Over the last two months, I have been experimenting with white noise as it relates to a more restful sleep. When I'm well rested, I accomplish more and am more productive during the day. I have never had trouble going to sleep due to outside noises, but decided to seek a deeper, more relaxing level of REM sleep.

My first step was to purchase an inexpensive MP3 player that would be specifically designated for my white noise. I bought a twenty dollar Coby brand MP3 player off of Amazon. I already had some comfortable low profile ear phones. I use ear phones because my wife doesn't claim to need white noise. I disagree, but that's a whole other thread. Oh I should note that I originally tried ear buds, but they would fall out of my ears during sleep. That's why I switched to the ear phones.

I found some commercially available rain, river, thunder storm, and ocean waves, but wasn't really happy with any of them. I then had the idea of mixing my own with some public domain and royalty free rain sfx on my music editing software. It resulted in a ten minute "song" of a steady rain which after it played, would automatically re-loop on the MP3 player and start over again.

I found the short pause as it looped to be annoying because I rarely fall asleep in under ten minutes, so it was back to the software drawing board to stretch it. I made it longer, but it seemed to still be missing something. Thunder! I added thunder and tested it the next night. The thunder was too violent and would actually jolt me awake just when I would start drifting. Back to the software the next day and I exchanged the loud abrupt claps of thunder for soft rolling thunder and tested it that night.

It was much better and much more restful, but was a bit monotonous. I went back to the software again and added sfx of ocean waves that sloooooooowly fade in while the sound of rain is slooooooooly fading out - making the transition of sounds very subtle. I edited again in a few days to add a few seagulls and really subtle pan and flute music to the ocean waves.

After two months of trial and error, I now have achieved a custom piece of white noise that although an hour and 14 minutes long, provides me with a most relaxing sleep.

It can help to mask loud neighbors stereos, barking dogs, and traffic. An atmosphere of rain and soft thunder is especially relaxing, because one feels they cannot go out to work and they are cozy, warm, and safe under the covers of their bed. The sound of steady, rhythmic ocean waves provide a sensation of relaxation and calm. Ocean waves may also remind one of a relaxing and calm vacation they once experienced. But putting it all together made it perfect!

In the vain of magicians helping magicians, I'm happy to share my finalized, original, and thoroughly tested sleep inducing "music" with my brother and sister magicians.

I've temporarily uploaded it to my web site. Just right click and save target as... http://www.lyndel.net/temporary_stuff/rainyocean.mp3 It will take a little while to download because of it's length, but it's worth it. If you use it let me know how it worked for you!


Lyndel

Interesting Lyndel! I have a noise machine at my shop that I use when I have to stay overnight. Because of all the outside noise (dumpsters, blowers, hooligans, etc.) it can really be tough to get a good night of sleep, but with the noise machine I sleep through it all. I will try your mp3 file and check it out. Thanks man!

Scott

John Tesh?

I was listening, waiting for the joke...but I fell asleep.

Lyndel, where's the joke?

Or just do what I do.... be a deaf magician. I hear nothing at night. You could drive a MAK truck through my bedroom with screaming kids and the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz and I would still not wake up. =)

Kyle

Ha! You sound like my wife!

Can't I ever be serious!? GEEEZ! LOL!


Lyndel

The culprit of my white nights is the BBC... LOL

I just turn on a fan, and that works wonders.

Maybe I should try THAT so I stop getting the urge to wee wee at least twice during the night - what with all the water sounds and all! LOL!


Lyndel

This weekend I was at a motel with a hot tub. It didn't seem loud, but it canceled out everything. I'm not as good of a lip reader, that I thought I was.

I am. lol

You don't have to be deaf in both ears, just one. I always turn my good ear into the pillow and, like Schultz from Hogan's Heroes, I hear Nothing! Nothing!

I downloaded it! I think its great! Nice one Lyndel!

Did anyone notice this optical illusion? White noizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz the zzzzzzz seem to tilt to the south at the ending.

Sounds really interesting Lyndel, Have you researched much about binaural beats? You should google it some time, very interesting stuff.

I just listened to it and I feel like I've lost 5 hours of the day, its gone dark quick.

Well, it must work then! LOL!

Electric Blue, Yeah, I read a little about that when I set off to make my own recording. It IS interesting stuff!


Lyndel