The 20 dB Hum

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Around this time last year, I was visited by my Muse. The year before that, I attended a video game / music magazine networking event.

This year is different.

Upon her return to Los Angeles this last weekend, one of my DJ friends identified that one of the reasons she was going crazy in her previous city was that it just got too quiet. As she put it, "People in major metro areas take ambient noise for granted. It's not sound pollution, it's quieter. We're actually comforted by a constant 20 decibel (dB) hum."

I can appreciate silence when it's needed, and I already have actively stated my love of ambient city noise, but what I didn't know is that there exists a low, constant rumble underneath my feet at all times of the day, at the volume of a quiet whisper.

This constant noise is probably analogous with a lot of parts of life. The hum can come from a river, a breeze rustling trees, a subway system, a computer fan, an overhead fluorescent lamp.

You've probably got noise around you right now, if you stop and listen. Have you stopped to consider whether or not it's comforting you? If it's not comforting, can you get rid of it?

What is your 20 dB hum?

  • http://www.adorkableme.com Erini

    It's funny that you posted this graph -- not in relation to your post, but just to my life... I recently attended my dad's audio basics class, and he had a little tangent about these types of graphs and charts. They don't factor in distance -- or at least don't let you know what the distance was when they measured the decible. Anyway. Yeah.

    I enjoy the sound of the trains, the low hum of my laptop (though, not the loud whirl of my netbook)... and yeah, I love ambient city noises as well. Kind of one of those "I'm not alone" things. I do like silence -- growing up Quaker it's sort of hard not to... but that low 20 dB hum is almost like a warm sweater in the fall.

  • http://rondamarie.wordpress.com/ RondaMarie

    My ambient noise is my dogs, not to say they are always barking, but I hear them moving around, or sleeping, their presence in the house makes a sound (if that makes sense). I miss that noise when I am away from home.

  • http://linda.curious-notions.net linda

    Nico,
    Don't judge, but what I'm hearing now is the Jersey Shore season finale. Err..Can't say that it's comforting but 10 more minutes and it's over!

    Otherwise, it's a pandora radio on low or hum or an appliance (dryer/washer/ or dishwasher)

    - Linda

  • http://www.writingtoreachyou.com Ashley

    It's funny reading this, because I'm sitting here at work and the normal library noises (not nearly as quiet as you might guess) are irritating me when normally they're just background noise I barely notice. I guess there are time you're even more sensitive to the noise.

  • http://cattails.me verybadcat

    i'm right there at 30 with "country house". my neighbors keep dogs, goats, sheeps, donkeys and roosters. the roosters don't crow till noon, thankfully. :)

  • http://redfred.blogspot.com redFred

    So many noises I can't even pick one out. The sounds riding a train are very soothing, though it might be the motion too.
    I like the quiet too, but only if it's really quiet. Out in the woods or somewhere closed off. Between the two background sounds get annoying.

  • http://emily-jane.net Emily Jane

    Interesting thought! During the day, I HAVE to have music on. But at night, I'm such a light sleeper even the slightest noise will wake me, so it has to be dead silent. Earplugs are the best things in the world!

  • http://doniree.com Doniree

    I hadn't noticed, but when I listened, I could hear the refrigerator running (insert prank call joke here). It IS kind of calming :)

  • http://www.mrseb.co.uk Sebastian

    Hehe, well now you know what they mean in books/films when they say 'Shh!' - 'What?' - 'Can you hear that?' - 'No.' - 'EXACTLY! It's DEAD SILENT! SOMETHING'S WRONG!'

    I tell you what's cool, tho' -- because I keep a very quiet space (I live in the middle of no where, with a silent computer), and I have very good speakers, I hear that background hum in the TV and films I watch!

    I am probably hearing stuff that the editors aren't aware of -- or rather, that they can't get rid of anyway, because it's picked up by every microphone.

  • http://libsonthereel.blogspot.com Libs

    room tone for me is one of the most satisfying sounds in the world. But I live in NYC, so i LOVE the noise. I love it. EXCEPT when I am trying to make a phone call on the streets of Manhattan. Sometimes I feel really lost without the cars vrooming past. It's nice to get away to Queens or Brooklyn for the silence sometime. But I really love room tone when I have the chance to write and just sit and absorb.

  • Maren

    I remember when you told me the sound of the train by your house was very comforting, and that you enjoyed city noises. I need a bit of city noise but not to much. My trip to NYC near times square was hard as I found it to loud especially if I was trying to sleep.
    My ambient noise is my electric heater and the chanting of the Gregorian monks that I keep in my closet.