Summary

myNoise is a free app (with optional in-app purchases) that covers up sounds that you don’t like with sounds you like - sort of like a customizable noise cancelling machine.

Short How To

Getting started is easy with no set up time after downloading to start using the noise cancelling options right away. At the bottom of the screen you will find “My Noises” with 20 free sound options ranging from familiar sounds like Rain Noise, Ocean Noise to unique sounds such as Restaurant (soft clatter of cups and silverware), Calm Office (soft chatter and machines), Flying Fortress (sounds from a B-17 airplane) and Japanese Garden (chimes, water, chirping birds). Each sound has visual colored octaves or “sliders” you move with your finger or a stylus that cover the sound frequency range. You can change the sounds with the sliders to increase or decrease different frequencies that sound best to you and then mark it as a favorite. Each sound option indicates whether it is best with or without headphones.

Reviewer Experience

The app is designed to be used to help with sleep, relaxing or at work. This reviewer used the app in multiple environments mostly to block out distracting noises working in an office and working from home. Leaf blowers, lawn mowers, screaming kids, and loud talking were easily drowned out by selecting a noise generator, typically Rain or White Noise. It can be used with or without headphones, which was also helpful. The icons are quite small, so someone with visual issues or poor dexterity might have trouble with some of the onscreen buttons, but to access the 20 free noises was no problem. Using the soft piano or nature sounds with headphones also helped with concentration and relaxation. Using it to take a 30 minute break between work tasks or to clear the mind was also helpful.

Benefits

This reviewer has used other meditation apps with sound blocking or relaxing sound options built in, but the sound quality and options for customization set this app apart. Creating favorites, having sound play in the background even when closing the app, experimenting with built-in timers and calibrating the high and low frequency sounds have been helpful in a variety of environments. 

Additional Comments

Anyone who has difficulty concentrating due to noise distractions will want to try this app. People looking for a tool to help take a mental break or to relax will like the variety of sound options available to them. Kids, teens, adults and older adults may benefit from trying this app. Noise pollution and distracting sounds can be a real problem in our busy world, so this is a tool that can be used to focus the mind and mask some of those distractions.