How to use the brown noise generator
This is a live brown noise generator, so playback continues in your browser instead of playing a fixed audio track.
- Click play or press Space to start or stop.
- Set volume from 0 to 100.
- Add a sleep timer and a fade out from the shortcut row. Open Customize for the full lists and the meditation bell.
- Open Equalizer to move 10 frequency bands. Use Tone for Warmest through Sharp.
- Tap Black screen in the nav to darken the display while the noise plays.
Playback and display settings
Volume, timer, meditation bell, fade, tone, and EQ stay in local storage on your device.
| Setting | Values |
|---|---|
| Play / stop | On-screen button, or Space |
| Volume | 0 to 100 |
| Sleep timer | Off, 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 5 h, 8 h, 10 h, 12 h, 15 h, 18 h, 24 h |
| Custom sleep timer | 1 to 1440 minutes |
| Meditation bell | Off, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min |
| Fade in | Off, 3 s, 10 s, 30 s, 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min |
| Fade out | Off, 3 s, 10 s, 30 s, 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min. Default 1 min |
| Mix presets | Super deep, Ultra deep, Soft, Soothing, Ambient, Loud |
| Tone presets | Warmest, Warm, Soft, Neutral, Bright, Airy, Sharp |
| Equalizer | 31 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1k Hz, 2k Hz, 4k Hz, 8k Hz, 16k Hz. -12 to 12 dB |
| Visualizer | Live spectrogram of the noise playing and smooth idle waveform |
| Theme | Light, Dark, System |
| Black screen | Nav toggle. True black overlay, fullscreen when the browser allows it, Esc or Exit to leave. Dark theme is separate. |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android. Runs in the browser on all of these. |
| Audio engine | Web Audio API, synthesized in this tab |
What is brown noise?
Brown noise, also called Brownian noise, is broadband noise with more energy in the lower frequencies. It sounds deeper and more rumbling than white noise.
The name comes from Brownian motion, the random movement of particles. Energy sits toward the low end of the spectrum and drops toward the high end. That weighting gives the rumble. White noise spreads energy across the spectrum in even amounts. Pink noise sits between the two.
What does it do?
It is a consistent background sound that can mask some environmental sounds. People choose it when they prefer a deeper, less hiss-like sound than white noise.
What is it good for or its benefits?
People use it for background sound, masking everyday noise, relaxation, sleeping, anxiety, focus, concentration and a steady environment for work or study. How useful it feels depends on the listener and the sound level.
What does science say about brown noise?
Published studies of this sound color are scarce. Most sleep and masking trials use white noise, pink noise, or unspecified broadband sound.
A 2021 systematic review of continuous noise as a sleep aid, by Riedy et al., found the evidence quality very low. Separate work on broadband sound and auditory masking shows background sound can change how people hear room noise. Messineo et al., 2017 found shorter sleep-onset times with broadband sound in a transient-insomnia lab setup. A review of external auditory stimulation treats much of the sleep effect as masking, not a proven benefit of any one noise color (Yoon and Baek, 2022). That is not proof that this rumble improves deep sleep or cognition. This generator is a listening tool. It is not a medical device and it does not promise brain or sleep results.
Brown noise frequencies and frequency spectrum
The sound contains a broad range of frequencies rather than a single pitch. Its energy is weighted toward lower frequencies, which gives it the deep rumbling character.
The spectrogram above shows the live frequency balance while the generator plays.
The generator has 10 adjustable frequency bands from 31 Hz through 16 kHz. You can make the sound deeper, softer, brighter, or sharper. Each band moves from -12 dB to 12 dB.
- 31 Hz: low shelf, -12 to +12 dB
- 63 Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 125 Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 250 Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 500 Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 1k Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 2k Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 4k Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 8k Hz: peaking, -12 to +12 dB
- 16k Hz: high shelf, -12 to +12 dB
Does it have a 432 Hz frequency?
It is not a 432 Hz tone. It contains a broad range of frequencies. 432 Hz is one frequency within that range, so a search for "432 Hz brown noise" does not describe a standard frequency for this sound on its own.
Is it better than white or pink noise?
