Nice one - thanks for this! Putting the keyboard directly on the rails leaves more legroom (as opposed to using a shelf and putting the keyboard on that) - but does it still feel sturdy? ...and... which of the four lengths do you recommend for the MK2?
Thanks Loopop! It's definitely sturdy enough, which really surprises me! Maybe not Rachmaninoff sturdy... I got the 16" one and it works just great. And yeah, I just didn't have the legroom under my desk for the platform!
I finally took the plunge and followed your instructions on the keyboard drawer... "Screw some holes into the bottom of your desk, realize you got it wrong, and then make sure adjustments"... Boy were you accurate. After 3 attempts I got it right - and how i am so happy! Thanks!
0:53 I'm going to be making a completely new setup for making music next year, and this is exactly what I needed to see! Seeing someone else actually put together a custom mount for their keyboard is a game changer and something that will help me optimize the space in my studio room, especially since it's pretty compact already.
I hope it feels awesome to know that thousands of people are being inspired by you following your creativity and sharing your results. I’m ordering from your affiliate links later this month and am so excited to setup my studio and get going! Keep shining friend. ✨🌟
I saw you slide your keyboard out from under the desk and had been looking for something on Amazon where I could declutter my workstation. Thanks so much for this!!! I'm ordering the brackets now. This will be my weekend project👍
I was going to ask why not just use a board as its designed for.... your only saving less than an inch height if thats the issue vs risking having the synth damaged?
These are the exact sliders I used on my production side table. I ended up mounting a thin wood project panel to on the sliders first for rigidity. My challenge was then I had to use some scrap wood to get the front of the panel (which wasn’t quite deep enough on its own) to be flush to the very front of the sliders. Took some trial and error but my 61 key KeyLab MK2 fits perfectly and like you said is at the ideal height to play when I need it. It’s great that there are cheap solutions like this to under mount bigger keyboard controllers. Great video as always Jef
I gave up on studio monitors and splurged for Audeze headphones. Not going back. 3 monitors better than 1 big TV. Your reco on the underdesk keyboard is gold.
I live in a tiny house and have a shelf we use often under the window. I want to put a piano keyboard under it so I can flip it out and practice. I could not think of what the heck a pull out keyboard shelf would be called! Thank you so much for helping me with this problem!
The more devices you have, the less important the desk surface will be. If you have a lot of controllers, or need space for multiple different types of tasks, then a plain white surface might be just fine...and may be more economical too. But if you like a clean desktop without a lot of "cruft", then a really sharp woodgrained surface is absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for posting this, been struggling to figure what I should do, get a new studio workstation desk with the keyboard slide, get a piano stand with wheels, but seeing how you got the keyboard desk slider without the wood tray and setup it up the way you did is the solution I've been looking for. awesome, thanks
I like the idea of using velcro (or locking tape) to fasten your equipment to the desk (or slider rails). That can help keep things from sliding off and ending up on the floor. For those who are considering a standing desk, here are some helpful tips: When you wire everything up (speakers, midi controllers, keyboard synth, computer keyboard and mouse, monitor, etc), lay out everything on the standing desk as you think you want it. Don't wire it up yet. Just position "all the things" so you can get to them. Confirm that nothing is blocking your speakers, etcetera. Now when you're ready to wire things up, go ahead and plug into the devices, then drop the cables down the back or wherever. Now raise the desk all the way. You can wire up the back and underside of the desk without crawling on the floor. I actually have two power taps attached to the bottom of the standing desk so that I can plug anything right into AC without running the cable to the floor. Raising and lowering the desk makes the monitor tree (three screens), one USB hub, those AC power taps, and center instruments go up and down. My monitor speakers are off to the side and fixed to low table surfaces. The mix position is seated with the desktop all the way down. I can hear well enough if the desk is up and I'm standing but just playing. Mix position is not needed for playing or recording; just for mixing. There's another neat thing about using a standing desk. Wiring is easier, and you don't have to lay on your back to hook wires up to the underside of the desk. Instead, just roll your office chair under the raised desk, and lay out your wires. Use wiring looms if needed; they're cheap on Amazon. My computer is on the floor, so I needed to build-in some slack in all the wires so that I can slide the computer out onto the floor, and so that I can do it even if the desk is raised all the way up. This way, I can dust-buster the inside of the computer or perform simple wiring changes without having to unplug everything. But for a graphic card swap or anything more complicated, I'll still unplug the computer and move it to a working surface off the floor. I love the idea of having a standing desk for music-making. And just in the last couple years, there's been an explosion of great standing-desks. You don't have to spend $3K to build something that will work great for you!
I made an amazing desk using an old black ikea headboard, and a riser out of the footboard. I just moved, and threw away the old homemade legs, and got an electric sit/stand setup for it. Now, I’m making a slide out tray for my 88 key midi controller.
Great ideas! I did things slightly differently and have a couple recommendations. Amazon sells 19" racks that can be mounted to the bottom of a shelf, so I built a simple "hutch" for my desk and the 19" racks hang down from that. I also got a Standtastic Wall mounted keyboard stand that clears the floor under the keyboards and gets them a little further back. I have a lot of junk in a small room, so saving even a few inches is worth the effort.
Standing defiantly helps on the long hours. I have a second pair of monitors on top of my mains that"ll switch to when standing so the screens don't block any sound. I have something similar for my keyboard tray. It's great not having it on top of the desk.
The paint stir sticks worked for me, get drawer rails that are longer than the width of your controller keyboard. I got the 12" rails for an Arturia Keylab 61 Essential, I wish I had gotten the 16".
