Does an internet connections reduce your productivity

[JALFK]

This one I suppose d on the individual's personal focus and attention span, but....

I recently relocated my studio to a cooler location in berlin, and am now just settling in. My last studio was closer to my house and had an internet connection. My new studio I have to ride around 10 minutes to get to and doesn't have a connection, not even any unlocked WIFI about to nick.

Therefore I start the day at home with my laptop downloading audio and doing emails / admin. I then go to the studio with my laptop and transfer and work. Then I come home in the evening with the laptop and upload and do emails and stuff.

This new routine and not having a connection AT work, has decreased the amount of time I spend working at the studio considerably.

So far it hasn't presented any issues, as worst case scenario I can nip accross the road to the internet cafe (which is also an organic food shop/cafe )

Just an idea to try for those (most people I guess) who work with connections, and would be cool to hear from people who do this anyway.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

It is going to be hard for you to do updates with no internet connection.

I very seldom, if ever, go on the internet in my studio during working hours. I really have nothing to see or do on the internet and if I need to spend some time looking at emails or ordering supplies or equipment I do it from my office.

I really would prefer NOT to have an internet connection on my studio computers since it is a way to download viruses and malware accidentally but with having to do updates one has to have the connection.

[JALFK]

Updates... good point.

But I'm sure this wont be a massive issue though, as I can download any necessary updates on my laptop. The issue however is knowing when a new update is available.

But realistically, when an update is vital it will say "Cannot launch program, please update to version X of Y". And when that happens, I can just download the update.

[tombak]

I find it's helpful to jump online for some quick technical info. Being able to take care of updates is useful too especially if you have a tower cpu. My DAW has gray hairs so I don't dare do any updates (PT Mix 6.4, OSX 10.3 etc).

Obviously managing yourself and not being logged into Skype, Aim, etc is a good idea for productivity. I often find some GS surfing helpful though keeping a browser window with Gearslutz constantly open could be especially dangerously distracting for some...

On a humorous side note, I recently heard that a colleague of mine often keeps a chat window open with a webcam girl while he works in the studio, apparently she keeps him company when he's with a "boring" client. She usually hides behind the track display window when he's working with bands.

[huejahfink]

I do a lot of online work and sometimes it actually saves time....

I can chat to the producer of the track on AIM as I am working if any issues arise that need clarification. Saves waiting for emails etc. Works for me, especially as a lot of the scene that I work for are used to using AIM already.

If I am actually working on writing my own tunes, I find it best to switch the connection off.

[Strut78]

I always have the client email me all of the CD text info so that I just cut and paste it into Wave Editor so the ISRC's and Titles etc are exactly as they sent me.So internet is needed for me.

But more importantly ......... Gearslutz!!!!

[flamingo lover]

I do have an internet connection but when I work I don't even open a browser, It can be distracting. I work until I feel I am done and only then allow myslef to wonder the web... it can be very time consuming to surf and can waste your whole day.

[JALFK]

yeah defo. I'm a bit of a knowledge *****. I'd wake up with an interest for ancient egyptian fermentation methods, and before realising I actually had work to do it would be midday.




Edit: I wasn't aware the word beginning with wh, rhyming with bore, was offensive... that's what was auto censored above he he.

[streetbeats]

Originally Posted by JALFK

I'd wake up with an interest for ancient egyptian fermentation methods

awesome quote

I have a net connection on a separate machine to my main DAW.

As with others - email and IM with clients is important, and often times ill do some browsing whilst having lunch or a tea (ear) break...

[Bob Yordan]

It sure does, so I disconnect the lan cable, from the router, everytime before I start any music program activities.

My co-worker answers mails, sms, talk on the phone during his sessions.

and I dont.

[Virtalahde]

No, because I have a daily schedule. Even unattended jobs will be done on it - I couldn't do it if I hadn't marked everything on my calendar on specific spot. An album at 10 AM and an EP at 16 PM, etc.

[Table Of Tone]

Uploading single wav's....No! I'm fine with it.
Uploading DDP's...Yes!

I hate uploading DDP's!
Still don't fully trust em, even though I'll download em again and check em.

I guess I can't really concentrate on getting more work done while they're uploading.
Dunno why?

[lowland]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

I hate uploading DDP's!
Still don't fully trust em, even though I'll download em again and check em.

I'm with you on that, especially with our rural internet connection speed: it's 3.5 to 4.5 hours for a 60 minute DDP and if, as sometimes happens, the line drops I have to start again. Very frustrating when you leave a DDP to 'cook' overnight and it hasn't gone across by the morning.

Forgive me if 'eggs' 'grandmother' and 'teach' come to mind, but 1. zipping the DDP folder before sending gives an extra level of error check as does 2. providing an MD5 checksum, and I also always 3. check the number of bytes sent against the number of bytes that arrives at the other end - haven't been caught yet, but this Friday is the 13th :-)

[Nordenstam]

Nigel, you may want to enquire if there's any VDSL connections available in your area. This places the telecom side modem to some local junction closer to your house. In the usual ADSL case, it's stuck in the nearest public branch exchange which may be many kilometers away from your house. With the conversion to optical being done closer to your home, excellent transfer rates can be had even in rural areas.

