingSleep for sensitive ears
03 — FAQ
Brown noise questions, answered.
01
What is brown noise?
Brown noise (also called Brownian or red noise) is random noise whose energy falls off steeply as frequency rises — about 6 dB per octave. The result sounds deep and soft, like a waterfall heard from inside, or an airliner cabin: all rumble, no hiss. The name comes from Brownian motion, not the color.
02
Is brown noise better than white noise for sleep?
Neither is objectively better — they mask sound differently. White noise spreads energy evenly and can sound hissy at higher volumes; brown noise concentrates energy in the low end, so it masks rumble-type disturbances while feeling gentler on the ears over a full night. Many people who find white noise fatiguing settle on brown noise. Try both — NoiseTape includes white, brown and pink.
03
Why do people with ADHD listen to brown noise?
Many people with ADHD report that steady low-frequency noise makes it easier to settle into a task, and small studies on auditory stimulation suggest moderate background noise can support attention for some brains. The evidence is early and individual — treat brown noise as a free experiment, not a treatment, and simply keep what works.
04
Can I loop brown noise all night?
Yes — NoiseTape's brown noise is a seamless, gap-free loop tuned for 8-hour sessions. It plays offline with the screen locked on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and the sleep timer fades it out gradually in the final minute so it never wakes you back up.
See also: white noise for sleep & focus · pink noise for deeper sleep · noise colors compared · sounds for studying · tinnitus masking · office sound masking · GUIDES · the full 126-sound library