First, your live edge desktop is amazing. Second, I have the MK3 stand from Art in cherry. Third, I used the 16" sliders with a 1'x4'x1" length of Oak, stained to match, for my actual keyboard tray. Fourth, as usual, your knowledge of all things related to music more than inspires a lot of different individuals. Thank you Prof 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's always cool to see Jef outside of his natural habitat. I'd watch a Jef Gibbons tutorial on anything, be it beat making, desk construction, roof shingle replacement, bicycle repairs...
I use a 55" TV for a monitor myself and what I did was have the desk away from the wall and the TV slightly down past the desk, but when sat there your eye level can see the whole thing.
Gotcha on gear in custom fit boxes: monitor the temperature. Even small amounts of power, if enclosed, can cook things. Wood is a good insulator. As a computer geek I normally think, "Minimum 1.5" clearance on top, half inch on sides. Double this if only vented on one side." I'm both composing (musescore) and playing. I'm going with the compkeyboard under my Arturia Keylab, as my normal typing position is with my elbows almost touching my ribs, but I play with my elbows higher, sitting further back. I like the slides you found. Tip: If you slide your musickeyboard, splurge and get heavy duty slides and make a point of grabbing it in the middle when you slide it in or out. Easy to bind cheap slides, and then you are stuck.
Yeah, always worry about the heat! My audio interface survived over the last few years… on all the time! And the slides are still going… feels flimsy but still working well! Not great for after touch… needs more support for that!
Nice video, lots of good tips. One thing I will say is that, for anyone who spends long hours editing, producing, etc, your monitor placement is critical. The ideal position for a monitor (according to ergonomic experts and chiropractors) is so that looking straight ahead, your eyes should align about 2 inches from the bottom of your screen. Even a slight head tilt forward over time can cause neck and shoulder issues that can become severe, possibly leading to curvature and even fusion of vertebrae. With this setup, the screen is large enough to place program windows at proper eye level. For those who don't have that option, definitely get a stand before it's too late.
Great points! I had a problem with my older setup with two monitors, my neck would hurt because it was looking left all day! This current giant tv shocks me that I don't have more neck pain... But I have progress lenses in my glasses, and the distance and height means the in-focus area of my glasses lines up perfectly with my head tilted slightly up... seems to work pretty well!
3M has some super tape that is used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Thanks a lot, I'll realize my keyboard desk slider is exactly like this (maybe except for the fixing, had another idea here using a removable double sticky 3M tape :) Can't wait until the material arrives.
@@jefgibbons what do you compose with more, your maschine or your keyboard? I really want to use my Mikro, but I feel like it was designed to be a complicated niche' unit. I've been looking at your videos (which are great) trying to get back into using it. My Komplete Kontrol has TAKEN KONTROL of everything now.
Jeff, I coincidentally have a big ol' TV for a monitor, an Ableton Push 2 on my desktop along with a Moog Sub 37 (yeah, not quite the same), a reclaimed wood desktop, and short salt-and-pepper hair. My daughter came into the studio while I was watching this video, and she thought for a split second that the video was of me, not you! Anyways, thanks for this video, as I just used it to add a slider to my desk - and yes, coincidentally, my keyboard is also a Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2. I swear, I'm not stalking you or trying to become you! :)
Ultimate support makes a nice laptop stand. It's flat on the bottom so things can slide on top of it. It's also infinitely adjustable over it's height range.
Might be out of date on this comment, but I had the same issue with standing desks and then i learned you can just change the legs on your existing desk. I've done eveything i can to get every cord on the desk routed to a location mounted to the bottom of the desk so when it rises, there are only a few dangling cords underneath. I also do the same thing with monitors. Montor 1 is a 165hz 32 incher, but monitor 2 is a 50 inch tv. I vane to see the mounted keyboard underneath. Right now i have the 88 keys beside the desk and am looking to mount on some rails this aftermoon. Wish me luck!
Just a heads up to anyone who's buying sliders, check what height clearance you need for your MIDI keyboard! I ordered the sliders from Jef's link but it turns out it doesn't have enough height clearance for the s88, arturia's keylab88, and others. The sliders fit the s61 keyboard as seen in this video though. I'm still deciding on whether to go with a 61 key or 88 keyboard. - Regardless thanks for the great video Jef!
Hey love the under desk mount for the mini controller. I’ve been thinking about doing this for mine. Is the TV you have for your monitor is a 4K TV. I have two computers and I’m looking for some type of a monitor that I can A/B between the both or even have them both running at the same time on screen. Thanks. Look forward to.
also sitting that close to my 40" 2 tvs i had in the time was not right so now i have a 34" alienware aw3423dwf and its much better for me sitting close. i also use it with a macbook pro 16 m3 max sometimes. im looking at new setup and especially monitor speaker pads or stands for my yamaha hs8 white. i have a 49 keyboard width see through glass stand for my monitor and keyboard but tbh i hate the look of it and prefer without the glass monitor stand. im also thinking of a new pc build with the Thermaltake tower 100 which is only itx. or tower 200 which is a tab bit big im guessing to be put on top of my yamaha hs8 where as tower 100 will easily fit nice. i like my arturia keylab 49 white keyboard and i defo want this sliders bolted to my wood top. i also have to change 2 of my cables for my keyboard and focusrite 2i2 scarlett audio interface to usb type c to usb type b. i seen the price of the thunderbolt audio interfaces and jesus christ it must of been a dodgy website because they were in the grands for what i want it to do.
