DAW Furniture

  • Thread starter Thread starter edwardk
  • Start date Start date
E

edwardk

New member
Hello,

I work for Ultimate Support Systems http://www.ultimatesupport.com , and we are beginning to research some potential new products. One of the things we are exploring is a low cost, sturdy, lightweight digtial media workstation support solution. Primarily, we want to try and come up with a product that helps users like you have a better way to setup your studios.

Just to give you a little more background on me... I am not an audio engineer or even musician... I am actually a mechanical engineer. However, I did work in a studio environment for over 3 years involved in the post production of some film. I worked a lot in the studios and did a fair amount of audio editing. That's a very long story in itself, but all that to really say that I am familiar with some studio gear, but not fully immersed in the DAW world. Where I worked before, we did eventually move away from mix boards and switched over to DAW almost exclusively - running proprietary recording and post software that was programmed in house. Since I've left there, they are now moving away from the proprietary software and over to Nuendo for recording and post.

Anyway, if you respond to any of my inquiries below, please keep in mind that I may not be familiar with all the latest equipment models or latest lingo. All that means is I might need to a little more info on the gear you are using. A complete description of brand/model should be enough for me to research on the web if I need to get some more specs.

I would appreciate your inputs on what would make a good digital audio/video workstation setup:

1) What equipment do you want in your workstation and how will it be mounted (desk top, rack mount, etc...)?


2) Where do you ideally want all your gear positioned? Please describe the ideal position of ALL the equipment (audio & video monitor, keyboards, any mix boards, computer keyboard, CPU box, everything...).


3) Any other features that you think would make a great workstation setup (cable routing, others...)?


In general, I just want to know what you guys want. You can post a reply directly to me at: edwardk@ultimatesupport.com . Or you can post your reply to the BB and I'll come back and check periodically to read responses. Depending on how many replies I get, I probably won't be able to respond back to each individual. However, I will try to read and document each response and share the information with others at Ultimate as we research this new project.

Thank you for helping us try to help you!

Edward Key
Design Engineering Department
Ultimate Support Systems
 
Only thing I will pop in is an obvious one - make sure any shelves can hold 19" rack equipment. I use an old computer workstation which fits everything just fine, but a lot of computer furniture has shelves that are too narrow.

I saw a computer desk at Best Buy once that I thought would make an awesome DAW desk. A mobile cart on wheels, similar to this...

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100662&m=887&cat=908&scat=909

... except it had two raised platforms on each end, for speakers, with the monitor sitting in between them. It was a closeout, so apparently Bush/Sander/whomever doesn't make it anymore.

It was quite funny to see that desk at Besy Buy for $99, then see an almost identical "audio workstation" cart at Mars Music for $500.
 
RWhite said:
Only thing I will pop in is an obvious one - make sure any shelves can hold 19" rack equipment. I use an old computer workstation which fits everything just fine, but a lot of computer furniture has shelves that are too narrow.

I saw a computer desk at Best Buy once that I thought would make an awesome DAW desk. A mobile cart on wheels, similar to this...

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100662&m=887&cat=908&scat=909

... except it had two raised platforms on each end, for speakers, with the monitor sitting in between them. It was a closeout, so apparently Bush/Sander/whomever doesn't make it anymore.

It was quite funny to see that desk at Besy Buy for $99, then see an almost identical "audio workstation" cart at Mars Music for $500.

You should check out Office Max, Staples or Office Depot for the furniture you are looking for as Bush sells different pieces at different stores.

This site is a good place to look through as well - lots of the stuff are discontinued items and prices are reduced:

http://www.outletfurnishings.com/
 
I have used Ultimate Support stuff in the past, and currently have a Middle Atlantic set-up (I didn't ditch you guys for MA, just a 'right place at the right time' type thing). One thing that I would really like to see, strange as it may sound, is a writing surface. Seems that these desks try to make room for the most amount of gear in the least amount of space - which is great - BUT usually that leaves no room to actually write something down on paper. This is really just a pet peeve of mine - can't speak for others out there, but it sure would be nice for those who like to keep good studio records, people who still actually write down music with manuscript paper and a pencil (why do you have a DAW then? :D )
or scribbling down ideas. It could even be something as simple as a flat surface that rolls out from under one side of the main desktop.

What would be really cool is something that slides out from under one side of the desk and is a great, flat writing surface, but can also tilt up to act as a improvised music stand.

Just an idea.




So, when do I get my free Ulitimate Support desk?

:D :D :D ;) :p
 
Back
Top