The biggest mistake I made with my home studio 🤷♂️
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2022
- Howdy! Today we're doing a studio overhaul! Lately I've been thinking a lot about creating a more optimal work environment, and today it's time to make it happen.
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Maybe time for a studio tour soon? 🤔
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thanks awsome video - is the cheap mic the rode one? Edit : found it its the Comica CVM-VM20 thx
Hey man, what's the size of the room?
@@izsvemira 20x21ft - not all usable though as the angled ceiling makes the side walls pretty short and it's hard to store things!
@@VenusTheory I was thinking more in terms of standing waves, that's a pretty square floor. I imagine the angled ceiling helps with that?
Here's a yes vote for a studio tour
Here is my secret for all music producers! Every day, as soon as you wake up, take the vitamin D pill and go outside for 1-2 hour trip to take as much sun as you can. This is what I was missing for past 10 years as a sound designer, and I really regret that I was spending so much time in the dark. I guarantee you that after just a week, your mental health will improve a lot, and your body will also thank you for this. Discovering this was my biggest game changer of this year! It's really worth to try.
I definitely agree! I have two morning coffees outside in the sun, while checking emails and notifications, it's a good way to start the day! 👍
THIS.
ua-cam.com/video/WDv4AWk0J3U/v-deo.html
So true! Vitamin D ahhh
True, vitamin D helps tremendously. I started taking it when I realised there was going to be a potentially serious pandemic, so around March 2020, and I don't think I had ever been so healthy before.
However, the second part of your advice is at least equally important. I regret how late I discovered that walking is essential for my body to perform all of its basic functions properly. Sitting 12+ h/day in front of a computer is a recipe for disaster and most physical exercises won't help much. It has to be something that involves movement of one's whole body, and for a significant part of each day. 10 000 steps/day seems like a good compromise when I can't spend more time walking, but I'd love to aim for 15 000. Unfortunately on a day full of virtual meetings it's hard to achieve (I guess I should think of a way to have those while walking?).
Also exercise. Obviously good for you in all regards, but many musicians, myself included, struggle with ADHD, and exercise is crucial to combatting the negative effects of ADHD
I can’t believe I just heard you say aiaiai seriously multiple times
Nailing down the pronunciation took way more tries than I'd like to admit.
Fr tho their wireless ones are legit, they’ve solved the latency issue with their tech. I’m not a pro drummer by any means but they’re the first wireless monitoring that I can actually use. My previous setup was IEMs + a digital MiPro wireless monitoring system. That’s probably better for the stage, but I don’t need it at home anymore.
@@VenusTheory I can imagine lol. Great vid tho thank you for being the hero we need
aiaiai can’t believe it either
I was about singing "...canta y no llores" :p
My 'studio' is also my sim racing rig, flight rig, home office, Harry Potter lego collection, retro game console collection, 3d printing rig, and is usually covered in teddies as my daughter wants to sit on my lap and play sims. And I absolutely love it that way!
Haha quite the setup then. Always good to have a writing partner too!
so good too see im not alone, music, simracing and office in one room, its hard to keep focus in these multi-purpose setups
Welcome fellow producers and sim racing enthusiasts ;D
@@shizzle123pl Also welcome to the "I'll never have enough USB ports" club. 😆
minus the daughter, this is me!
I had the same problem - I do music, and I do work, and I spent 18 months trying to create a space that allows for both. I ended up with a space that is too much of a compromise for both tasks meaning it services neither of them correctly. So this weekend, I have finally set up TWO spaces! A work space and a music space. I can now focus on the task at hand in the optimal set-up for each. The only thing I need to do now is work out a new excuse for why I am not being productive.
I only have one space but I use one side for music and the opposite as home-office, the weird thing is that it actually works.
Haha well lucky for you that's the subject of my next video!
Yeah. Same. 😬 Only optimization is driving me crazy😭🤣
@@VenusTheory can’t wait !!
@@VenusTheory seeing a response from you with an exclamation point in it looks kinda funny - almost like you shouldn't be allowed to do that.. 😛
Absolutely loved this video. Always dig all your vids, man.
My studio mimics my ADHD. It's always chaotic. It's clean and minimal, but the plugged-in gear changes from week to week. Due to immense financial strain that I feel I will never escape, I had to sell $12,000 worth of gear from late 2021 until the present, just to keep myself fed, wi-fi on, and electric/gas operational. I honestly feel like I will never get out from under bills.
Selling all the gear I didn't "need" was heartbreaking, as I feel that the more gear I have, the more inspired I am (and this has always been true). I haven't made music largely since my father died unexpectedly in Feb 2019, and then covid.
