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Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

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Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#71

Post by phreeza »

neya wrote: post #66

If I'm correct, this is a type of Binaural recording, where they use a stereo microphone combination separated approximately at the distance of our ears while recording. I used to be a Binaural hobbyist sometime back and I recorded some (unprofessional) stuff along the way. I'd be glad to share it with the community: 1) 3d Sea - https://www.box.com/s/krtxx1tejeftffaegh4v 2) 3d Rain - https://www.box.com/s/feoczntidb4…

I think there is a lot of space for improvement left in binaural recordings and presentation. For me the suspention of disbelief required to hear a sound from my headphones as actually being remote is really hard. I still mainly hear it as being right at my ears, or maybe somewhere between my ears. Does anyone feel the same?

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#72

Post by gknoy »

duncanmcdowell wrote: post #54
lukev wrote: post #13

Very interesting, but I find I get much the same effect with the right types of music (which are also more aesthetically pleasing, to me). Also, recorded environmental sounds always have a certain degree of annoyance for me. There's nothing on earth I love more than the sound of rain or a crackling fire, but recorded versions just don't cut it (for me). This seems to fall into the same category.

Any recommendations on specific music that helps you (artist/album)? I find that Radiohead/In Rainbows is good for me

I find myself going between Digitally Imported's "Epic Trance", "Vocal Trance", and "Hands up" stations [1], but as soon as I can find my Tron Legacy soundtrack I'll be listening to the "Sea of Simulation" track on infinite loop.

1: http://di.fm/

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#73

Post by Aga »

Very nice idea! This is strangely compelling and I almost forgot it to the background despite having radio on... :-)

For those moody evenings and nights a nice choice is "You are listening to" It combines ambient tracks from Soundcloud and police/fire department/etc. radios: http://youarelistening.to/

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#75

Post by neya »

phreeza wrote: post #71
neya wrote: post #66

If I'm correct, this is a type of Binaural recording, where they use a stereo microphone combination separated approximately at the distance of our ears while recording. I used to be a Binaural hobbyist sometime back and I recorded some (unprofessional) stuff along the way. I'd be glad to share it with the community: 1) 3d Sea - https://www.box.com/s/krtxx1tejeftffaegh4v 2) 3d Rain - https://www.box.com/s/feoczntidb4…

I think there is a lot of space for improvement left in binaural recordings and presentation. For me the suspention of disbelief required to hear a sound from my headphones as actually being remote is really hard. I still mainly hear it as being right at my ears, or maybe somewhere between my ears. Does anyone feel the same?

Maybe my recordings are shitty mate, but in general they're REALLY good. There is another one called Holophony, which is a patented technique of recording binaural audio, (by some guy named Hugo) which is multitudes better than plain binaural recordings! I want you to check out if you feel the same way for these PROFESSIONALLY recorded holophonic recordings too:

1) Amazing 3d Matchbox - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYdIidUIbAs

2) Virtual 3d Haircut - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnNEJfokpWU

>Does anyone feel the same?

It varies from person to person, a lot of variables are involved:

Your age, your headphones' type, brand, closed/open, etc.

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#76

Post by Breakthrough »

duncanmcdowell wrote: post #54
lukev wrote: post #13

Very interesting, but I find I get much the same effect with the right types of music (which are also more aesthetically pleasing, to me). Also, recorded environmental sounds always have a certain degree of annoyance for me. There's nothing on earth I love more than the sound of rain or a crackling fire, but recorded versions just don't cut it (for me). This seems to fall into the same category.

Any recommendations on specific music that helps you (artist/album)? I find that Radiohead/In Rainbows is good for me

I find a lot of ambient music without vocals is good (Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Nettless, etc...). Not too repetitive, but the sounds give a nice "mask" to the external world and lets you focus.

I also found an online radio station called "Moving Through Space" which provides some nice background ambiance when reading (esp. science fiction): http://www.live365.com/stations/atombob

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#77

Post by phreeza »

neya wrote: post #75
phreeza wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is a lot of space for improvement left in binaural recordings and presentation. For me the suspention of disbelief required to hear a sound from my headphones as actually being remote is really hard. I still mainly hear it as being right at my ears, or maybe somewhere between my ears. Does anyone feel the same?

Maybe my recordings are shitty mate, but in general they're REALLY good. There is another one called Holophony, which is a patented technique of recording binaural audio, (by some guy named Hugo) which is multitudes better than plain binaural recordings! I want you to check out if you feel the same way for these PROFESSIONALLY recorded holophonic recordings too: 1) Amazing 3d Matchbox - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

I think your recordings are great, comparing the stereo to mono version with VLC is really impressive. But it still sounds located close to my ears to me. Might be that my headphones are bad, or I have unusual ears? I would really love to have a truly immersive audio experience, but so far I haven't found it.

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#79

Post by blindhippo »

pivo wrote: post #36

"Research shows it's pretty hard to be creative in a quiet space." I'm sure that research is accurate for some people, but it's definitely not accurate for me. Quiet, aside from any noise I make myself, is the only way I can be truly productive.

Ditto, although it depends entirely on my mood, environment and what I'm trying to do.

But for working in an open office that fluctuates from high activity to periods where you can hear a pin drop, I'm finding this type of thing to be incredibly focussing when trying to code. For actually planning that code (the creative part), I tend to find as quiet an environment as possible - people are disruptive to intense thought.

Re: Show HN: Increase your productivity with ambient noise

#80

Post by fumar »

duncanmcdowell wrote: post #54
lukev wrote: post #13

Very interesting, but I find I get much the same effect with the right types of music (which are also more aesthetically pleasing, to me). Also, recorded environmental sounds always have a certain degree of annoyance for me. There's nothing on earth I love more than the sound of rain or a crackling fire, but recorded versions just don't cut it (for me). This seems to fall into the same category.

Any recommendations on specific music that helps you (artist/album)? I find that Radiohead/In Rainbows is good for me

It depends on my mood. I find productive music to almost always lack vocals. I will list some artists and their respective albums, of the top of my head. (subgenres) Many of these artists have great discographies.

Electronic

1. Glenn Underground - Atmosfear (house)

2. Aphex Twin - Ambient Works 85-92

3. Moby - 18

4. Space Dimension Controller - The Pathway To Tiraquon6 (soul-house)

5. Boards of Canada - Music has the right to Children

6. Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By

Post-Classical

1. Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

2. Ólafur Arnalds - ...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness

3. Max Richter - Memoryhouse

4. Nico Muhly - Speaks Volumes

Pop/Indie/Jazz

1. Royksopp - Melody AM

2. The Album Leaf - In a Safe Place

3. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun

4. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way

5. Benoit Pioulard - Lasted

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