The goal of the float tank is to reduce sensory input, allowing your brain a break from the constant processing of information. For this reason, silence is our favorite sound to float to. However, sometimes it’s fun to play with your senses in precise and mindful ways, like incorporating music or guided meditation. There’s no right or wrong way—it all depends on your personal preference and what you want to get out of your float.
Introducing Audio to Your Float Experience
It’s helpful to understand how sound travels in a float tank. Transducers attached to the bottom of the tank radiate vibrations, essentially turning the float solution into a speaker. Because of this, sound is much clearer when you’re lying down in the tank than when you sit up and raise your ears above the waterline. Since sound travels through multiple mediums before reaching your ears, some tracks will sound better than others.
Once you’re settled into the tank, we don’t have a way to communicate with you, so you’re essentially locked into whatever audio you decided on at the start. For this reason, we recommend starting small and working your way up to longer tracks.
We suggest beginning with 15 minutes of music at the start of your float. It will fade into silence and return at the end of your session to gently bring you out of your float and signal that it’s time to get out. If you enjoy the trial time and want more, we can build up to longer tracks. However, it’s not recommended to play music for the entire session, as it can make it difficult to clearly distinguish the exit music. We recommend a maximum of 60 minutes of music, leaving a solid period of silence in between.
Choosing the Right Sound for Your Float
Sound, carefully curated to align with your preferences, can gently guide the mind into a meditative state. Certain frequencies create a harmonious backdrop, helping to quiet mental chatter in the initial stages of floating. However, the wrong audio can leave you wishing for silence, so it’s important to choose wisely.
Your float is a moment away from your regular life. While you may think your favorite daily playlist will enhance your experience, it rarely works that way. You’ll want to choose something that doesn’t remind you of your daily routine, like your commute or workout sessions.
Binaural beats are popular, but because both ears hear the audio simultaneously, it’s not a true binaural experience—though it’s still a cool effect. Solfeggio frequencies are widely enjoyed, and other interesting options include Koshi chimes, singing bowls, chants, and Icaros. Nature sounds can also be pleasant, though we avoid water sounds to prevent any premature bladder-related distractions.
Guided meditations can be particularly impactful in the tank. Our favorite guided meditations were created by former float center owner Sarah Maynard-Miller. The Float iRest tracks were specifically designed for floating. They are a version of yoga nidra but tailored for the float tank. She offers three options: an 8-minute starter track, a 30-minute full meditation, and a 22-minute iRest meditation that isn’t specific to floating and can be used at home between floats.
We’re happy to act as your float DJ! We have many floater-approved playlists, or you can bring your own music. If you choose to use your own tunes, your platform or app must support casting to an audio Google Chromecast. Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Audible work great, while YouTube is not an option since it’s a video platform. Look for the Chromecast symbol on your preferred sound app.
Things to Consider Before Floating with Music
If you’re someone who truly wants to detach and embrace nothingness, even soft music might be too stimulating. Some new floaters start with music but, over time, gravitate toward silence. Relying too much on music could mean missing out on discovering how deep the silence can take you.
The biggest potential issue with playing music is human error. Your float host controls the sound, and while we execute it seamlessly 99% of the time, mistakes can happen. Occasionally, the music may play too short or long or not at all. If music is a must for your float, understand that there’s always a small chance that expectations won’t be met.
Ultimately, whether you choose to float with music or in silence, the experience is yours to shape. There’s no wrong way—only what works best for you. Happy floating!
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