Why Sound Masking Isn’t White Noise

Category: Sound Masking
September 4, 2018

Studies have found mixed results when studying white noise. The question is whether or not it is effective in improving the performance and mood of people in the workforce by masking the background noise common in busy offices. Sound masking has entered the technology field as a more modern and effective solution.

Sound masking helps improve employee performance, focus, and cognitive function. It also promotes privacy and confidentiality between employees and their clients, customers, or patients.

Why Sound Masking Isn't White Noise

What is Sound Masking?

By the simplest definition, sound masking is the process of adding soft, unrecognizable background sounds to an environment. This reduces noise distractions, increase comfort in the office, and protect the privacy of speech.

Architects that develop and design sound masking techniques and equipment consider the best ways to reduce background noise by either Absorbing, Blocking, or Covering (known as the ABC’s of acoustic design) sound. It might seem hard to believe that adding extra sound to an already noisy space would do anything but make it a louder environment. With sound masking services in Maryland, this isn’t the case.

Picture yourself in a busy, well-populated office where the desks or workstations are very close to one another. Sound masking makes it so the conversations 3 cubicles over are not quieter, but just unrecognizable. It makes it hard to eavesdrop and therefore easier to focus. If noticeable at all, sound masking sounds similar to a gentle and steady flow of air. Here’s where we see how it differs from white noise.

How is Sound Masking Different from White Noise?

Perhaps when you think of white noise, you think of a radio that plays only static. If you have children, you may have used a white noise sound machine which provides static-like sound to help calm your child or promote better sleep. Though it is at times successful in its purpose, it can be rather unpleasant, especially if set to anything higher than a very low volume.

Sound masking is engineered specifically to match the frequencies of human speech. It’s designed to sound pleasant and comfortable to the human ear. Even better, sound masking was created with the intention of fading into the busy background while also quite literally masking the sound of chatter and other office communication.

This technology is highly beneficial to workplaces that handle private and confidential information on a daily basis, such as a government security building or a healthcare facility.

If you’re in search of a Maryland office sound masking system, get in touch with the professionals at LanStar Systems, Inc. LanStar is the leading provider of office-wide technology systems such as sound masking. For more information, give us a call at 443-821-2644 or fill out the form on our website, today!


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