Background noise while you read?

[Richard]

Heather wrote: "Unzeen Horror Ambience on YouTube."

Never heard of this channel, just checked it out ... thanks for sharing

[Lucy]

At the moment I tend to jump between the album "Black Hill & Silent Island - Tales of the Night Forest" and the OST for "Inscryption" depending on my mood. But pretty much any non-vocal atmospheric mix on YouTube will do.

[Hannah]

I mostly have a show on in the background as of right now it's been the big bang theory

[Sarah]

My favorite way to read is to play music from a tv/movie adaptation of the book or of a similar title. Loved reading Game of Thrones to the show's score, normally for a horror I put on the soundtrack/score from "Haunting of Hill House" or some horror movie. It really heightens the experience.

[Giovanni]

heavy metal when I'm home, waves crashing noise when I'm at the seaside

[Sarah]

Peace and quiet for me. Just me, my brain and a book. Perfect.

[Justin]

While I read? Usually no noise but seeing as lately I've found myself able to read on a noisy bus I guess I can read with background noise lol

[Sayra]

For some reason I find it easier to concentrate with background noise. My preference is spooky ambience sounds or rain sounds it adds to the mood of the book too!

[Alan]

Here's a new light ambient video on YouTube I found, perfect for the season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJPEO...

[Indieterror13]

This is usually what I listen to when reading. It helps set the mood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBTGT...

[Alan]

Here's another Halloween season light background noise one I found. The graphics are hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdxm2...

[Janette]

I love to read in silence hearing nothing but the slow breathing of my two beagles while they’re dreaming next to me. But I’m loving all these YouTube soundtracks! Thank you for the suggestions!! My husband travels a ton so I’m wondering if the spooky soundtracks might freak me out a bit while reading horror by myself at home!!! Muah ha ha ha ha ha 🎃👻🍁

[Elle_bow]

I usually don’t listen to anything while I read, if I do it’s usually super quiet or I’ll get distracted lol. But I’m definitely going to try ambiance noises because that sounds awesome

[Juli]

I really like this one and the channel has way more ambience stuff. Not just Halloween. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/u36yZGE0IB4?si=PZfKg...

[Brianna]

Sorry if someone already posted this one, but if you like music to read to (and particularly music from movies (I love to read HP with these on)) you may like this channel. The videos are very well done and don't feel too "looped"

https://www.youtube.com/@AmbientWorlds

[Deanna (femchonk)]

Lately when I've been reading a spooky/gothic read I've put on some Dark Academia to get me super moody;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6Pk...

[Kimberly]

Deanna wrote: "Lately when I've been reading a spooky/gothic read I've put on some Dark Academia to get me super moody;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6Pk..."

I don't bother with music when reading (I tend to tune out EVERYTHING around me), but that playlist is great!

[Alan]

Here's another one with seasonal white noise and pretty cute graphics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MdmZ...

[Erika]

I love those ambient sound videos! I have a bunch saved on my YouTube playlist that I rotate through. I scrolled all the way back to my first saved one. It’s a Middle Ages ambience one that has some great comments. Always makes me laugh when I play this one! I am also a mood music listener and I do like background music but I can tune things out easily in loud environments if I’m totally into a book though.

https://youtu.be/5F5dgg1eeGE?si=GXu47...

[Erika]

Highly recommend AmidTheRuins1453 channel for cyberwave or futurism synth sounds: https://youtu.be/kAwO8Afgrdk?si=3ZGsA...

[Erika]

When I am home and it's quiet, I also really enjoy reading aloud. Sometimes I have a tendency to speak in a British accent while doing so. I've done this since I was a child!

[Yoli]

TBH i like it better when theres alot of noise around and people talking I honestly just block it iut but its oddly comforting having that kind of murmur in the background. Im also the type to always have something playing on low in my house its kinda creepy bieng home alone in dead quiet 😂 my background show right now is 90 day fiance if anybody watches that

[David]

My ADHD makes it so I can process multiple sources at once. But recently while reading horror, I’ve been putting on goth playlists or stations in Apple Music or Spotify.

[Heather]

Miracle Forest on YouTube.

They seem to have one for every genre/taste, but I find them a bit short.

[Qaz]

Heather wrote: "Unzeen Horror Ambience on YouTube."

I love their Zombie Apocalypse track and added it to my Dark Ambience playlist. Thanks for sharing. 🦇

[Sarah]

it's currently storming here! which is my personal favorite sound to read to

[Alan]

This one is deliciously creepy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXEbS...

[kay ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚]

I need pure silence (outside of natural ambient noise.) If someone is talking, there is a tv show/music on, even white noise or mellow sounds intentionally playing, I just can’t focus. It shifts my reading experience from a visual story unfolding in my head to reading meaningless words on paper.