Some listeners prefer the deeper character of brown noise. Others prefer the brighter hiss of white noise, or pink noise in between. Preference decides which one to use.
| Aspect | Brown noise | White noise | Pink noise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Deep, low-heavy rumble | Bright, hiss-like sound | Softer, like steady rain |
| Frequency emphasis | More low-frequency energy | More even distribution | More low end than white, less than brown |
| Perceived character | Darker and softer | Brighter and sharper | Balanced, less hiss than white |
| Best choice | Depends on preference | Depends on preference | Depends on preference |
Noise colors and their types
This generator plays brown noise by default. Other colors put energy in different parts of the spectrum.
- White noise: Bright, even static.
- Pink noise: Softer, like steady rain.
- Brown noise: Deep rumble.
- Green noise: Mid-focused, like a distant forest.
- Gray noise: Tuned so each band feels as loud as the others.
- Blue noise: A brighter, high-frequency-heavy hiss.
- Violet noise: Thin treble fizz.
Brown noise sounds and tone presets
The rumble can sound different depending on frequency balance and volume. Pick a mix preset in the player, or adjust tone and the 10-band equalizer yourself.
Use Warmest or Warm for a darker sound, Soft for a gentler character, Neutral for a balanced profile, and Bright, Airy, or Sharp for more upper-frequency presence.
- Super deep
- Ultra deep
- Soft
- Soothing
- Ambient
- Loud
- Warmest
- Warm
- Soft
- Neutral
- Bright
- Airy
- Sharp
| Brown noise type | Description | Preset |
|---|---|---|
| Brown noise typeSuper deep | DescriptionA heavier, low-end rumble. The Super deep preset lowers the tone and boosts the lowest EQ bands. | PresetSuper deep |
| Brown noise typeUltra deep | DescriptionThe lowest mix. The Ultra deep preset raises the lowest EQ bands further. Keep playback volume comfortable. | PresetUltra deep |
| Brown noise typeSoft | DescriptionA gentler character. The Soft preset uses a softer tone and cuts frequencies that make the sound feel too sharp. | PresetSoft |
| Brown noise typeSoothing | DescriptionA smoother mix. The Soothing preset uses a lower volume and a warmer setting. | PresetSoothing |
| Brown noise typeAmbient | DescriptionA balanced, low-volume mix for subtle background sound. Use the Ambient preset. | PresetAmbient |
| Brown noise typeLoud | DescriptionA higher volume mix. Keep listening levels comfortable when you use headphones for long periods. | PresetLoud |
Brown noise for deep sleep and relaxation
Many people use it as a steady background while sleeping, or when they want a quieter room for deep sleep. The generator can play for long periods without a video or stream. Use the sleep timer for up to 24 hours, including 8-hour and 12-hour sessions. Black screen mode turns the display true black while audio continues.
- Off
- 15 min
- 30 min
- 1 h
- 2 h
- 5 h
- 8 h
- 10 h
- 12 h
- 15 h
- 18 h
- 24 h
8-hour Timer
Set the sleep timer to 8 hours for an overnight session.
12-hour Timer
Set the timer to 12 hours for longer playback. There are no advertisements inserted into the generated audio.
Black screen Mode
Black screen mode is separate from the regular dark theme. It keeps the display dark while the noise continues. Tap Black screen in the nav. Tap once for play, stop, and Exit. Esc leaves too.
A custom timer can be any whole minute from 1 to 1440 (24 h).
Is brown noise harmful?
Brown noise is not harmful on its own, but listening volume matters. Long exposure to high volume can contribute to hearing damage.
What are the dangers of using it?
The main concern is high volume, during long listening sessions or when using headphones. A comfortable listening level is better than turning the sound up.
Is it good for tinnitus?
Some people use background noise to make tinnitus less noticeable. Results vary. It is not a treatment or cure for tinnitus.
Brown noise for dogs and cats
Some pet owners use a steady rumble to mask environmental noises that may disturb their animals. Dogs and cats do not react the same way. Start at a low volume and watch them.
Is it good for dogs?
Some owners play it to mask sudden loud sounds that startle a dog. Threads on r/lifehacks and r/dogs share that tip. Those are owner reports, not studies. A given dog may not like it. Start quiet and watch the animal.
