Silence seems like the ideal environment for concentration. But many people find the opposite to be true: they find it easier to work or study when there is constant background noise. The fact is that different types of noise affect attention in different ways—and understanding this difference helps you choose the right background noise for you.
How Sound Masking Works
One of the mechanisms that explains the benefits of background noise is sound masking. A steady background sound makes nearby conversations and other fluctuating noises less noticeable to the brain.
In an experimental study of office noise, background speech impaired participants’ short-term memory, while nature sounds that masked this speech mitigated the negative effect. Interestingly, the subjective perception of workload remained lowest in silence—in other words, “easier” does not always mean “more productive.”
Has it been proven how noise affects concentration?
The conclusion is simple: there is no one-size-fits-all solution. An individual’s reaction to sound depends on their type of attention, the task at hand, and even their mood on a given day.
How Sound Evo Helps Organize the Sound Environment
Sound Evo turns this idea into a daily practice. Instead of perceiving every sound as a threat to your concentration, the app lets you consciously manage your audio environment.
Users can do more than just choose a sound; they can create a space by combining sounds, their acoustic frequencies, and volume. This way, you can do more than just listen to the sound of a waterfall—you can transport yourself to a cabin in the mountains by a campfire.
For work and study: Turn on background sound to create a consistent audio backdrop, mask random external noises, and make it easier to stay focused on the task at hand.
For relaxation: Sound Evo can become part of your evening relaxation routine or a brief break during the day when you need to step away from the noise of information and recharge.
Nature: a respite for the soul, birdsong, a forest stream, ocean waves
White noise: the sound of a shower, a hair dryer, a highway bridge, a city atmosphere, an old town, a bustling restaurant
Music for Sleep: mystical ambient, an exotic setting, a summer café, a winter town
Instrumental music: grand piano, soothing piano, harp melody, dark piano, dream, chill instrumental, piano chords, ethnic night, nighttime drama, organ loop, Thai temple
Rain: tropical rain, summer rain, rain in a greenhouse
Relaxation: Native American flute, mystical bells, the wind in the temple
Children: Brahms’ lullaby, a cat’s purring, all night long, a heartbeat
Space: the glow of space, deep space
Stress relief: the rustling of foam, the rustling of sand, and more.
Try it out
The next time you find it hard to concentrate, don’t just put on your headphones with the default music. Try out a few different sound types in Sound Evo and see which background sound really helps you focus or relax.