Walk into a modern office today and you might hear birdsong, rainfall or a soft ambient drone coming from the ceiling. Soundscaping, whether biophilic (nature-based) or generative (composed in real time by software), is increasingly promoted as a way to support focus and workplace wellbeing.
Meanwhile, sound masking technology has been quietly protecting speech privacy in offices for decades.
Both add sound to a space, but they're designed for very different goals. So which one belongs in your workplace? Below, François Gariépy, our Technical Director, explains how each system works, where each one shines, and how Soft dB sound masking system lets you use both.
What is Soundscaping?
Soundscaping systems fill an office with a deliberate sound ambiance. The sound itself, and where it plays, can vary widely:
- Nature sounds: rain, flowing water, waves, animals, a crackling fire
- Abstract sounds: synthetic tones, drones
- Music: ambient or seasonal
The idea isn’t new. Soundscape design dates back to the late 1960s, and soundscaping made a comeback in offices in the 2010s. Soft dB even took part in an outdoor soundscaping research project around 2004, aimed at making construction noise less disturbing by covering it up with different ambient sounds.
Soundscaping overview A Sound Ambiance, by Design.
Soundscaping fills an office with a chosen sound. You decide what plays, and where.
Ceiling speakers
-
Nature sounds
Rain, water, waves, animals, fire
-
Abstract sounds
Artificial tones and drones
-
Music
Ambient and seasonal music
Not a new idea
-
Late 1960s
First soundscaping applications
-
Around 2004
Soft dB outdoor research to cover construction noise
-
2010s
A resurgence in office spaces
Insights
Sound in the Office: A Short History
- Sound masking
- Soundscaping
-
1960s
Sound masking: Sound masking is introduced
Neutral sound engineered to cover office speech.
-
Late 60s
Soundscaping: First soundscaping uses
Ambient sound used to set a mood in some applications.
-
c. 2004
Soundscaping: Soft dB field research
Outdoor soundscaping studied to cover construction noise.
-
2010s
Soundscaping: Soundscaping returns
Renewed interest in soundscapes for office spaces.
-
2017
Soundscaping: Plantronics launches Habitat
A nature-inspired soundscaping service for open offices.1
-
Today
Sound masking: Sound masking is a standard requirement
Expected in modern North American offices
The Difference Between Soundscaping and Sound Masking
The core difference: soundscaping is meant to be heard. An ambiance nobody notices isn't an ambiance. That's also its weak point. Some occupants will love it, some will find it mildly annoying, and some will hate it. Background music has the same problem: some people enjoy it, plenty don't, and no playlist can possibly please everyone.
Then there's time and listener fatigue. A forest stream might feel refreshingly calming on day one. But by month six, it's the same stream on repeat. A generative soundscape avoids exact repetition, but it's still a sound designed to be noticed, all day, every day.
That may explain why soundscaping remains rare in conventional offices. Plantronics (now part of HP) launched Habitat Soundscaping for open-plan workplaces in 2017. It has since been discontinued. Where soundscaping does fit is in spaces built for atmosphere rather than concentration: lobbies, cafés, wellness rooms.
Sound masking works the other way: it's designed to go unnoticed. Occupants rarely register it until it's switched off, and then they're often surprised by how much quieter the room gets and how much every conversation suddenly stands out.
That's what makes it work over the long term. People stop noticing the sound, but they keep the benefits: better speech privacy and acoustic comfort provided by a smooth ambient sound layer. Many of our sound masking systems installed in workspaces across the world have been running non-stop for 10 to 15 years or more, without problems or complaints.
Soundscaping Designed to
Be Heard.
- Rain, birdsong, tones or ambient music
- Some occupants love it, others find it annoying
- The same ambiance can wear thin over months
versus Sound masking Designed to
Be Subtle.
- Neutral, engineered sound that covers speech
- Often mistaken for HVAC, noticed only when off
- Soft dB systems running 10 to 15+ years
One System for Every Sound
Soft dB sound masking controllers are multizone and multi-input. Your background music and paging feed into the same controller as the sound masking, and everything plays through one speaker network: masking, music, soundscapes and paging. No parallel cable runs, no second set of speakers in the ceiling.
Each zone is set independently. Open-plan areas can run masking alone, reception can layer a soundscape over it, and the café can play music. If your workplace strategy changes in three years, what each zone plays can change with it. The wiring doesn't have to. All it takes is a sound source, usually supplied by the client or AV integrator.
Insights Same Speakers. A Different Sound in Every Zone.
Every Soft dB controller includes auxiliary inputs. Set each zone to masking, soundscaping or both, and change it later as your space evolves.
- Sound masking: speech privacy
- Soundscaping: a chosen ambiance
- Both, in the same zone
Open officeSound masking
LobbySoundscaping
LoungeMasking + soundscape
Music, paging or a soundscape from a computer, supplied by the client or AV integrator
The Bottom Line
Soundscaping and sound masking technology aren't in competition: they solve different problems. Soundscaping sets a mood and is meant to be heard. Sound masking protects speech privacy and reduces distractions without drawing attention to itself. In most offices, healthcare spaces and compliance-driven environments, consistent speech privacy and occupant comfort are two things that matter a lot, and that's where sound masking has proven itself for decades.
With a well-designed sound masking system, you don't have to choose once and for all. You get a reliable speech privacy foundation provided by the masking signal, and any zone can play a soundscape whenever your team, AV integrator or workplace strategy calls for it.
