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Sleep Sounds

White noise · Brown noise · Pink noise · Rain · Free forever
White Noise
Equal energy across all frequencies. The classic sleep masker for light sleepers.
Playing
Brown Noise
Deep, warm rumble like distant thunder. Preferred by many for deeper sleep and focus.
Playing
Pink Noise
Balanced, natural-sounding. Studies link pink noise with improved deep sleep and memory.
Playing
Rain
Gentle rain generated by layered pink and white noise. Cozy and deeply familiar.
Playing
Volume 40%
Auto-stop after
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Why Sleep Sounds Help You Sleep

Sleep sounds work through a mechanism called auditory masking: continuous background noise reduces the contrast between ambient silence and sudden sounds (traffic, voices, doors). Your brain is wired to respond to sudden changes — not to steady sound. By creating a constant sound floor, noise generators prevent these sudden contrasts from triggering brief micro-arousals that fragment your sleep.

White noise contains equal energy at all frequencies and is the most effective auditory masker. Brown noise has more power in lower frequencies, creating a deeper rumble that many find more pleasant for sustained listening. Pink noise falls between the two and has a particularly interesting property: Bhatt et al. (2017, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience) and Zhou et al. (2012, Neuron) both found that pink noise synchronized with slow oscillations during NREM sleep enhanced slow-wave activity and significantly improved declarative memory consolidation the following day (27% improvement in word-pair recall in the Zhou study). Rain is generated here by layering pink and brown noise with amplitude variation — the stochastic familiarity is also psychologically grounding for many people.

All sounds on Breathub are generated directly in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is downloaded. Nothing is streamed. Just pure, free, privacy-respecting sound.

How to Use Sleep Sounds Effectively

Set the volume to a comfortable level — loud enough to mask environmental sounds but not so loud it becomes another distraction. Research suggests 50–65 decibels is optimal, roughly the volume of a quiet conversation. Use the auto-stop timer if you prefer not to have sound playing all night; 30–60 minutes is typically enough to get through light sleep onset.

All sounds on Breathub are generated entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. No files are downloaded, no audio is streamed, and nothing leaves your device. Each session generates a fresh randomised buffer, so you never hear the same pattern twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What volume should I use for sleep sounds?
50-65 decibels is the researched optimal range — roughly the volume of a quiet conversation. Loud enough to mask environmental sounds without becoming a new source of stimulation. On most devices, this is 30-50% volume.
Should I play sleep sounds all night?
You can, but it is not necessary. Most people only need sound during sleep onset — the first 30-60 minutes. Use the auto-stop timer to fade out before deep sleep. The brain habituates to continuous noise; an abrupt stop later might cause arousal.
Which noise is best for sleep — white, brown, or pink?
Research slightly favours pink noise for sleep quality (Zhou et al., 2012, Neuron). However, preference matters enormously — the noise you find most pleasant is the one that works best for you. Try each for 3-4 nights and observe your sleep quality and morning alertness.
Is it safe to use headphones for sleep sounds?
At safe volumes (below 60 dB), yes. Avoid in-ear earphones during sleep due to discomfort and wax build-up risks. Sleep-specific headbands (flat speakers in a soft headband) are the best option if you share a room or need louder masking.