Studio desk build

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James K

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Hi,
I'm going to be building a desk to house all my recording equipment in the next few weeks. I've got a rough idea of it but I haven't done a proper design yet (with measurements etc.) My recorder (Tascam MS16) stands as a separate unit so it needs to house the following:
Studiomaster 20/16/2 mixing desk
Alesis wedge reverb
Boss DR880 drum machine
monitors
CD recorder
Cassette deck
rack gear

So far I've come up with the following idea:
two 'pillars', one fitted with 19" rackstrip and the other with a shelf for the CD and cassette and a cupboard for storage underneath.
A top to hold the mixer and the wedge reverb.
A bridge over the mixer to hold the monitors
a pullout keyboard tray to hold the drum machine.
I'm planning to fit castors to the two 'pillars' so it can be moved around if needed.

Basically, has anyone got any advice on how I should go about making it, stuff I ought to look out for etc. I haven't done anything like this before so I'm not sure about what supports and stuff to put in. I'm planning on constructing it out of 1/2" thick plywood and getting the pieces cut out at the wood merchants.

Any advice or shared experiences would be much appreciated. I don't want to end up spending ages making something that doesn't have enough support or something.

Thanks
James
 
Wouldn't build a bridge over the mixer for the monitors. I'd put them on separate stands behind the desk this way you can set them up as far apart or as far back as you need.
 
One advantage to a bridge over the console is that it's perfect for a pair of LCD computer monitors. They are thin and light weight. That's how mine are set up. I have my speaker monitors on the sides, on top of slanted racks at each end of the console.
The desk and racks at each end are actually one unit, on wheels. I built it like a tank, 3 people could stand on top of the desk area. I used 2"x4" beams for the framing, and then the racks are out of 1/2" laminated pine planks, so I was able to do each side out of single pieces.

I can pull out the entire rig from the wall to access the back of the console and racks.
I also built a pair of side racks that are slanted at the bottom and straight at the top. Done as 4 individual racks, then bolted together, also on wheels for access to the rear when needed.

Spent a couple of weeks on it, plus painting. I was going to stain it, but didn't want that stained plywood look, so I put on about 5 coats of latex paint using a nice burned sienna color. It's not "furniture grade"...but it is industrial grade and functional, and the color works great with all the black rails and moslty black-faced gear. :)

(You can see how it looks on my website)
 
When I was working in the industry, we used to use a British company called Lund Halsey to build all our desks for us...most were custom builds but sometimes we'd go with some of their modular prefabs.

I doubt anyone had the money to spend to contract them (I sure as heck don't) but some of the pictures on their web site HERE might provide some ideas for layouts and construction. Just mouse over the pics on the right hand side to get a bigger image.

Bob
 
I've built a couple for my stuff. I'd make it out of 3/4" plywood rather than 1/2". Also the rack rails you use will dictate the inside demensions of anything you plan to mount 19" gear. Here's the first one a built.
 

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This what I have now.
 

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miroslav said:
One advantage to a bridge over the console is that it's perfect for a pair of LCD computer monitors. They are thin and light weight. That's how mine are set up.
Click to expand...
I thought he was talking about the reference monitors, not the cpu monitors. lol
 
rfahey86 said:
Wouldn't build a bridge over the mixer for the monitors. I'd put them on separate stands behind the desk this way you can set them up as far apart or as far back as you need.
Click to expand...
I've got another pair of floor stnading monitors I use, the bridge would just be for near-fields. I can always take them off the bridge too and move them around if needed. It would probably be useful for putting other stuff on too.


Track Rat said:
I've built a couple for my stuff. I'd make it out of 3/4" plywood rather than 1/2". Also the rack rails you use will dictate the inside demensions of anything you plan to mount 19" gear. Here's the first one a built.
Click to expand...
what do you mean about the rack rails?


rfahey86 said:
I thought he was talking about the reference monitors, not the cpu monitors. lol
Click to expand...
I was :)

Nice desk microslav.

Cheers for all the advice so far.

James
 
James K said:
Hi,
I'm going to be building a desk to house all my recording equipment in the next few weeks. I've got a rough idea of it but I haven't done a proper design yet (with measurements etc.) My recorder (Tascam MS16) stands as a separate unit so it needs to house the following:
Studiomaster 20/16/2 mixing desk
Alesis wedge reverb
Boss DR880 drum machine
monitors
CD recorder
Cassette deck
rack gear

So far I've come up with the following idea:
two 'pillars', one fitted with 19" rackstrip and the other with a shelf for the CD and cassette and a cupboard for storage underneath.
A top to hold the mixer and the wedge reverb.
A bridge over the mixer to hold the monitors
a pullout keyboard tray to hold the drum machine.
I'm planning to fit castors to the two 'pillars' so it can be moved around if needed.

