Speech privacy
Noise shaped where voices sit, plus a fan.
Use it for: Outside a door you want private. Shaped to cover speech.
Play this mixSpeech privacy for any room
Sound masking for offices and private conversations
Sound masking adds a quiet, steady sound to a space so that speech is harder to understand from a distance. It is used in open offices, doctor and therapy rooms, banks, and HR offices. The sound is not loud. It just fills the gaps that let words carry.
1
Speech privacy
Conversations a few meters away become a murmur. People hear that someone is talking, not what they say.
2
Fewer distractions
Nearby voices stop pulling attention, so open offices are easier to work in.
3
Quiet, not loud
Masking works at about 40 to 48 decibels, softer than a normal conversation.
Mixes made for sound masking
Each one opens in the sound masker, ready to play. Adjust it there and save your own version.
Open office
Speech-range noise and a distant murmur.
Use it for: An open office or a large room.
Play this mixSomeone home
A distant murmur and a little cafe sound.
Use it for: A quiet room that should not feel empty.
Play this mixHow to set it up
- Press Play on Speech privacy. The noise is shaped to be strongest where speech carries meaning.
- Put the speaker outside the room you want private, such as in the waiting area or hallway, aimed at where people sit.
- Stand where an outsider would be and have someone talk inside. Raise the volume until you can no longer follow the words.
- Leave it running all day. A sound that switches on only for private talks draws attention.
How sound masking works
Speech is understood mostly from frequencies between about 500 and 4,000 Hz. When a background sound sits in that range at a similar level, the quiet parts of words disappear into it, and the speech turns into an unintelligible murmur. Professional systems spread small speakers above a ceiling and tune a curve for the whole floor, usually at around 40 to 48 decibels.
Sound masking vs white noise
Pure white noise has a lot of energy in the highs and can sound like a hiss. Masking curves roll off at the top and are stronger in the speech range, which sounds softer and works better. The Speech color in the studio is a curve like that.
When to use a professional system
A browser and a speaker are fine for one room or a reception area. For a whole office, a sound masking company can measure the space and install an even system. SoundMasker also runs room streams for businesses; ask us if you need one.
What you need
- A small speaker for each door or zone
- An old phone, tablet, or laptop, plugged in
- A sound meter app to check the level
- For a whole floor: a professional system
Mistakes to avoid
- Plain white noise turned up loud
- Switching the sound on only for private talks
- Pointing the speaker into the room you want private
Questions
What is sound masking?
A steady background sound that makes speech harder to understand at a distance, so conversations stay private.
Is sound masking the same as white noise?
Related, but masking sound is shaped to cover speech and sound softer than plain white noise.
Is it legal to use sound masking in a therapy office?
Yes. It is a common way to protect privacy and is often recommended for health care.
Hear it before you set it up
Press play, then shape the sound in the sound masker: the noise color, the equalizer, and every layer. Free, with no ads and no account.