CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Lobby => Music and Recordings => Topic started by: Byrnie on October 27, 2014, 09:30:03 PM

Title: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Byrnie on October 27, 2014, 09:30:03 PM
I'm curious how others listen to music.  I recently started turning my monitors off, tuening the lights off, and closing my eyes when I listen to music as it cuts out most distractions (my ADD only makes these distractions that much worse hah).  How do you all listen to music?  I would love to hear any tricks or pointers people have.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: thegunner100 on October 27, 2014, 09:45:02 PM
When I can, I like to turn off the lights and cover all other remaining sources of light in the room. Then I lie down on my bed and listen to music. Sometimes I sit down but lying down is usually more comfortable for my back.

For casual listening, I like to use my speakers if my room mate isn't around. Sometimes headphones too.

For all other times... I listen to music with the TV on cause I'm stuck living with a room mate who loves to leave the TV on even when he's not watching.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Byrnie on October 27, 2014, 10:03:44 PM
When I can, I like to turn off the lights and cover all other remaining sources of light in the room. Then I lie down on my bed and listen to music. Sometimes I sit down but lying down is usually more comfortable for my back.

For casual listening, I like to use my speakers if my room mate isn't around. Sometimes headphones too.

For all other times... I listen to music with the TV on cause I'm stuck living with a room mate who loves to leave the TV on even when he's not watching.

Oh I forgot to add that I turn off the lights too.  I'll fix that!
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Claritas on October 27, 2014, 10:34:11 PM
Good topic.

At home, I usually lie down with the lights dimmed low and wear a makeshift eyemask (it's a dark T-shirt folded over itself twice).
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Questhate on October 27, 2014, 10:42:35 PM
Different ways really.

My preferred way to of attentive listening would be to dim the lights, get a cup of tea or a beer, then sit on the couch in front of my speakers. I may close my eyes, I may read the liner notes of the album I'm listening to, I may read online reviews while I'm listening, I may play a mindless game on my phone.

I also like to listen in bed before I go to sleep. This one is risky because there is a chance that I stay up until 3am before realizing I should've been asleep hours ago.

I also have music playing in the background pretty much all the time at home. Whether it's doing chores, watching the baseball game, having dinner, hanging out with friends, etc.

Also I get plenty of time to listen on my half hour commute to and from work every day.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Byrnie on October 27, 2014, 11:12:22 PM
Good topic.

At home, I usually lie down with the lights dimmed low and wear a makeshift eyemask (it's a dark T-shirt folded over itself twice).
Thx bud!  Interesting idea about the eyemask!

Different ways really.

My preferred way to of attentive listening would be to dim the lights, get a cup of tea or a beer, then sit on the couch in front of my speakers. I may close my eyes, I may read the liner notes of the album I'm listening to, I may read online reviews while I'm listening, I may play a mindless game on my phone.

I also like to listen in bed before I go to sleep. This one is risky because there is a chance that I stay up until 3am before realizing I should've been asleep hours ago.
That's interesting about reading the linear notes I never thought about that.  Totally agree with you about having a beer or a warm drink  :)p3.  I have that 3am problem with youtube sometimes lol.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Marvey on October 28, 2014, 12:27:40 AM
Take the poll: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1132.0.html
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: thegunner100 on October 28, 2014, 02:23:24 AM
I use this eye mask when my room mate is around and I need to get some sleep or listen to music. Also... I have my uerms for when he's around too.

http://www.amazon.com/Daydream-Basic-Sleep-Mask-Black/dp/B001KC1FAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414462956&sr=8-1&keywords=daydream+mask

Some tea or coffee is great for listening to music too!

Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Byrnie on October 28, 2014, 03:19:35 AM
Take the poll: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1132.0.html
Cool poll!  I voted.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: DrForBin on October 28, 2014, 05:20:47 AM
hello,

usually in bed before i go to sleep.

Icon iDo, 7th gen, iPod Classic (Apple lossless), AKG550's. (remember i don't have room for speakers.)

sometimes i wake up with the cans still on.

the GYTW has learned not to try to take the phones off my head.  ;)

sometimes i use the same bedside setup during the daylight hours to turn off the world.

it works for me.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: LFF on October 28, 2014, 09:55:34 AM
How have I missed this?


I'm actually giving a university talk on "how to listen".


My points on the speech will be:


1) Hearing vs Listening
2) Actively listening for work
3) Actively listening for pleasure


I'll let you guys know how it goes. Just wish me luck... :-\
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Hroðulf on October 28, 2014, 11:04:44 AM
Any chance of getting a transcript/slides/anything?
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: kothganesh on October 28, 2014, 11:21:17 AM
I want an immersive experience when I listen to music. I listen alone and shut the door on the family. At work, I put on my HPs and crank away at spreadsheets (and hence attention level is low). Its only on the weekends at home that music is listened to attentively and I try to capture nuances. There are a few a-ha moments when a particular rig presents the same song in a slightly different way. But its these attentive moments that help me clean up my source (i.e. getting rid of compressed files).
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Kamaka on October 28, 2014, 04:21:07 PM
I'm not much for having background music when I do anything that requires mental focus. I wait until my girls go to bed before attempting to listen: Turn off the lights, find a comfortable spot, close my eyes and enjoy.

One notable exception is grocery shopping. A pair of good IEMs or my CIEMs almost always accompany me on those trips. It helps turn an otherwise mundane chore, at least for me,  into an enjoyable experience. Long checkout lines with obnoxious individuals? Tuned out. The Garden Grove Costco filled to the brim with old Asian couples pushing their shopping carts just as well as they drive their cars? No problem. Sure, I get plenty of people giving me the hairy eyeball when they see the earphones and rig but that's expected. The increase in mood and patience is worth every glance.
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: LFF on October 28, 2014, 05:32:44 PM
Any chance of getting a transcript/slides/anything?

No. Not set-up for slides. My presentation style doesn't really go with it. My presentations tend to be more interactive than straight on boring with slides - especially when it comes to sound. I will be playing some music though. :)
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: Thad E Ginathom on October 28, 2014, 05:52:21 PM
Once upon a time I would have voted for the first option. Music was something to do in itself, not something else to do at the same time. I was almost puritanical about not using music as background.

Then along came the internet   walk the plank2
Title: Re: How do you listen to music?
Post by: takato14 on October 29, 2014, 02:48:13 AM
I'm constantly alert, changing tracks, and staring at the spectrogram most of the time

rarely I ignore everything and just jam out like an idiot, or mouth the words to whatever I'm listening to

I imagine I look insane when I do this