Behind the Zzzs: How Hatch Audio Experts Make the Sounds That Help You Sleep

For the Hatch audio team, making sleep sounds isn’t just about frequencies and wavelengths. It’s about integrating the best of sleep science, audio engineering, and artistic sensibility to create experiences that make bedtime dreamy. Because hear us out: What if going to sleep wasn’t just another task on your to-do list, but a nightly ritual you actually look forward to? 

Hatch’s new video series, AudioLab, sheds light on the process, from the inspiration behind sleep sounds to what makes certain noises uniquely sleepy. We chatted with two of Hatch’s audio experts to learn even more about Hatch’s approach — and how you can create a sound routine that works for you. 

Meet the sleep sound team 

As they say, teamwork makes the dream machine — er, dream — work, and Hatch is no exception. Hatch has a dedicated 12-person audio team, but two pros team up to create sleep sounds: Audio Experience Lead Carson Graham and Creative Lead of Sound, Music, and Light, Jake Snider.  Both came to Hatch in 2022, equipped with the technical know-how to make sounds that sound good. 

But crafting dreamscapes takes more than a stacked resumé and cool software. With extensive experience in the arts — think composing and mastering classical music, creating sound-and-light art installations, and writing movie scores — Graham and Snider also have a knack for crafting experiences that make people feel things. Vibes, if you will.

From dreaming up concepts that help Hatch sleepers unwind to creating and editing the final products on the Hatch device, the team sees sound as a starting point for well-being. “I want to make experiences that help people feel good at bedtime and waking up, the two most important parts of their days,” says Graham. 

What, exactly, is a sleep experience? 

A lot of sleep noises you find online are made to block out sounds that interfere with rest. That can be helpful, if you live in a loud neighborhood or you’re trying to keep a baby asleep. But the audio experts at Hatch believe sound can actually be an immersive tool to relax your mind and body, so you can wind down from rest. 

 “I’ve always wanted Restore not to be a media player,” says Snider. “I want to create reverent, quiet spaces where people can feel present in the moment.” 

What feels relaxing can vary widely from sleeper to sleeper. Sure, sleep science has guidelines for helping you wind down for rest — relaxing red light and low-frequency brown noise, for example, are known to help settle the mind and body — but sleep is personal, so your routine should be, too. 

That’s why Hatch is always adding new sleep sounds to its library — so every sleeper can find what works for them. The idea? When you find something that feels like you, you’ll be more likely to keep up with a routine — and a routine is the cornerstone of sleeping well and waking up refreshed to take on the day.

How Hatch comes up with sleep sounds

The first collection of sleep sounds Graham and Snider tackled were color noises. You’ve heard of white noise — which plays all frequencies at equal volume, creating a static effect — but what about the rest of the spectrum? While the frequencies like brown and pink are popular bedtime options, no color gets left behind on Restore. “Even with the higher frequency sounds like blue and violet, we made them as sleepy as possible by smoothing out the sounds,” says Graham. Because purple-lovers deserve a cozy night of sleep, too. 

Watch it here: What’s the Difference Between White Noise, Brown Noise & Red Noise? | Hatch AudioLab | Color Noises

Once they rounded out the rainbow, Graham and Snider brainstormed other cohesive sound collections that could evoke cozy vibes in Hatch sleepers. One layer of coziness is familiarity — like falling asleep to your favorite sitcom. TV Reruns, a new Hatch sound, provides the same comforting effect as a show by layering human voices, laugh tracks, and ambient sound — but without the blue light of a screen that could disrupt your sleep.

Watch it here: Why Is the Sound of TV So Comforting? | Hatch AudioLab | TV Reruns

Another way into coziness: sounds that bring back comfy memories. Snider came up with Orange Shag Carpet, another new Restore sleep sound, reflecting on the 1970s aesthetic of his grandparents’ beach house. The deep, whooshing sound of real, dense shag carpet fibers conjures memories of sleeping on the floor as a kid or visiting your grandma’s house. 

Watch it here: Can the Sound of This Nostalgic Fabric Help You Fall Asleep? | Hatch AudioLab | Orange Shag Carpet

Tapping into the senses can also have a grounding, sleepy effect. Take flower noises, for example: Graham, who makes perfume on the side, wondered how to translate the smells into sleep-scapes. So Hatch took real jasmine, chamomile, and lavender — all known for their serene properties — and converted their biodata, the electrical resistance of water flow in each plant, into music that sounds (and feels) enchanting. 

Watch it here: Do Flowers Make Noises, and Can They Help You Fall Asleep? | Hatch AudioLab | Flowers

Blending nostalgia and sensory experiences,  the team also created a collection of fabric sounds that feel textured and warm, like being wrapped up in a blanket. Or in the case of Denim Sound, made from the rubbing and rustling of real jeans, like wearing that broken-in pair of jeans you’ve had forever. “We try to distill something into its sonic essence while thinking about how they can feel as cozy as possible,” Snider says.

For people who struggle with racing thoughts at bedtime, extra-layered sounds can be a bedtime-saver. Comforting for some, staticky color noise can feel like an empty void for anxious thoughts. Incorporating other sounds, Snider says, can give your brain something to latch onto — creating a more comforting experience. Zodiac sounds, for example, mix noise (think color noises) with actual music played on a chord pad to create a full-on experience that matches the energy of each Sun sign, from earthy and cozy Taurus to airy and watery Aquarius.

Watch it here: How Your Zodiac Sign Can Help You Sleep | Hatch AudioLab | Zodiac Signs

Choosing a sound to sleep to 

Following certain best practices, like building a routine, can help support healthy sleep habits.. But within that routine, you get to decide what helps you zone out and wake up. “We don’t want sleep to feel prescriptive,” says Snider. “Feeling like you’re supposed to do something a certain way makes sleep this weird, scary thing. We want it to be entertaining and inviting.” 

Not sure where to start? Graham recommends experimenting with sleep sounds and seeing what sticks — and being open to adjustments when you need them (like after a particularly busy or stressful day). Your bedtime routine should be as unique as you are, so pick something that feels interesting or cozy in the moment.  

Maybe a certain sound scratches your brain juuust right and feels like a big exhale. Maybe you land one that helps quiet racing thoughts, or just helps your body shift from a busy day to rest. No matter what you wind down to, pay attention to how you respond. “You can trust your body to tell you what’s soothing,” says Graham. 

Learn more with Hatch AudioLab

Hatch’s new video series, AudioLab, takes a deep dive into the stories behind six sounds and what makes them uniquely sleepy. Hosted by Snider, each short video explores the inspiration for a Hatch sleep sound, the sleepy qualities of each one, and how Hatch engineers used sleep science principles to capture and record them. 

All the sounds in the series, and a full library of premium audio and light experience that help you unwind for sleep and wake up refreshed, are available now on our Hatch+ subscription — your all-access pass to the very best sleep. Learn more and find a 30-day free trial at www.hatch.co/hatch-plus.