Great idea with the keyboard tray, thanks! Since I have a 49MK2, I feel like at least the height adjustments should be the same as yours so if you have some specifics it would be great and save some of us a little time on experimenting perhaps! :)
Quick question, do you feel that those sliding draw trays can only handle a light touch on the keyboard? In other words, do you feel like you can't put a lot of pressure on the keyboard tray?
Hi Jef, love your channel. Can you recommend a great midi keyboard with a drum pad, night wind up using for live looping. I’m an experienced musician, I also play guitar mostly. I basically want to do what you do with your loop/songs
@@jefgibbonsableton live. I basically want to do something like what Marc Rebillet does so I'm also in the market for a looper. I was thinking about getting the boss rc-505. I play guitar, a little synth/keys, and sing occasionally. I want to make beats on the fly and add the other layers. There are way too many options and I'm overwhelmed. Budget is pretty decent. I use a lot of Kontakt/Native instruments as well. I also have Maschine but not the standalone version, I find it kind of annoyingly complicated sometimes.
@@boonatuna Yeah, Maschine takes a while to get really comfortable with it! You might want to look at the Push 2! If you're not a keyboard player, using the scales option on the push 2 is awesome... and then having 64 pads to drop sounds on... and if that's not enough... just a simple controller with a few octaves for keys should do you!
i have a silly question. How do you deal with cockroaches that comes out of no where in a congested place like studio ?😂 I have been facing this problem for quiet sometime.
Hi Jef, what about your mixer to get all the audio output coming from your gear, also referring to your video about Maschine plus and live looping in which I suppose you go into the stereo line in of Maschine plus itself from the mixer ? Thanks
Ooh, I wouldn't count on it! Maybe order two sets of rails just in case ;) It's pretty firm but wouldn't take much to pull it down! It's definitely cheap enough to try it out... but not if it wrecks your keyboard!
attach the rails to the controller/keyboard. Have a friend hold it under the desk use a bubble leveler to get it straight then mark the screw holes with a pen or pencil.
No nuisance reflections off the keyboard mounted in front of the speaker? Usually, the recommendations suggest keeping all gear away from the speakers, based on the resultant frequency/relections bounce.
Thanks a lot Jeff really appreciate it. Could you please mention the size of the desk you use please cause I’m interested in building up my own desks but I don’t know the size of yours which could perfect suit me. Thank you
Great video Jeff. What should be the height of the table and how high should the midi keyboard from ground. Secondly, like the MK3 wood case. What color is it? Thanks
Hey Jef, what size option did you buy with keyboard sliders from your recommendation? They do have different sizes so I'm not sure if bracket size also differs or it's all the same?
I'd be worried about having an expensive controller or keyboard simply resting on those rail tabs with the velcro. I'd get a metal shop to make an aluminum shelf for it, and they can also powder coat it black or whatever color you want
3M has some super tape that are used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Where he mounted the keyboard, this is not a load bearing part of the keyboard. Its the plastic lip. Over time I do not think this is a good idea. Maybe ok for the S49. But I would not be doing this on my S88. As the base of the keyboard is metal and this is where the feet are and is meant to take the weight. But where he has mounted them is on the plastic edge/Lip of the keyboard casing. If you are playing on the middle of the keyboard, the extra stress will not be good for the plastic casing over time.
While I love the look of your thick wooden desk and the mechanism of the keyboard sliding right there, such setup is still not really optimally in terms of being ergonomical. It also may not be easy at this time to both have an ergonomical body position for both the midi keyboard and typing keyboard, since they basically need the same area for optimal ergonomical position. In your setup for example, your midi keyboard is at a comfortable postion, but your typing keyboard and mouse are way too high, increasing the chances of RSI (repatiative strain injury/carpal tunnel syndrome) when you are using your mouse and keyboard. I see 2 parts of a solution that ergonomically would improve the situation most of us music production guys are in: - We would need a MIDI keyboard that has a very thin base underneath the keys, while at the same time the keys should be normal size and depth. This allows the height of the midi keyboard to be as close to the typing keyboard as possible. - The desk ideally be as thin as possible, so also this decreases the distance between the the midi keyboard and typing keyboard are at the same height as much as possible. The MIDI keyboard should slide right under the typing keyboard, in terms of height. I still do not understand why there are not more places selling such setups, as it seems like a easy money for a relatively simple, yet common problem. It should not even have to be something that is expensive. Whenever I look at 95%'s people's setups, It's really never ideal for this reason. I see half of the people with comfortable midi keyboard locations and the other half with uncomfortable midi keyboard locations while realistically speaking both options should be possible. Another theoretical possibility would be to have the typing mouse and keyboard and mouse slide under the midi keyboard, but I'm not sure if that would be better or than the previous solution. The keyboard (typing or midi) you operate most of the time should be most optimally ergonomically. For instance, I tend to spend a lot more time programming notes than actually playing them on the midi keyboard. So for me the typing keyboard is right in front of me, while the midi keyboard is on the left of me (both at ideal height, but not ideal position because I have to rotate). However, it's always a compromise to some degree, but the amount of comprimise people have to live with at the moment should not be needed. Dom Sigalas even went from using regular mouse to such a thing that you rotate with your thumb because he also had carpal tunnel/Repetative strain injury (pain in which means arms/shoulders) which is no wonder because also his desk is way too high for his typing keyboard. I think a lot of us use the typing keyboard and mouse more than we think, since playing something is done in a few seconds and tweaking your music can really take ages. Also, this solution would also increase the legroom anyone has under their table as much as possible. *So manifacturers, please make such a a keyboard and desk. We do not need 100 competing DAWS or 1000 different orchestral kontakt libraries, but rather actually need something this*
I’m in love with your desk! Are your controller keyboard and your desktop at ideal heights? I bought a studio desk a while back with a pull-out drawer like yours, but the desk was way too high and made it a little painful to use a keyboard and mouse, plus neck strain as the computer monitor was too high.