One thing I wonder (and feel free to respond to this comment, anyone out there who can relate)... the more instruments you play, the harder it is to have a humble, minimal studio. I'm a drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist/pianist and hip-hop enthusiast/beat producer. And I sing when there's no one else to sing for me or with me. And, I love gaming, too. So, by default, I need in my studio-- a drumkit (electronic or acoustic... these days my acoustic kit is disassembled and stored in an area of my studio), guitar stand with multiple guitars (acoustic and electric), and then there's the midi controllers and whatnot (Novation SL MK3 61-key, some of the smaller ones, Maschine MK3, Launchpad Pro, etc). MPC One, turntable... etc.
I truly do miss the gear I had to part with... just hoping and praying to come up from drowning, and turn it all around, financially, in a big way. Not feeling a lot of hope, but I'm trying.
Cable management is always tough. USB devices (controllers) and how no hubs ever work well enough to have more than 8 USB devices connected, without weird-ass behavior or flakiness happening in some way... and then, there's the camera stuff. I keep the lighting simple ($20 clamp-on LEDs from Amazon), $20 semi-wide-angle Chinese-made webcams for most of the video (had to sell my beloved Panasonic Lumix G7), etc... just trying to constantly pump out content, with the cheap stuff I have.
Another thing that drives me nuts: I live in an older house, with uneven floors, uneven ceilings, weird ceiling angles, etc. It's spacious, but everything is unstable (desks, etc), no matter how hard I try to remedy this. I'd love a modern house with level floors, but... we do what we can.
I hope anyone who took the time reading this feels nothing but gratitude for their setup and life... times are tough, depression and anxiety is at an all-time high... and it's hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel, even if there is one at all.
Stranger, I believe in you. Stay creative as always.
When I redid my studio just before the pandemic (how's that for timing!) I bought a label printer and labeled every cable. Where it went, where it came from. Every power adapter got a label describing what it powered. Since only the biggest brands still brand their power adapters, that is a huge time saver. Also no more awkwardly sitting under the desk gently tugging at some cable to see what moved. :)
I did the same, also color coding the cabels is very helpful. It pays off, when you also color code the jack where the cable is put on your device.
@@marcus268 That's what I did last time I had to dismantle the studio because of a gig. Color coding with a piece of tape made getting everything working again so much easier. Also I sometimes write down the setup, especially midi routing. Taking photos of your mixer setting helps with gettting levels right again and makes EQuing much faster.
I use those plastic bread tie clips. They fit perfectly. A lot of them already have a sticker on them you can scribble on, and they come in various colors. I just put them in a drawer as I get bread and eventually amassed a sizable pile. Clip one on each end, write what it is on the clip with a sharpie, and you're good to go.
When I worked for SSL, we had a presentation called “why do you work that way”. It’s a 25 minute presentation in three parts. 1) physical aspect was placement of your gear. With the right placement of your gear, your workflow is comfortable. 2) emotional. Your environment such as climate, ambient lighting and anything that helps with inspiration will increase productivity 3) cognitive. Learning your DAW, drum machine, synth etc (RTFM Read The Fu$&en Manual) and when to be creative. If you stop being creative to learn how to do something on your gear, your creativity decreases. In some cases you get burnt out.
As well as minimalistic considerations you've covered for setting up one's studio, I have found the concepts found in Feng Shui also very interesting in application. For instance.. Placing the desk in the "command position" (back to a far wall, facing the entrance of the room) I found really helps a primal portion of the brain relax because it no longer needs to worry and protect your back if someone or something enters the room behind you. Seems subtle but having your back protected, facing and welcoming what/whoever may enter your room releases and raises your focus and energy on what's at hand.
astonishing, how every VenusTheory-video looks like a movie. Every camera angle is just delicious.
BIG UP!! So nice to watch!
When you said "with having all of this stuff, there was a sense of obligation to use it", that echoed my exact sentiment from one or two months ago when I made a concerted effort to re-design my own relatively-new studio. This year I finally came into the money to buy the things I needed/wanted for making music:
- A strong computer
- Sample libraries largely of my choosing for every orchestral instrument category
- Nice plugins
I'm glad I stopped buying things fairly early on, as it wasn't actually as early on as it could have been. I learned I really only want to use one or two reverbs for orchestral music, not... 8. I really only want to use a small handful of every other kind of plugin. I don't actually want my 55" 4K 120FPS 9ms latency TV as a monitor, as it serves mostly as a large, acoustically-untreatable reflective surface that I have to strain my neck to make full use of.