[Alan]

Found yet another one, but this one actually has spooky Halloween ambient music unlike all the others that advertise music but are really just rain and thunder and wind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT1R_...

[Arielle]

I love YouTube ambience videos while I read or write!

[Arielle]

Alan wrote: "Found yet another one, but this one actually has spooky Halloween ambient music unlike all the others that advertise music but are really just rain and thunder and wind:

https://www.youtube.com/wa..."

I was playing this one just the other day

[Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Blastronaut Rocks..]

You'll no doubt say I'm mad as a box of frogs but when reading, I sometimes like to put on the headphones and blast through em what some might call 'White Noise'. Not sure if it slots into that category but repetitive noise does it for me... in particular a washing machine cycle I got from Youtube.It has a kinda ASMR effect on me too. Have yet to read the other posts but am curious if anyone else employs a method even remotely like mine?

[Adrienne L]

I subscribe to the channel Nobody and this was the latest edition https://youtu.be/gIUiRYwE0Sc?si=osYxw.... Lots of creepy imagery with this one, perfect for reading horror.

[Brianna]

Found this cool 6-hour compilation of eerie music from the game “Amnesia: Dark Descent” and it has helped amp up the atmosphere while reading horror books.

https://youtu.be/g_q2Exdk0Z8?si=e4noX...

[Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Blastronaut Rocks..]

Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Blastronaut Rocks wrote: "You'll no doubt say I'm mad as a box of frogs but when reading, I sometimes like to put on the headphones and blast through em what some might call 'White Noise'. Not sure if it slots into that cat..."

Hmmm... it seems not. Fair nuff.... that's fine. It is an odd thing to listen to... background or not.
Well... that shoots down in flames any hopes I had of a conversation. I shall henceforth vacate the thread and return to my rabbit hole.

[Brianna]

@Blastronaut I could definitely understand white noise in an environment where you have to drown out other distracting sounds. I have always gravitated toward ambient music or thunderstorms for reading time but would certainly not say you are crazy for using any kind of sounds that help! It’s super common to work or sleep to cafe ambience or other white noise so I think you are in good company. :)

[Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Blastronaut Rocks..]

Thanks for the reply Brianna. Yes, it definitely helps keep out unwanted noises, and - like your thunderstorms - it's not a distraction within itself. I'll admit that I always use the washing machine thing to help me sleep. Have also used thunderstorms for that too. Have also used industrial type air con for same purpose. Youtube vids of, you understand.... not having the whole shebang set up in the house! : )

[Alan]

Here's a new one - a rainy night in Jurassic Park!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjiVA...

[Jake]

Usually sitting on my back verandah with just the sounds of the bush. If I'm out, I will put on my headphones and listen to a rain/thunder storm video on YouTube.

[Chase]

I'm a big fantasy fan, so I'll often put on fantasy tavern playlists, but at pretty low volume.

[Kathleen]

I listen to dark ambient classical music most of the time. If I am really trying to Jam through a book I like Polyphia the band.

[˚ ༘ lunar ♡ ⋆｡˚]

I really like listening to instrumental/classical music/soundtracks while reading even if i sometimes tune out the music when I'm really into the part I'm reading!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/49h...

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3WF...

[a.g.e. montagner]

Usually instrumental music without lyrics.

[Mary]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐯 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐰

[Kira]

I have 2 options that I choose from:

1) Spotify has a "spooky Lofi" playlist that I quite enjoy

2) General fireplace videos on youtube

I can tune out most lyrics in songs but it's just easier not to have them in the first place

[Gareth]

I have a playlist of movie soundtracks and atmospheric music that I listen to. I can't concentrate when there are vocals, plus it's uncanny how often it fits the mood of what I am reading.

[Lee]

I tend to listen to listen to audio plays

[Diane (catching up!)]

Ken B wrote: "Does anyone else have to have some background noise while reading to block out distractions?

I have been playing ambient noise makers in the background, especially at work.

I have been listening ..."

I love having ambient noise in the background when I read. Even when I listen to audiobooks. It adds so much to the atmosphere!
Anyway, the absolute best place I've found for selection and quality (that's free, although you can donate if you want) is https://mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php

I'm pretty sure they have everything you can think of and many things you haven't. They even have a whole set of horror themes, RPG type things (dungeon, abandoned places, etc...).

[Tammie P ℓօรƭเɳαɓօօҡ]

I prefer reading in silence. However, if I’m in a space that isn’t quiet, I can block out the noise.

[SpookyStorySeeker]

Spooky Lofi, Ambient Ethereal Horror/Synth Music, or even Dark Forest Piano/Ambient Noise. Really sets the mood! 💀