Production desk

[JimD]

I'm currently looking for a new desk for my DAW. At the moment I have this (http://www.studiorta.com/catalog/details.cfm?catalog_id=392) one. What I'm looking for is basically a simple table/desk with a lot of surface space but...instead of having a retractable computer keyboard tray that slides from underneath the desk, I would like a retractable tray that could accomodate an 88 Key midi controller. This would allow me to use the surface of the table for my computer keyboard,mouse, monitor, speakers etc. And, it would leave a ton of extra space for witing notes and miscellaneous things. With my current setup I feel kind of cramped. The type of desk I'm looking for is in the Kontakt 2 tutorial dvd. Does anyone know where I might be able to find such a thing? Or, am I gonna have to custom build this myself? Thanks

[Nick Batzdorf]

I haven't watched the DVD, but these are pretty cool:

http://www.argosyconsole.com/d15k.htm

This is what I put together a couple of years ago. The pictures don't really show you how much desk space there is, but when the desk (which is on heavy-duty drawer slides) is back I have 3' by 5' of surface area. It takes literally a second to slide the desk forward to reveal the keyboard. The thing's mostly built out of Ultimate Support hardware.

http://homepage.mac.com/virtualinstruments/site/PhotoAlbum9.html

I found that it's more practical to make the desk move than to try and slide the MIDI keyboard.

[JimD]

Thanks for the replies guys. Nick, that's a great set up. I think that might be the way for me to go. By the way, fantastic magazine. Can't wait for the next issue!

Jim

[Crossingsound]

Argosy desks, while not the cheapest certainly do look great and very professional. If you are looking for a nice desk, I recommend argosy as well. I have had good experience with them as well. :)

[mirage]

We all have our own way of working. That Argosy stuff always looks so cluttered to me. I need space...not all the knobs and outboard junk crammed right there next to the keyboard. I don't even see where you could place the mouse with that Argosy layuout. Even Nick's picture shows his mouse and computer keyboard on his setup way past the music keyboard...I couldn't work that way with all the reaching.

I had my area custom built (a gigantic semi-circle of workstations) a few years back. I did look at the Argosy and other brands, but nothing really fit what I needed.

For example, I have several under-the-desk left/right pull outs that are at either side of my chair...right for mouse..left for daw controllers. All right there as if they were part of the chair arms. Pc keyboards are on free floating swivels so I can have them just over the synth keys or push them completely out of the way.

Like I say, I had all this custom built...just showed a carpenter the layout of how I wanted things and he built it. I've been very happy with this and was surprised that it actually costed less than if I had gone with a commercial Argosy type. It looks great too.

Even if you're looking for a simple table type, it might be beneficial to sketch out how you really want to have your equipment available to you and then show it to a local carpenter. You might be able to get exactly what you want at a lower price.

[Nick Batzdorf]

Remember, that's just a photo. I usually move the computer keyboard much closer when I'm sequencing, and actually there's a decent sized area on the right side of the MIDI keyboard that I use for the mouse. If I'm tweaking in the sequencer for any length of time, I slide the desk back over the MIDI keyboard so the computer keyboard is in a comfortable, relaxed position and I can rest my forearms on the desk.

The main thing is that I don't believe in computer keyboard shelves. As I've said many times, when your forearms are unsupported, you tense up your forearms and shoulders to create a pivot point. My theory is that that's what causes peoples' infamous carpal tunnel problems.

A chair with armrests is probably okay - I just can't really type very well that way.

Thanks Jim. It'll be out in a few days.

[Nick Batzdorf]

It's a Kurzweil K2500X, the 88-key version of this keyboard. The area with the writing at the right works well for the mouse.

http://www.americanmusical.com/images/b/p14359b.jpg

[Stagwall]

What's wrong with simply putting the MIDI keyboard behind the keyboard and mouse and the screen/screens behind the MIDI keyboard? It's very simple and it always works for me. My forearms are resting on the desk when I'm typing or using the keyboard and/or the mouse and I don't have to move anything out of the way, ever. The only time I have to lift my forearms is when I play the MIDI keyboard, but really, how many of you rest your arms on anything while playing the piano?