Less really can be more. I just want to make music, I have almost no interest in acquiring any more 'things' (besides maybe replacing my TV with a normal people monitor - anyone want a TV?), sample libraries, plugins. I just want to practice scoring, writing my own music, and sleeping and eating healthily. And probably socializing more. Having too many *things* gave me a strong sense of responsibility to constantly be auditioning different reverbs, synths, compressors etc. for 'the right one', when in reality I was almost equally happy with them all. They're all fun to dial in in their own way, but that fun quickly becomes exhausting and a huge distraction from the only reason I cared to buy this stuff in the first place.
This video taught me nothing at all about synths or music...yet was one of the most valuable I've watched in probably a couple of years. I'm right behind you, not just in my studio, but in my life. Thanks for this video, man!
Elliot Hall, same. The whole time I was watching I was thinking in abstraction‒my studio space, the kitchen ..how every flat surface in the house seems to be just a dumping ground for the last thing I did in that vicinity haha
Best thing I did with my studio was buy things that clamp on the back of the desk. Monitor arm stands, speaker stands, mic stands, outlets with clamps, cable management trays with clamps, lighting that clamps. You can free up so much desk space by clamping stuff on the back of the desk. Also helps for making things easily adjustable/modular and earthquake-proof.
This channel has become a huge inspiration over the past two days I've known of its existence. Thanks so much for all of your thorough explanations.
The far and away biggest improvements in my workflow has been getting a patchbay and a heavy duty, proper, midi hub. Now I can just have things always set up and ready to go. All I have to do is either patch things in or I have to click a few buttons to get the right midi to the right place and I am good to go. This has both sped up my workflow and has made me want to just do more
Buying monitor arm was the best decision I ever made. It saved be a ton of desk space and I got just simple IKEA standing desk, so I can adjust height of it depending on my mood.
Since I have similar situation as you, where I work/produce music/chill on the same spot, I try to free up as much space as I can all the time, but keep all necessary things accessible to finish tasks.
I lent pieces of gear that I don't frequently use to my friends, by that I don't have a lot of space taken by gear I don't use, and friends are happy, because they got some new toys to play. Also, I know for sure, that if I will sell that gear, I won't miss it in my workflow.
And last thing I did to have more focus: I decided to not buy new gear for a year and try to write music with what I have. It's already 1,5 years passed and I still continue my journey, learning tools I own. I started to produce a lot more stuff and quality increased significantly.
I remember myself 15 years ago sitting with an old PC and cheap headphones, running old version of FL studio and exploring sounds, and that for sure was the most productive time of my life, but limitations and lack of knowledge didn't allow me to do my best back then.
Thanks for this ❤️ My whole life needs a clear-out and declutter at the moment and this video really made me think about finding the purpose of that and giving the process some focus. Useful thoughts.
I live on a boat so my "studio" is a tiny area about 10'x6'x6'. I also live off grid and try to get by on just solar power. These constraints actually help create focus. My kit is stripped back to just a laptop, second screen, MIDI keyboard, control surface, audio interface, mic, amp, monitors, headphones, a couple of tablets, a phone, paper notepads and a pen.
One key thing missing from your studio is a view of the outside world. I'm lucky to have a fabulous view of a river and trees out of the windows and I move the boat about a bit so one day I might be looking east and another west. I also sit outside when the weather is nice and enjoy watching and listening to the wildlife. I can then go back into my tiny space and get stuff done with a clear mind.
What has worked for me is breaking my room down into stations. I work from home so I have a work station. There is the video production/gaming station. And the "noise making" station. This creates a mental perception of areas within an area. I also have place where I put things that are portable so when I get tired of being in the room, I can go play in the sun. Is all of this perfect? Nope. Am I having fun. Yep!
Great video, as usual. One new thing I recently did was to create a "portable" desk that has my iMac, Arturia Keylab 88, smaller monitors, headphones and audio interface on it that I can literally "wheel around" into whatever room in my house inspires me. Looking out different windows, heck, just being in a different room does something for my mindset. Ultimately, I'll mix it all in the regular studio, but when creating being free to move around seemed to inspire me.
I've never enjoyed watching someone talk and clean their room more than I do right now lol you rock!
Absolutely true. I work both as a professional artist (painting huge murals, designing on photoshop / clip studio etc) and as a composer, writing all kinds of genres.
The best thing that I could have done, was the moment where I decided to split up my computer & desk into two computers on two desks. Both actually in the same (big) room, but on the opposite sites. Both arranged with tools and applications ONLY for that certain purpose.
So... when I'm sitting in one 'corner' I can't be distracted by other things. I work on that thing only, with that mindset and those particular tools and setup.
Works perfectly!
