How to Use a White Noise Machine for Privacy
Privacy can be hard to come by in our modern world. Nearly every conversation and transaction we conduct is aided by technology. Systems can be exploited, and that info isn’t always secure.
It isn’t all tied to technology, either. Thin walls and close quarters can intensify privacy concerns when we conduct sensitive interactions in person as well. That lack of privacy can be troublesome, especially when it comes to our medical and financial data.
Today, we’re going to look at how to use a white noise machine for privacy. Using white noise machines for privacy not only protects sensitive information; it can also improve our moods. How does a simple machine accomplish so much? Let’s take a look.
What is White Noise?
The first thing we should touch on is what exactly white noise is. Most of us have heard the term, but don’t know what it really is. Many people associate white noise with any soothing sounds, like crashing waves or a humming engine. While these sounds have similarities to white noise, neither is a source of true white noise.
True white noise sounds like television or radio static. If you’re not old enough to know what static sounds like, it’s a mix of high, medium, and low frequencies. Like someone holding a long “shhhhhhh…”
Since white noise spans the spectrum of audible sound, it does a great job of masking all kinds of sounds. It doesn’t matter if we’re dealing with speech, loud pipes, or deliveries next door. A white noise soundproofing machine can help minimize the impact of those sounds on our lives. That’s important for a few very good reasons.
The Benefits of White Noise in our Everyday Lives
Noise machines are great for privacy, but are they really necessary? Many people understand the concept, but don’t understand what makes white noise machines such powerful tools. Before getting into how to use a white noise machine for privacy, let’s look at the benefits of doing so.
They Protect Sensitive Information
The first and most apparent benefit comes in the form of privacy regarding sensitive information. No one wants their personal medical or financial information shared with the world. Protecting that privacy should be a top concern of any business that deals in this kind of info. It’s not only for doctors and lawyers, either. Most businesses can benefit from learning how to use a white noise machine for privacy.
A lot of conversations happen over the course of a typical business day. Many of them involve sharing personal information with our clients and coworkers. Doing so in the office may mean everyone within earshot is privy to that personal information. Keep it safe with a white noise machine.
They Protect Productivity
All that conversation going on in modern workplaces can be distracting. Picking up on random conversations while we’re focusing can have a negative impact on our productivity. It can be hard to concentrate when we can hear those conversations too clearly. Utilizing a white noise machine to drown them out provides fantastic productivity benefits and makes the room sound alive.
They Protect our Sanity
Using a privacy sound machine for office settings can have mental health benefits as well. When we can’t focus due to constant interruptions, our stress levels can rise as a result. As anyone who’s ever dealt with chronic stress can tell you, that comes with side effects.
Stress can cause all kinds of problems, both physical and mental. That’s because stress can manifest itself as side effects that mimic more serious ailments. It can cause our hearts to race, create problems with digestion, and even lead to heart attack or stroke. Minimizing the stressors we are subjected to is a huge part of staying healthy. Learning how to use a white noise machine for privacy can help alleviate some of that stress.
The one caveat to all this is that we’ve got to use white noise machines correctly to reap the biggest benefits.There are a few big use factors that influence how well your white noise machine achieves your objectives. Let’s look at some of them.
How to Use a White Noise Machine for Privacy
When we think of white noise machines, many of us think of a small box that helps us sleep soundly. They are incredibly popular among the new parent crowd when it comes to nap time. These machines may be important parts of modern parenting and getting eight hours, but they are equally important for privacy.
Getting the most out of your machines depends on a proper setup. Poor placement and insufficient volumes can leave you doubting their effectiveness. Here’s how to use a white noise machine for privacy and a better night’s sleep.
Utilize Proper Placement
When we’re talking about how to use a white noise machine for privacy properly, placement is important. We’re working with low volumes, so we’ll want to place white noise machines where they pull the most weight. Here are a few considerations to take into account when choosing where to place our machines.
Place Them Between You and the Noise Source
White noise machines are the most effective when placed between our ears and the noise source. The sound waves mix with incoming sounds and make them less prominent. This often means placing white noise machines somewhat near doors and windows. With improper placement, we may just experience the same distracting sounds with a white noise kicker.
Keep White Noise Machines off the Desk
While it is possible to get some benefit from a desktop machine, this placement is not ideal. To get the best results from white noise machines, keep them at least a few feet from where you sit. This will allow you to operate them at higher volumes without them becoming distractions. If you place them too close, you’ll have to operate them at lower volumes. This makes them less effective.
Placing them higher on the walls or on stands also helps increase effectiveness. If placed too low, they often won’t accomplish a whole lot. Place a white noise machine near ear level and it will serve you well.
Hallways Can Be a Great Option
If you have multiple offices with thick walls and a hallway that connects them, the hallway is a good option for placement. Staggering white noise machines between doors is a great way to add white noise at reflection points. This creates a mix that makes it harder to hear other peoples’ conversations. Placing machines in the hallway is a great way to utilize white noise to prevent eavesdropping.
Find an Acceptable Volume
We can’t talk about how to use a white noise machine for privacy without talking volume. This is another variable that can make your white noise machine more or less effective. Choosing the wrong volume could land you with a noisy office or ineffective noise blocking.
How Loud Should It Be?
First, you’ve got to consider the location. Appropriate levels of white noise for office spaces may be different from appropriate levels of white noise for apartment bedrooms.
In the Office
When choosing a volume for the office, you’ll have to consider your expectations. For privacy, the level of white noise for the office should be set 1-3 decibels above ordinary speech volume. This will ensure satisfactory sound masking without being too loud.
At minimum, your volume should be loud enough to minimize changes in the audible atmosphere. That means when pronounced sounds head your way, they mix with the ambient tone to lessen its impact. The volume should also be loud enough to block out any annoying utility sounds, like the furnace, washing machine, or water passing through pipes.
If you’re using a white noise machine to drown out environmental noise, that low volume may not cut it. When you have greater noise control needs, you may need to step it up, but don’t go too loud. If the white noise machine is ever uncomfortable to listen to, turn it down.
In the Home
Just like in the office, use your best judgment when choosing the volume of your white noise machine at home. The most common use for white noise machines in the home is to help facilitate a good night’s sleep. When it comes to sleeping, the ideal level is somewhere around 50 decibels. It’s not loud enough to be distracting, but it’s loud enough to help lull you to sleep.
If you’ve got a lot of noise in the neighborhood, again, you may need to turn up the volume. Consider any sounds that regularly fill the night air in your home. Make sure your white noise machine is loud enough to minimize changes in the audible atmosphere, but not so loud that it keeps you awake.
Choose a Great Provider
White noise machines for office privacy are a great solution, but know what you’re doing. Learn how to use a white noise machine for privacy before you get started. This will help you avoid any pitfalls that make your solution less effective. A great provider can lessen your learning curve.
Going with a great company will ensure your white noise privacy solution is as effective as possible. We’ve got the products and know-how to help you achieve your goals effectively and on budget. If you’re interested in learning more about how to use a white noise machine for privacy, reach out to us. We’d love to help.
