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Free white noise samples

Free white, pink and brown noise samples and noise sweeps for risers, snare layers, transitions and sleep or focus sounds, each with a commercial-use verdict.

Samples
36 samples
Sources
from 5 sources
Cleared for commercial use
10 cleared for commercial use
Direct downloads
36 with direct download
Updated

Search live for “noise”Use it from code or an agent

36 samples

Picked automatically from a live search of 41 sites and refreshed daily. Each sound belongs to its creator: check its licence on the source page before you release it.

The most useful sound with no pitch

Noise contains every frequency at once, which makes it a raw material for other sounds. Filter it and sweep the cutoff up, and you have a riser. Shape it with a short envelope, and it becomes a snare layer or a hi-hat. Leave it steady, and it masks distractions, which is why noise tracks are popular for sleep and focus.

Colours of noise

White noise is the brightest; pink and brown noise put more energy into the low end. Producers usually reach for white noise for risers and snares and pink noise for reference mixing, since its spectrum is closer to how music is balanced. Synth-generated noise is easy to make yourself, but recorded noise sources such as tape hiss, radio static and air conditioners have character that a generator lacks.

Noise recordings are rarely contested for rights, and many are CC0. Each card still shows the verdict.

Questions

What is the difference between white, pink and brown noise?
White noise has equal energy per hertz, so it sounds bright and hissy. Pink noise falls by about 3 dB per octave, so it sounds more balanced. Brown (or red) noise falls by about 6 dB per octave and sounds like a deep rumble.
Why do producers layer noise under a snare?
A short burst of noise adds the 'snap' that a snare's wires make, and can make a thin snare sound bigger. Filter it and shape it with a short envelope so it ends with the snare.

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