the background

> White Noise.

[ Definition:

1. a noise produced by a stimulus containing all of the audible frequencies of vibration (generally from 20Hz to 20kHz).
2. a steady, unvarying, unobtrusive noise, as an electronically produced drone or the sound of rain; especially : one that drowns out other sound.
3. a constant background noise.
4. meaningless or distracting commotion, hubbub, or chatter. ]

There are also several other types of Noise that can be created or observed in the natural (or synthetic) world, each with a slightly modified range or spectrum. These are similarly assigned a "colour": Pink, Blue, Brown/Red, Violet/Purple, Orange, Green, Grey and Black. The colour assigned is derived from a loose analogy between the relative position of the spectrum of frequencies within the audible sound range and its equivalent position within the visible light range; i.e. Violet Noise, for instance, is skewed towards the higher audible frequencies (with a 6 dB increase in power for every octave increase in frequency), just as violet light is near the upper limits of electromagnetic frequencies visible to the human eye //

=: I especially like the notion of Black Noise, which is equated to black light :=
"with frequencies too high to be sensed, but still capable of affecting the environment. it is often attributed to natural and unnatural catastrophes like floods, droughts and power outages. and because of their black spectra, such disasters often come in clusters"

White Noise, on the other hand, can be sensed; it draws on ALL the audible frequencies, in fact. So why is it proving so incredibly useful in treating sleeplessness and assisting with relaxation? (technically, Pink Noise is generally used for this purpose as it has a much less harsh sound than its White counterpart, due to its attenuated higher frequencies) Maybe because it does such a good job of masking other sounds, to remove unwanted audial distractions. Loud traffic noise or the nightclub downstairs can be quite disruptive after all.

Or maybe it goes deeper than that.. #

White Noise emulates the kind of blanket vibration range that can be found in some of the most basic, yet quintessential elements of nature: sunlight, ocean waves, rainfall, wind blowing through a forest of trees. (and even, in a less strict sense, the relatively uniform Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation to which all objects and creatures in the Universe have been subject to since approximately 379,000 years following the Big Bang.) In my opinion, there is no better way of relaxing or getting in touch with your own body's rhythms than being surrounded by, and absorbed in, nature (the Mother Nature from which we came, to which we are still intimately bound - even if an atrociously large percentage of us do not realise or appreciate this as we live our entire lives in the most artificial of environments - and to which we will ultimately return). Either way, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, using a White (Pink) Noise generator - or CD - is now becoming a popular method to assist in restful sleep, and even for parents trying to calm their infants! These devices are also widely used by sufferers of Tinnitus to mask their symptoms.

The majority of White Noise generators are electronic, using real-time Noise produced by electrical signals or by looping pre-recorded White Noise tracks. Mechanical White Noise generators work by using a fan to drive air through small slots in the machine's casing to produce the desired sound.

Using technology to simulate nature.. ^Interesting, no?

So, now that we understand the nature, uses, and production of White Noise a little better, follow me as I try to find a way, not to remove it, but to filter it into its useful constituents; to navigate its vast spectrum, searching for hidden gems; to search out a single voice amongst a sea of millions...

* This blog post was written entirely while I was immersed in the sounds of SimplyNoise.Com


/ Listen

{ From Todd's living room. Market St, San Francisco, CA, USA }