How to Organize a Home Studio

You’ve got all the components for a home studio, now what? Depending on the amount of equipment you have, you need to set up an organized workstation so you’ll have quick access to everything.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Home studio components

1. 

   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.

2. 

   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.

3. 

   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.

4. 

   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.

5. 

   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.

6. 

   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.

7. 

   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.

Tips & Warnings

• Prioritize. Find those things you don’t use very often, and place them away from the main work area. They may look cool, but clutter’s never a good idea—amps, effects, outdated racks, EQs and so on. You want to be able to move around without bumping into anything.
• Organization can actually be good for the creative process. If you have to search for something or the keyboard is not easily accessible, it could cut into inspiration.