Your home studio desk should serve as the hub of your audio equipment setup, and selecting one can have a dramatic effect on its acoustics and workflow.
Begin your search for home studio desks that provide ample room for all of your gear, as well as a keyboard shelf. Also important is finding one with sound isolation features for optimal recording sessions.
Workspace
Establishing the ideal home studio requires striking a balance between acoustics, equipment, and ergonomics. Your desk serves as the centerpiece of this setup and should play an essential part. No matter your experience level or whether this is your first creative session ever, investing in quality studio desk will allow you to maximize creative sessions.
At first, your studio may consist of little more than a laptop and headphones. As your skills advance and equipment accumulates, however, your basic kitchen table may quickly become inadequate for the task at hand; that is when investing in a dedicated studio workstation becomes wise investment.
A great studio workstation will have a spacious surface for your computer monitor, keyboard and MIDI controllers as well as ample rack space to mount hardware and electronics. Some models even provide angled rack spaces to make tweaking processors like equalizers and compressors easier while other may include drawers to store necessities like pens, tape and cable ties.
Depending on the model of desk you select, you may have the ability to add a keyboard tray and second shelf for speakers or computer monitor. Shelves should be deep enough to accommodate the weight of equipment without leaving you without enough surface area for typing and mixing. Some desks even include built-in cable management solutions so your equipment stays tidy.
Most studio desks are tailored specifically for music production. Usually more robust than typical computer desks and featuring extra features not found elsewhere – the WS7500 studio workstation from On-Stage Stands features a large keyboard tray which can house synthesizers or keyboard controllers without blocking the main workspace, along with two raised tiers for studio monitors, cable routing holes and holes to hide cables.
Many home studio desks are also customizable, allowing you to select a material style and finish that reflects your tastes and personality. Furthermore, you may opt for a chair that complements the desk for optimal comfort – studies have proven this fact. This arrangement may increase productivity significantly.
Speakers
As integral as a good computer, sound card, and DAW may be to your home studio setup, quality speakers are just as essential. While stereo speakers might do for music playback purposes, dedicated studio monitors will deliver far superior audio quality while providing more accurate reference points when mixing.
No matter the budget, studio monitors offer something suitable to all applications and budgets. As a rule of thumb, larger speaker drivers tend to deliver higher sound quality, although many manufacturers also make smaller driver models that focus their sound more tightly.
As part of your home studio desk setup, pay particular attention to its placement with respect to speakers and room acoustics. When selecting the ideal desk setup for you, ensure it helps rather than hinders monitor placement by choosing one that ensures an offset between mix position and front edge of desk vs. distance from speakers to walls on either side.
Find a desk that is uncoupled from its work surface to prevent unwanted vibration transfer, with enough room for speakers to sit comfortably at their optimal height and hit their “sweet spot”.
Some models will feature an angled design to reduce desk reflections, particularly those featuring surfaces covered in an acoustic material. This angle helps direct sound reflections away from your mix position instead of directly back at it – similar to an acoustic treatment in a live room setting. Furthermore, certain models come equipped with built-in monitor stands featuring acoustic isolation features so as to further mitigate vibration caused by speakers themselves. Bottom line? Investing in quality speakers will have a profound impact on any home studio environment – while finding an efficient workstation can significantly simplify getting them up and running!
Keyboards
Keyboards are an indispensable piece of equipment for many composers and home studio setups alike. When searching for the ideal keyboard for you, make sure it suits both your needs and workflow – with many sizes, styles, DAW-integration features and more available to choose from!
No matter the budget or your home production needs, there is sure to be an 88-key workstation or 61-key keyboard to fit them both. But it is important to keep certain factors in mind before selecting your ideal home keyboard.
Before selecting a home studio keyboard, take into account your available workspace. If your workspace is limited, consider getting a smaller home studio keyboard that fits easily within it. Furthermore, consider how often and in what capacities it will be used for composition or sequencing – this could have a major effect on workflow.
If you want to use a keyboard for DAW control, be sure to choose a model with both MIDI-in and -out ports for easy integration. This will allow you to record keyboard sounds directly into your DAW for later use as well as giving you control of virtual mixer.
Make a DIY keyboard desk using IKEA’s EKBY ALEX shelf for an economical and simple solution. Cut two shelves into squares, attach the IKEA CAPITA legs, and you have a small shelf perfect for keyboard and monitor storage – as well as hiding wires and cables so you can focus on creating music instead!
Accessories
Home studio desks play an essential role in music production: they serve as an essential hub that houses your essential equipment and influences workflow. A good desk can make all the difference for comfort and productivity; ergonomic designs should provide ample room for monitors, keyboards and enough storage capacity for studio equipment – with cable management systems and built-in rack spaces offering further customization of workspace to meet individual gear requirements.
As you select a studio workstation for your home recording setup, keep in mind that you will likely spend long hours sitting down. Therefore, it’s essential that you find an ergonomic chair which supports your body while decreasing risk factors like carpal tunnel syndrome. Your choice will also depend on what work you are performing – for instance if producing music using computer software then selecting an ergonomic computer chair with sufficient height adjustments will allow proper positioning of large displays and has enough capacity for large monitors would be most appropriate.
No matter the nature of your production, storage space should always be an issue. Many studio desks feature built-in rack space to store audio mixers and other gear securely while some feature shelves for nearfield speakers and keyboards; these shelves can help eliminate clutter while improving accessibility. Furthermore, some studio desks include recessed shelves designed specifically to place large displays at the edge of the workspace for maximum visibility.
As part of your home studio desk shopping journey, it is essential that your budget be taken into consideration. Higher quality desks tend to cost more than entry-level models but investing in quality will allow you to create a professional-grade recording setup while staying within your means.