Violet noise
Violet noise, also called purple noise, rises 6 dB per octave. It is almost all treble: a thin, high hiss with no low end at all.
- Spectrum
- +6 dB per octave (power rises with f²)
- Good for
- Covering high-pitched tinnitus at low volume
- Hearing the extremes of the noise spectrum
- Brief use rather than background
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What is violet noise?
Violet noise is the inverse of brown noise. Where brown noise piles energy into the bass, violet noise puts it into the highest frequencies. Mathematically it is differentiated white noise.
Keep the volume low: high frequencies can be fatiguing, and this is the colour where it is easiest to overdo it.
Violet noise and tinnitus
Tinnitus is often a high-pitched ring. Some people find that a quiet high-frequency noise blends with it and makes it less intrusive. Evidence is anecdotal, and if tinnitus is new or one-sided you should see a doctor or audiologist.
Questions
Is violet noise the same as purple noise?
Yes, both names describe noise whose power rises 6 dB per octave.
Can violet noise damage hearing?
Any sound can at high levels over time. Keep it quiet; you should still be able to hear someone speaking normally.