I've been doing a version of this since I moved to Chicago. I've come up with a couple of simple mobile rigs that I can go anywhere with using either an iPad AIR or my laptop and a Novation Launchkey Mini MK 3. I added a Launchpad Mini Mk 3 to the laptop rig and it all just works. It's good enough. It's all easy to set up and fits into a backpack.
I also tore through my storage unit and got rid a just about everything. I sold off a bunch of gear that I've accumulated over the years but didn't use anymore. I reduced everything to my desktop and related tech stuff, clothes, my "library," some dishes that I refuse to let go of and personal mementos. It has been quite liberating to know that that I won't be dragging a bunch of junk with me from here on out.
Being fully mobile has also made me realize what I actually want in my studio so that I can get the most out of my studio . I just made mental notes of what I kept wishing that I had with me right then so that when I set my studio back up I'll have it all ready to go. I won't waste time and space on things that aren't going to help me make music.
I took all that and applied it to my collection of VSTs. I've culled a bunch out and reduced it down to the instruments and effects that I actually like and use. Simplify, simplify, simplify!
Great vid, and well done on your process! I've also found that documentation is crucial to not getting lost down a trail over and over of trying to remember what midi channel something is receiving, etc. Label everything. Keep documents of all the audio and midi routing, and anything else you find yourself looking for over and over. Same with having one folder on cloud sync with all my gear pdf manuals in it so any device can call up and answer a use questions super quick when they come up.
I'm loving this new demeanor that is coming with your self-reflection and introspection. I'm learning a lot about the realistic aspect of being a musician with a musical career.
I do not regret subscribing by a mile sir 🤝
'Sometimes it's not about trying to solve all your problems but it's about trying to compromise to find the right problems to have' that is like the best quote ever
Great video! It's important to have a space that works for you creatively. From 2016-2021 I was renting a two bedroom house and the second room was used as my home studio. It was pretty small and I was going through constant changes but I was super productive in it. I could only afford to keep what I would use so everything had a distinct purpose. From 2021-August 2022 I was renting a three bedroom apartment but there were so many issues with the unit itself that made me not want to be there, combined with the fact that I worked from there too, so it became almost a chore to write music. Now I've downsized to a two bedroom apartment but I am renting a studio space out of the house. I spent the last few months reorganizing everything and now I've finally gotten back to a good spot where I can feel creative again. I spent the last year buying a lot of gear but it's carefully curated so that everything has a function. I love it and I hope to make some videos like yours some time. Thank you for the advice!
As always a great video and super relevant to my own decluttering. I've the laptop stands thing too and it seems to create much more space than I thought it would. I also did a left hand / right hand audit of the things on my desk and the units at the side which has helped.
Something I found pretty helpful. Take a synth and a laptop/iPad and go somewhere else. Maybe a spot somewhere else in your house, or maybe a studio space, cottage, someplace else. But only take one or two things is key. I found this to be freeing and I was more productive.
Yeah in another life I feel like I could just have Bitwig, a MPE/MIDI controller, and the Iridium and I'd be good to go. Wants vs. Needs is a reeeeally important thing to remember!
For about a year I had a photography and music studio in the same room. (our master bedroom) Now our 19 year old son moved out and my wife and I have utilized his room for a dedicated photography (for me) and crafts studio (for Her) . We thought sharing a roon in a smaller townhome was gonna suck, but it doesn't. We actually spend a little more time together. That's a bonus i guess. LOL But anyways having my music and photography separated now has not only reduced clutter, it has also created some harmony for my wife and I. Cheers to you Cameron
Nice )
The serendipity of this video is uncanny! I just spent the whole of last weekend doing this very thing! My main concern was “wasting time”. But as it turns out I feel more at ease know that it is done and therefore am more ready to tackle projects!
I'm currently rebuilding my studio from scratch and this video just inspired me so much! thx!
Fantastic subject. As a gear hoarder myself, this gives great inspiration to start organizing my space. Thank YOU!
I built a cheap ass particle board studio table which is stable as a rock. It's also HUGE and I love it. Computers round my feet, MIDI pedal board on a rolling shelf under the computers. One 19" inch rack on each side with patch bays of which 8 goes between the racks. 48 holes so I have plenty of patching rooom. Everything is connected or maximum a patch cable away, if it's not already normaled. A controller keyboard I can roll away into the table top, and of course a screen on top. QWERTY keyboard in front of the MIDI keyboard, easy to move away and make room for a huge working area if I need it. Damn, I wouldn't change a thing. Except ... I had some ideas haha. But it's more cosmetic changes than functional. Best set up I've ever had.
Plus guitars on the walls or couorse :D
Wow thanks for this honest look at your self and your purpose as well as your setup. I’m just starting on the exact same process - ouch the truth hurts a bit. But this is so essential and necessary - Thank You so very much!
