A List of myNoise sounds I use throughout my day at The Station
As an intro, I work in a place where I have only the most basic access to technology and the outside world for the entirety of my work day. Luckily, myNoise isn't blocked. So while there's usually no sound within the building (at least my section of it), I'm able to have some sort of background noise.
So, dear listener, I've decided to write up what a typically day in my library sounds like, complete with links and a very minor description of the environment. I do live a life hidden away, after all, so I must keep that mysterious.
First Morning Shift: 0800 - 1030
I'm usually one of the middle people to wake up and report into the station. We have some early birds over here who like to make sure everything is running nicely for the day ahead, but luckily, my reporting station doesn't officially open until 0830, so while I show up half an hour earlier, I have time to ease into my daily duties.
I tend to use Primeval Forest because it's a series of nice nature sounds that don't contain anything particularly jarring, or something that would stand out. It doesn't really tickle my brain in any real way, but the idea here is to have something that can be pleasing, but only minor background noise to anyone at worst. On top of that, I don't think anyone wants to be reminded that if they're coming to the Archives this early in the morning, they've just taken the trip 7 flights of stairs underground. Being this far under the earth really messes with the mind if you're not used to it, so the sounds of nature can help someone ease into it better, given those noises don't really happen down here.
Of course, the only people I usually see down here this early in the day are whomever needs to be working in Sound Lab #5. That is, of course, if they don't arrive before I do. Each sub-level is the size of a city block, but Sound Lab #5 (full title, every time) only takes up a small portion of the stacks, and it's quite far from where my desk is located. The great thing about the Archives is that things don't move that often, so I'm really only going somewhere if there's something to be retrieved or stored, and the section that contains Sound Lab #5 doesn't get accessed often.
When 1030 rolls around, though, those assigned to that lab usually have other duties to attend to on higher sub-levels, so I'm at the very least able to catch them on the way out.
Second Morning Shift: 1030 - 1225
Subconcious Subway - combined with - Number Stations
The Archives are effectively closed during this time, as I like to use the rest of the morning to respond to individual inquiries and document requests. Because of that, I'm allowed to play something that's specfically meant for me and what makes me focus and relax. It's not everyone's cup of tea, for sure, but the liminal sounds alongside the calming repitiions of the number stations (I reccomend randomizing the station sliders for variety!) allow me to really let myself fall into my work.
In the event I do have visitors, though, I turn the soundscape into something more pleasant, but for the most part this whole block of time leaves me unbothered. My favorite part is that the speakers don't fully reach the far edges of the archives, so you don't hear the soundscape fully upon entering. As you get close to the center (roughly where my workstation is located), the sound will come more into focus and volume. Passing by it will have the reverse effect, until it is nearly a whisper again, either at your destination, or back at the entrace of the Sub-Level.
I will say, though, that there have been a few times the sound setup has confused newer residents of The Station. Amongst all the shelves of books, documents, tapes, and other forms of media, my workstation is surrounded by monitors and a few lamps, along with plenty of cords. Because of this, when they eventually make their first trip to The Archives, which can sometimes happen months after arriving, the look of the place plus these sounds has made some of them think I'm running some sort of monitoring operation. The truth is usually much more...boring, but honestly, I'm obessed with my current line of archival work, so I'd much rather they know about that instead. I honestly might prepare an informational pamphlet at this point.
This is also the time I find best for fufilling Interlibrary Requests. The Station Archives are home to a vast number of items that are mainly beneficial for those working within here, but sometimes we'll get outside requests from other stations, or even other collectives. Unfortunately, these requests require quite a bit of paperwork, so I have to prepare everything to take up to the mailroom on sub-level 2.
First Afternoon Shift: 1300 - 1530
Typically, this is another time the Archives has visitors. People tend to leave their record-gathering errands until the afternoon, for reasons I haven't come up with. Thankfully though, most who come down to this level have expeirence being here, so aside from the ocassional new member of The Station showing up as mentioned earlier, I'm fine to watch people pass through as I continue my work.
Some days, others come down to access our transmission archives. Everything is saved in at least 3 different audio formats (I try for 7, but sometimes transfer isn't possible), so it really depends on the user's needs.
Second Afternoon Shift: 1530 - 1620
Shade - combined with - Hands of Time
Last hour of the day, about halfway through the shift I hear the sounds of footsteps. They sound like they're near me, but they're actually likely above me, others heading out from their own finished shifts, from earlier in the day. The sounds of soft, slow jazz with the sounds of more liminal emptiness make for an interesting combination, but this one fills me with happiness, as opposed to the focus I feel from the second morning shift.
The rainmeter on my computer tells me there's rain up on the surface. I think I'll have to check it out on the ground level before I head up to the radio tower.
I shut the lights off, the sounds cease.
