White noise sources for concentration while programming

Question

All -

For the next few months, I'll be in an environment where my teammates will be an arms length from me.

In this environment, when I need to concentrate, I need to put on headphones. But I don't really concentrate well with music, particularly anything with rhythm.

Listening to the stackoverflow podcast this week made me think that white noise tracks for the iPod might be a nice substitute. Does anyone have mp3 sources for good "white noise" tracks? Tracks that you have used and found that help you to concentrate?

My definition of white, or ambient noise is loose here, so water, wind, crickets, Irish Ballads all fit as long as it helps your concentration.

Answer 1

Do you have an iPhone? If so: http://www.tmsoft.com/iphone-whitenoise.html

Answer 2

Have you tried the bird song channel. I've found it takes you away while your coding, as its formless, with no ryhmn or rhythm, or melody for that matter and you code better for it. Bird Song

Have you tried Soma FM, specifically Drone Zone and Space Station Soma. Drone Zone is very whitenoishing. Space Station Soma is more stuctured, very sweeping, may be close to what your looking for. Soma FM

Both can be accessed from Screamer radio if your on a laptop or desktop. You may need to ask if you can get it through the firewall.

Hope that help helps.

Bob.

Answer 3

They don't seem to be free, but there's a pretty comprehensive selection of background noise tracks here:

http://whitenoisemp3s.com/

Useful to see the range of what's available, at least.

Answer 4

These two are good: www.naturesounds.ca and www.purewhitenoise.com.

I have some notes about passive noise-blocking headphones in Good headphones for a noisy office.

Answer 5

I've used simplynoise.com. It has a clean and simple UI and the white noise sufficiently blocks out distractions without itself become a distraction.

Answer 6

I downloaded a great set of mp3s from iTunes recently. It's called Healing Sounds of Nature: Waterfall and Rain. It's 3 30 minute tracks of white noise that works very well for me when I'm trying to concentrate in a noisy environment.

Answer 7

I usually leave the TV on in another room while I'm coding.

Obviously you can't do that at your workplace so perhaps try listening to talk back radio etc. turned down really quiet.

Answer 8

We have on-site specialist providers.
They appear at your cubical and mutter in a low rant something about deadlines, powerpoint, Gannt charts and other meaningless babble - they are very good but a bit expensive to hire.

Answer 9

I strongly recomment silicone earplugs. There's nothing like silence.

Having stuff in your ears is very weird for like an hour, kinda weird for like a couple days, and then normal for the rest of your life.

Sound reduction is great, though not complete. I actually have to take them out to understand when people talk to me. (It's crucial to use it right, it only works if airtight)

Answer 10

Call a local safety equipment supplier and get some good hearing protection earplugs AND earmuffs. Earplugs alone are good for about 29 dB isolation. Earmuffs alone are likewise good for about 29 dB isolation. The combination (earmuffs over earplugs) will give you about 58 dB of isolation.

If you walk while wearing the combination, you will likely hear your own bones creaking, by bone conduction. (Yes, I have done this myself, many years ago. It was an interesting experience.)

Answer 11

I personally just listen to techno podcasts at work all day. If you don't like electronic music then this solution isn't for you but I like it because I can enjoy techno without having to pay that much attention to it.