Thanks Bright! Yeah, getting the height perfect is really tough. The desk is just a slab of live-edge acacia wood from the hardware store with legs! Biggest problem with it is that it isn't perfectly flat and has warped over the last few years. I end up having to put little furniture protectors on most of my devices to balance them out! The desk is 28.5" from the floor, and it seems like the height of everything now (keyboard included) is working perfectly.
Weird question: What kind of glasses are you wearing in this video? Excellent content, BTW. Optimizing space in the studio is crucial to workflow, and workflow is crucial to overcoming the inertia that can stand between you and making music (especially when it isn't your day job!).
Man that is a gorgeous setup 😍Side question regarding your monitor placement... what is your sweet spot like with your monitors being so far apart? It looks like it would be behind your head which I know some prefer. I ask because I have it in my head that the distance from my cones need to be exactly the same distance from my ears as they are apart, and the wider you go, the farther back you have to be to make that true. Thanks!
great tips Jef,still have to put a desk together,but tragedy struck,not only have i contracted two times covid,i wanted to demolish a wall and broke my right ringfiger badly,i dont know if it will heal,for the moment i cant use that finger in any way,and certainly cant play the keyboard anymore,"thats life" as the saying goes,cheers Jef
Ahh man that's awful! You may have to retrain yourself to not use that finger... Easier said than done though. I hope things get better for you soon Ronny!
I don't know about velcro holding my beloved keyboard on that tiny ledge. I would rather have it on a wood plank which is the way I have it now, but I will hunt those sliders down as they look perfect upgrade to what I am using now witch is regular drawer sliders
Velcro under the keyboard to keep it from sliding.... I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that. I built a drawer but the keyboard slides all over the place and I've been dealing with that for 2 years. Going to fix that as soon I post this comment, thank you so much!!!
That's awesome! Yeah I use velcro for everything! And dude, I'm a HUGE fan of you and your channel!! Been following you from the beginning of my wild UA-cam ride, can't thank you enough for what you do! We must connect some time...
Nice one - thanks for this! Putting the keyboard directly on the rails leaves more legroom (as opposed to using a shelf and putting the keyboard on that) - but does it still feel sturdy? ...and... which of the four lengths do you recommend for the MK2?
Thanks Loopop! It's definitely sturdy enough, which really surprises me! Maybe not Rachmaninoff sturdy... I got the 16" one and it works just great. And yeah, I just didn't have the legroom under my desk for the platform!
@@jefgibbons thanks - no Rachmaninoff here so I will try them out!
@@loopop sadly it's been a long time since my Rach days, so not much here either!
@@jefgibbons Good to know. I've been wanting to do the exact same thing but was afraid it wouldn't be sturdy enough. Cheers!
Great idea Jef. Im wondering what the height is of your desk?
I finally took the plunge and followed your instructions on the keyboard drawer... "Screw some holes into the bottom of your desk, realize you got it wrong, and then make sure adjustments"... Boy were you accurate. After 3 attempts I got it right - and how i am so happy! Thanks!
Ha! That’s great!
Dude. I haven't thought of putting the keyboard directly on the rails!! You saved me a lot of trouble!!
0:53 I'm going to be making a completely new setup for making music next year, and this is exactly what I needed to see! Seeing someone else actually put together a custom mount for their keyboard is a game changer and something that will help me optimize the space in my studio room, especially since it's pretty compact already.
Literally have been looking at how to make a keyboard tray under a desk for the last few weeks, perfect timing!
Nice! Post back to let us know how it went!
Me as well.
I hope it feels awesome to know that thousands of people are being inspired by you following your creativity and sharing your results. I’m ordering from your affiliate links later this month and am so excited to setup my studio and get going! Keep shining friend. ✨🌟
One of the nicest things I’ve heard in a while, thanks Ashe!! Definitely the reason I keep doing this!!
I saw you slide your keyboard out from under the desk and had been looking for something on Amazon where I could declutter my workstation. Thanks so much for this!!! I'm ordering the brackets now. This will be my weekend project👍
man, that's actually genius! thanks for the tip!
such a nice studio.....my favourite that ive seen so far on UA-cam
Hey thanks BareBones!
thanks Jeff. Looking this up in 2025 and its still very helpful. 🙂
Great tip about putting keys directly on the sliders instead of using a supporting plate!
I was going to ask why not just use a board as its designed for.... your only saving less than an inch height if thats the issue vs risking having the synth damaged?
These are the exact sliders I used on my production side table. I ended up mounting a thin wood project panel to on the sliders first for rigidity. My challenge was then I had to use some scrap wood to get the front of the panel (which wasn’t quite deep enough on its own) to be flush to the very front of the sliders. Took some trial and error but my 61 key KeyLab MK2 fits perfectly and like you said is at the ideal height to play when I need it. It’s great that there are cheap solutions like this to under mount bigger keyboard controllers. Great video as always Jef
Which length slides did you go for? 16"?
@@yeppy013 I’m pretty sure the 16 or 18. My Amazon order history detail doesn’t specify the exact size I ordered.
Velcro to bottom of keyboard instead of a shelf is Brilliant!
I gave up on studio monitors and splurged for Audeze headphones. Not going back. 3 monitors better than 1 big TV. Your reco on the underdesk keyboard is gold.
I have this same setup I used a husky work bench from Home Depot and put the slider right below the main desk,worked out great.
