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How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

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Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#51

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

weaksauce wrote: post #12
philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

the last time i heard elevator music was many, many years ago. seems like it was a thing in the 80s-early 90s department stores.

It mostly died out when the tape machines[1] it was played on were replaced with satellite and internet services that offer licensed commercial music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WQbJ0VFrFQ

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#52

Post by eikenberry »

mancerayder wrote: post #49

I have tinnitus because I've spent the last two decades playing music through headphones to block out conversations and often music at work and in my commute. I'm still equally distracted/disturbed by other people's noise as day one.

You had your ear wax checked? I thought I had tinnitus for years, then one time when getting checked on for a nasal infection the nurse commented on how waxy my ear was and asked if I'd like it removed. I thought sure and wow... my tinnitus immediately and completely went away. Just saying, get that checked if you have tinnitus. Turns out ear wax build-up is a major cause of it (it pushes against the ear drums).

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#53

Post by snailmailman »

foreigner wrote: post #33
brontide wrote: post #10

…startup Mutebox The anti-jukebox that lets you mute restaurants' ambient music to bring back the vitality of your surroundings. For when your favorite cafe is playing experimental electronic music and you really came for the sound of espresso machines and light background noise while you crank out that TPS report. Or, the jukebox that exclusively plays John Cage's 4'33". [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

Yes! Maybe it could work like those song recognition apps. A microphone identifies the background music and then it plays an inverse waveform in to your earbuds to cancel it out. I would pay lots of money for that.

This is exactly how active noise cancellation works on many modern headphones/earbuds, although I don't think they actually try to identify the song.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#54

Post by WalterBright »

iamatworknow wrote: post #3
pmoriarty wrote: post #2

"ambient music for shopping spaces, these days, is meant to soothe you or pump you up, and generally nudge your habits toward consumption" Fortunately, we do have some resistance to this in the form of portable music players. I virtually never hear any music at any of the venues or stores I visit, because I'm always listening to my own.

Maybe I'm alone here but I almost think this is worse. Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross, but I don't like that the alternative is that now everyone's in their own bubble and further isolating themselves from the people around them.

> Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross

I suspect many malls are pumping potpourri scent into the HVAC system. It pervades the malls.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#55

Post by taylortrusty »

eikenberry wrote: post #52
mancerayder wrote: post #49

I have tinnitus because I've spent the last two decades playing music through headphones to block out conversations and often music at work and in my commute. I'm still equally distracted/disturbed by other people's noise as day one.

You had your ear wax checked? I thought I had tinnitus for years, then one time when getting checked on for a nasal infection the nurse commented on how waxy my ear was and asked if I'd like it removed. I thought sure and wow... my tinnitus immediately and completely went away. Just saying, get that checked if you have tinnitus. Turns out ear wax build-up is a major cause of it (it pushes against the ear drums).

This same thing happened to me. Nurse commented on my ear wax and upon removing I felt so much better (and had no more ringing).

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#56

Post by e40 »

mancerayder wrote: post #49

I have tinnitus because I've spent the last two decades playing music through headphones to block out conversations and often music at work and in my commute. I'm still equally distracted/disturbed by other people's noise as day one.

Before you played music too loud, actually. Playing music on a low volume will not give you tinnitus.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#57

Post by partyboat1586 »

e40 wrote: post #56
mancerayder wrote: post #49

I have tinnitus because I've spent the last two decades playing music through headphones to block out conversations and often music at work and in my commute. I'm still equally distracted/disturbed by other people's noise as day one.

Before you played music too loud, actually. Playing music on a low volume will not give you tinnitus.

Playing music at a low volume also won't block out background noise.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#58

Post by egypturnash »

snailmailman wrote: post #53
foreigner wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! Maybe it could work like those song recognition apps. A microphone identifies the background music and then it plays an inverse waveform in to your earbuds to cancel it out. I would pay lots of money for that.

This is exactly how active noise cancellation works on many modern headphones/earbuds, although I don't think they actually try to identify the song.

This kind of noise cancellation really only works on constant drones, not more complex waveforms like music.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#59

Post by cartoonfoxes »

StuffedParrot wrote: post #20
hombre_fatal wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are some initiatives taken by transporation organizations to encourage people to talk to each other, like introducing a "chat carriage" on the train: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/public-transport-ch... For example: > The results showed that those asked to chat felt far more positive about their journey than those who kept to themselves, and that the longer people talked for the better they felt. A wo…

The homeless actually make great conversation and it humanizes them. If you don’t give cash, at least don’t alienate them. Granted it can be very emotionally draining.

I take it you have never been assaulted by an angry drunk before.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#60

Post by ben-schaaf »

fudged71 wrote: post #15
iamatworknow wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm alone here but I almost think this is worse. Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross, but I don't like that the alternative is that now everyone's in their own bubble and further isolating themselves from the people around them.

It's actually hilarious when some store employees/managers will desperately try to get your attention even if you're wearing headphones to tell you about their sales. If I want to be left alone then leave me alone! (I only did this once but it was very eye opening)

I've generally found that when headphones aren't enough to dissuade people from talking to me, I start intently looking at my phone like I'm reading an important email. It works wonders even if the screen is off.
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