Listen while you work.

[digriz]

ok, because i like to listen to music while i'm working i'm guessing other people do too.

So my question is, what do other people on here like to listen to while they're working?

My current top faves are Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and pretty much anything by the pixies.

[soniCron]

Well, using Real Rhapsody (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=5897) I listen to a heck of a lot of stuff. However, my favorites are:

Air
Autechre
Beck
Boards of Canada
Chemical Brothers
Coldcut
Crystal Method
David Bowie
Dragonforce
Eels
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
Engineers
Faust
Gentle Giant
Henry Cow
Henry Mancini
Hextatic
Jimmy Buffet
Judas Priest
King Crimson
Nine Inch Nails
Nirvana
Massive Attack
Pantera
Patsy Kline
Pavement
Pink Floyd
Queens of the Stone Age
Radiohead
Shpongle
Tangerine Dream
The Darkness
The Flaming Lips
They Might Be Giants
Van Der Graaf Generator
Vangelis
Weezer
I listen to these regularly, selection depending on my mood. If you haven't heard some of these artists, I strongly recommend you check some of them out. These are all excellent representatives of their respective genres. In addition, if I don't want to pick a playlist, I will listen to one of the following Internet radio streams:

SKY.FM Classical (http://www.sky.fm/mp3/classical.pls)
Twang City Country Radio (http://209.237.251.147:8080)
SKY.FM Smooth Jazz (http://www.sky.fm/aacplus/smoothjazz.pls)
SKY.FM 80's Hits (http://www.sky.fm/mp3/the80s.pls)
SKY.FM Euro Dance (http://64.236.34.67:80/stream/1024)
SKY.FM Euro Trance (http://64.236.34.67:80/stream/1003)
XFM Dance (http://213.189.2.194:8050)
SKY.FM Lounge (http://www.di.fm/aacplus/lounge.pls)
Cryosleep Ambient (http://207.200.96.225:8022)
SomaFM Drone Zone (http://64.236.34.97:80/stream/1032)
Nectarine Demoscene Radio (http://nectarine.esuna.co.uk:8002/listen.pls)
Kohina Chiptune Radio (http://130.240.207.98:8000/stream.ogg)
(Note that a lot of these are AAC+ streams, so you might want to try Winamp (http://www.winamp.com) to listen.)

As you can see, I've got a wide variety of tastes with all genres of music represented (regge and world are under-represented in my list, unfortunately), with the notable exception being hip-hop/rap -- unless it's oldschool, I can't stand the stuff. I can even appreciate a listen of Britney Spears (new album 1 thumb up in parts) or NSync (the same) from time to time, so go figure. ;) (Check out Coldcut for a good alternative to rap.)

[Nikster]

mainly jarre, vangelis, arctics ( sheffield power ;) ) and radiohead, and on occasions when work is getting me down, a bit of james blunt to sink me deeper :D

[Robert Cummings]

I don't listen to music, I work.

[soniCron]

I don't listen to music, I work. You lack the capacity to multitask? Especially with such a passive activity? :)

[digriz]

I don't listen to music, I work.

Cut me some slack!...It's 11.30 here, I've been at work all day programming and i've not stopped programming pretty much since i got home either. ;)

Listening to music puts me in a zone where i can just plough on with the tasks i have to do.

[Ricardo C]

-Nightnoise, especially the album "Something of Time"
-Early Genesis, up to "Wind and Wuthering"
-Alison Krauss, especially her live album
-Anything by Queen
-Assorted videogame playlists (right now featuring "Wisdom of the World" from Mother, "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" from Marble Madness, and the entire soundtrack from Fire Emblem V)

[Ricardo C]

I don't listen to music, I work.

That reminds me, I've been listening to Tool a lot lately.

[Diragor]

Depends on my mood and the complexity of the work I'm doing at the time. It's instrumental stuff when I really need to concentrate, usually movie scores by Danny Elfman (the Big Fish score is probably my favorite). The rest of the time is mostly heavy rock and metal with some mellower stuff here and there and often very experiemental or weird stuff. In frequent rotation: Incubus, Slipknot, Fantomas, Buckethead, System of a Down, Mr Bungle, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Tracy Bonham, Genesis, King's X, Off Machine (an old band of mine that I still love even though it doesn't exist anymore).

[soniCron]

-Assorted videogame playlists (right now featuring "Wisdom of the World" from Mother, "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" from Marble Madness, and the entire soundtrack from Fire Emblem V) You might want to check out that Kohina stream (http://130.240.207.98:8000/stream.ogg). Most of the music on that is from video games. Lots of chiptunes, Adlib, and C64 game soundtracks.

@Diragor: Mr. Bungle!!

[Savant]

I don't listen to music, I work.
I can't stand silence. I'll at LEAST have some classical music very quietly in the background. If I'm doing something that doesn't require a lot of brain power I'll crank up some Tool or Korn as well. I've been very into Johnny Cash lately as well. Odd that...

