Curated Sound Mix

Pink Noise and River for Tinnitus Masking

Soft pink noise with a river over it, for the quiet hours when ringing is hardest to ignore.

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A quiet background, and what it is not

Many people with tinnitus keep some soft sound going in a silent room, because silence is when the ringing stands out most. This mix is pink noise, which is a gentle hiss, with a river over it so there is something else to hear. It is not treatment, and nothing here is tuned to the pitch of your ringing, which the mixer has no way to do. The idea is a background you can sit under comfortably, not a wall of sound loud enough to bury the ringing, since that usually makes an hour tiring.

Go gently, and get it looked at

Try it during a quiet desk hour or the part of the evening when the house goes still. Start with your device volume very low and raise it only while it still feels easy. Please do not let a page like this delay an appointment: tinnitus that is new, sudden, on one side, pulsing or distressing should be looked at promptly, and an audiologist can assess it and talk through sound options that fit you. Avoid sleeping in headphones that press on your ears, and stop the sound if you notice discomfort, more ringing, pain, dizziness or any change that worries you.

Finding a level you can forget

Set pink noise first and stop where it sits around the ringing rather than over the top of it. Then bring the river in, somewhere near 25, for a little natural movement. If the hiss feels harsh, lower it and lower the master volume, and do not push the river up to make up for it. Speakers feel less direct than earbuds over a long session, which many people prefer here. Make one change, wait, and note which version is easiest to ignore. If nothing feels comfortable, stop the mix and ask a hearing professional about options chosen for you.

Explore the sounds in this mix

Listen to each layer on its own: Pink Noise and River. Or start from scratch in the free online sound mixer.

Grey Noise and Rain for Office Privacy Even grey noise with rain over it, for a desk where other people's conversations carry. Ocean and Green Noise for Stress Relief Rolling waves over a steady hiss, for ten minutes when you need the room to feel less busy. River and Soft Green Noise for Meditation A river out front with a soft hiss behind it, for sitting when the room is too quiet to settle in.

Frequently asked questions

Will this treat my tinnitus?

No. It is background sound you turn on and off, and it is not medical care. An audiologist is the person to ask about treatment.

Should it cover the ringing completely?

It does not need to. Many people use a soft background that sits under the ringing, because turning sound up until the ringing disappears tends to get uncomfortable.

When should I see someone about it?

Promptly, if your tinnitus is new, sudden, on one side, pulsing or painful, or if it is distressing you. A doctor or audiologist can check what is behind it.