Comments on: Programming Music

By: Q

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:50:00 +0000

try chopin, my friend…

By: James Jordin

James Jordin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Dick, thanks for those links – the only appropriate response has to be “Is there no end to Excel’s possibilities?”

So basically it looks like one can sequence MIDI and audio/Wavs using Excel! Now all we need to do is work out how to time-stretch audio clips, and implement VST plugins, then I can uninstall Ableton Live and EnergyXT!

Seriously, though – I have quite an interest in algorithmic composition, so I’m looking forward to playing with the J-Walk midi-player file and some of the other suggestions.

Thanks again, Dick – I would never have even thought of googling ‘MIDI’ and ‘Excel’ at the same time, so I may never have found out about this!

By: Dick Kusleika

Dick Kusleika — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:29:00 +0000

James:

http://www.dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2007/02/06/musical-excel/
http://j-walk.com/ss/excel/tips/tip59.htm

By: James Jordin

James Jordin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Bah! I got so excited when I saw that title on my feed - a little part of me was wondering whether it really was possible to turn Excel into some kind of bizarre MIDI sequencer or tracker. "Is there no end to Excel's possibilities?", I thought. Ah well...

Anyway, the post does raise an interesting issue - it seems there really is a difference in the way music affects different people whilst working. I actually find it harder to concentrate when I'm not listening to music. I had a slight difference of opinion with the head of department at my last job, as he couldn't get his head round the idea that I could work more efficiently with my earphones in.

However, I do usually find that vocal music is too distracting, so my playlist is usually full of instrumental tracks. All sorts of genres, though - 'classical', jazz, soundtracks, rock, folk and lots of electronica (various types). For working to a tight deadline, I usually choose something with a higher bpm. If it's something that involves a bit more concentration, I'll slow it down a bit. If I'm working on something particularly taxing, the Mozart effect seems to do wonders - maybe the effect is imagined, but it certainly seems to have the desired results.

Of course, the additional benefit gained from listening to music whilst working is that it drowns out the inane babblings of the middle-aged, menapausal divorcee who never seems to do any work that doesn't allow her to yak constantly at the same time.

Piped pink noise sounds like an interesting idea...

By: Harald Staff

Harald Staff — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:45:00 +0000

When writing code, dirty work coding, literally this:
http://somafm.com/play/groovesalad
when doing more complex things, I'm like John. No distractions.

By: David Whisler

David Whisler — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:19:00 +0000

When I really need to focus I listen to either Mozart or Secret Garden (www.secretgarden.no)

By: DFruge

DFruge — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:12:00 +0000

Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Debussy, Bach, & Rob Costlow…

By: Mike Alexander

Mike Alexander — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:08:00 +0000

I can't believe I missed this thread.

I switch up music frequently, but here is my current programming music.

Wolf Parade
Sunset Rubdown
Handsome Furs
Frog Eyes
Swan Lake
New Pornographers

By: simon

simon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Ross
You’ll be looking forward to this incessantly over Christmas then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OAUs0rcsA4
(thats not you next to kid jensen is it?)

By: Alain Bryden

Alain Bryden — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:46:00 +0000

I find dubstep or electronica compelling, like it's beating the code into my eyes/out of my fingers.

I write better comments when listening to classical or blues.