The deepest noise color
Brown noise, also called red noise or Brownian noise, puts most of its energy in the low frequencies: its level drops by about 6 decibels per octave, twice as fast as pink noise. It is named after Robert Brown, the botanist who described the random motion of tiny particles in water, because the signal moves the same way, by small random steps. The result is a warm, deep rumble, like a distant waterfall, a strong wind or the cabin of a plane.
On this page the brown noise is generated live by your browser. A tiny leak in the calculation keeps it from drifting into inaudible very low frequencies, so small speakers and earbuds play it cleanly.
Why so many people like it
Brown noise became popular on social media, where many people say it helps them focus or quiet a busy mind, and people with ADHD often share that experience. Research on brown noise specifically is still limited. What is clear is that a deep, steady sound masks low noises well: traffic, a neighbor’s music, a fridge or an air conditioner, and it has none of the hiss some people find tiring in white noise.
| Moment | Suggested setting |
|---|---|
| Falling asleep | Timer 30 or 45 min, volume 3 to 5 |
| All night | No limit, volume 2 to 4, speaker across the room |
| Deep work | 1 hour, then a break with the Pomodoro timer |
| Open office or train | Headphones, the lowest volume that blurs voices |
Brown, pink or white?
| Noise | How it sounds | Energy by octave | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| White noise | Bright hiss, like a TV between channels or an air vent | Rises with each octave (equal energy per hertz) | Masking voices and sharp sounds, focus, babies |
| Pink noise | Softer, like steady rain or wind in the trees | Equal energy in every octave (−3 dB per octave per hertz) | Sleep, long listening, a more natural sound |
| Brown noise | Deep rumble, like a waterfall or a plane cabin | Falls with each octave (−6 dB per octave per hertz) | Deep relaxation, traffic and low hum, focus |
Brown noise does not cover high sounds such as voices or birds as well as white noise. If voices are the problem, tap the sound name to switch to white or pink noise. If you like the rumble but want some life in it, the fireplace and washing machine sounds are built on the same deep base.