[jrjnsn]

Quiklok Z600 works well for us....


http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_image/product/453533accd8e062d7f9d68cf8227fdd6.jpg

[JimD]

There is nothing wrong with that at all. But what I'm looking for is a ton of open space so that I can also use the production desk as a desk. I've got no room to write or put anything down. I was just hoping that someone here would happen to know where I could find such a thing. I'll have to ask the guy from the Kontakt 2 tutorial DVD. However, I also really like what Nick has going on.

[JimD]

Whoa, nice rig Lee! You do bring up some good ponts. I absolutely must take into consideration the ergonomics of the desk aswell. I'll try to find something and make it work. I guess what I had in my head was the unicorn of production desks.:)

[Von Richter]

A retractable piano drawer would need to be pretty strong... I doubt such a product is commercially available, but I could be wrong.

If you're handy with tools, consider building your own. For me, all the commercial desks have drawbacks. Building my own allowed me to tailor it exactly to my production chain, and it's easy for me to make modifications or add/adjust floating tiers. I have very limited space, so I even float my mixer, preamps, compressors, etc above the piano. I've rigged these to travel back and forward, so I can pull out the mixer when I am tracking live players.

[JMDNYC]

Cool! Are we posting images of our desks again? I just re-did mine.

The 88-keys slide out from under the desk when I need them. Ideally they would be on wheels or a track, but it works just fine sliding the Quiklok stand. The desk is basic plywood on standard issue Ikea legs.

My G5 monitor and wireless keyboard is on the left running Logic and Kontakt 2, and my G4 with ProTools is on the right.

I can't figure out how to post the picture, but here is the link:


http://www.johnmdavis.com/studiotour/images/01%20BR%20from%20rear.jpg

You can tour my whole studio on my website: www.johnmdavis.com

[Steve_Karl]

Here's a design I did if you're feeling frisky and have a table saw :-)

http://www.sightsea.com/extras/studio%5Fdesk/

[KC]

I had this desk custom tailored by a professional carpenter and it works very well. The drawer will hold up to 120lbs.

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/cohen/Studio-1.jpg

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/cohen/Studio-2.jpg

The picture is a bit fuzzy as I took it with my PDA but it's pretty recent. The only change is the chair which I switched to a Herman Miller Aeron chair.

Best,

Kaveh Cohen

www.kavehcohen.com

[Nick Batzdorf]

I can't imagine how that could be done without compromising the ergonomics of using the desk for its main use.

Well, if you look at the picture I posted and imagine the desk slid all the way forward (so it overhands the keyboard by about 4"), you'll see how it doesn't compromise the ergonomics of anything. The MIDI keyboard is at the right height (I measured our piano) and so is the desk.

It works for me. But of course I'm not saying it's the only way to do it, just that it took me several attempts over the years before I figured out how to make this work - for my body, not necessarily anyone else's.

[Nick Batzdorf]

Edit: I saw Kaveh's pictures after posting this. Oh well.

By the way, heavy-duty drawer slides that will support a keyboard are available at any hardware store. The problem is that they can't hang completely unsupported into the air - you'd need something solid underneath (I'm guessing) at least half of the keyboard when it's pulled out in the playing position.

That's why I found it simpler to move the desk away from me rather than the keyboard toward me. The desk needs support too, but it's at the back of the contraption rather than the front.

Omnirax has a sliding CRT monitor shelf that supports #100 unsupported on some of their desks, but that hardware didn't have enough travel (11") for my use. (I asked them where they get it - chutzpah, but I do have one of their racks. :) )

http://www.omnirax.com/site/show_product.asp?pid=25&cid=2

I'm only posting that because of the sliding hardware, which is strong enough to support a keyboard.

[VincePro]

Seeing that several of you are using trackballs, I was wondering what significant advantages they offer over the Mighty Mouse..I'm considering getting one if it speeds up my workflow in PTHD. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[Nick Batzdorf]

It's a matter of preference. I personally hate trackballs with a passion and like the Mighty Mouse very much, but lots of people love trackballs.

[Doug Wellington]

Here's a design I did if you're feeling frisky and have a table saw :-)

http://www.sightsea.com/extras/studio%5Fdesk/
I have a left tilt Unisaw with a 50" Biesemeyer... :D

Has anyone actually built your design Steve?

[Houston Haynes]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it - but IKEA has a nice large table that works well as a workspace for a studio - a friend of mine has one, and it's deep enough and wide enough to set up the speakers in the proper position and have room for a full-sized keyboard. It's innocuous and relatively cheap, too. I don't have the model number, but it might be worth a look-see in their online catalog if you're still spelunking for a solution.