I live in a tiny house and have a shelf we use often under the window. I want to put a piano keyboard under it so I can flip it out and practice. I could not think of what the heck a pull out keyboard shelf would be called! Thank you so much for helping me with this problem!
I love the all wood look. Great retro early 80's late 2010's revival feel.
The more devices you have, the less important the desk surface will be. If you have a lot of controllers, or need space for multiple different types of tasks, then a plain white surface might be just fine...and may be more economical too. But if you like a clean desktop without a lot of "cruft", then a really sharp woodgrained surface is absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for posting this, been struggling to figure what I should do, get a new studio workstation desk with the keyboard slide, get a piano stand with wheels, but seeing how you got the keyboard desk slider without the wood tray and setup it up the way you did is the solution I've been looking for. awesome, thanks
Nice office/studio/desk also like the seventies robots I used to have one like that. Obviously need the keyboard in the right spot.
I like the idea of using velcro (or locking tape) to fasten your equipment to the desk (or slider rails). That can help keep things from sliding off and ending up on the floor.
For those who are considering a standing desk, here are some helpful tips: When you wire everything up (speakers, midi controllers, keyboard synth, computer keyboard and mouse, monitor, etc), lay out everything on the standing desk as you think you want it. Don't wire it up yet. Just position "all the things" so you can get to them. Confirm that nothing is blocking your speakers, etcetera.
Now when you're ready to wire things up, go ahead and plug into the devices, then drop the cables down the back or wherever. Now raise the desk all the way. You can wire up the back and underside of the desk without crawling on the floor. I actually have two power taps attached to the bottom of the standing desk so that I can plug anything right into AC without running the cable to the floor. Raising and lowering the desk makes the monitor tree (three screens), one USB hub, those AC power taps, and center instruments go up and down. My monitor speakers are off to the side and fixed to low table surfaces. The mix position is seated with the desktop all the way down.
I can hear well enough if the desk is up and I'm standing but just playing. Mix position is not needed for playing or recording; just for mixing.
There's another neat thing about using a standing desk. Wiring is easier, and you don't have to lay on your back to hook wires up to the underside of the desk. Instead, just roll your office chair under the raised desk, and lay out your wires. Use wiring looms if needed; they're cheap on Amazon. My computer is on the floor, so I needed to build-in some slack in all the wires so that I can slide the computer out onto the floor, and so that I can do it even if the desk is raised all the way up. This way, I can dust-buster the inside of the computer or perform simple wiring changes without having to unplug everything. But for a graphic card swap or anything more complicated, I'll still unplug the computer and move it to a working surface off the floor.
I love the idea of having a standing desk for music-making. And just in the last couple years, there's been an explosion of great standing-desks. You don't have to spend $3K to build something that will work great for you!
Loving the keyboard sliders, defo need something like that myself, my keyboard is really quite beefy and I need to save every millimetre I can!
I made an amazing desk using an old black ikea headboard, and a riser out of the footboard. I just moved, and threw away the old homemade legs, and got an electric sit/stand setup for it. Now, I’m making a slide out tray for my 88 key midi controller.
Great ideas! I did things slightly differently and have a couple recommendations. Amazon sells 19" racks that can be mounted to the bottom of a shelf, so I built a simple "hutch" for my desk and the 19" racks hang down from that. I also got a Standtastic Wall mounted keyboard stand that clears the floor under the keyboards and gets them a little further back. I have a lot of junk in a small room, so saving even a few inches is worth the effort.
I would love to see your setup Andy using the Standtastic stand. I have a tiny space but was considering the Standtastic.
Standing defiantly helps on the long hours. I have a second pair of monitors on top of my mains that"ll switch to when standing so the screens don't block any sound. I have something similar for my keyboard tray. It's great not having it on top of the desk.
The paint stir sticks worked for me, get drawer rails that are longer than the width of your controller keyboard. I got the 12" rails for an Arturia Keylab 61 Essential, I wish I had gotten the 16".
First, your live edge desktop is amazing. Second, I have the MK3 stand from Art in cherry. Third, I used the 16" sliders with a 1'x4'x1" length of Oak, stained to match, for my actual keyboard tray. Fourth, as usual, your knowledge of all things related to music more than inspires a lot of different individuals. Thank you Prof 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's always cool to see Jef outside of his natural habitat. I'd watch a Jef Gibbons tutorial on anything, be it beat making, desk construction, roof shingle replacement, bicycle repairs...
thanks i was looking tfor this
great video, lighting is also fantastic in your videos!
Thanks! Thinking of doing a video on my video production setup!
Very helpful, thanks so much! Love the velcro idea! Will now look into what you have to share about the TV...
I love all of this, thanks Jef
I use a 55" TV for a monitor myself and what I did was have the desk away from the wall and the TV slightly down past the desk, but when sat there your eye level can see the whole thing.
Brilliant idea to stuck the keyboard directly to the shelf! I always wanted a lightweight workstation desk this should do the job. Thank you!
Ah! Thank you. This solves a dilemma I've been having and I couldn't figure out a solution.
Used your approach with the stir sticks to mount my mpc61, thanks for that one. Waiting on the glue to dry before I sit the keyboard ontop
Gotcha on gear in custom fit boxes: monitor the temperature. Even small amounts of power, if enclosed, can cook things. Wood is a good insulator. As a computer geek I normally think, "Minimum 1.5" clearance on top, half inch on sides. Double this if only vented on one side."
I'm both composing (musescore) and playing. I'm going with the compkeyboard under my Arturia Keylab, as my normal typing position is with my elbows almost touching my ribs, but I play with my elbows higher, sitting further back.
