What this pairing covers at a desk
Green noise is a hiss, a little softer than white noise, and it is worth saying that there is no agreed definition of it, so one site generates it differently from the next. What it does here is stay the same from one minute to the next, which is what makes it easy to stop hearing. River sound moves constantly, and that movement keeps the pair from sounding like a vent. Between them they soften the higher sounds of an office or an apartment, like talk down the hall, keys and cupboard doors. A truck outside or bass from downstairs is a deep sound, and neither of these covers that well.
Using it through a work block
Open it before you start drafting, coding or clearing a queue, decide what finished looks like, and then leave the controls alone. It helps most in a room that swings between silence and short bursts of noise, because it narrows the gap between the two. If you share the room, headphones keep it to yourself, while a speaker at low volume feels less closed in. No audio fixes concentration, so if the hiss starts to feel tiring after an hour, turn it off and see whether the quiet suits you better that day.
Make the water more or less obvious
If the river sounds splashy and close, bring it down to about 25 and leave green noise steady. If the hiss is the part you keep noticing, lower it a few points and let the water lead. On headphones, start below whatever felt right on speakers, because water detail comes forward when it is close to your ears. Try not to raise the volume every time the room gets louder, since a level you can hold all afternoon beats one that wins for a minute. Save mix keeps your version in this browser for next time.
Explore the sounds in this mix
Listen to each layer on its own: Green Noise and River. Or start from scratch in the free online sound mixer.
Frequently asked questions
What does green noise actually sound like?
A steady hiss, a little softer and less bright than white noise. There is no agreed definition of green noise, so it varies from one site to another.
Can I run it alongside a work timer?
Yes. Use whatever timer you like and start the mix separately. The mixer has its own timer too, which stops the sound after 15, 30 or 60 minutes.
Will it remember my levels?
Save mix stores your version in this browser, so it is there on your next visit on the same device. Share mix gives you a link you can send or keep.