Thanks for the video/discussion. I, too, am stuck in the middle of many years of synth collecting and too many tasks for the space and time at hand. When I sit down and think about it, I really enjoy the process of learning new gear and VSTs to the detriment of making music. When I make music it is either in the studio with a lot of gear or practicing on a live setup with some gear. Totally different approaches. Add the guitar setup and repair bench, the soldering station (to replace all of those old caps and cold-soldered joints), shelves for pedals/CDs/LPs/manuals, bins for parts, hanging cables etc. and aaaaargh! So I’ve had a single guitar and keyboard set up in my home office just so I don’t have to think about it all. It’s time for a purge! 😢
My studio is a lot smaller than your space, which also forces optimisation. I'm also not a collector of gear, so that helps with the limitations. Redundant gear usually gets sold, with only a few things shelved. Gaming rig, sim rig and VR space are in a separate room. My studio really is just for music production and nothing else, so when I walk into that room it's for one reason only. My studio is somewhat inspired by Martin Sturtzer's studio, which is even more optimised than mine!
Your studio looks awesome, and probably suits your content better and I'm also jealous, of all the space you have to play with there.
You forgot to mention the random cat appearance in the studio... 😎
I just got the book and I am loving it. Thanks 🙏❤️🙏
I think it's important to create a studio space that will make you walk in & leave with the right mindset everyday. Also, getting some sunlight in your studio does wonders, and having a great view to the outside is a bonus. It's all about creating a studio that is inspring to you.
Changing my setup so that I had a view to the outside REALLY helped!
To me sunlight is an enemy in there. It shows the painful truth of dust on gear blehh
@@79Daver Haha yeah I feel you, but the gear must be cleaned anyways.
Yep, same problem, then built a new desk, and now I'm up and running!! I found the desk was the center hub of all of my work flow. Have fun, good luck!!
This is a subject I learned about when studying Buddhism. I don't consider myself a Buddhist, but it has changed my life more than anything else. I don't keep things I don't have a good use for (I initially threw all my things away but after a year I started needing things like a mattress and computer again, I just remind myself occasionally that I don't need those things to live), I sleep in a different room than I spend time awake in, and the only thing I'm missing now is a different place to work on music and videos, but I only have one good computer system so I simply make do and don't stress over something I have no control over especially since it isn't a big inconvenience.
I recommend trying to find something from every religion you can take from whether you're looking for a religion or you just want to live better, and personally Buddhism has offered me the most. It's a lot of little things that really help if you tend to suffer in your daily life.
My home studio is simple, computer, DAW with VSTs, midi controller keyboard, a couple of monitors and headphones, job done! Great video, cheers Dave oops I forgot the guitars, who forgets guitars?
Fantastic book & 'filter' for living. It was my favorite book from 2014, and you got me thinking of just gifting it to everyone on my gift list for the holidays.
Beautiful spot. I just moved into a relatively cramped space without a lot of character and this was solid motivation to finally get things just set up and wired
As usual : spot on! Now, get to work!
A gorgeous video my friend! Congratulations!
Love the way you came up with:
"..after a certain point priorities produce procrastination.."
So true. Great video's and I am a massive fan of your channel.👍🎵👍
I have just recently realized this at my studio at home! Changed up a few things, got my tools way more into my reach - it's way more fun to just jump into production now!
this book is so great
glad you found it!
Wow! Lots of great tips! And lots of inspiring stuff. Funny how this is super relevant to what I'm dealing with right now (Siri/algorithm listening to me again, perhaps?) I recently moved (bought a house! Woo!) and I've been slow to set up my home studio because I've been trying to do things right. What defines "right" keeps changing. At my old place, I tried to make it so that every single piece was hooked up at all times but it just became a mess, especially since the space was rather small. But not that I have a bigger place, I was inclined to "tetris" everything into the right space. But what I ended up deciding was that I really REALLY liked the minimal look and feel of the room before I unpacked all the gear, so I decided that the absolute necessities will remain on my desk at all times. As for the rest I'm trying to build a kind of modular set up. Not actual modular but swapping pieces of gear in and out-man, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, The cables that connect to the interface will be in the back of the desk but will retract and hang on hooks somewhat out of sight when not used. When I want to add something, like my Microfreak, I can just pull the relevant cable out and connect it. But power also becomes a problem so I'm trying to figure out a way to add a power outlet to the rear of the desk so that I don't have to crawl under the desk every time I want to add or take away something. One of thse desk power outlet clamps might work but I'm still trying to figure it out.
