What to listen to while working from home
If you’re in the mood to listen to something while working or hanging out at home, but find that your favorite music, audiobooks, etc. just aren’t striking the right chord, then consider soundscapes and ambient noise as an alternative. Ambient noise isn’t a particularly new solution to the ‘I want something playing in the background that isn’t distracting’ dilemma. What is new is your breadth of choice, including the combination of audio and visual media.
One of the nice things about listening to ambient soundscapes as background noise is that most ambient sounds are made to play for long periods of time. In fact, you can use ambient noise as a timer by choosing a format that allows you to set a fixed duration á la Pomodoro. You can easily set windows of time that last anywhere from half an hour all the way up to 10 or more hours depending on your needs by finding ambient Youtube videos of your desired length. The 8-hour long ambient mixes can be a nice way to time your workday in the background when you’re working from home.
Alternatively, there are plenty of infinitely loopable soundscape options if you’d rather just set it and forget it until you’re ready to stop listening – whenever that may be. The nice thing about finding ambient atmospheres on YouTube is you have the option to set them to loop indefinitely. Although it takes an extra step, by looping your favorite ambient soundscape on YouTube, you don’t have to worry about the amount of time you’ll spend listening to it.
Beyond the time aspect, the ambient soundscapes I’ve encountered online mostly fall into these two general categories:
- Pre-made sounds & soundscapes
- Customizable sounds & soundscapes
A Word of Warning
If you do happen to set an ambient atmosphere to loop on YouTube, it may eventually pause automatically to ask whether you’re still watching. This has happened to me both on my computer as well as on my TV, but it usually takes a few hours.
Customizable Sounds & Soundscapes
This category spans the breadth of everything from simple customizability on one end of the spectrum, to very detailed controls on the other end of it. By customizability, I mean the ability to change the individual sounds that comprise your soundscape. This lets you adjust everything to your exact specifications.
For example, if you’re listening to a soundscape of a café during a storm, then a customizable version will let you change the volume of elements like the rain, the fireplace, the wind, the people talking in the background, etc. More advanced versions will even let you control things like wether each sound element is louder in your left or right ear.
While figuring out what your ambient tastes are, you might encounter sounds that irk or distract you. This is where customizable ambient noise set-ups provide a lot of value because they let you control how different sounds stand out as they interact within a soundscape.
If you disagree with the default mix of sounds, you can change them to your heart’s content if the soundscape is customizable. Depending on the degree of control the creator provides, you can create highly customized aural atmospheres that suit your preferences and state of mind.
Here are some of the customizable ambient noise and soundscape mixers I’ve found online – they’re all over the spectrum of customizability.
Customizable Ambient Soundscapes on the Web
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient Mixer | My all-time favorite source of ambient sound, this website provies relatively advanced customization options, although Aura takes the cake in that regard. What I like most is the number of community-submitted pop culture soundscapes available to choose from |
| I Miss the Office | This beautifully designed, customizable office noise simulator was recommended by my co-worker. For those of you who miss being in an office environment, this soundscape generator lets you build your soundscape with a variety of common office product sounds, and even lets you set the number of people murmuring in the background. |
| A Soft Murmur | This minimal website lets you choose and combine between 10 free sounds, and 13 premium sounds that range from natural soundscapes to urban settings |
| Noisli | The free version of this app comes with 16 sounds that can be streamed for up to 15 hours per day. Its playlist, timer, and text editor options are definite differentiators |
| Noises Online | Combine and choose between 30 different soundscape elements to create your perfect ambient atmosphere |
| Rainyscope | Although this website only provides 6 different sounds to choose from, the way it visually recreates raindrops on glass makes it worth a try |
| MyNoise | If you’re looking for a soundscape repository with a lot of options, MyNoise is definitely the place for you |
| Noizio Lite | This Apple app is the free version of a different premium app with many more soundscape options if that’s your thing |
| Aura | This soundscape player is quite possible the most advanced ambient sound mixer I’ve ever come across. You just have to see it to believe it. Available for Mac, Windows and Linux |
| Raining FM | This simple app lets you layer three basic sounds to create just the right intensity of storm for your mood |
| Rainy Cafe | On the extremely simple end of the spectrum, this website lets you overlay two distinct sound elements to create a rainy cafe soundscape |
| Calmy Leon | This website provides 10 ambient sounds for layering. It categorizes them as either ‘Zen Channel’ sounds, or ‘White Noise’ sounds |
Pre-Made Sounds & Soundscapes
If the only thing you can control about the ambient soundscape is its volume, then it’s considered a pre-made sound. This includes websites and apps that may provide a variety of soundscapes in gallery format. Some of these may come with a visual component too.