I switched from ADSL to VDSL a month ago. It's very handy to be able to upload a full album in less than half an hour! Modem is currently connected at 46 megabit down- and 11 megabit up-link speed.

[lowland]

Originally Posted by Lupo

Nigel, you may want to enquire if there's any VDSL connections available in your area.

Thanks Lupo. I hadn't heard of VDSL before, so that's useful to know - unfortunately a check of VDSL rollout for in UK exchanges shows that our area won't get it for at least a year, there's no date set at present. No doubt when the time comes I'll be the first round here with it, but in the meantime I'll just struggle on with ADSL.

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by JALFK

Does an internet connections reduce your productivity?

No, it actually helps!

Software updates.

Upload/Download audio files via remote servers and local network.

Check relevant emails.

Research unattending clients websites to find out a little more about them, what they look like, catch a vibe, etc.

Googling anything else relevant that might come up during a session.

Keep my iPhone handy for checking weather etc.

Also provide WiFi for client convenience.

So we're wired and wireless, it's a big plus.

JT

[Johnny Paez]

Yes internet in the studio take work time
but is necessary

[Riccardo]

Two different machines. Studio macs for playback and capture and an office machine (well... in the office of course) for software updates, i-loks, a bit of paperwork and other amenities.

[PBM]

Originally Posted by JALFK

This one I suppose d on the individual's personal focus and attention span, but....

I recently relocated my studio to a cooler location in berlin, and am now just settling in. My last studio was closer to my house and had an internet connection. My new studio I have to ride around 10 minutes to get to and doesn't have a connection, not even any unlocked WIFI about to nick.

Therefore I start the day at home with my laptop downloading audio and doing emails / admin. I then go to the studio with my laptop and transfer and work. Then I come home in the evening with the laptop and upload and do emails and stuff.

This new routine and not having a connection AT work, has decreased the amount of time I spend working at the studio considerably.

So far it hasn't presented any issues, as worst case scenario I can nip accross the road to the internet cafe (which is also an organic food shop/cafe )

Just an idea to try for those (most people I guess) who work with connections, and would be cool to hear from people who do this anyway.

Philosophers Barn has electricity, but no water, no phone (except my mobile) and no internet. I like it like that. Software updates don't happen everyday and anyway are no great problem (that's what USB sticks are for) and my scheduling/calendar is in my Filofax.

Like Nigel I have rural broadband, slower than most urban modems, so I up/download at the beginning/end of the day and leave the office machine to do it's business.

I take hourly 10-15 minute ear-breaks and that means playing with the dogs in the garden or checking e-mails in the office and the like (or both). I know I can waste a lot of time on the net, so I'm happy not to have the temptation in my work-space.

Of course, resistance to temptation is a huge variable ...

Cheers,

Eric

[SoundWeavers]

wifi (internet) in the studio reduces my productivity when clients take their work and facebook to the studio, like their attention is not focused to the task at hand, and there I am waiting for them to have a usable take, arrgghhh...

[4130]

I like having the ability to hit up the iTunes store for quick references. It's also helpful for troubleshooting computer or application issues.

[erasedcitizen]

For me I have no internet connection on my DAW pc but I have a laptop that I can use for the internet when needed, but I have it turned off when not using it so as not to get distracted by it

[inlinenl]

it's always nice to watch some free porn .. after a hard days work on mixes that suck ... .. slutzzz

[retrodisko]

I think that there are two scenarios,

If you work alone, its good to have it, Online references, Manuals, Updates, and many things mentioned above,

But on the other side, As SoundWeavers mention, if is a public studio with clients, they spend time Fb and Chatting instead on focus on th work ....


Mi opinion, Have the Cat 5 Cable hiden somewhere and plug it when you need it. in those cases

Studio is not Cybercafé

[Ben F]

I was listening to an interview the other day with Nicholas Carr he was saying new research suggests multitasking is diminishing our ability to focus deeply on a singe task.

"American writer Nicholas Carr has published books and articles on technology, business, and culture.

His article has sparked debate all over the world, on whether the using the web to the extent we now do is diminishing our capacity to think, to read and remember.

Nicholas' new book is The Shallows published by Atlantic Books."

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/...section=latest


I have 2 computers- A Mac with the internet and various DAWs (Logic Pro, Pro Tools LE, Abelton Live) the windoze machine is the main workstation using sequoia. The windoze machine stays away from the net for various reasons, mainly because I think XP works best away from the web- it is simply networked the mac. The mac is used for all up loading/dowloading and clients removable drives that may have a virus.

[Ari-M.]

replying to this thread has reduced my productivity....just think I could have spent this same amount of time surfing for transexual asian midget pornography

damn the internets

[Virtalahde]

Originally Posted by Ari-M.

transexual asian midget pornography

If they're not morbidly obese, you're just wasting your time.

[Ari-M.]

Originally Posted by Virtalahde

If they're not morbidly obese, you're just wasting your time.

well that goes w/o saying....I just assumed the connection would be immediate (pun?)