Music: distraction or motivation?
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- honest
Do you listen to music in your studio?
We've recently switched off music during working and have found that productivity has increased.
Can you go cold turkey and work without music or is it a must-have to help your work?
- Jordy0
We listen to music all day and I think it increases productivity. It depends what kind of music. We usually listen to ambient and not "too-present" kind of music. We see that if there's no music playing, everybody turns to headphones and listens anyway.
When I really need to focus I put on my headphones and exclude myself from everything.
- Laurent0
Music = motivation
Able to concentrate in a noisy office.
More productive with my audéo headphones....nice
- Xopher0
Loud doom drone noise metal in the office, yes. No one else seems to appreciate it though.
- Amicus0
If you have bosses or workmates that talk loudly at each other across your desk music is a must! Turn it up every time they get louder and switch to something they'll hate if they are bothering you too much.
- Giles780
We have a CD player but the girls prefer to play loads of R&B which is not for me, so I listen to indie or whatever on earphones to drown it out. I'd prefer no music really.
- detritus0
My own music, yes.
Other people's, certainly not.
- Continuity0
For designers, music is certainly an advantage, I think. Different textures, soundscapes, layers, bleeps, chunky guitar, et cetera can give a jolt to the creative juices.
For writers, I would think it's a distraction. That's a completely different animal.
I remember a book I had when I was a kid about how to draw comics (it was a really awesome British book, the author of which I can't remember anymore), and in the chapter about home studio set-up for writers, the athor recommended as silent a space as possible - without music - in order to properly concentrate. The logic being that music - especially music with singing and lyrics (versus instrumental) - is too much of a distraction from writing.
- Projectile0
electronic music is better. lyrics are distracting at times. but when it comes to highly repetetive processses, I even listen to comedy shows as it stops my mind from wandering in the direction of going to make cups of tea etc. and i just knuckle down
- welded0
It depends on what I'm doing. If I'm trying to work out a problem, then I like silence but if I'm just workin' away it's fine.
- benfal990
I think a law must be established that says:
'If you want to listen to music at work. Bring your headphones. NO ONE is allowed to play music in speakers at any moment'
- BuddhaHat0
I sit next to a French guy who talks all day... sometimes just in general, not talking to anyone in particular, it's incredibly frustrating. In the days he's in the office, I consider my music a distraction from a distraction, which allows me to work.
He's too nice a guy to just say 'Hey FrogMan! Shut the fuck up!'
- So true. I like The French, but they just cannot help being annoying. It's a talent, I'll grant them that much.detritus
- Fax_Benson0
To even consider working properly I need to be accompanied by a full west indian steel band. I find carnival weekend is my most productive time of year.
- Yep, you just can't get enough floats when you need em.MrMackem
- DaveO0
I'm all for music. Silence is a bit strange and all the small noises are amplified (human noises, slurping coffees, phone calls to partners etc).
Music adds a vibe to the studio and can be directed in any direction.
Spotify Premium is a must for every studio. Tenner a month and it's quite democratic in terms of what's out there to listen to, you can network and create playlist so everyone can have a go, and if you buy it you don't get the annoying ads. Wicked idea.
- whatsup0
Depending on how many people you have in your studio it can be disturbing. But music is good, I wish I could remember to turn it on while I'm working
- kingsteven0
We're in a cavern above Belfast's biggest rock/metal venue (Cathedral sound-checking at 3pm last week)... The general hum of the place would drive you mental without some light tunage (King Khan atm)
The boss's son on this thing is the best of times...
- benfal990
MUSIC is ok. For yourself.
Put your fucking headphones on!™
- ItalianStallion0
I suggest you to read these:
- anthropologist on mars has a case where a grateful dead fan gets a giant brain tumor and communicates only in rhyme.kingsteven
- love these two tookingsteven
- iheartfun0
No one in here will do work without music. To quite, small, and eerie
- Peter0
Part of work where you have to think
= no music, or at least no music with lyricsPart of work you just have to muddle through,
less to no thoughts (pure production, etc)
= music