Either way, there's so many good ideas in this video, so who knows, I might just ball up my plans and start from scratch...
Thanks for the vid!
I can relate so much. This last year I rearranged and rewired everything in my studio room. I changed up my arrangement of audio interfaces 3 times including all my I/o routing and signal flow… it was rough, but pretty nice at the end of it all.
My biggest must-have is keeping everything in reach from my desk chair. If I can't reach it, I have too much stuff and need to reevaluate.
I live full time out of a Chevy Astro and when I upgraded from my previous vehicle imagined having so much more room. But it’s still a tiny space and I constantly have to think of ways to make it more efficient. I always say that not having a real space for an ergonomically functional studio is the biggest downside of this lifestyle. It’s not practical to leave all my gear in “desk mode”. I don’t want to risk things flying around when I slam on my brakes. I also feel better about packing it away in case of a break-in, so I conceal my valuables and place a decoy laptop where one would easily find it. And believe it or not I still have things I don’t really need or use. I flatscreen tv(that I can use as a monitor but don’t). An acoustic guitar (I’d rather play electric). My bed is a futon and in theory I can put it up to create a comfortable place to sit and work but instead I sit cross-legged on the flat bed and get extremely uncomfortable after only a few minutes. I need to prioritize my comfort so I can get a good nights sleep every night so I let things slide as far as the quality of my “studio”. But I keep thinking I can do better and have the best of both worlds, all without paying rent of course.
Very insightful, thanks for that!
A simple message well delivered. Thanks for the time and energy you put into showing us what you've been doing, on top of the actual doing of it. A couple thoughts...
Making your space functional is absolutely the most important thing. You can't be happy doing anything (music, work, whatever) if you're constantly either frustrated by the way your environment is setup, or if something about it makes you unhappy. Make your space work for you.
If the thought of doing a "deep cleanse" or a big project to change everything is daunting, try doing things incrementally. Find one small thing you don't like and fix it. Once you do this a few times, you'll build both your ability to identify worthwhile fixes, and your confidence in yourself to achieve the goal of making change. Make enough small changes, and the end result can surprise you with how far you've come. Or, it might even inspire and empower you to see bigger change through to completion.
Like some other commenters, my studio and work areas share a room. I realized that because my work and my passion shared the same space too closely, I didn't feel good when I came back to the same space to create after work. It was too much like going back to work. (I love my job but not in the same way I love music.) For me, just separating my work space from my studio desk was enough. Simply changing my perspective inside the room helped me build a mental separation between work and music.
Thanks for continued food for thought! Love the new directions you're taking this channel. It was already fantastic and now it's even more so.
The timing of this video is perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
This was enlightening to say the least. Been struggling with similar issues. Space is always an issue.
This was a well thought out video. Can't wait to watch your channel grow.
good thoughtful points from a thoughtful man. Well done on the studio, looks great
Thanks always an inspiration watching your posts I'm off to move my studio around to its winter position and get rid of some unused junk
Happy creating people
Wonderful advice. I converted my van to a camper and learned a lot about having a very short list of uncompromisable priorities, then just making everything else work around them. It worked out amazing and now I feel ready to take on the home music workspace design; using another lesson I learned, to just get it set up and use it before settling on the full finish of the space. For anything that may change, don’t sweat the material or colour etc. it won’t be right the first time, the second thought is almost always better than the first, then you can pick out some fancy expensive wood top for the internets to appreciate.
I remember when I first subbed to you back when you had like 40k subs. I couldn't believe there was so much helpful information from such a relatively small channel. I saw your YT button in the video and I scrolled down to see you at 160k+! It is well deserved and I've always loved the high quality videos you put out. I hope you get even more out of your new studio! I'm all for the Essentialism. I feel that people trick themselves into thinking they are productive/useful by getting more stuff, but really it's just a distraction from doing what you actually need to do.
This is quite relevant for me since I'm currently working through my own home-office-to-studio makeover. I use the during the day for my remote job, and I've struggled with direction on how to make it better. I realized that instead of it being a home office that doubles as a studio, I should think of it as a studio that doubles as a home office. Similar to your thought process, this has helped me know what compromises I can live with and what I can do to set myself up for success in what gives me meaning in life - creating music.
One thing that gets missed by nearly every studio, your video screen needs to be at the right level. The very top of the screen should be at your eye level. This means your head will be slightly tilted down. It seems small and unimportant, and, like I said, I never see this done right in studios, but tilting your head up constantly is so freaking bad for your back, neck, and head. If you get headaches after a session, chances are either it's eye strain or neck strain. Check any info on office ergonomics and they'll say this. Also, if you ever feel like you are getting "tennis elbow" switch to a vertical mouse. There are a lot of them nowadays.
