Free Masking Sound Files
Sep 15th, 2008 by rob
I would like to share with you here some sound files that I have created that can help mask your tinnitus . One of the files was recorded down at my local beach “Costa Del Cleethorpes”, here I picked up some nice wave breaking sounds in high quality stereo. I find the sounds of the sea very soothing and its nice to have on when reading a book along with some mellow music. It took me 40 mins to catch this clip as I had to find a 3 minute period in the file that didnt have a “car horn” “train whistle” ” or “damn dog sniffing at the mic”
Also there is a sound file I made of a running shower ( I wasn’t in it at the time) - I dont know why, but the shower is one of the few places that my tinnitus doesn’t sound to bad - maybe it’s because the water droplets are all high pitched just like my tinnitus. Its good to use this file if your having a bit of hard time and just need a different noise in your head.
I have also included three files of white noise, purple noise, and pink noise — white noise is equal broad band spectrum sound — purple noise is broadband noise with more emphasis on higher frequencies — pink noise is broadband noise with more emphasis on lower frequencies.
These files are three minutes long each - If you put them on your i-pod, just set it to loop and it will play continuously.
Here is the link tinnitus sound files -
Enjoy
ps – I have been asked if these mp3 files can be put onto a cd so that they can be played in a cd player — here’s how to do it.
1. First you will need a blank cd and also a cd player on your computer that can (re-write). Your computers cd player will have “re-writable” written on the front of it if it can.
2. Download this free piece of software called express burn
3. Once you have installed the software - just simply insert your blank disc into cd drive, open up “express burn” and drag the mp3 files into the window - and click the “burn button” in bottom left corner. You now have a cd that you can play in a normal cd player.
hi! i downloaded your mp3 files, they’re great! I recently suffered huge noise trauma and T i had got much worse, and i developed Hyperacusis. I just wonderd how best to “take it easy” as i’ve been told to do. is it best to avoid ALL sounds, or just loud sounds. because i noticed talking on a mobile phone makes my T worse momentarilly, it never used to! Will taking a rest make my ears better? Cheers for any info
J
Hi — sorry to hear about your hyperacusis — avoiding all sounds is a definate no no, because your hearing will increase its sensitivity to noise. I think what you you need is to gently re-build up your tolerance to sound - pink noise is good for this as it doesn’t have too much high pitched static which can be uncomfortable for hyperacusis.
If your in the UK you could also consider TRT ( tinnitus retraining therapy) they supply you with wearable noise generators which can help with hyperacusis.
If you need a longer pink noise mp3 file just drop me a mail and I will send one to you - it will only take me ten mins.
bye
Hi Ro, I cant seem to down load the noises from ur link, is there some thing I am doing wrong, I am clicking onto the link thanks
Anne
Hi Anne
I have just tested the link and it seems to work for me — you could try this direct link to the file here http://www.lets-beat-tinnitus.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/tinnitus-mp3s.zip
If this doesn’t work I will e-mail you the files for you ..
TC
Got them!!! Thank you so much this is working pretty good. I wonder what happens if when I stop today and if I will have RI for the night.
Thanks Rob - like you, my is high frequency so the sounds of trickling water is a real help. Have bought an MP3 player so will put these on.
Thanks!
Jack
i have tinnitus as well and lately been having a hard time with it, i hope these masking sounds help. funny thing too, when i shower i tend to not notice it too. thanks.
Thanks for the MP3s. The soapy shower works perfectly!
I’m not sure when I developed tinnitus, but I must have been very young since I can’t ever remember not having that 4000 Hz ringing in my head (so I’ve lived with it for something like 40 years now). The ringing’s never bothered me except for a few times when I was in a very quiet place and the ringing was the only thing I could hear. It was about 12 years ago, I was sitting in bed reading when I couldn’t stop listening to the ringing. Drove me nuts for awhile, but eventually I stopped paying attention to it.
A few days ago I read the article in The New Yorker on tinnitus and it really freaked me out. I just assumed that there was some kind of fix. The article describes attempts to mask the ringing and that’s how I came across this web page. I’ve experimented with the sounds. I quite like the beach sounds. Works nicely while I’m reading or trying to write.
I’ll have to say though that not even thinking about the ringing is the best approach. The past few days while I’ve been trying to mask the ringing have caused me to do something I’ve never done before: actually start listening to that ringing and thinking about it.
What seems to work best for me is to consciously prevent myself from trying to hear the ringing. I’ll focus on any sound in my environment that is outside my head or better yet just get completely absorbed in some task or problem.
Hi Rob,
It’s a good thing you’ve done here.
I seem to be getting some result out of your high-frequency workout.
Do you have any ‘white noise’ that includes those higher (really really high) frequencies?
Nick
Hi Nick
I havn’t got such a file but I could make you one if you specify what tones you would like — You may also find my circadas masker file usefull — It is really good at masking high pitched tinnitus and is an hour long so you dont get any annoying loops — here is the direct link for you.
http://www.lets-beat-tinnitus.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/Circadas-T-masker.zip
thanks
I’ve been dealing with what sounds like a 60 cycle hum for months now. I’ve also been dealing with benign positional vertigo. Don’t know which started first, but I can’t get rid of either. Anyway, I find that the shower works best - I never hear it in the shower. I’ll give these masking sounds a try.