Here are a few free examples of pre-made soundscapes that run the gamut between time-boxed and infinitely loopable. All but one are available as standalone sites, while the last one in the list is an app specifically for Ubuntu operating systems.
Pre-Made Ambient Soundscape Examples on the Web
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Snowy Escape | Kick back in a cozy, warm cabin during a snow storm with this visually and aurally pleasing website |
| Moszen | Choose from 24 different nature-inspired soundscapes based on their photos |
| Coffitivity | Includes three free urban soundscapes, and three additional premium soundscapes |
| Rainy Mood | All it takes is the click of a button to be transported to a rainy day |
| Snowy Mood | Inspired by Rainy Mood, this website transports you to a snowy day with the click of a button |
| Time for Zen | Choose from 25 different soundscapes that range from infitely loopable to fixed-time |
| Tabletop Audio | 10-minute long soundscapes best suited as backdrops for games and stories |
| Hipster Sound | A collection of 3 free, and 5 premium soundscapes inspired by urban scenes from around the world |
| Ambient Noise for Ubuntu | A simple Ubuntu-based app that’s installed through the CLI and plays ambient noise |
Pre-made Ambient Soundscape Examples on YouTube
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Magical Tearoom by Miracle Forest | This 8-hour long cinemagraph features realistic, subtle visuals and the crisp sounds of a crackling fire, steaming beverages, and background conversation in a cozy tearoom. |
| A Night in the Enchanted Forest by Miracle Forest | An 8-hour long night in a digitally illustrated, firefly-filled forest full of the sounds of crickets and the sparkling sounds of ambient music. If the sound of bugs bothers you, this video might not be the one for you. |
| Room in the Clouds by Miracle Forest | A light and airy digitally illustrated living room atmosphere at dusk with a view of the clouds featuring light crackling sounds. Definitely something more subtle to put on in the background for an hour. |
| Swamp Sounds at Night by The Guild of Ambience | Stop for a 3-hour rest in front of a digitally illustrated quaint bridge leading to a cozy cottage deep in a mysterious swamp, and let the sound of forest animals and light rain accompany you as you work. |
| Library Sounds by The Guild of Ambience | Spend 2 hours listening to the gentle hum of a digitally animated, dark and cozy library with glowing candles and lanterns, and plenty of comfy corners to study in. |
| Dark Ambience: Cave Sounds by The Guild of Ambience | If you enjoy fantasy concept art, then you’ll be right at home in this photorealistic vast stone chamber and its shifting beams of light while the sound of dripping water and other cave mainstays surround you for 45 minutes. |
| Potion Shop of Sounds by The Guild of Ambience | Spend 45 minutes relaxing in this digitally illustrated calming potion shop full of bubbling cauldrons, soothing candles, and glowing lamps. |
| Fireplace Sounds in Medieval Tavern by The Guild of Ambience | If you’ve got an hour to spare, this digitally illustrated nighttime ambience gives you the best seat in the house at a bustling inn with a warmly crackling fireplace during the busy dinner hour. Don’t worry, you get a spot to yourself! |
| Night Rain in Springtime by ΣHAANTI - Virtual Environment | This 2-hour long realistic video of a cabin nestled away during a springtime rainstorm is accompanied by the soothing sounds of persistent rain and forest wildlife. |
| Rainy Day at the Coffee Shop by ΣHAANTI - Virtual Environment | An 8-hour long realistic video of a coffee shop with moody lighting, filled with the sound of rain on the windows, jazz in the air, and conversation amongst friends. |
| Royal Library with Crackling Fireplace During a Storm by New Bliss | If you’re looking for a video to warm you up, I find that this 3-hour long, digitally illustrated library atmosphere’s many glowing lanterns add just the right visual touch to the crackling sounds of the hearth and the sound of a storm in the background. |
| Thunder & Rain Sounds in Astronomy Room by New Bliss | This is my runner up for a video that can warm your soul up on a cold day. At 3 hours long, its gently glowing, digitally animated light fixtures and warm wood accents add warmth to the storm that rages in the background. |
| Starfield: 2 Hours Deep Space Travel by Zenchantment | This one’s light on foley and heavy on music, but at 2 hours long, the combination of hypnotically animated starscape and ambient music make it a good choice for playing in the background while working, especially if you’re into sci-fi themes. |
| Cityscape of Mars Base Alpha-1 by Epic Ambience | At 10 hours long, this sci-fi inspired Mars base ambience is probably the longest pre-made soundscape in this list. Like the animated starfield, it’s heavy on ambient music and light on foley sounds, but if you like the thought of watching a Martian city pass you by while you work, then what’s not to like? |
