bf84

Here is one I recorded years ago:

http://bf84.com/s/coffee.mp3

Only two minutes, though. :-[

I used to be kind of into recording "spaces." My favorite was a movie theater lobby, very tall and echo-y.

I had read years ago that studying in different locations tends to increase retention of material. Don't have the reference anymore.

Maybe there is a general principle of physical novelty stimulating or "prepping" the brain for intellectual work. Just speculation, though...

A related point: I find that when I read a lot on the net about skills I am trying to develop, I get frustrated more easily with the skill-acquisition process. I think this may have something to do with constant reminders of the relative paltriness of my own accomplishments and ability compared to those of people I read about online.

Very nice!

I remember Native Instruments had a Game of Life-based drum pattern sequencer in one of their Reaktor packages.

"...the music industry is economically quite small and unimportant compared to the computer industry."

For some perspective, the largest label groups in the "music industry" are owned by corporations that are bigger than Google. Universal: owned by Vivendi. Sony Music: owned by (guess who). EMI: owned by Citigroup. Not exactly small economic players...

Minimal techno is very good for concentration, yes. In that vein I recommend checking out Monolake.