Thanks
For the first time in a long time, I have found something that masks the sound in my head. Your circadas masker file. I almost cried it was like the noise in my head wasnt there anymore. Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much.
James
Hi Rob, just want to say thank you for sharing the sound files.
I have been looking all over internet to find ocean waves sounds/music, I have seen a few good ones on youtube but I cannot find a link to download them (for free).
I don’t want to advertise, but I have seen the files from whitenoisemp3s.com but I cannot find any link to have the files for free, would you know where can I get them for free? I only intend to listen to them and not to make a profit. I currently live in a asian country and I cannot buy them because I cannot afford, yet.
I really love ocean waves music/sounds. If is possible can you help me where or how to find them, I couldn’t find anything so far, I found your blog on google by searching “sleepy beach waves”
thanks
Valentine
Hi Valantine
I just had a quick look and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of free stuff out there — If you send me a link to a piece of youtube music you enjoy then I will look around for something similar ….
One free tool you could use is “freecorder” .. it records the music you are listening to on your computer to a mp3 file — you could record a piece of youtube music you like using that — as long as you don’t sell it/share it - it should be fine.
Another good free tool is “atmosphere deluxe” it has lots of natural sounds and it allows you to create your own mp3 files — a demo trial version can be found here
http://www.vectormediasoftware.com/products.htm
good luck
I have been suffering from tinnitus for about 30 years - High pitched, probably due to not wearing ear plugs when out shooting. Recently I purchased a DVD from tinnitus-masking.com that has really helped to block out the noise. Relief is only for a few hours after listening however I do feel that each time I listen I go longer without hearing my tinnitus. In particular, the hypnotherapy track has now convinced me that I can move the tinnitus noise further away from me. It seems weird, but by distancing myself from it, it becomes less annoying. Have any other sufferers had similar experiences or success with masking?
Thank you so much for these files! I developed tinnitus 7 years ago after a night out with friends, and it has been a struggle to deal with it ever since. These sound files will make such a big difference, even reading will become enjoyable again
Much appreciated!
Thanks for the files! I’ll try them out when I get home.
Have you ever tried any dietary changes, and have they ever worked? I heard that consuming less sodium, caffeine and alcohol can help. Also, have you tried any homeopathic vitamins/ear drops? I bought some of both recently and just started them. It says to try over a long period of time. Has anyone had any luck with those?
~Jared
These are great - you should get an award or something for this. I’ve had tinnitus for a couple of years and had habituated but made the mistake of going to a concert with earplugs a couple of months ago. Sadly they didn’t really protect me and made the T much worse. So much so that I couldn’t sleep. These work perfectly for me - especially the purple noise. Given all the sites that try and milk tinnitus cures, it’s really good of you to give them away for free.
pls send me the tinnitis files i cant download thanks a lot
Hello, Thanks for the cicadas masker file it makes a change from the purple noise I’ve been listing to for the last three years since my tinnitus started, I thought I would just mention that anyone using these or any other masking noise files should set the volume level at just below the level of your tinnitus, the volume should not be so loud as to completely block out your tinnitus.
I have been told this by my hearing specialist who I have been seeing for about six months, having the volume to loud can be counter productive and irritate the tinnitus and while this was how masking sounds were used in the past it’s now considered not the way to use them and the volume should be set just below your tinnitus level the theory being that the brain will then focus on the slightly quieter noise rather than on your tinnitus.
I have been using a sound generator for six months which just does the same thing as a sound file and you also set it’s volume below your tinnitus level but it didn’t really help me because the ear piece acts like an earplug so it blocks out quite a lot of external noise which can also be a mask and distraction and makes my tinnitus sound louder, put your fingers in your ears and block off the outside noise, same thing as the sound generators ear plug does.
I found accepting that I had tinnitus and then trying to just ignore it and find distractions and get on with life does help but it’s not always that easy as I have two tinnitus sources at slightly different frequencies (probably why the cicadas sound works for me because there are different frequencies in it) one on the left side of my head and one on the right side, they are like very loud jet engines and because they are so loud even though my hearing is quite good I have to listen through the tinnitus and this knocks off the top end treble of my hearing so sounds are dull and flat.
Mike.
Hi
thanks for these files it will be interesting to see which work or me. I loved the article on making your own headphones to sleep in too . I found the free mp3 files available at sleepphones. com helped to get me to sleep by averting my attention from my tinnitus. The Delta waves element to those sound definitely encourages sleep and I have found the download to help concentration is also useful at work.
Hi Rob, Thanks for the MP3’s and your advice,i’ve had T for about 2 years now and i’m just starting to come to terms with the fact that there is no cure. just to know that i’m not alone does help.
What is worrying is that things can make it worse, that is really scary.
maybe a definite list of known ‘DONT’S’ would be helpful as the thought of it getting worse is terrifying!.
Thanks again, Adrian.
Good idea Adrian — I do intend to pick this blog back up when I get some spare time — that would be a useful post — thanks
Thank you. Thank you. The purple noise is wonderful relief.