| Mars Facility by Ambience Lab | This 2-hour long, photorealistic sci-fi atmosphere features soothing environment sounds (think wind and airflow), as well as office sounds like keyboard typing. The fog gently rolling outside the spaceship window is a nice touch. |
| Night Greenhouse Ambience by Autumn Cozy | This 3-hour long digital animation invites you in with twinkling lights and stars that serve as the backdrop to a truly cozy greenhouse at night. It predominantly features the normal nature sounds you’d hear outdoors at night, like bugs chirping. |
| Fireplace by Fireplace 10 Hours | This is perhaps the most straightforward of all the videos in this list in terms of the premise. It’s literally a 10-hour video of a fireplace. Having said that, this particular fire soundscape has a lot of crackling, so if you find that kind of thing distracting, beware! |
| Cozy Ship Sounds During a Storm by Calmed by Nature | Imagine you’re in a cozy boat cabin during a rainstorm. This 3-hour long digitally animated atmosphere makes it a lot easier to place yourself there in your mind’s eye, with muted storm sounds and a porthole out of which you can see the storm run its course. |
Pre-made Ambient Soundscape Examples on Spotify
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Nature Soundscapes | This album by ‘Soundscapes!’ has 15 tracks that range from the element of water, to air, to earth. |
| Ambient Nature Sounds | This album by ‘Ambient Nature Sounds’ has 10 tracks, and they’re all ambiguously named with track titles that show you how many different ways you can combine the words ‘nature’ and ‘sound’ to make distinct phrases. |
| Ambient Soundscapes | As the name of its creator might suggest, this 6-track album by ‘Rain’ features a lot of water-based sounds, with the options of accents like fire, walking, talking and thunder to spice things up. |
Pre-made Ambient Soundscape Examples on Spotify Made by Spotify
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Spring Garden | Travel to the English country and get lost in the Australian bush with this 21-track, Spring-themed playlist by Spotify. |
| Fire Sounds | If you just want to hear the world burn, then this 36-track playlist by Spotify has got you covered with a combination of fireplace and campfire sounds. |
| Nature Sounds | With 46 tracks, this collection of nature sounds curated by Spotify takes you on a journey to some of the most soothing spots in nature. |
| Nature Noise | If you just can’t get enough of nature, this 61-track playlist by Spotify shows you the best of what the natural world has to offer. |
| The Sleep Machine: Waterscapes | Sometimes music that’s meant to help you fall asleep can also help you chill out while you work. This 132-track, water-themed playlist curated by Spotify ensures that you’ll have no shortage of waves to carry you to the end of the day. |
| Ocean Escapes | Hear the ocean in all its diverse temperaments and lose yourself to sounds of its waves with this 118-track playlist by Spotify. |
| Birds in the Forest | Some people are annoyed by the sound of birds, while others think it’s great background noise. If you’re in the latter group, then this 38-track playlist of bird soundscapes by Spotify is just the thing for you. |
| Rain Sounds | You’d think that rain is a pretty straightforward thing to listen to, but this 93-track playlist by Spotify proves that there are actually many ways that rain sounds different depending on its environment. |
| Night Rain | You’d also probably think that there can’t be that many ways of aurally interpreting night rain, but this 119-track playlist curated by Spotify goes to show that even the most niche sounding ambient theme has many variations. |
| Gentle Rains | This 87-track playlist by Spotify features plenty of variations of gentle, non-intrusive rain soundscapes that can blend into the background. |
| Nightstorms | If you’re looking for something a little more intrusive than rain-based soundscapes, this 48-track playlist by Spotify introduces louder storm elements. |
| A Sudden Rainstorm | It’s not always fun to get caught unawares in a sudden rainstorm, but this 76-track playlist by Spotify puts the choice in your hands. |
| Sounds of the Rainforest | With 50 tracks, this playlist by Spotify transports you into the heart of rain forests around the world. |
| The Sleep Machine: Rain Forest | If you still can’t get enough of rain forest soundscapes, this 50-track playlist by Spotify provides aural snapshots of the rain forest in its many states. |
| Baby Sleep Aid: Rain Sounds | This 60-song playlist by Spotify featuring rainy soundscapes can set the tone nicely if you’re looking for some ambience to help you wind down at the end of your day. |
| White Noise | With 106 tracks, this playlist of white, brown and pink noise curated by Spotify provides a combination of synthetic as well as natural sounds. |
