Colored noise is a hidden gem among distracting study music

Graphic by Annie Liu

The only background noise to give me complete serenity.

Even though I find studying in silence to be effective, I am sometimes unable to focus without audio stimulation. It is then that I turn to soft music (relaxing though somewhat distracting), loud music (ideal if you want to pretend as a pop star) or even movies (definitely the move if you want to finish your homework at 2 a.m.) to fill the void of emptiness. 

The options were endless, but my focus would always drift to the music rather than my work. So, I decided to try something I’d seen online: white noise. 

White noise is a random signal having equal intensity at different frequencies, giving it a constant power spectral density. It is a very neutral sound, acting like a “noise blanket” by blocking other disturbing noises. Above all, it is proven to sustain attention and creativity, and not increase stress like other sounds.

Though I was cynical about its effectiveness, the second I turned on the YouTube video “White Noise Black Screen | Sleep, Study, Focus | 10 Hours,” I locked in like never before. My mind was empty, and my train of thought was traveling as fast as a bullet train to my desired destination. I was on a roll, getting so much homework done that I would be a very happy and free junior for the next week — no, the next year. 

The noise is such an effective neutralizer that when I turned it off for the first time, I was painfully aware of every small sound around my house.

After listening to white noise, I also became acquainted with its family.  There is a whole color spectrum of noises that inhibit different frequencies, all named after colors that have similar wavelengths. In turn, they have distinct characteristics to suit any need.

For example, blue noise has a high frequency and sounds like a hiss, whereas purple noise is similar to the vibrations on a plane while taking off. While pink noise sounds like grating static in your ears, green noise sounds like a calming, faraway rainstorm. 

My favorite is brown noise. It is reminiscent of cuddling with your favorite stuffed animal or the comforting, warm feeling you get inside when you drink rich hot chocolate on a cold day. 

As an added bonus, each color has its own benefits. According to medical writer Po-Chang Hsu, pink noise can help increase productivity, memory, focus and attention span. Brown noise can aid in faster reaction time and organizational skills. Purple noise has even been reported to help with chronic ringing in the ears, or tinnitus.

Suffice to say that when I found this goldmine of sound, I was convinced I was going to be a relaxed and focused academic weapon. Though I’m still waiting to become an academic weapon, be wary because I now possess a superpower: My productivity has gone up, and I am more focused than ever while doing homework.