Music in the Darkroom?

Do you listen to music while in the darkroom

  • I like to listen to music when in the darkroom.

    Votes: 64 74.4%

  • I like the sounds of silence when I work in the darkroom.

    Votes: 22 25.6%
  • Total voters
    86

Ektagraphic

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Do you listen to music in the darkroom or do you like the silence. I like silence when I am loading film into a tank or into the holders but while processing and printing I love music. I have just bought another record player so I'll now have one for the darkroom. That will really be a treat!
 

Lopaka

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Ah yes....the gentle hum of the ventilation system, the gurgling of the water, and MUSIC! I am in another world and loving it. I do NOT have a phone in the darkroom - the voice mail can take it.

Bob
 

images39

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I always have music on in the darkroom. It adds a lot to the darkroom experience!

Dale
 

Firestarter

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Ektagraphic said:
. I have just bought another record player so I'll now have one for the darkroom. That will really be a treat!
Click to expand...

What is it about our breed, darkrooms rather then Digital, Vinyl rather then Cd..

I love it

Long time since I had a permanent darkroom ( working on it right now ) but I do like a bit of music.
 

Rick A

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I marked neither of the boxes. It all depends on my mood, and what time of the day(sometimes I print at 4 or 5 in the AM) so I dont disturb the rest of the family. When I do listen, its usually Deep Tracks on Sirius sat. radio.

Rick
 
OP
OP

Ektagraphic

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I would actually like to put a phone in my darkroom. A rotary phone on the wall would be fun, I think. Other than that no phone. I'd probably turn the ringer off and use it just to send calls out.
 

ozphoto

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I listen to the radio regardless of printing or developing film. Deathly quiet just doesn't cut it for me.
Firestarter - maybe I'll try and fit an 8-Track player to match my old turntable and casette deck that lives in the house?
 

jmcd

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I do not listen to music when I am doing any kind of work. It's not that I don't like music, I love it, and it overwhelms me completely.
 

DanielStone

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when I get the chance to get back in the darkroom(at school, can't print at home ), it will be with an ipod blasting some mc hammer, Led Zeppelin, and some beach boys!

nice thing too, the lab techs run the internet radio ALLLLLLLLL day long!

-Dan
 

gregmacc

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Yes ... preferably jazz ... Kenny Burrell, Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny, John Scofield ...
I also like to use that type of music to get myself inspired before a shooting session ... often in the car on the way to a favorite shooting area.
 

Craig Swensson

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QUOTE
record player
hehe,exellent.

Gee i wish i had the space and the ability to multi task then i would have a record player in the darkroom,a valve amp and a pair of bowers and wilkins. Me, i have enough trouble remembering to change aperture after focusing as it is without Joe Strummer distracting my attempt at workflow.
I could get one of those ipad things?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

jeroldharter

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You should have included an option for both. Sometimes I like music, other times quiet.
 

Ross Chambers

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jmcd said:
I do not listen to music when I am doing any kind of work. It's not that I don't like music, I love it, and it overwhelms me completely.
Click to expand...

Agree. Music's music and if it has any integrity and complexity it demands total attention, like the print you're making.

I do, however, sometimes listen to current affairs-like radio (think NPR Americans), although the grumpiness induced by the antics of politicians doesn't help for a serene dark room mood.

Regards - Ross
 

keithwms

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I had to vote "no" only because I usually make my own music when I work, in the form of whistles, hums, grunts, splashes and occasional toe taps. And other sounds.

I have been thinking for some time how handy it'd be to sort my favourite music by duration and use that to time the darkroom work. For example, Bolero takes about 17 mins which is about right for dev + stop + fix for neopan 400 in xtol 1+1 or wd2d+, and the agitations and bath switches are even suggested by changes of the instrumental groups. Plus, when you finally pull the film out of the fix, it's nice to have the trombones blaring, and then that sort of resigned "that's all folks" at the very end.
 
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VaryaV

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Always - my success or failure is totally dependent on the music which is totally dependent on my mood.

I have to load in silence though or I'll mess up.
 

Hal Reiser

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I always listen to music when working in the darkroom. When I bought my house it had to have two things a garage and a basement for the darkroom. When I built the darkroom I ran wiring to connect my upstairs stereo system to the darkroom. Along with the speaker wires I installed a remote IR repeater system which allowed me to control the system in the darkroom using the CD player and receiver's remote controls. Combined with a 5 disc CD changer the system works great. If I don't want discs than I can control the receiver's FM tuner
 

klarifon

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You don't think that bolero would lose its charm after a while then? I like the piece but I don't think I'd like to listen to it that often

I usually put on the radio but I've been thinking of taking a cd player to the darkroom because I'm not really into the music they play on the radio. I like classical and jazz and I haven't found any good chanel for that yet.
 

klarifon

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keithwms said:
I was recently told about Pandora by a friend. Now that is amazing, definitely check it out. It's free internet radio, basically.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the tip, I'll have a look at that. But it unfortunately It won't help in the darkroom because I don't have a computer there.
 
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