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In case people aren't yet sick of me plugging the ambient noise generator I built, here are some sites that block out background noise as a supplement to a good

In case people aren't yet sick of me plugging the ambient noise generator I built, here are some sites that block out background noise as a supplement to a good pair of headphones for distraction-free work: http://coffitivity.com http://coffitivity.com http://noisli.com http://noisli.com http://asoftmurmur.com http://asoftmurmur.com I like working with music on, but I find it very hard to find music that allows me to truly focus, and when I do I quickly get tired of listening to the same tracks over and over. I like ambient noise because it blocks out the world without stealing focus. I also like this Buddhist chant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_lNuNUVd4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_lNuNUVd4

dayjah 13y ago
I've been using, and highly recommend, SimplyRain: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplyrain/id635166382 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplyrain/id635166382
- chime 13y ago
  I use this when it's noisy outside: http://www.rainymood.com/ http://www.rainymood.com/
gavinpc 13y ago
Notwithstanding the fact that I'm diverted right now... thanks, these are great. I've been using a local copy of the SimplyNoise SWF since I am offline a lot (which is itself very helpful).
josh-wrale 13y ago
I'm a fan of ambient noise and the likes of Brian Eno. I'm somewhat fearful of using the same tones for _very_ long periods of time. The inner ear doesn't tolerate these well (especially white noise), nor does the brain. In moderation however, bring it on. Thanks for the links.
- gabemart 13y ago
  That's interesting. Do you know where I can read more about this please?
  - josh-wrale 13y ago
    I had a much harder time finding info about the mechanism I reported than I would have thought. I think perhaps I was wrong and I appreciate the prompt to research further. Even at low levels, anything droning I _theorize_ (for the moment) must _habituate_ the listener (e.g. cricket song). I thought I understood that physiologically, such droning caused the tiny hairs of the inner ear to either die or become less sensitive. The brain filters "noise" I understood. Again, I cannot seem to find evidence of this at low sound pressure levels(~volumes), so my reasoning may be a byproduct of some pseudoscience. I understand that tinnitus suffers sometimes use white noise to habituate themselves to the ringing they perceive, and that this reportedly improves their symptoms. However, this conclusion seems incomplete to me. I think there is habituation happening, but I suspect it's: (1) a desensitization to nearly all frequencies (white noise = broad spectrum) and (2) frequency masking. (1) would be sacrificing the ability to perceive across the spectrum in order to minimize the effects of "the ringing" which is only sometimes physically present. (2) (masking) fools the brain/ear into not hearing something that "really" (psycho-acoustically, in this context) is there. Enough of my theorizing though. Most of what I find suggests that "noise" by definition is loud and only sometimes unwanted. I take issue with both over-simplifications. lol. I first learned about the concept while studying to become an Audio Mastering Engineer. I gave up before making it to that level, though. The concept of "central gain" is pretty interesting as a topic of research in this field. Here are some links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18274918 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18274918 http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/03/health/noise-machines-study/ http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/03/health/noise-machines-study/ (contradicts me) To be honest, I'm happy to learn there is little evidence of droning causing damage at low SPLs; I used to sit on a data center room floor with a direct line of sight to hundreds of computer racks. :-) Edit: Another link: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/6/2356.full.pdf http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/6/2356.full.pdf
    - 13y ago
thinkr 13y ago
I also like working with music but can become unfocused. What seems to work for me is to listen to music in a foreign language because that way I can focus on my work and not the lyrics.
- rhizome 13y ago
  Your brain is still going to try to pattern-match on the human voice.
ehsanu1 13y ago
I felt the same way about working with music on, until I found http://musicforprogramming.net/ http://musicforprogramming.net/
lunarcave 13y ago
You know what stuck with me? The Star Trek TNG Ambient Engine Noise. See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCoUvz_nwI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCoUvz_nwI
- headShrinker 13y ago
  This is surprisingly comforting. Really great ambiance. I don't know if this is because I love TNG so much or because it sounds very womb like.
fit2rule 13y ago
Tried http://musicforprogramming.net http://musicforprogramming.net yet? I've found it to be a great source of background music that doesn't interfere with the foreground thoughts I need to have in order to do my job ..

dayjah 13y ago

I've been using, and highly recommend, SimplyRain: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplyrain/id635166382 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplyrain/id635166382

chime 13y ago
I use this when it's noisy outside: http://www.rainymood.com/ http://www.rainymood.com/

gavinpc 13y ago

Notwithstanding the fact that I'm diverted right now... thanks, these are great. I've been using a local copy of the SimplyNoise SWF since I am offline a lot (which is itself very helpful).

josh-wrale 13y ago

I'm a fan of ambient noise and the likes of Brian Eno. I'm somewhat fearful of using the same tones for _very_ long periods of time. The inner ear doesn't tolerate these well (especially white noise), nor does the brain. In moderation however, bring it on. Thanks for the links.

gabemart 13y ago
That's interesting. Do you know where I can read more about this please?
- josh-wrale 13y ago
  I had a much harder time finding info about the mechanism I reported than I would have thought. I think perhaps I was wrong and I appreciate the prompt to research further. Even at low levels, anything droning I _theorize_ (for the moment) must _habituate_ the listener (e.g. cricket song). I thought I understood that physiologically, such droning caused the tiny hairs of the inner ear to either die or become less sensitive. The brain filters "noise" I understood. Again, I cannot seem to find evidence of this at low sound pressure levels(~volumes), so my reasoning may be a byproduct of some pseudoscience. I understand that tinnitus suffers sometimes use white noise to habituate themselves to the ringing they perceive, and that this reportedly improves their symptoms. However, this conclusion seems incomplete to me. I think there is habituation happening, but I suspect it's: (1) a desensitization to nearly all frequencies (white noise = broad spectrum) and (2) frequency masking. (1) would be sacrificing the ability to perceive across the spectrum in order to minimize the effects of "the ringing" which is only sometimes physically present. (2) (masking) fools the brain/ear into not hearing something that "really" (psycho-acoustically, in this context) is there. Enough of my theorizing though. Most of what I find suggests that "noise" by definition is loud and only sometimes unwanted. I take issue with both over-simplifications. lol. I first learned about the concept while studying to become an Audio Mastering Engineer. I gave up before making it to that level, though. The concept of "central gain" is pretty interesting as a topic of research in this field. Here are some links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18274918 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18274918 http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/03/health/noise-machines-study/ http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/03/health/noise-machines-study/ (contradicts me) To be honest, I'm happy to learn there is little evidence of droning causing damage at low SPLs; I used to sit on a data center room floor with a direct line of sight to hundreds of computer racks. :-) Edit: Another link: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/6/2356.full.pdf http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/6/2356.full.pdf
  - 13y ago

thinkr 13y ago

I also like working with music but can become unfocused. What seems to work for me is to listen to music in a foreign language because that way I can focus on my work and not the lyrics.

rhizome 13y ago
Your brain is still going to try to pattern-match on the human voice.

ehsanu1 13y ago

I felt the same way about working with music on, until I found http://musicforprogramming.net/ http://musicforprogramming.net/

lunarcave 13y ago

You know what stuck with me? The Star Trek TNG Ambient Engine Noise. See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCoUvz_nwI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCoUvz_nwI

headShrinker 13y ago
This is surprisingly comforting. Really great ambiance. I don't know if this is because I love TNG so much or because it sounds very womb like.

fit2rule 13y ago

Tried http://musicforprogramming.net http://musicforprogramming.net yet? I've found it to be a great source of background music that doesn't interfere with the foreground thoughts I need to have in order to do my job ..