[Anatoly]

I listen to a lot of techno, dance music and game soundtracks (originals and remixes - Everybody should try "Marble dancefloor" remix of MM sountrack!). Anything with a beat basically.

[svero]

I use to listen to techno/trance stuff while I coded. Nowdays I listen to audiobooks.. everythign from classics to physics. So you might ask.. how can I concentrate on a book while coding? Answer.. I donno.. I just can.

[soniCron]

Are you able to retain the texts?

[soniCron]

>> soniCron: and if you like video game music you will for sure love http://www.scenemusic.net/ Yes. As you can see, that was the second to last radio stream on my list! ;)

About silence: I find that listening to something like Cryosleep (http://207.200.96.225:8022) while working is a notch better than silence for concentration. It's very abstract ambient with no beat and a very fluid structure. It's perfect because it fills that void that's that's there with total silence but doesn't distract like traditional music. I like to think of it as a more interesting white noise. ;)

About scene music and to all readers: If for some (strange) reason you don't know what
an intro
a demo (not shareware)
a party (about extraordinary computer feats)
Farbrausch
are, then do yourself a huge favor and check out pouët.net (http://www.pouet.net/). You can get started by clicking here (http://www.pouet.net/prodlist.php?page=1&type=demo&platform=Windows&order=views). And shame on you!

[Anthony Flack]

I can't listen and program at the same time, because it uses the language part of my brain and it's strictly a one-way conduit.

When doing art stuff I like to listen though, since it uses a completely different part of the brain and keeps me amused so I can work for hours. Except that these days I'm not doing much art and all my work is done late at night, and I must maintain total silence.

But my preference in recent years has been to listen to spoken stuff rather than music, which keeps my brain occupied better. I used to do that when I worked in a factory, too; but everyone would hassle me about it. Apparently, cranking up the radio and listening to the same Bryan Adams song every four hours for years and years is much better entertainment than listening to an interview with the Coen brothers. Mind you, these people are, presumably, still working at that factory, and I left years ago.

[svero]

Are you able to retain the texts?

Insomuch as I follow the story, or learn the material yeah... Ocassionally if Im facing a real tricky bug or problem my mind focuses and I lose what I was listening to and then I have to rewind, but for normal everyday coding it's ok.

[svero]

I can't listen and program at the same time, because it uses the language part of my brain and it's strictly a one-way conduit.


I think part of the reason I can do it is that I dont really use the language part of my brain to code.. for me its more like arranging blocks into sets.. slightly like drawing. I can't listen while doing anything that requires reading or writing though. (such as email or reading newsgroups etc..)

[NothingLikeit]

I listen to all kinds of stuff, mainly top forty though. It's easier for MTV to tell me what I should like than to pick it myself. I still have delved deeper into some of these top 40 artist's catalogs and found some good stuff.

- Kanye West (crappy attitude but good music)
- Metallica
- Evanesence
- Fall Out Boy
- Common
- Chicago (of course)
- Jay Z
- Linkin Park
- Utada Hirakaru

[Anlino]

David Bowie, Robbie Williams, and a lot of mixed stuff as well. In my case, music keeps me focused and allows me to work longer onto the nights.

[Anthony Flack]

Kanye West (crappy attitude but good music)

I'm curious now. I don't know this guy's music but a lot of the kids seem to like him at the moment. So, what's his attitude?

Anyway, interesting to see Chicago on the same list as Linkin Park there.

[Barlok]

:D, and I listen, when work:

Brujeria
Enigma
FireStarter
Gorillaz
John 5
Kittie
Muslimgause
Portishead
Rammstein
Slayer
Prodigy
Xploding PlastixOr download from http://www.modarchive.com/ random themes and listen is repeat!

[NothingLikeit]

I'm curious now. I don't know this guy's music but a lot of the kids seem to like him at the moment. So, what's his attitude?

Anyway, interesting to see Chicago on the same list as Linkin Park there.

I like a few of thier songs. It was a part of a "welcome to the city package" :D

But Kanye West thinks he's the greatest thing sine the beatles. He's a talented artist but if you let him tell you, he's better than Jesus.

[JoKa]

I don't want music while doing complicated stuff. But during level design I find it most inspiring to listen to Chris Huelsbeck's soundtracks of Amiga games like Turrican, Apidya or other stuff like Shadow of the Beast.

While doing boring things like listing PAD files on download-sites I prefer more classic stuff like Lord of the Rings :)

Off-work I tend to rock/metal, need something completely different.

[Adrian Cummings]

Hard core bangin gask mask techno keeps me focused throughout the days work tho I swear I'm going deaf now :)

[Robert Cummings]

When doing art stuff I like to listen though, since it uses a completely different part of the brain and keeps me amused so I can work for hours. Except that these days I'm not doing much art and all my work is done late at night, and I must maintain total silence.


This is the point I was trying to make before I got shot down with some flames :)

I can't code and listen to music, it confuses me. But when I do artwork I will hum myself into the mood, or listen to some scores in the background. I also wear headphones as not to disturb others... specially lil uns who will wake up and I'll face a different kind of music.