As someone who works as a programmer by day and producer by night, these two things were absolute life changers. It just kills me to see people straining their neck looking at their screens because back problems are in the post.
A friend just shared this with me today because I've started a purge of all the clutter in my own studio. So much money sitting here in gear that I almost never use or have a faster better sounding solution for. I love the essentialism book as well. Thanks for this!
Really liked this video. Great idea and very helpful
It's funny you posted this, today is round 2 for me of the very same process. Always a slog, but a good refresh is so rewarding.
Love it! Made some changes as well when a new PC arrived. Always a good opportunity to turn things around.
Great vid. Removing digital clutter is something that really helps me. Plugins that I don't use, extra folders, unnecessary files etc. Everything in the trash every 6 months :)
I’ve recently gone through this same scenario. Balancing my studio as my business as well as a creative space. I ended up selling off all of my Eurorack gear, a few vintage samplers that just never got used and had gained serious value, and some Elektron boxes that I just felt were overlapping other boxes I like. Now I’m left with %25 of the gear I had, but it’s fast and fun to get creative and well placed so they are visually inspiring when not being used. Really great topic to cover.
I had the same problem that I had to setup and connect synths all the time to make some music as my old desk was too small (and had also to be used for home office). I now have a big studio desk with everything permanently installed and just being able to switch on my stuff, use a patchbay to add a reverb pedal to the chain or use a sidechain pedal for some instant oomph makes "making music" so much more "accessible" and satisfying.
I did spend 4 weeks under the table though, laying cables (and then redoing them like you did as I created several gordian knots in the process) and I will probably get a) some 8-wire multicore cables and b) some audio over RJ45 hubs (like the Thomann "sssnake Cat Snake 3MB") to clean up the cable mess even further.
What I didn't expect when redoing/upgrading everything was spending 1300€ on cables (as I thought I already had pretty much every cable on the planet) and that the new 43" display would amplify ground noise - that I hunted down for 2 weeks and solved with some badass Palmer line isolation boxes and highly optimised gain settings.
I'm now very poor, tired and exhausted but so much happier as it finally all "just works" and "everything has a place where it belongs". I need that for my workflow. 😅
Thanks for your video, man ❤ Really loving your content and video production quality.
Great information! Thank you.
Exactly when I needed to hear this
This video just gave me the motivation I need to fix my own studio. Thank you for making it.
Dude... Single VESA computer monitor holder arms for all your desktop synths. 3-4 arms on each pole aligned vertically, a synth on each arm. Long rectangular form factor synths connect to VESA on the side, and non-standard synths (like Iridium) either have 4 VESA holes at the back, or you could fashion a metal plate with brackets. 1. Solves most of the dust problem settling in and making pots sound scratchy (I did something similar for my sub-mixers and mixers too) 2. When you're working with just one synth - you swing the rest out of the way to the back of your desk, and it suits minimalistic work style perfectly 3. Immediately frees up the desk surface for your laptop or desktop monitor and keyboard/mouse, and if you want to fill the remainder of your desk with chaos of rat nests of cables, fx pedals, notes and connectors - so be it. 4. For the semi-modular synths - they align top to bottom this way just as good as with the Eurorack, except it's much cheaper than 2-3 Euroracks. Go to 1:29 ua-cam.com/video/_ztwXsS9A6Y/v-deo.html I have no idea why I haven't thought of this years earlier, because despite HEPA filters I had to constantly clean my pots, or else end up covering my hardware with ugly fabric or plastic covers all the time. Anyway, just thought of throwing it out there.
This video is GOLD!!!!....as was Bo B &AZURE....You inspire myself and others....for that.....Thank You.
Nice video, I just deep cleaned my control room, about 1.5 times per year . . its a nice creative reset. I always set my lighting, wallpaper, incense, candle etc before I start working/playing. Glad you touched on this . . I think its very important, very useful.
Have to say there are far too many folk making videos about the space they use to make videos. I like that you added your usual philosophical slant, which at least made me think a bit. Bravo.
Woohoo always hits the nail on it's head love the video
Really grateful to have come across your channel. Absolutely fascinating content (and you're very listenable, if that makes sense). I'm just dabbling on and off in music but I love it and want to learn more about it. So your videos are very helpful - thank you!
Very inspiring!!! Good video
Looks Great! 📀
Great book, favorite of mine after being gifted it a few years ago. Removing distractions and focusing on fewer quality components is an absolute game changer for creative workflow. At least for me. Cut the clutter. 😂 Good on ya, onward!