[Steve_Karl]

I have a left tilt Unisaw with a 50" Biesemeyer... :D

Has anyone actually built your design Steve?

Hi Doug,

No. No one yet. I got really close last summer but my saw man was too busy when I had the cash, and then I started buying sample libs. and ran out of money. :-)

Maybe later this summer I'll give it a go.

I did notice when looking at it today that it should have 1 more brace, maybe a post, right in the center under the keyboard tray.

[Stagwall]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it - but IKEA has a nice large table that works well as a workspace for a studio - a friend of mine has one, and it's deep enough and wide enough to set up the speakers in the proper position and have room for a full-sized keyboard. It's innocuous and relatively cheap, too. I don't have the model number, but it might be worth a look-see in their online catalog if you're still spelunking for a solution.
I think you are refering to JERKER (no pun intended). I have one and it works like a charm. It's really deep like you said.
Here is what my studio looked like two Christmases ago with JERKER: http://stagvall.mine.nu/rum/studio2.jpg

Here it is on swedish IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=2&langId=-11&catalogId=10101&productId=20756

[Doug Wellington]

I got really close last summer but my saw man was too busy when I had the cash, and then I started buying sample libs. and ran out of money. :-)I wouldn't know what THAT's like... :rolleyes: :D

How much was it going to cost to have it made?


I did notice when looking at it today that it should have 1 more brace, maybe a post, right in the center under the keyboard tray.I was looking at that. I haven't worked with Melamite, so I don't know how stiff it is. I've worked with a lot of MDF with veneer, and I'd probably try to use one or two pieces of "L" shaped steel for braces underneath to support something like that. For the keyboard support panel, it might be worth using plywood for a bit of extra strength...?

EDIT: P.S. I grew up in Erie... Have an Iron City for me... ;)

[Drew Buchan]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it - but IKEA has a nice large table that works well as a workspace for a studio - a friend of mine has one, and it's deep enough and wide enough to set up the speakers in the proper position and have room for a full-sized keyboard. It's innocuous and relatively cheap, too. I don't have the model number, but it might be worth a look-see in their online catalog if you're still spelunking for a solution.


I bought an excellent corner unit from Ikea.
http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/40903_PE135014_S4.jpg

It has a massive desktop area. Only minor quibble is that space at front is just too narrow to suspend a 49key controller underneath, so it has to sit on top.

[Steve_Karl]

I wouldn't know what THAT's like... :rolleyes: :D

How much was it going to cost to have it made?

I was looking at that. I haven't worked with Melamite, so I don't know how stiff it is. I've worked with a lot of MDF with veneer, and I'd probably try to use one or two pieces of "L" shaped steel for braces underneath to support something like that. For the keyboard support panel, it might be worth using plywood for a bit of extra strength...?

EDIT: P.S. I grew up in Erie... Have an Iron City for me... ;)

Erie! Cool! I've been through there quite a few times and possibly gigged there once or twice in a past life.

Costs... lets see ... about $30.00 x 4 for the wood, maybe $30 to $40
for all the hardware ( tracks, screws, washers etc) and the time for the saw and the man running it I think was $60.00.
I would do assembly.
So ... 120+40+60= $220.00 or there abouts, and my free labor.

The melamite or (possibly it's really called melamine and I had a brain misfire at the time of doing that page) is basically just a good particle board with a laminant on both sides. It's easier on a saw than 3/4" plywood in my opinion,
(I do have a table saw but it's a smaller craftsman) because it doesn't seem to want to bind up as easily.

Yes. I remember that my friend with the saw mentioned large L brackets for braces.

[Jaimo]

Man, there's some great desks out there! Great imaginations at work, that's for sure...

The best I've come up with is a Quicklock stand, with a shelf placed on the back. I love the height of my computer monitor, as well as the controller, but the trackball & computer keyboard, while functional, sits a little high for heavy, mega-hour usage.

http://home.comcast.net/~jim.frazier/Pictures/keyboard1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jim.frazier/Pictures/keyboard2.jpg

Lee,

The picture you posted has the computer keyboard (the one controlling Logic/PT) and the trackball exactly where I would prefer to have mine positioned. What stand is that, and is it commercially available? And what is the keyboard/trackball sitting on ?

[Jibrish]

Here's a link to a previous thread that has some additional suggestions.

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44073 (http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44073)