iPod Nano watch + noise device!

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Yesterday, my fiancé said something incredible. What if I bought an iPod Nano and a watch band for it to sit in that I can use to zone out environmental noises? I thought about it for a little bit, went and bought one, made an ambient noise mix for myself and kablam: lifesaver.

A little background: I used to have an iPhone with a relax/sleep app. In the app I created a mix of ten different sounds (fan, subway, sound wave, restaurant - all constant and predictable) and listened to it whenever I was alone in a public place. Recently I got rid of it (because I felt it was taking up too much time and money), and ever since I've been struggling to be on trains and busses because of all the noises I was suddenly hearing.

I had been thinking about buying a small mp3 player created specifically for ambient noise, but the iPod seemed a much simpler idea. I use the MINIMAL TikTok watch band and have a clock running on it, so I can see the time, listen to my noise and even use it for running (it has a pedometer). The Nano doesn't have Bluetooth, so I can't pair it with wireless headphones. I just put the headphones provided through my sleeve, and voila.

If you have ever struggled with unpredictable noise like I have, and have found it hard fo find a device that is lightweight, that you can take with you anywhere and is basically always with you, that looks fairly good and is multifunctional, you might want to consider it. I've been using mine for two days now, and it is a total breeze.


(I am not affiliated with Apple or MNML or rewarded in any way for writing this, but I know how hard life can be without something like this and just wanted to share it with you!)

I use it for the exact same purpose, though I don't have one of the watch bands. I don't go anywhere without my Nano clipped to my shirt and a pair of noise-isolating headphones (either my Klipsh S4i earbuds, V-Moda Crossfade LP over-ear headphones, or Bowers & Wilkins P5 on-ear headphones).

Without them, I wouldn't be able to stay in crowded, noisy areas for more than a couple of minutes before having to leave.

I'm curious: do you use it to listen to noise or other types of sound and music?

It depends on my mood and the situation. Typically if I'm in an okay mood and just want to block out the loud crowd noises around me (such as in a crowded mall or bus), I listen to more rock/punk-type music. If I'm in a crowded area and am in panic mode, and need to calm myself down, I listen to more classical type music, including actual classical music, or bands like Sigur Rós or Explosions in the Sky.

I don't actually listen to just ambient noise types sounds like you mentioned, but there is one band I liked to listen to when I was by myself in my lab and wanted more than just the hum of test equipment keeping me company, and I'd highly suggest you check them out: Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I'd classify their songs as Indie Ambient music, it makes for very good background noise, each song has a very slow pace and lasts about 20-30 minutes.