Minimizing the gear directly in my studio helped a lot. I now only have one wavetable synth, one classic analogue, one drum synth, a mixer, a multi purpose sampler, and the xd. It feels so much better, and it also upped my creativity. Next step is to get some plants. I think that will suffice. I also started making music outside the studio, and it feels so good.
Great tips... thank you. I am ready to move my studio to a stand alone tiny house I have been wondering how to set it up. I changed my last studio three times in 10 years to accommodate work flow. That will be my priority this time as well. You had great points about improving productivity and KISS (keep it simple stupid). Thanks again
Glad to know I’m not alone with the MANY perspectives touched on here. I definitely, feel the need to redo my space constantly. Even though at times, I still accumulate more gear. I need to do some soul searching in relation to actual goals for my studio. I already know that repeated views of this video will serve me well. Although the task ahead is GRAND, the end results will be well worth it. Great content. Keep em coming. 👍🏾✌🏾✊🏾
As always, another great video! I feel pretty much the same on all your points. Efficiency, to me is very important, but so is vibe/mood. I'm forever changing lighting and esthetics (inexpensive solutions). Love the story-telling production of your content!
Form follows function! Get the things you need in your space, then fill the rest with what you want where applicable to match your style.
For a long time I had 8 guitars in my little 10 x 10 studio and clearing them down to 2 was the greatest decision I made. Painful, but great!
This was a fantastic book. I need to re-read it and think about my own studio plans.
Yes, I love hearing your voice
During the years I’ve tried many setups in my 1 room apartment. None of them worked for me somehow. I hate clutter, but want quick and easy access too whatever I have too. A few years ago I got Inspired by the Arkadi studio session on Steinberg then the home studio pictures on Steinberg. I love how Arkadi has the monitor low on the desk and close to the seating position. I have mine a bit further away though. It’s Quite intimate and it prevented neck problems from constantly looking up and down from keyboard or controller to the screen. I also bought the XKey he uses. Saves so much space. I also hated my desk. Just like Arkadi and the pictures on Steinberg I’ve always had a dinner table. Several of them but end up hated them. Because I live in a 1 room apartment a studio desk would stick out like a sore thumb. I finally found one after months of searching that I loved immediately, it was quite expensive but worth it still. It’s huge and sturdy, because it has to fit my dual monitor setup and monitor speakers. Last but not least cable management. Never could find a proper solution for this pita but thanks to the monitors low on the desk I can hide every cable behind the monitors out of site. I have the cables set and marked in a way I can quickly hook up my gear etc. so my desk stays clutter free. After so many years I can say my little home studio is finally done.
I went through the same tasks to feel good in the space, nice to see and read comments here on other people's setups. The major thing for me was a patch bay and having for example a pedalboard beneath the modular that can be wired in stereo and I can send anything into it or out. Basically a nice matrix system. Everything is wired and clocked into logic so I'm good to go without any wiring.
The next step would be having a desk clamp for a condensor mic so I can quickly record demo vocals or acoustic guitars without going through a major setup.
But yea, I guess immediacy and quick access to instruments works for me!
Really like your new desk setup ,that's next for me! I'd love a midi keyboard tray underneath the desk.
Nice video VT! I always had to work ITB but I realized a while ago that having a whole bunch of VSTs held me back a lot from my main purpose, which was making music in the first place. Now I'm a happy bitwig user with maybe 5 different third-party plugins, using stock stuff most of the time. This is what forces me to make music and be creative at the same time :)
For cable management at the back of the desk, my favorite thing I've come up with is a spiral bike lock (I believe it was 6 foot) stretched out and secured at both ends of the desk. Since it's an open coil the cables can enter at any point, run along the inside of the coil to keep them from hanging down and then exit at any point.
Well said. Been watching you for years and appreciate all the great guidance. This one however, takes the cake. Yeah, we've heard it before, bur something about your framing (and the great book reference) helped this one stand out. I'm just about to gut my 2 little studios and reimagine what I really need to accomplish what I really want. This vid helps focus that process. Thanks...again.
Very useful video, and very common issues we all feel and face!
I just discovered your channel last night - really enjoying your content. My makeshift sound studio is a smaller part of my main art studio, I'd love to have a dedicated sound studio, but it is what it is. Thankfully, I don't produce a lot of UA-cam videos so I don't have that headache to contend with. I think your studio looks totally amazing!
I did the same a year or so back. Got rid of everything except my Montage8 and a mixer, two things I felt the most important for tactile writing and producing. Sold my Argosy, all of my synths and speakers. I literally cut a door in half and thats my desk, its the best production desk I've ever owned. I now only have two main hardware pieces that I know inside and out and use constantly. Its very liberating, and great for the bank account.
Thanks for the recommandation book :)