Masking sound is becoming an increasingly relevant concept as more of our daily conversations move online. Ever finish a long video chat feeling drained, your ears ringing, or your voice feeling strained? Those video platforms might be the real loudmouths. What feels like a simple call often turns into an exhausting auditory experience, leaving you wondering why talking through a screen feels so much harder than speaking face to face.
In natural, in-person conversations, we instinctively adjust our speaking volume based on distance and environment. Most casual speech sits comfortably around 60 decibels. Video platforms, however, standardise playback at much higher levels, often pushing audio into the 70–80 decibel range or beyond. Like an overenthusiastic DJ, they blast sound directly into your ears through nearfield speakers or headphones. By incorporating directional audio, these platforms can better target the listener’s ears, reducing the impact of masking sound and creating a more natural, focused listening experience. Directional audio helps ensure that only the intended signals reach the user clearly, mimicking the way we perceive speech in real-world conversations and reducing auditory fatigue.
To achieve “crystal-clear” sound, video conferencing platforms rely heavily on gain boosting, compression, and aggressive noise reduction. While these tools aim to improve intelligibility, they often strip away the subtle dynamics of natural speech. Voices become flatter, louder, and more fatiguing to listen to. When this processed audio is delivered straight into your ears, your brain misjudges the overall loudness of the environment, causing you to unconsciously raise your own voice in response.
Over time, this constant vocal strain adds up. People begin to speak louder than necessary, tiring their vocal cords and increasing mental fatigue. Instead of flowing conversation, video calls become something to endure. In shared offices or home environments, this effect is amplified, as multiple calls overlap and compete for attention. This is where understanding and applying Masking Sound principles can make a meaningful difference in restoring balance and comfort.
Masking sound doesn’t mean adding more noise for the sake of it. Instead, it’s about managing the acoustic environment so harsh contrasts are softened. By reducing the sharp dominance of speech frequencies and balancing background sound levels, conversations become easier to process without demanding constant attention. In digital communication, this translates to smarter volume control, better speaker design, and more realistic audio reproduction that aligns with how our ears expect sound to behave.
There are also simple, practical steps you can take to reduce fatigue during video calls. On platforms like Zoom or Teams, lower the playback volume in your audio settings so it more closely matches real-life conversation levels. Position your microphone slightly farther away instead of directly in front of your mouth; this reduces plosives and discourages shouting. Use mute strategically during periods when you don’t need to speak, giving your ears brief moments of rest between listening bursts.
These small adjustments can dramatically change how video calls feel. Conversations become calmer, voices sound more natural, and the urge to speak over others fades. When audio feels balanced, communication improves organically. You no longer feel like you’re competing with the technology itself just to be heard.
So next time a video call feels overwhelmingly loud, remember that turning the volume down isn’t a sign of disengagement—it’s a way of protecting your hearing and energy. Your ears will thank you, and you’ll have more focus left for the conversations that truly matter. With thoughtful audio design and the intelligent use of Masking Sound, digital communication can finally feel as natural and comfortable as speaking face to face.
If you’re serious about taking your video calls, meeting rooms, or shared workspaces to the next level, explore the CrystalVox range from Sound Directions. Our solutions are engineered to solve the problem of “loud but not clear,” delivering clarity without fatigue. Sound Directions partners with leading manufacturers to provide exceptional quality, reliability, and expert guidance—because when masking sound is done right, better communication follows.