What is "white noise"?

Joel_Cairo · Dec 27, 2008

is it like a specific frequency or something? How come static on a TV makes that particular sound? Waterfalls too, as far as I can tell.

Also, how about "brown noise" or "blue noise," are those real things? What's the difference?

just curious.

Piobaire · Dec 27, 2008

"White" noise?

yachtie · Dec 28, 2008

A continuum of frequencies having an equal power spectrum. IIRC.

redcaimen · Dec 28, 2008

The kind of book critics rave about that no actual flesh and blood person finds pleasure or illumination in reading.

Joel_Cairo · Dec 28, 2008

Originally Posted by yachtie

A continuum of frequencies having an equal power spectrum. IIRC.

thanks! I checked it out on wikipedia, but couldn't really make heads or tails of what they meant (I've spent the last couple decades avoiding math at all costs, so it was greek to me)

otc · Dec 28, 2008

its a hissing noise as described by yachtie.

All frequency bands have the same power. A lot of offices pump in white noise to take advantage of the noise canceling properties of broad spectrum noise.

Pink noise is a close relative to white noise. It is supposed to sound a little but more pleasing to the ear since instead of putting the same power through each frequency, it applies the power across a curve representing the sensitivity of human ears. Sounds a little more balanced and less harsh but they basically all sound like the static on your TV.

Britalian · Dec 28, 2008

Originally Posted by redcaimen

The kind of book critics rave about that no actual flesh and blood person finds pleasure or illumination in reading.

I enjoyed it.

ComboOrgan · Dec 28, 2008

otc's explanation is good. The term "white noise" is comes from an analog to the visible-light spectrum. When all frequencies of visible light are combined, the result is white light, so it makes sense to describe a combination of all sound frequencies as "white". The other "colors" do not have a real-world analog. Here's a good wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_noise

ratboycom · Dec 28, 2008

Is brown noise like hitting the "Brown note" with a subwoofer?

FLMountainMan · Dec 28, 2008

Isn't some white noise left over from the Big Bang?

Syl · Dec 28, 2008

Sound is characterized by its frequency. You are aware of bass, mids, highs etc. when it comes to music. One can break that down further into particular frequencies.
In acoustics, you can look at sound over a frequency spectrum:

On the y-axis is the sound pressure leve, on the x-axis is the frequency (from 31.5Hz to 8,000Hz).

In the above example, you notice that the noise is higher in the range of 500Hz to 2000Hz?

Well, white noise is essentially flat across the entire range.
Here's an example:

gdl203 · Dec 28, 2008

Are you sure you're not expecting a baby Joel? That's the second hint you drop in a couple of days... Babies love white noise as it reminds them of the muted sounds they heard in the womb. I couldn't believe how many channels and albums there are on Rhapsody for that - one night they get washer-dryer sound, next night they get ocean waves.

redcaimen · Dec 28, 2008

Originally Posted by Britalian

I enjoyed it.

Im sorry for you.

dusty · Dec 28, 2008

Originally Posted by redcaimen

The kind of book critics rave about that no actual flesh and blood person finds pleasure or illumination in reading.

One of my favorite books. Maybe it's our age difference?

rnoldh · Dec 28, 2008

White Noise is a band that the Streetwear and Denim crowd like.

What is "white noise"?

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