I like the slides you found. Tip: If you slide your musickeyboard, splurge and get heavy duty slides and make a point of grabbing it in the middle when you slide it in or out. Easy to bind cheap slides, and then you are stuck.
Yeah, always worry about the heat! My audio interface survived over the last few years… on all the time! And the slides are still going… feels flimsy but still working well! Not great for after touch… needs more support for that!
Nice video, lots of good tips.
One thing I will say is that, for anyone who spends long hours editing, producing, etc, your monitor placement is critical. The ideal position for a monitor (according to ergonomic experts and chiropractors) is so that looking straight ahead, your eyes should align about 2 inches from the bottom of your screen. Even a slight head tilt forward over time can cause neck and shoulder issues that can become severe, possibly leading to curvature and even fusion of vertebrae.
With this setup, the screen is large enough to place program windows at proper eye level. For those who don't have that option, definitely get a stand before it's too late.
Great points! I had a problem with my older setup with two monitors, my neck would hurt because it was looking left all day! This current giant tv shocks me that I don't have more neck pain... But I have progress lenses in my glasses, and the distance and height means the in-focus area of my glasses lines up perfectly with my head tilted slightly up... seems to work pretty well!
3M has some super tape that is used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Good tip!
Thanks a lot, I'll realize my keyboard desk slider is exactly like this (maybe except for the fixing, had another idea here using a removable double sticky 3M tape :) Can't wait until the material arrives.
Great choice of keyboard. I know you know what you are talking about.
Oh, and nice set-up, by the way!
Good info on the slider build, about what I'm getting ready to do.
Your space is awesome! So is the monitor screen!
Dude back health is vital respect
Love your videos, Jef! Great setup you got there!
Thanks!
@@jefgibbons what do you compose with more, your maschine or your keyboard?
I really want to use my Mikro, but I feel like it was designed to be a complicated niche' unit. I've been looking at your videos (which are great) trying to get back into using it. My Komplete Kontrol has TAKEN KONTROL of everything now.
Jeff, I coincidentally have a big ol' TV for a monitor, an Ableton Push 2 on my desktop along with a Moog Sub 37 (yeah, not quite the same), a reclaimed wood desktop, and short salt-and-pepper hair. My daughter came into the studio while I was watching this video, and she thought for a split second that the video was of me, not you! Anyways, thanks for this video, as I just used it to add a slider to my desk - and yes, coincidentally, my keyboard is also a Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2. I swear, I'm not stalking you or trying to become you! :)
Ha!! That is awesome Mario! We’ll have to hang out one of these days!
Nice first video for your new home improvement channel! 😜
HA! Yeah right... better get some better supplies before I go there!!
@@jefgibbons yay for power tools ! And reviews!
Some great tips Jef!
Nice. I want to remake my studio. I soon get the arturia 61 key midi board and want it to fit in here.
Ultimate support makes a nice laptop stand. It's flat on the bottom so things can slide on top of it. It's also infinitely adjustable over it's height range.
Thanks man good stuff!
Might be out of date on this comment, but I had the same issue with standing desks and then i learned you can just change the legs on your existing desk. I've done eveything i can to get every cord on the desk routed to a location mounted to the bottom of the desk so when it rises, there are only a few dangling cords underneath.
I also do the same thing with monitors. Montor 1 is a 165hz 32 incher, but monitor 2 is a 50 inch tv.
I vane to see the mounted keyboard underneath. Right now i have the 88 keys beside the desk and am looking to mount on some rails this aftermoon. Wish me luck!
Wowwwwwww So Nice !!!!!
Thanks for your share^^
Just a heads up to anyone who's buying sliders, check what height clearance you need for your MIDI keyboard! I ordered the sliders from Jef's link but it turns out it doesn't have enough height clearance for the s88, arturia's keylab88, and others. The sliders fit the s61 keyboard as seen in this video though. I'm still deciding on whether to go with a 61 key or 88 keyboard. - Regardless thanks for the great video Jef!
Great tip! You can always send the sliders back… mine was definitely specific for the Komplete series.
Also, to consider is the weight of the keyboard?
Nice really ! I was wondering, in terms of ergonomics, is it better to have your mouse on the table or below on another slider/piece of wood?
You have a damn sweet setup there!
Hi thank you for your tips, question: with the new keyboards Mk3 his still working from the bigger size?
nice
I love it do you think set up will work with an s88 komplete kontrol or is that to heavy?
Very nice! Lots of good ideas in here.
How do you manage the cable connections to the keyboard so they extend and retract when the keyboard is pulled out and pushed in?
Hey love the under desk mount for the mini controller. I’ve been thinking about doing this for mine. Is the TV you have for your monitor is a 4K TV. I have two computers and I’m looking for some type of a monitor that I can A/B between the both or even have them both running at the same time on screen. Thanks. Look forward to.
also sitting that close to my 40" 2 tvs i had in the time was not right so now i have a 34" alienware aw3423dwf and its much better for me sitting close. i also use it with a macbook pro 16 m3 max sometimes. im looking at new setup and especially monitor speaker pads or stands for my yamaha hs8 white. i have a 49 keyboard width see through glass stand for my monitor and keyboard but tbh i hate the look of it and prefer without the glass monitor stand. im also thinking of a new pc build with the Thermaltake tower 100 which is only itx. or tower 200 which is a tab bit big im guessing to be put on top of my yamaha hs8 where as tower 100 will easily fit nice. i like my arturia keylab 49 white keyboard and i defo want this sliders bolted to my wood top. i also have to change 2 of my cables for my keyboard and focusrite 2i2 scarlett audio interface to usb type c to usb type b. i seen the price of the thunderbolt audio interfaces and jesus christ it must of been a dodgy website because they were in the grands for what i want it to do.