| Pink Noise | At 32 tracks, this pink noise-themed playlist by Spotify provides a hyperspecific selection for those who prefer to listen to pink noise in the background. |
| Sounds of Home: Noise Therapy | This 79-track playlist by Spotify uses the ingenious theme of a home noise soundscape to unify an otherwise random assortment of aural oddities. |
| Ambient Relaxation | If you’re looking for ambient music to relax to, this 276-track playlist by Spotify is one of probably many options out there. If you’ve never explored ambient music before, then it’s a good place to get started. |
Bonus Sounds
For those of you who want to spice up the listening process, I present to you some of my favorite online audio novelties for your listening pleasure:
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Radio Garden | Listen to radio stations around the world live in real-time by picking from a 3D globe of the Earth |
| Music for Programming | A 50+ strong downloadable and streamable series of hour-long music mixes to listen to while working |
| Hype Machine | Tracks music blogs to identify music that’s trending and then further vet its popularity with user votes |
| Listen to Wikipedia | Surprisingly exactly what it sounds like. Visualizes the sounds available on Wikipedia as clickable circles in a bubble chart-like presentation |
| Gnood | Recommends artists you might like based on 3 of your favorite artists |
| Radiohere | A curated list of live radio stations from around the world categorized by language |
| Get Work Done Music | Streams a curated mix of Soundcloud music that plays either fast or faster |
| Postconscious | A site that pulls the latest posts from Twitter and reads them. You can search for certain topics to narrow down which Twitter posts are read |
Bonus Sounds on Spotify
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Every Noise at Once | An interactive scatterplot that visualizes musical genres based on Spotify listening data, as well as the relative aural quality of the genre in question. It’s so freaking cool! |
| Playlist Souffle | Swap out each track in a Spotify playlist with another song from the same album or by the same artist. This is a great way to discover new music based on what you already like |
| MangoMoji | Find new music on Spotify to listen to based on the emojis you click, including emoji combinations. Kind of game-like |
| Klarafy | I wasn’t able to actually get this one working, but it’s description says, “Based on a personal Spotify playlist, Klarafy finds corresponding classical music.” |
| The Playlist Miner | Search for common playlists on Spotify by keyword, and then click to see what the top common songs are within that group of playlists. This is a really cool way to explore popular music by arbitrary topic or subject |
| Dubolt | Search for new music on Spotify by searching for your favorite artist or track. You’ll get a list of results that are based on various musical qualities like tempo and energy. |
| Setify | Converts setlists into Spotify playlists so you can revisit your favorite concert – kind of. This won’t necessarily feature the exact sounds that were played at your favorite concerts, but it’ll recreate the playlist order. |
| Set Listener | Generate a Spotify playlist that features the most recent setlist from your favorite artist. Same as with Setify, this dosen’t necessarily feature the exact recordings of the show in question, just the setlist from that show. |
| Noon Pacific | Curated Spotify mixes of music out of LA, NYC and London released weekly for your listening pleasure. A great way to discover up and coming music from some of the cultural capitals of the world |
| Acrostify | Encode cryptic acrostic messages in your Spotify playlists subtly and playfully with this website. Simply choose your preferred genre, and type in your secret message to generate a playlist wherein the first letter of each song spells your encoded words |
| Boil the Frog | This is like 7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but with automatically generated Spotify playlists, and this time there’s only 2 degrees involved, and Kevin Bacon is two musicians |
Now Put It In a Master List
In case you’d like this long list of links in a clean CSV file, you can view a consolidated version of it on Github or check out the embedded version below.
That’s all, folks
Keep in mind that this list of ambient soundscapes is by no mean exhaustive, and it errs heavily towards websites, videos and desktop-based apps. Noticeably lacking in this list of recommendations are mobile apps that provide ambient noise for productivity, although I’ve thrown one or two in there. I did this on purpose, mainly because there are so many app options available for iOS and Android devices that they could justify a post all on their own.
If there’s an ambient soundscape you didn’t see me mention in this post that you really think I should know about, let me know on Twitter or send me an email. Happy listening!