A question of functionallity

[arathercoolguy]

I'm starting to plan out my control room equipment setup and I'm wondering this: I'll primarily be using my Mackie mixer for just about everything. But once in a while I'll do some sequencing. Does anyone wish they would've put their computer setup to the side as another work station as opposed to putting the computer monitors right above the mixer? I understand that it's better for mixing because you won't have to keep going back and forth. But I won't be mixing with the computer.

Should I make a little station to the side of my mixer?

Thanks,
John

[knightfly]

Depends on what you end up doing with your computer. If you think you'll branch out and start using it for recording/midi, I'd allow for a monitor front and center (big one) and a keyboard/mouse pull-out that's at a comfortable height. You don't want ANYTHING that you intend to "tweak and listen to" off center enough to require you to pull your head out of the "sweet spot" while you're tweaking.

I record almost exclusively in Samplitude any more, with Sonar running when there' any MIDI involved - the desk I'm designing as an upgrade will have three 19" LCD monitors(one 21" CRT isn't enough) set low enough and angled back so that I can put Left, Center and Right nearfields on the bridge above the LCD's and still have speakers at ear height - the desk will set low enough so that the two mixers (digital and analog) can sit side by side on the desk with the LCD's visible just above the mixer surfaces. Computer keyboards (2) will be on flex pods (my design) that swing out of the way when not needed, but also NOT require me to move my head out of center to make changes. It has been (and still is) a challenge to get everything in position, but the end result should be really ergonomic.

After dealing with problems like this, I consider the design time to be well-spent.

Oh yeah, if you're NOT doing surround, it's much easier - 1-2 displays between two speakers, set the displays as low as you can. Your neck will thank you... Steve

[frederic]

Its really a matter of opinion, but my preference is to have anything and everything I need to touch or look at often, right near me. This is one of the reasons why I purchased an autolocator for my rack of akai recorders - its easier to tuck a remote into my console table than 9 akai hard disk recorders

But for me, the computer(s) are integrated into the studio, so they need to be controlled, available, accessable along with the recording gear.

Keyboard drawers, sliders, and arms, etc, make things fit a little easier in a small space.

Hope that helps.

[knightfly]

Looks like it's two to one so far, John - essentially, both Frederic and I want everything accessible that might EVER get tweaked while we're listening. I don't like to make mix decisions unless I'm in the mix position... Steve

[giles117]

Let's make that 3 for one.

The only stuff I keep off to the side of me are my rack mounted midi modules. Everything else is right in front in my listening poition.

Or within hands reach whilst I stay in the mix field.

Bryan Giles