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Sleep Related Articles and SAD Light Therapy Blog

An informational blog to read helpful articles about sleep related items such as sound conditioners and sleep machines. Also useful articles relating to SAD light therapy products for seasonal affective disorder.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Difference Between White Noise and Pink Noise

Basically, white noise and pink noise are two types of generate acoustic sound. For the reason that they both used to cover disturbing sound in a pleasing way, a lot of people are still bewildered and find it hard to distinguish the differences between white noise and pink noise. For many people, white noise sounds like a running water or rain. It is even similar to the noise of a vacant TV channel. On the other hand, pink noise is described as similar to the sound of calibrated audio equipment. White and pink noise, in some cases, is merged with other sound to generate amusing masking programs such as thunder, fountains, and fan noise.

Now, white noise is a signal whose spectrum is a horizontal line - there is equal amount of energy at every frequency. This is the reason why it is projected to be comparable to white light. Given that white light involves all light frequencies, white noise contains all sound frequencies. Usually, it is done by creating random frequencies in equal proportions per octave either with the use of computer, dedicated synthesizer or a special electronics. It successfully increases the high frequency content due to the factor that every increasing octave is double size of the previous. It is called white because there is nothing distinctive about any part of it just like a white-painted wall.

If white noise is equal the amount of energy per frequency, pink noise is the amount of energy per octave. Pink noise is basically white noise. The thin line that separates pink noise from white nose is that it has decreasing amplitude and increasing frequency at a constant rate per octave. Most simply put, the low frequencies are highlighted as an outcome. White noise has the same level at all the frequencies it is played, but pink noise has more red components, which are considered lower frequencies. It is called pink, because of the position it holds between red and white.

In audio, pink noise is the most frequent color encountered. From one octave to the next we expect to hear a suitable amount of sound energy (depending upon the program material), which is why we standardize our audio systems to pink noise. White noise also sounds like the hiss of an untuned FM radio or the background noise on a cassette tape. The sound of the high noise is taken over by the very highest frequencies which are due to the particular characteristics of human ear. On the other hand, pink noise is described as similar to the sound of a hiss mixed with a rumble or like the noise inside a airline passenger seat.

Normally, the sound generated by electronic masking systems is mislabeled as white noise. Though masking noise is closer to pink noise than white noise, white noise has already become the generic term for masking noise. If you want to learn more about these types of noise, and their relation to human sleep patterns, you can check out sites that offer products that make such noises. Today, these are popular alternatives for helping people with sleep problems.

Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of Sound Machines Direct is expressly forbidden.

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Sound machine information by Mike Zimmerman at 9:15 AM

Thursday, August 9, 2007

White Noise Machines Mask Barking Dogs

Many business professionals crave time for a get away vacation, far from the cities and the noisy surroundings. For this reason, many plan their vacations to the county or go to far away lands to enjoy serene moments with their loved ones. Unfortunately, buying out time for vacation may be costly and there is no guarantee that you would still not hear the sounds of dogs barking, noisy housemates and the like.

If you just wish to relax and free your mind with the unwanted sound, you can use a white noise that masks the noise from penetrating your ears, thus avoiding annoyance in the first place. From the barking dogs to your noisy housemate, the white noise machine covers all the unwanted sound - even your snoring mate. It is for this reason that white noise is also called “the sleeping mate” for it allows you to sleep deeply while the device is on.

Noise is a nuisance if you just want to relax and have a good sleep all night long. If your sleep is disturbed by too many dogs barking that are too sensitive to any noise they hear, your best resort to keep their barks from bugging you is to acquire a white noise machine. All you have to do is position it near your bed or wherever you want to. Then turn it on before you sleep or whenever you feel like some peace within your house.

The white noise works in a way that it masks and covers the whole area that your ears are capable of hearing. The device does not shut the barking dogs off for it does not isolate one barking dog from the other. Instead, this device creates a soothing sound contrary to the simultaneous sounds of many dogs barking in the neighborhood or exchanges of speeches of your housemates. Remember, annoyance from sound actually comes from an isolated sound breaking a total silence. In this regard, the white noise machine or digital white noise cd allows unified sound resonance thus disconnecting silence from noise.

There are many kinds of white noise machines and they come with sound conditioners like the Sleep Mate 980, the SoundScreen 980 Marpac and the like. The latter is highly recommended by the doctors for individuals who are greatly affected with noise.

Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of Sound Machines Direct is expressly forbidden.

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Sound machine information by Mike Zimmerman at 10:40 AM


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