Home Studio

Step1


Get yourself a large-sized desk or table top. It’s a good idea to have shelves above the desk—either mounted on the wall or placed on the tabletop. On the shelves you’ll put speaker monitors so they’re ear-level and computer monitors. A computer desk is a good idea—especially for components that can’t be stored in a rack mount.

Step2


On that front: get rack mounts for all your mountable hardware. Some people may have most stuff inside the computer harddrive, but others stand firm behind rack mounted hardware.

Step3


Make sure there’s easy access to both the computer keyboard and your synthesizer. This may mean you’ll want two separate rigs: one for the computer/monitor on the main station, and the keyboard on your left or right.

Step4


Get a comfortable chair. Make sure as well that the keyboard—computer and midi—are at a good angle and height. A swivel chair is best so you can move from one part of the studio to another—some components might be behind you.

Step5


Good lighting’s a good idea too. Fluorescent lighting can actually lead to signal interference. Lower lighting is easier on the eyes—helpful because you’ll be staring at the computer screen for long hours.

Step6


Get those cables and cords out of the way. Aside from being a fire risk, knotted cables can be frustrating and unsightly—keep them behind the racks and components, nowhere else.

Step7


Soundproof. Some ambient sound can be nice—this really depends on the engineer. Some will want to dampen the walls with foam so there’s no bounce back whatsoever.