Music to walk to

[Stoneycreek]

A question... who likes to listen to music while they're bushwalking?

I like to listen to stuff with just 1 ear plug in and much to my delight I discovered these guys tonight and am pretty sure they will be a permanent fixture on my bush walking playlist?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlYrOBvt ... ure=fvwrel

what do other people listen to when they are out bush?

[tasadam]

Interesting... I have a mate who is deaf in one ear, he listens to music when walking too.
I was thinking, if I could modify his iPod to send both audio channels to the one ear piece.... When the music is in stereo and you're only listening to one ear piece, you are not getting all the music that is being sent, unless the player can convert it to mono.
So if I can convert both channels to the one ear piece, not only will he get to hear the full gamut of what's being sent from the payer, he can also chop off the other ear piece and one would assume preserve / prolong battery life as a result.
Any thoughts?
Maybe the best way to do this would be to convert all the saved music to mono first. Thought I'd throw the idea out there in case it's already been done, I seem to be good at coming up with ideas that have already been thought of.

[Jellybean]

A question... who likes to listen to music while they're bushwalking?

I like to listen to stuff with just 1 ear plug in and much to my delight I discovered these guys tonight and am pretty sure they will be a permanent fixture on my bush walking playlist?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlYrOBvt ... ure=fvwrel

what do other people listen to when they are out bush?

Most very definitely ... the sounds of nature (live and unplugged!!) and interesting conversation!

[stepbystep]

I was thinking, if I could modify his iPod to send both audio channels to the one ear piece.... When the music is in stereo and you're only listening to one ear piece, you are not getting all the music that is being sent, unless the player can convert it to mono.

I have studio headphones that switch between dual mono and stereo, bit chunky for bushwalking but I can't handle the little plug style headphones anyway.....but then I go bushwalking to get away from all that sort of stuff.......silence is indeed a rare commodity these days, one to treasure when you can!

[andrewbish]

The sounds of nature are of course a key part of the wilderness experience. That said, how about Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' for as you approach the summit? Or perhaps 'Ride of the Valkyries' as you bush-bash through the thick undergrowth?

[Chief]

Don't listen to music while bushwalking, prefer the peace and just hearing the sounds of the bush.
Walking round the streets at home different story, definetely have the MP3 player on listening to metal, drowns out the sound of everything..

[ILUVSWTAS]

Sounds nice AB.

I must say sometimes a track can be pretty boring though, especially if you've done it several times before and are just using it to access other areas (OT and Junction Creek come to mind) In those situations music can be very nice to take your mind off the boring track walk

[ollster]

Walking round the streets at home different story, definetely have the MP3 player on listening to metal, drowns out the sound of everything..

Niiiiice. I don't tend to listen to music when bushwalking either, but if I do it's usually metal or some sort of prog rock and always when I have a track walk to do (ie: leaving Pine Valley for the ferry last time I was there).

Oh yeah, I also tent to listen to music or audio books when I'm in the tent at the end of the day.

[johnw]

A question... who likes to listen to music while they're bushwalking?

what do other people listen to when they are out bush?

Yes, but not when I'm actually walking, prefer to absorb the sounds of the bush. Only if camping overnight, then I'll take a tiny MP3 player and listen in the tent after dinner for an hour or two. Eclectic taste but not metal! Eldest son has played lead guitar in local metal bands on and off for years and I've had to suffer his practice sessions at xx decibels .

[Stoneycreek]

That said, how about Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' for as you approach the summit? Or perhaps 'Ride of the Valkyries' as you bush-bash through the thick undergrowth?

and maybe 'lark ascending' while enjoying an expansive view with a wedgie or two for company..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKz6XJlI ... re=related

Interesting though, personally can't forsee listening to MP3s at a campsite with the exception of guitar - am one of the founding members of GAFAS (guitar and forest appreciation society) ... hmmm how much do guitars weigh?

[shazcol]

Have to agree with johnw. Love the quiet and peace of the bush. We have two sons with 8 guitars between them and the eldest also into metal and used to play lead guitar for local death metal group so the bush is our escape, although always listen to MP3 when walking for exercise around home. Eldest son would like to know what sort of prog rock you listen to Ollster if thats ok ?

[DebFar]

the sounds of the bush for me ...just love the sound of my own footfall, if im on a hike just around home ill listen to anything on my pod just to drown out urban noise, mostly easy listening if its a leisure walk or more up tempo stuff if striding it out. Heavy traffic areas i leave the ipod off ...way too easy not to hear cars and get squished

[ollster]

Eldest son would like to know what sort of prog rock you listen to Ollster if thats ok ?