Basically, has anyone got any advice on how I should go about making it, stuff I ought to look out for etc. I haven't done anything like this before so I'm not sure about what supports and stuff to put in. I'm planning on constructing it out of 1/2" thick plywood and getting the pieces cut out at the wood merchants.

Any advice or shared experiences would be much appreciated. I don't want to end up spending ages making something that doesn't have enough support or something.

Thanks
James
Click to expand...

Hey James,

I think it's awesome that you taking on such a big project.
There are a few things that come to mind when I was reading through your post.

1. I would actually use 3/4" for the wood. (MDF is what my company uses... it is also what Argosy uses)

2. Make sure you CAD out every part of your desk. Know all the measurements of every piece of wood, before you have them cut. Better be safe then sorry. (as they are cut, label them. On your drawing as well This will save a lot of wasted time when building.

3. On your Racks, I would actually add an 8th to the rack space. (19 1/8") You have to add room for the rack rails and believe me they will fit better if you add an 8th.

4. Everyone has their opinions, but in the end, build whatever it is that makes you happy. It's your desk.. in your space.

I look forward to see you progress in this project!

Cheers.
 
May I suggest using some appliance boxes to cut up the cardboard, and mock up a test template or three to see how your components will fit next to each other. A refrigerator box turned into a duck taped desk lets you draw and recut and reshape over and over, while physically sitting next to it. Yes, holding a tape measure up to say your desk should be 30" tall and around 72" wide gets you close. But a cardboard mockup lets you think about where and how you place components, and how comfortable they are to reach and control.
 
Shit... if you got some extra cash, go buy pink insulation foam and make the whole thing up! You can get 3/4" thick foam, then make every component you need, and quickly tape/glue things together to see how things should be fabricated and attached, and where potential problems could occur. Like fitting drills into place to actually screw things down. I've found myself thinking of creations, but not being able to execute the idea because my hands don't fit or can't reach!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. My current plan is now this:
build two 'pillars' with bottom and two sides (left and right) made out of 3/4" MDF and rectangular frames at the top and bottom made out of 3x1.
use a single piece of 3/4" MDF for the top and screw into the 1x3.
cut a long strip and two short sides of 3/4" MDF for the monitor shelf and fix it at two points along with 3x1 for support.
Fit rack rails, cupboard door etc.

am I now along the right tracks?

I should be starting work in the next week or so. There's building work being done to the room at the moment and as usual, they're over-running massively :/
 
What are the benefits of plywood over MDF? MDF seems to be a lot cheaper but I don't want to skip on quality if that's an issue.
 
MDF is heavier and it tends to crumble around screw holes and edges.

If you don't want plywood and don't want to spend big $$ on HQ wood planks...at Home Depot they have 2'x4' sheets of laminated pine, made from 2" strips. It's lightweight, cuts easy, and is strong due to the laminated strips and it's already got a nice smooth finish, better than plywood...plus it looks a little more classier than plywood if you just want to stain it instead of paint.
That's what I used for my racks...but the area where I have my heavy console, I used a sheet of 3/4" plywood. Of course, the entire desk/rack had solid wood framing.
Oh...and use TONS of wood glue on every joint/connection along with whatever screws you use...it makes all the difference.
 
I use either 3/4 oak or birch plywood. It's more expensive than MDF, but makes for a much better build quality. Any edges that reveal the ply can be covered with 3/4" wide by 3/8" strips of oak or hemlock or other trim material glued and nailed in place.

MDF is essentially sawdust held together with wax and resin.

Medium-density fibreboard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you don't have access to a table saw and a dado blade a Kreg pocket joint jig is a good alternative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LnhMFNqRZ4
 
c7sus said:
If you don't have access to a table saw and a dado blade a Kreg pocket joint jig is a good alternative.
Click to expand...
I have a table saw and a Freud dado and I STILL used my Kreg pocket joint jig to build my racks/desk. Everything they have in that little kit is awesome. I keep the Kreg square hole screws around for other things, too.
 
So... here it is:

299094_272294099451156_100000117036214_1261541_5621365_n.webp

I made it today. It just needs staining and painting now. I should have that done in the next day or two.
 
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