Supported platforms
The generator runs in a browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android phone & tablet, iPhone and iPad. Native iOS and Android apps are coming soon.
Windows
Browser
Works in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on a Windows PC.
macOS
Browser
Works in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on a Mac.
Linux
Browser
Works in Chrome or Firefox on a Linux desktop.
iPhone and iPad
Browser, app coming soon
Open this page in Safari or Chrome. You do not need a separate app today. A native iOS app is coming soon.
Android
Browser, app coming soon
Open this page in a supported browser. You do not need a separate app today. A native Android app is coming soon.
Headphones work with any of these as long as the device can play audio.
This site has no Alexa skill. You can play the tab's audio through a speaker attached to the phone or computer.
Brown noise without YouTube ads, music or podcasts
YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify and podcast apps play pre-recorded tracks. This generator synthesizes the sound live in your browser.
Brown noise on YouTube
YouTube can provide long recordings, but advertisements may appear depending on the video and account. This generator creates the sound live in your browser without inserting advertisements into the audio.
Playing this on Audio & Podcast Services
Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and podcast apps provide pre-recorded audio tracks, while this generator creates the sound live in your browser. You can keep it playing as long as you want and adjust the tone and EQ to your preference.
Audio download
The sound is synthesized live in your browser using the Web Audio API. You do not need a downloaded MP3 or a pre-recorded audio file.
Live, loop and free generator
It is generated in the browser, so playback can continue for the duration you choose. There is no short audio file to loop.
This is a free app in your browser. Press play in this tab to start.
Analog vs digital generator
Analog generators use electronic circuits to make the rumble. This page builds it in the browser with the Web Audio API.
What does remastered mean?
Remastered refers to a recorded track that has been processed or improved. This generator synthesizes the sound live in your browser so it has the best quality possible
Can it work like an alarm clock?
The sleep timer stops playback after the selected duration. It does not play an alarm sound when the timer ends.
Meditation bell
The meditation bell rings at the interval you pick while the noise plays. Use it to time a session without watching the clock. Intervals: Off, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min.
- Off
- 2 min
- 5 min
- 10 min
- 15 min
Frequently asked questions
Nothing here is behind an account. Your last timer, fade, tone, and EQ stay on the device.
What does brown noise sound like?
- A deep, low rumble. It is darker and less hissy than white noise. Pink noise sits between the two.
Is this real brown noise?
- Yes. The page synthesizes it live with the Web Audio API. It is not a looping recording.
Do dogs like brown noise?
- Some owners use it to mask sudden loud sounds. That is an owner report, not a study. Watch the animal and start quiet.
Does brown noise actually help?
- Some people use it as background sound for sleep, focus, or masking room noise. Usefulness varies. This page does not promise sleep or brain results.
Does brown noise cause nightmares?
- There is no good evidence that it causes nightmares. Any sound can bother some sleepers. Keep the volume comfortable or turn it off.
Does brown noise damage hearing?
- The sound itself is not harmful. High volume for a long time, especially on headphones, can contribute to hearing damage.
How do I get brown noise on iPhone?
- Open this page in Safari or Chrome. A native iOS app is coming soon.
Can I use brown noise with headphones?
- Yes. Headphones put the sound next to your ears, so keep the volume comfortable during overnight or long sessions.
Is this a brown noise maker?
- Yes. Press play above to generate it live in this tab.
Does it need an internet connection?
- You need a connection to load the page. After that, the sound is generated in the tab. A refresh or new visit needs the network again.
Can I leave it playing overnight?
- Yes. Keep the tab open. Use the sleep timer (up to 24 hours, including 8 and 12 hour options).
Does the timer stop the audio automatically?
- Yes. Playback stops when the timer ends. It does not play an alarm.
Can I customize the sound?
- Yes. Volume, mix presets, tone presets, 10-band EQ, fade, and meditation bell.
Does it save my settings?
- Yes. Timer, fade, tone, and EQ stay in local storage on the device.
Does it work in the background?
- Keep the tab open. A computer usually keeps playing if the tab stays loaded. A phone may pause audio when you leave the browser or lock the screen.