Erm... well, really the prog stuff I listen to leans heavily to the prog-metal side rather than the psychodelic/retro prog rock style. And my concept of "progressive" probably is a bit loose. Stuff like Animals as Leaders, Cynic, Between the Buried and Me, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Devin Townsend, Mastodon, Atheist, Meshuggah, Deathspell Omega, Opeth, Ihsahn.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Eldest son would like to know what sort of prog rock you listen to Ollster if thats ok ?

like Animals as Leaders, Cynic, Between the Buried and Me, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Devin Townsend, Mastodon, Atheist, Meshuggah, Deathspell Omega, Opeth, Ihsahn.

Yeh I make up words too.

[ollster]

Yeh I make up words too.

Yeah nice one. What do they call the banjo and fiddle players down in Huonville? The Sister Wives? Oh no, I remember - Fine Young Cannibals.

[shazcol]

Thanks Ollster, Devin Townsend is a big favourite with both our boys and believe it or not I have heard of all but two on your list so I know they aren't made up words even if we are the very wrong side of 40

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh I make up words too.

Yeah nice one. What do they call the banjo and fiddle players down in Huonville? The Sister Wives? Oh no, I remember - Fine Young Cannibals.

Seems a bit uncalled for.

[ollster]

Seems a bit uncalled for.

LOL, sorry ILUV, just joshing.

Anyway, more prog/avant-garde type stuff... I've also been listening to Shining (Norway, there are a couple of bands with that name) recently. Oh and Estradasphere are worth a listen too, as are Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. And earlier Dillinger Escape Plan.

[ollster]

Thanks Ollster, Devin Townsend is a big favourite with both our boys and believe it or not I have heard of all but two on your list so I know they aren't made up words even if we are the very wrong side of 40

Mr Townsend has a new album coming out soon, will be very interested to see how that goes. I must say, your family has adventurous taste in music. Most excellent.

[doogs]

To merge 2 subjects one of my most favourite parts of walking alone is to listen to music very loud in thhe car on the way to the start of my walk. It is usually very early. In the morning but I am always beaming, singing ang buzzzing with excitement and anticipation. But no music when walking.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Seems a bit uncalled for.

LOL, sorry ILUV, just joshing.

That's ok, I think i'll get by...

I do however approve of the word Joshing. Well done.

[Binder]

Bellowhead's "Frogs Legs and Dragons Teeth"
Suits any occasion...Without fail. You just need to be slightly odd.....

binder

[andrewbish]

Hmmm, I dunno, Binder - for me, it just doesn't quite capture the drama and mystique of the mountains.

However, I'm tipping that parties at your house are a hoot!

[gayet]

For something different to what seems to be the norm among music preferences, if I had to listen to anything it would probably be Vivaldi 4 Seasons - and yes i know, as common as muck, but it has been almost the only music played in the car for about 6 years - CD is nearly worn out - and Tchaikovsky was a bit too aggressive for the morning rush hour. I can see that well known piece of music being sufficiently calming and varied to distract me from boring tracks and uninteresting conversation, while not being so demanding that I can not see or hear what is around me

[Binder]

Hmmm, I dunno, Binder - for me, it just doesn't quite capture the drama and mystique of the mountains.

However, I'm tipping that parties at your house are a hoot!

I can guarantee that someone six foot six morris dancing on top of Hesperus is fairly dramatic, and mystical.

I did mention odd !

ps (not in work time of course tastrax)

[doogs]

It would make the parks and wildlife uniform a little more ineresting!

[freemandale]

No music while walking but definately the MP3 at night - it only took one snorer, one night, in one hut to make sure I never leave home without the ipod. Or earplugs.

[whynotwalk]

Then there's the music you carry with you whether you want it or not!

I mused about this on my blog last year. Check out http://auntyscuttle.blogspot.com/2010/02/womble-cure.html

I can recommend the Womble Cure!

cheers

Peter

[Stoneycreek]

I can recommend the Womble Cure!

cheers

Peter

If the wombles don't fix it I find a bit of ABBA usually does the trick, this is based loosely on the thoery that 1 ear worm cancels out another. Funny Blog post whynotwalk

[Nick S]

Yeh I make up words too.

haha good one. I was a bit dissapointed not to know any of them either, or maybe privileged..

I don't tend to listen to music as I walk unless I'm alone and I've already enjoyed the silence for a few hours already.

And nice post Peter, totally know what you mean. Almost worth bringing music just in case you get some rubbish stuck in your head.
I sometimes find that my steps tend to become synchronised with the beat of the song

What music?
Sigur Ros, Yann Tiersen, M83.. Generally atmospheric stuff that isn't too incongruent with the surrounds.

Anyone listen to audiobooks?