That said, it's rare for me to listen to music... sometimes it just gets in the way, and after I have been hacking away at it, THEN I can chill out.

[Savant]

Well then, say that next time. :) This:

"I don't listen to music, I work."

Reads like you're scorning those who listen to music and are implying that they aren't getting any work done.

[Anthony Flack]

I also wear headphones as not to disturb others... specially lil uns who will wake up and I'll face a different kind of music.

I tried that; unfortunately it means that I can't hear if I'm being called and I end up facing the music anyway... I must remain alert for any sound of trouble. Like Superman, but without the exciting stuff.

[Pogacha]

Recomended: Astor Piazzolla (http://www.piazzolla.org/index.html).

Do you need inspiration for creating a new world?

[Vorax]

My music is pretty diverse. In no particular order:

- Smashing Pumpkins
- Pink Floyd
- Offspring
- Crystal Method
- Peter Gabriel
- Nirvana
- Eve 6
- Coldplay
- Doors
- Rolling Stones
- Third Eye Blind
- Billy Idol
- Better than Ezra
- Lit
- R.E.M.
- SR-71
- Talking Heads
- The Cars
- Vertical Horizon
- Our Lady Peace
- Pearl Jam
- Garbage
- Tragically Hip
- Everclear

I also have a huge 9 hour play list of classical music (Orchestra and Opera) covering the best work for the last 300 years - great for programming or art marathons :)

[electronicStar]

I think part of the reason I can do it is that I dont really use the language part of my brain to code.. for me its more like arranging blocks into sets.. slightly like drawing. I can't listen while doing anything that requires reading or writing though. (such as email or reading newsgroups etc..)
I'm like SVERO on this one.
It's funny to see how different people use their brain differently on the same task.
Not only music doesn't bother me, but actually I feel like it's filling a void and I think it helps me concentrate better. That or I leave the TV on in the background. Of course it depends on the music, it must be soft music, not repetitive and not a too intrusive song.
When designing levels, music can be a great motivation, for example it put you in the correct mode according to the type of level you are designing.
The only moment when music is bothering is when I am dealing with text, for example intro screens, help screens, etc.

[Matthew]

I saw this posted over at GameSetWatch (http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/02/xoc_goes_mockugameary_soundtra.php) today. VIDEOGAME: THE MOVIE: THE VIDEOGAME is a concept album that has two versions: a NES audio verison and an orchestrated version. It's neat. http://www.xocmusic.com/vgtmtg/ (download links at the bottom)

It's by the same guy that did this excellent Super Mario World orchestration (http://www.archive.org/details/xoc_SMW).

As for work music I try to avoid lyrics; too distracting. Usually a random assortment of ambient, post-rock, psytrance/goa, jungle, video game music and remixes, etc.

[Teq]

A Perfect Circle
Faith No More
Marilyn Manson
Nine Inch Nails
Powerman 5000
Rammstein
Rob Zombie
Smashing Pumpkins


At work and while doing indie development

[ninjasamurai]

- Third Eye Blind
This is what i've been listening to the last weeks, their first two albums, I bought them years ago but never really played them till now, their SemiCharmed Life is my favorite song of all time.

Everytime I need to stay up all night I listen to Smashmouth's Astrolounge, it's great to keep awake.

[AnthemAudio]

It's very hard for me to listen to anything else while I'm doing MY work. ;)

But I'll slip on some MUSE and/or Radiohead when I'm not doing anything audio critical.

[simonbowerbank]

I cant listen to music while i work. :(

Maybe one day in the future i will beable to purchase two sets of ears. You can check out the music i listen to when im not working here http://www.last.fm/user/simonbowerbank/

[nvision]

I always listen to old radio dramas, through OTR Now... otrnow.com (http://otrnow.com)

It's like watching television all day, only you can free up your eyes for dealing with the task at hand (making gfx in my case). The vast variety of shows tends to stimulate my creativity, especially since I'm using my imagination to generate visuals for the audio... Some of my favourite shows are X-Minus One, Suspense, Inner Sanctum, and Johnny Dollar...

[James C. Smith]

Any trance music especialy Milkshake (Majestic 12 Remix) from Ultra Trance, Vol. 3

[mahlzeit]

These songs (http://autumnevening.blogspot.com/2005/10/playlist-highlights.html)

[Darth Nader]

Been listening to Blogs from PC Gamer, Gamers with Jobs, 1UP, and Gamespot to name a few. As far as music:

Dangerdoom (just picked this up)
Blackstar - Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Common
Ghost in the Shell SAC OST
Battlestar Galactica OST
Samurai Champloo OST
Yoko Kanno
Common

[Mark Currie]

As a good indy developer, I generally only listen to independently developed music ;)

www.kexp.org

The music at kexp rarely repeats and is basically commercial free. If you don't like what's playing at the moment, check out their streaming archive, which is catagorized by time or genre.