Hi Jef, what mm are the shelves used in your video? In the UK there are multiple sizes and I dont know the correct item. Please advise. Many thanks
Nice video! which slider could I use for my nektar gx88 midi keyboard?
Great idea with the keyboard tray, thanks! Since I have a 49MK2, I feel like at least the height adjustments should be the same as yours so if you have some specifics it would be great and save some of us a little time on experimenting perhaps! :)
Hey, are you referring to the m audio 49 midi keyboard? I have the same thing, I am about to order from Amazon the railing thing, what worked for you?
Quick question, do you feel that those sliding draw trays can only handle a light touch on the keyboard? In other words, do you feel like you can't put a lot of pressure on the keyboard tray?
Hi Jef, love your channel. Can you recommend a great midi keyboard with a drum pad, night wind up using for live looping. I’m an experienced musician, I also play guitar mostly. I basically want to do what you do with your loop/songs
Sure thing! Arturia has drum pads on theirs… quality is good for the price! What DAW are you making your music on?
@@jefgibbonsableton live. I basically want to do something like what Marc Rebillet does so I'm also in the market for a looper. I was thinking about getting the boss rc-505. I play guitar, a little synth/keys, and sing occasionally. I want to make beats on the fly and add the other layers. There are way too many options and I'm overwhelmed. Budget is pretty decent. I use a lot of Kontakt/Native instruments as well. I also have Maschine but not the standalone version, I find it kind of annoyingly complicated sometimes.
@@boonatuna Yeah, Maschine takes a while to get really comfortable with it! You might want to look at the Push 2! If you're not a keyboard player, using the scales option on the push 2 is awesome... and then having 64 pads to drop sounds on... and if that's not enough... just a simple controller with a few octaves for keys should do you!
@@jefgibbons thanks for taking the time to reply!
i have a silly question. How do you deal with cockroaches that comes out of no where in a congested place like studio ?😂 I have been facing this problem for quiet sometime.
how did it work ergonomically for you retrospectively? armheight vs bumping into the keyboard with your legs
What length of sliders did you use for your studio?
Hi Jef, what about your mixer to get all the audio output coming from your gear, also referring to your video about Maschine plus and live looping in which I suppose you go into the stereo line in of Maschine plus itself from the mixer ? Thanks
Yeah I’ve got a cheap little mixer for that stuff!
Do you think this would be strong enough if my five year old leaned on it some? It is for his school desk for music class
Ooh, I wouldn't count on it! Maybe order two sets of rails just in case ;) It's pretty firm but wouldn't take much to pull it down! It's definitely cheap enough to try it out... but not if it wrecks your keyboard!
That was my first idea from the very beginning: I always hated the image of a keyboard on the desktop, particularly having a 61 keys one.
Nice vid again. I like the wooden rack for the 19” gear. No issues with equipment heat there?
Nice setup up bro
Unc jef!!! Dope product's!! Definitely can make a producer's life lil easier..lol. Enjoy your week💯
For sure! Thanks V!
@@jefgibbons 🎯💯
attach the rails to the controller/keyboard. Have a friend hold it under the desk use a bubble leveler to get it straight then mark the screw holes with a pen or pencil.
you really going to drill holes in your nice Keybed. I don't think so!!
@@RStark-ersit worked for over two years. Took out the screws sold as is when i moved
No nuisance reflections off the keyboard mounted in front of the speaker? Usually, the recommendations suggest keeping all gear away from the speakers, based on the resultant frequency/relections bounce.
Great video! Guitar Center has the Odyssey stand for $33. They have had it for $14.99 the last 2 Black Fridays.
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks a lot Jeff really appreciate it. Could you please mention the size of the desk you use please cause I’m interested in building up my own desks but I don’t know the size of yours which could perfect suit me. Thank you
Awesome, Jef! Anyone know if this can be mounted on the underside of an Argosy Halo (the regular version)? Thanks!!
Also, Jef-- if I haven't said it numerous times over the years..... you're a genius. Thanks, man.
OMG look at that first generation Macintosh computer in the background. There's a blast from the 1980s lol. Does that thing still turn on? :D
Great video Jeff. What should be the height of the table and how high should the midi keyboard from ground. Secondly, like the MK3 wood case. What color is it? Thanks
Very useful, thanks!
Great hacks!!
what size sliders did you use for the S61?
How do you feel about the sturdiness of the sliders as of now? I have the same on the way
Had it since then and it's still working great! Just moved them to a new desk and they're still good... just don't play too hard!
@@jefgibbons noted. Haha. Thanks! I have one of those OnStage workstation desks that I'm modifying. The included tray it a tad too low.
Hey Jef, what size option did you buy with keyboard sliders from your recommendation? They do have different sizes so I'm not sure if bracket size also differs or it's all the same?
I'd be worried about having an expensive controller or keyboard simply resting on those rail tabs with the velcro. I'd get a metal shop to make an aluminum shelf for it, and they can also powder coat it black or whatever color you want
The only other issue is that if you get a new keyboard you might have to drill new holes to get it to fit.
3M has some super tape that are used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
I would try a masonite board the width of the keyboard. it's going to be no thicker than the paint sticks and velcro
Where he mounted the keyboard, this is not a load bearing part of the keyboard. Its the plastic lip. Over time I do not think this is a good idea. Maybe ok for the S49. But I would not be doing this on my S88. As the base of the keyboard is metal and this is where the feet are and is meant to take the weight. But where he has mounted them is on the plastic edge/Lip of the keyboard casing. If you are playing on the middle of the keyboard, the extra stress will not be good for the plastic casing over time.
