CMU School of Drama


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Seven Tools Under $100 That Will Help Your Productivity

Pro Sound Web: We all like to be more productive with our time, and since we’re all creatures of the computer, anything that helps either decrease our waiting time or that gives us more options is welcome.

Here are seven things that I’ve found to be very helpful in increasing productivity, and they’re all less $100. Not all are computer related but they’re extremely useful all the same.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I love articles like this. I am always looking for new ways to make work go by faster. I agree that adding ram is entirely helpful, and can have seriously positive repercussions. There is nothing more frustrating than getting 80% through a project or a piece of paperwork and realizing that your program has closed and you've lost your work. Also, waiting for the rainbow wheel of death on a mac is an awful feeling and always seems to pop up when you really need to be doing something. Another item on this list that I fully agree with is the Apple Magic Trackpad. I'm obsessed with these tools, they're so useful. At first I was unsure, but the more you use it and the more you get used to it, you realize how helpful it is and it's really hard to switch from using it back to another type of mouse.

Unknown said...

While I am not a sound person, and do not do any studio recording, it all seems like good advice. I would recommend more RAM for anyone who works on their computer on a regular basis. He talked about the app Oblique Strategies for the iphone, as it being a card-set app. I have no idea what a card-set is in reference to music recording. I looked up the app and cannot find any useful information on what it does. I dont think im going to get it.

jcmertz said...

I'm not quite sure how hearing protection improves your productivity, but I definitely second the vote for etymotics er-20's. They are really nice earplugs and they allow you to hear better than any other earplug I have ever worn. Their keychain carrying case is also really nice, better than many other solutions I have seen for transporting hearing protection.

Unknown said...

This article mentions several items related to computer productivity, which is definitely a not insignificant deal. For the amount of people who use the computer on a near hourly basis, I am shocked by some of the slow digital processes people use. I mean, every second wasted with additional keypresses or fumbling with a trackpad instead of a mouse is wasted time! If nothing else, the amount of people that insist on using a trackpad for EVERYTHING instead of a mouse and keyboard shortcuts is a little mind boggling. I'm not saying that everybody should be an expert, I certainly am not, but maybe being a little more curious about enhancing digital workflow would be a good thing.

David Feldsberg said...

These articles are so great. They seem like the only articles about productivity out there that seem to remember that the current upcoming workforce is also dealing with increasing student loans debt. All of these tools are amazing, I know I could improve my life with every single one of them, including the guitar tuner. But the best part about all of them is that they are so affordable. I guess it's also worth praising the companies who made these tools for understanding that if you provide your customers with products that are a great value for a great price then you will make a more loyal and reliable clientele.

Jason Cohen said...

I am always trying new tool to help increase my productivity level, and what I keep finding is that the best ones are those that are free and simple. This is because no one is telling me how to do my work, but I am allowing myself to dictate this process. This relates back to one of my previous comments on how college isn't for everyone. You are the only one who knows how you work best.

Unknown said...

Some of these seem like they would increase productivity but I am not too sure about all of them. Anytime you have more RAM on your computer it will run faster. If you are using your computer for productive work than have a faster computer will help increase your productivity. I am not too sure how ear protection can help increase productivity but since this article was geared more towards sound people it makes sense that they would want to protect their ears.