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Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

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Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#71

Post by freehunter »

CodeTheInternet wrote: post #64

Vocals tend to pull my focus, and repeated phrasing in a lot of EDM is distracting. I find post-rock as a great genre for coding. I frequent the r/postrock sub-Reddit and keep yearly Spotify playlists updated with new releases [1]. I have also enjoyed combining jazz with a rain simulator like RainyMood [2]. Volume-balance them together and it's sublime. [1]: https://open.spotify.com/user/edlerner/playlist/5TJbCB33vOz…

I've recently discovered post-rock as well and it's perfect. It's so boring that my mind tunes it out, which is what I'm looking for.

I've spent so much time trying to find good electronic music that doesn't have any vocals at all, and it's frustrating. Post-rock is great for letting your subconcious drift away while you work.

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#72

Post by freehunter »

wink wrote: post #68
CodeTheInternet wrote: post #64

Vocals tend to pull my focus, and repeated phrasing in a lot of EDM is distracting. I find post-rock as a great genre for coding. I frequent the r/postrock sub-Reddit and keep yearly Spotify playlists updated with new releases [1]. I have also enjoyed combining jazz with a rain simulator like RainyMood [2]. Volume-balance them together and it's sublime. [1]: https://open.spotify.com/user/edlerner/playlist/5TJbCB33vOz…

Similar for me. Mostly: anything without easily discernible or deep lyrics that distract me. This could be Black Metal, EDM, classical music. Also ok: Stuff I really like and know really well, e.g. Metal with understandable lyrics, 80s Synthpop, Soundtracks Usually not ok: ballads, rap, stuff with lyrics in my mother tongue Special mentions: EVE Online OST: https://soundcloud.com/ccpgames/sets/eve-online-login-screen…

I've tried listening to metal and it works if the lyrics aren't distracting, but anything I know the lyrics to or any lyrical styles I hate (the grunting or pig noises) really distract me. It's hard to find a good random metal playlist that doesn't have any of those two distracting factors.

Instrumental prog metal is really good for getting work done though.

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#73

Post by NinoScript »

actsasbuffoon wrote: post #69
wink wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Similar for me. Mostly: anything without easily discernible or deep lyrics that distract me. This could be Black Metal, EDM, classical music. Also ok: Stuff I really like and know really well, e.g. Metal with understandable lyrics, 80s Synthpop, Soundtracks Usually not ok: ballads, rap, stuff with lyrics in my mother tongue Special mentions: EVE Online OST: https://soundcloud.com/ccpgames/sets/eve-online-login-screen…

Wolves in the Throne Room and So Hideous are great examples of metal bands with sweeping atmospheres and non-intrusive vocals. The Algorithm and Master Boot Record are metal-inspired electronic music with no vocals. Video game soundtracks also work well. Danny Baronowsky, Ridiculon (The End Is Nigh soundtrack is phenomenal), and Disasterpiece are some of my favorite indie game composers. Metroid Metal is kinda simila…

I love listening to video game soundtracks when working.

If I want to focus 100%, work fast and have no idea what’s going around me, I’ll put some fast paced Kirby music from the SNES versions and code away as if I was racing King Dedede.

If I want to get in the mood for some architecting or refactoring, I’ll put some Final Fantasy chip-tunes to work through the mysteries.

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#74

Post by AndrewOMartin »

yatsyk wrote: post #46

One of: * http://Brain.fm * Chillout on http://di.fm * http://listentothe.cloud/

Concur on di.fm, not chillout though. I find Psy keeps the easily distracted half of my brain occupied whilst the other half gets on with work.

For calm, I go to Calm Radio on YT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxn8p26WTR4

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#75

Post by actsasbuffoon »

NinoScript wrote: post #73
actsasbuffoon wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wolves in the Throne Room and So Hideous are great examples of metal bands with sweeping atmospheres and non-intrusive vocals. The Algorithm and Master Boot Record are metal-inspired electronic music with no vocals. Video game soundtracks also work well. Danny Baronowsky, Ridiculon (The End Is Nigh soundtrack is phenomenal), and Disasterpiece are some of my favorite indie game composers. Metroid Metal is kinda simila…

I love listening to video game soundtracks when working. If I want to focus 100%, work fast and have no idea what’s going around me, I’ll put some fast paced Kirby music from the SNES versions and code away as if I was racing King Dedede. If I want to get in the mood for some architecting or refactoring, I’ll put some Final Fantasy chip-tunes to work through the mysteries.

The soundtrack for Shovel Knight is also excellent. Even though the game is recent, the music is completely authentic to capabilities of the sound chip in the NES.

That said, I find the sound of the NES to be a bit too bright and crisp for background listening. I agree that SNES era music is easier for programming. Super Metroid, Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore, Final Fantasy 2 (FFIV in Japan), Final Fantasy 3 (FFVI in Japan), Chrono Trigger, and Earthbound immediately come to mind as great soundtracks.

If you want to listen to soundtracks for SNES games, you can use Audio Overload (free and multi-platform): http://www.bannister.org/software/ao.htm

The music from SNES games is stored in SPC files (individual songs) and RSN files (collection all SPC files for a game). The files are extremely small. You could probably fit the soundtracks for every official SNES game into a few dozen megabytes. You can learn more about the format at the Video Game Music Preservation Foundation wiki: http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/SPC

The London Philharmonic has some great video game cover albums as well.

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#76

Post by ojhughes »

Lo-Fi Chill hop 24/7 live playlist such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FlxM_0S2lA

Surfpop / Shoegaze mixes, this is one of my faves! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiwd4yCrws0&t=2515s

Artists such as Mogwai

Sometimes skate punk or metal (weirdly first thing in the day to get my brain going!)

Liquid/Intelligent Drum 'n Bass mixes (again good for motivation) This Netsky mix is a classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwTU4IVHlEg

Re: Ask HN: What, if anything, do you listen to while coding?

#79

Post by NinoScript »

actsasbuffoon wrote: post #75
NinoScript wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love listening to video game soundtracks when working. If I want to focus 100%, work fast and have no idea what’s going around me, I’ll put some fast paced Kirby music from the SNES versions and code away as if I was racing King Dedede. If I want to get in the mood for some architecting or refactoring, I’ll put some Final Fantasy chip-tunes to work through the mysteries.

The soundtrack for Shovel Knight is also excellent. Even though the game is recent, the music is completely authentic to capabilities of the sound chip in the NES. That said, I find the sound of the NES to be a bit too bright and crisp for background listening. I agree that SNES era music is easier for programming. Super Metroid, Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore, Final Fantasy 2 (FFIV in Japan), Final Fantasy 3 (FF…

That’s exactly what I do. I’ve been using Bannister’s emulators and Audio Overload since my childhood!

Though nowadays I prefer playing the SPC files in a player called Vox: https://vox.rocks

And in my phone I have a collection of maybe weeks worth of music in a few MBs

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