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Discussion on: Why do programmers wear headphones? For the same reason that you can’t juggle.

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tpetrina profile image
Toni Petrina

I use headphones, but without music. Music is too engaging, but having headphones prevents some unnecessary conversations and dampens the environment sounds a bit.

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anthonysdi profile image
Anthony

Have you tried Betawave music (low key music engineered to increase beta waves in the brain) or Classical music (nonvocal music can still be a great "white noise")?

Another option is to listen to soundtracks from video games. The music for them is engineered to keep the player engaged and not distract from the game.

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Leonardo Santos

What soundtracks do you recommend?

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Anthony

If I gravitate to game sound tracks I go to Mario tracks; I don't know why I'm sure there are better ones, that's just my taste.

You can go to youtube and search for game sound tracks and find some that work for you.

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meonlol

Game music is a good idea. I'll try that today.
If I really need to concentrate I use one of the sound engines from mynoise.net/
I like the "cafe restaurant" one, which perfectly drowns out colleagues talking, even without noise canceling headphones.

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Jens Genberg

Wow, that site is awesome! Thank you for posting this.

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Sam

thanks for the tip, I'll try it next week :)

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Ali Suleiman

Very true! I actually do this everyday, listening to soundtracks from video games. It keeps me focused. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a completely different world, my own world where I'm the star of the show! :D

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epigene profile image
Augusts Bautra

Absolutely! Lately I have been listening to these "homework edit" versions of popular soundtracks, especially Skyrim. This rocks youtube.com/watch?v=xWtfo9kuRTU

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Vashful

I agree. I also do it often. Play 1 track then nothing for some time

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Schleer György

When I have to focus I usually listen to Desert/Stoner rock (strictly instrumental). One of my friends who is more into electronic music prefers minimal techno for the same reasons. Active noise filtering works best if there is some sound in your headphones.

If music absolutely bothers you, there are whitenoises on YT. My favorite is "10 Hours Of Relaxing Planet Earth II Island Sounds - Earth Unplugged", but if that is still too concrete there is my other favorite "CELESTIAL WHITE NOISE | Sleep Better, Reduce Stress, Calm Your Mind, Improve Focus | 10 Hour Ambient".

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Chris Denby

I have to agree. Being a programmer with a degree in theory and composition, any music is going to engage far too much to be considered white noise.

But I do have noise blocking headphones that I can wear in shared environments.

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Rich Clarke

I find tuneful music distracting, I start listening to it. But Industrial or similar helps me to concentrate. It's usually music other people find unlistenable.