How does sound masking work?

Steady sound raises the floor. Contrast drops. Not noise cancelling, not isolation. Biaura does masking. Match color to the interruption.

Biaura offers binaural beats, pure tones, noise and ambient sounds for everyday listening. Use stereo headphones for beats, or a speaker for noise and ambient playback.

What is masking?

You add a steady sound to the room. The floor rises. Peaks are still there. They just have less contrast against the raised floor.

A bus is still a bus. The tinnitus is still there. But the gap between silence and the interruption shrinks. That is masking.

Is that noise cancelling?

No. Not cancelling, not isolation. Masking is adding sound, not removing it.

Noise cancelling uses a microphone and inverted waveforms to reduce what you hear. Isolation uses a seal to block sound physically. Masking uses a steady sound to lift the floor.

Biaura does masking with white, pink, brown, and green noise. Speakers are fine. Tinnitus masking.

Which color should I use?

White noise is brighter; pink has less high-frequency emphasis; brown sounds deeper on suitable speakers. Green noise is a less standardized label, so compare the actual recording. Keep the background quiet enough that it does not become a new distraction.

White noise is brighter; pink has less high-frequency emphasis; brown sounds deeper on suitable speakers. Green noise is a less standardized label, so compare the actual recording. Keep the background quiet enough that it does not become a new distraction. What's the difference between white, pink, and brown noise?

There is no required order of noise colors for tinnitus. Compare soft sounds you find pleasant, such as a gentle noise texture or rain. Aim for less contrast and easier listening, rather than making the tinnitus completely inaudible. Can noise cover tinnitus?

How loud should it be?

As quiet as it can be while the interruption loses its edge. Test from the pillow or the chair, not the doorway. How loud should the noise be?

One sound at a time

Biaura is an iPhone app with binaural beats, pure tones, colored noise and ambient sounds. Choose a comfortable sound for a listening routine, and use stereo headphones for binaural beats. Noise and ambient sounds also work on speakers.

Do not use binaural beats for masking. Beats need headphones. This job is noise. If you want a beat instead, Sleep or Focus will need headphones.