English
SuomiWhite noisesix versions, measured.
White noise has equal power at every frequency. Each higher octave covers twice as many frequencies as the one below it, so the ear hears white noise as bright and hissy, like an untuned radio or a hard shower.
- 6 sounds
- White static free
- Single steady sounds
What white noise is
In Hush, White static is the plain version. Grey static is brighter still, and Green, Slate, Silver and Sand soften the top end by different amounts.
Across the group, the level between 2 and 12 kHz falls 0.6 dB per octave on average. Slate static is the darkest: it falls 4.0 dB per octave. Grey static is the brightest: it rises 5.0 dB per octave.
Each is a single steady sound, with no layers to mix.
The six sounds, darkest first
The shape is each sound's level in nine bands from 2 to 12 kHz; tilt is its slope. Negative is darker.
Slate staticCool and matteTilt −4.0 dBper octaveOne steady soundHush Plus
Green staticSoft midrangeTilt −3.2 dBper octaveOne steady soundHush Plus
Silver staticLight and detailedTilt −1.9 dBper octaveOne steady soundHush Plus
Sand noiseDry, fine and evenTilt −0.9 dBper octaveOne steady soundHush Plus- White staticClean and steadyTilt +1.6 dBper octaveOne steady soundFree
- Grey staticEven and neutralTilt +5.0 dBper octaveOne steady soundHush Plus
White noise against other colours
Guides about white noise
Noise coloursGreen noiseGreen noise has no technical definition. What people usually mean by it, and how Hush's Green static measures against white and pink noise.Noise coloursGrey noiseGrey noise is white noise reshaped so every pitch sounds equally loud. How that differs from pink noise, and what Hush's Grey static measures.Noise coloursNoise coloursWhat each noise colour means, from brown to violet, which names have no strict definition, and how Hush's own noises measure.
SleepRain vs white noiseRain is darker than white noise and keeps moving. In Hush, Soft rain falls 4.4 dB per octave and White static rises 1.6 dB per octave.
SleepFan vs white noiseA fan is far darker than white noise, with a hum of its own. In Hush, Box fan falls 4.6 dB per octave and White static rises 1.6 dB per octave.Focus and noiseCovering conversationBackground sound cannot block voices, but it can make them harder to follow. Which sounds cover speech best, measured, and why louder is not the answer.TinnitusMatching your pitchHow to compare a quiet tone with the ringing you hear in Hush, what saving a pitch changes, and why it is a listening preference rather than a hearing test.Other sounds in Hush
Brown noiseThe deepest colour. Power falls by about 6 dB each time the frequency doubles.Pink noiseThe balanced colour. Every octave carries the same power.Violet noiseThe sharpest colour. Power rises by about 6 dB each time the frequency doubles.Water soundsRain, surf, streams and fountains.
Nature soundsWind, weather and fire.
Home soundsFans, moving air and household machines.
Travel soundsCabins, carriages and roads at night.Questions
Why is it called white noise?
By analogy with white light, which contains every visible colour at similar strength. White noise contains every audible frequency at equal power.
Which white noise sounds are free in Hush?
White static is free, with no subscription or account. The other five are part of Hush Plus.
How were these levels measured?
Each sound was measured in one-octave bands centred from 2 to 12 kHz, the range Hush uses for pitch matching. A level is given in decibels relative to that sound's overall level, so it shows the shape of a sound, not how loud it plays. The figures come from Hush 1.0.0 (9).
