Simple Explanation

Random noise with equal energy in each octave. Our ears perceive pink noise as sounding relatively "flat" across frequencies.

Concise Technical Definition

Pink noise is a type of random noise that has equal energy per octave, meaning its power decreases by 3 dB per octave as the frequency increases. This gives it a balanced frequency response that is useful for measuring audio equipment and room acoustics.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Imagine the sound of static or "white noise," but with less emphasis on the high-pitched hissing and a more even, balanced sound across low, mid, and high frequencies. This is why pink noise sounds smoother or "flatter" to our ears.

Industry Usage Summary

Pink noise is widely used in audio measurement, particularly for testing the frequency response of audio equipment, such as speakers and amplifiers, and for checking room acoustics in sound reinforcement. Because pink noise has equal energy per octave, it allows for accurate testing of how audio systems perform across a wide range of frequencies. It is often used in conjunction with real-time analyzers, which analyze audio equipment and room response in octave or 1/3-octave bands.

Engineering Shortcut

Random noise with equal energy in each octave, used for frequency response measurements.

Full Technical Explanation

Pink noise is a type of random noise that is characterized by having equal energy per octave band of frequency. This means that for each octave, the power remains constant, resulting in a gradual decrease in amplitude (approximately 3 dB per octave) as the frequency increases. This specific frequency distribution makes pink noise useful for testing audio equipment and room acoustics. When used for testing, pink noise provides a "flat" perceptual response across a range of frequencies, which makes it an ideal tool for measuring and adjusting the frequency response of audio systems. It is commonly used in real-time analyzers that operate within octave or 1/3-octave bandwidths to assess and correct audio equipment and room acoustics.