While I love the look of your thick wooden desk and the mechanism of the keyboard sliding right there, such setup is still not really optimally in terms of being ergonomical. It also may not be easy at this time to both have an ergonomical body position for both the midi keyboard and typing keyboard, since they basically need the same area for optimal ergonomical position. In your setup for example, your midi keyboard is at a comfortable postion, but your typing keyboard and mouse are way too high, increasing the chances of RSI (repatiative strain injury/carpal tunnel syndrome) when you are using your mouse and keyboard.
I see 2 parts of a solution that ergonomically would improve the situation most of us music production guys are in:
- We would need a MIDI keyboard that has a very thin base underneath the keys, while at the same time the keys should be normal size and depth. This allows the height of the midi keyboard to be as close to the typing keyboard as possible.
- The desk ideally be as thin as possible, so also this decreases the distance between the the midi keyboard and typing keyboard are at the same height as much as possible. The MIDI keyboard should slide right under the typing keyboard, in terms of height.
I still do not understand why there are not more places selling such setups, as it seems like a easy money for a relatively simple, yet common problem. It should not even have to be something that is expensive. Whenever I look at 95%'s people's setups, It's really never ideal for this reason. I see half of the people with comfortable midi keyboard locations and the other half with uncomfortable midi keyboard locations while realistically speaking both options should be possible.
Another theoretical possibility would be to have the typing mouse and keyboard and mouse slide under the midi keyboard, but I'm not sure if that would be better or than the previous solution. The keyboard (typing or midi) you operate most of the time should be most optimally ergonomically. For instance, I tend to spend a lot more time programming notes than actually playing them on the midi keyboard. So for me the typing keyboard is right in front of me, while the midi keyboard is on the left of me (both at ideal height, but not ideal position because I have to rotate). However, it's always a compromise to some degree, but the amount of comprimise people have to live with at the moment should not be needed.
Dom Sigalas even went from using regular mouse to such a thing that you rotate with your thumb because he also had carpal tunnel/Repetative strain injury (pain in which means arms/shoulders) which is no wonder because also his desk is way too high for his typing keyboard. I think a lot of us use the typing keyboard and mouse more than we think, since playing something is done in a few seconds and tweaking your music can really take ages.
Also, this solution would also increase the legroom anyone has under their table as much as possible.
*So manifacturers, please make such a a keyboard and desk. We do not need 100 competing DAWS or 1000 different orchestral kontakt libraries, but rather actually need something this*
@jefgibbons love that live edge desk you have. Is that one solid piece of wood?
Sort of, it’s a butterfly type piece… but it’s pretty warped now, which isn’t great for the gear!
I’m in love with your desk! Are your controller keyboard and your desktop at ideal heights? I bought a studio desk a while back with a pull-out drawer like yours, but the desk was way too high and made it a little painful to use a keyboard and mouse, plus neck strain as the computer monitor was too high.
Thanks Bright! Yeah, getting the height perfect is really tough. The desk is just a slab of live-edge acacia wood from the hardware store with legs! Biggest problem with it is that it isn't perfectly flat and has warped over the last few years. I end up having to put little furniture protectors on most of my devices to balance them out! The desk is 28.5" from the floor, and it seems like the height of everything now (keyboard included) is working perfectly.
@@jefgibbons the look of that beautiful wood more than makes up for the wonkyness, in my opinion 😃 thanks for your reply!
A shoutout to a company called audiorax that makes a lot of this stuff, great quality, and quite affordable...
Excellent tip!! This tray is a little light weight!
Weird question: What kind of glasses are you wearing in this video? Excellent content, BTW. Optimizing space in the studio is crucial to workflow, and workflow is crucial to overcoming the inertia that can stand between you and making music (especially when it isn't your day job!).
can it screw into a carbon fibre desk ?
Man that is a gorgeous setup 😍Side question regarding your monitor placement... what is your sweet spot like with your monitors being so far apart? It looks like it would be behind your head which I know some prefer. I ask because I have it in my head that the distance from my cones need to be exactly the same distance from my ears as they are apart, and the wider you go, the farther back you have to be to make that true. Thanks!
great tips Jef,still have to put a desk together,but tragedy struck,not only have i contracted two times covid,i wanted to demolish a wall and broke my right ringfiger badly,i dont know if it will heal,for the moment i cant use that finger in any way,and certainly cant play the keyboard anymore,"thats life" as the saying goes,cheers Jef
Ahh man that's awful! You may have to retrain yourself to not use that finger... Easier said than done though. I hope things get better for you soon Ronny!
@@jefgibbons thanx for the kind wordsJef,have a nice weekend
I don't know about velcro holding my beloved keyboard on that tiny ledge. I would rather have it on a wood plank which is the way I have it now, but I will hunt those sliders down as they look perfect upgrade to what I am using now witch is regular drawer sliders
That sounds much better!
Hey thanks so much for this recommendation what size keyboard arms did you get I’ve also got the NI 🌸🌸🌸
I got the biggest ones I could, just make sure it has the nubs when you get it in, someone reported theirs didn’t have them!
Velcro under the keyboard to keep it from sliding.... I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that. I built a drawer but the keyboard slides all over the place and I've been dealing with that for 2 years. Going to fix that as soon I post this comment, thank you so much!!!
That's awesome! Yeah I use velcro for everything! And dude, I'm a HUGE fan of you and your channel!! Been following you from the beginning of my wild UA-cam ride, can't thank you enough for what you do! We must connect some time...