What are you all using for studio desks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tadpui
  • Start date Start date
Tadpui

Tadpui

Well-known member
I'm in the market for a purpose-built audio desk for my home studio. The junky K-Mart particle board offset computer desk that I've been using for years has got to go.

I've been shopping around a lot, and I just can't find anything that really fits my needs. And I don't have the tools or skills to build one myself. Any suggestions for a desk that can accomodate 2x24" flat-panel monitors, a couple of 8" woofer monitors, and at least 8 rack spaces (4U computer, 2U compressor, and a couple of spares)? I'm tired of hex-wrench ikea-style assembled furniture, but that seems to be the majority of what's out there. Omnirax, RAB, On-Stage, etc. all seem to specialize in press-board and MDF and seem a little flimsy. But the only other things I can find are massive desks intended for massive consoles, high-dollar things made in Europe, or plain desks that don't have enough space for monitors, a small mixer, mouse & keyboard, and a little room left over.

I love the look and access of desktop 2 x 4U racks, but these desks seem to put the monitor shelf too high, requiring the user to crane their necks. And it seems tough to find a monitor shelf wide enough to accommodate both audio and video monitors. Anybody using one of those rack-roll type of things? They've caught my attention. Would be nice to roll my preamp and compressor to my tracking spot, and have them upward-facing for easy level adjustment while tracking vocals, acoustic guitars, etc. And if I could find a handy spot for my computer, that would remove the requirement for rackmounts on the desk.

So am I shopping for a non-existent desk here?
 
I built my own with the help of my Uncle. Looking through Studio desks and every-other type of desk that could be used got tiresome and old really quick. For the type of desk I wanted, the price was anywhere between £500 and £2000. It cost £89 and a days work to build one that better suited my needs.

You don't need a lot of skills to build a simple desk. All the wood for mine was cut to measure at the store and assembling it was a breeze. The hard part was the beading which my Uncle did.

Get all your measurements right and then get the wood and building a desk is so easy. A drill, some screws and wood glue is pretty much all you need.

Mine's 6ft long, to give you an idea.

Image00001.webp

Image00001.webp
 
Thanks, I do like that design. It's got a low overbridge so your monitors aren't way above eye level, smart shelf storage on one side and looks like you could rack gear on the other side. I'd probably only change the area behind your mixer to accomodate 2 4U racks, and it'd meet my needs pretty well.

We're having a furniture guy make a vanity for the new bathroom (which is part of the upcoming studio build project). I was thinking about bringing him some photos and see if he would go totally "off menu" and whip up a studio desk for me along with the vanity.
 
Have to agree with Mr Clean on this one - do it yourself. Don't have the tools, find a friend or friend of a friend who does and will help you out for $50 and some beer. You'll get something that fits your requirements, is more solid and much cheaper in the end. I was going to buy one of those pre-made countertops that have the fake stone/Corian-type finish. An 8 ft one would have cost me hundreds. My desk cost me less than $100 of materials (picture below does not show the foam rubber edging I added -Amazon, $16) Got to take some more pics!

studio1-2014.webp
 
Cool, thanks Mike. I bet that the edging adds the finishing touch to that, to cover the ply edges.

I wish I knew someone in the area with some proper tools, but alas my hermit-like tendencies haven't exactly made me a man about town :)

I do think that I'm convinced that a custom desk is the way to go. Like you say, I'll get what I need and save quite a bit. Hopefully this furniture maker dude will accept the challenge of something a little different from his usual dining table fare and swing me a good deal.

I saw the plans from HomeStudioGuy in various threads around here. I like the simplicity of his design, but it's not quite right for me. Actually I might take a pic of Clean's desk above, along with some measurements of the scale I'd like and see what I can get made.
 
BH, is that the producer station from Omnirax? I like that except for how high it places the video monitors (I keep mine side-by-side). that one keeps popping up in my searches, and as far as assemble-yourself desks, that's been at the top of my list.
 
Yes, but it's actually Studio RTA...Nice desk, lots of rack space, lots of leg room. The shelf is good for someone my height (6'3), but if you're going to use side by side or you're short, it could lead to some neck fatigue.
 
Folks,

You may want to re-consider if you have the room.... Get those speakers OFF the desk.

excellent placement.webpfar monitoring solution.webpfar monitoring without desk.webpPoor placement.webp

This is usually how we do it: This is one custom desk

Oscar.webp

Cheers,
John
 
John - it's hard to see your diagrams on my work computer, but I assume your advice is because of reflections off the desk surface to the listener - yet in your picture there are two consoles (separate from the desk) that would seem to give reflection points for the monitors beyond them. As Mr Clean says, many of us don't have the option of speaker stands behind/beside the desk.
 
Last edited:
Looking at BH's monitor placement, they seem to be both isolated from the desk surface, and placed such that they are firing over the desk and straight at the listener. Is that still a problem?

Also, are mopads sufficient to decouple the monitors from the desk?
 
Mr Clean: That is one nice looking desk. I have been thinking of making a desk intended for mixing and I really like the looks of yours. It seems like a similar design would suit my needs very well. What kind of wood is that?
 
Wow, something I'd thought of but hadn't pursued. Eventually I want to put the Rokits on the iso stands and get the M3-8s on floor stands behind the desk, but I just haven't got there yet. The iso stands are doing marvelous things, but I want a little more distance between me and 120w per channel (if you know what I mean). I'm running those M-Audio's at the fourth click up from off and they're LOUD at correct mixing volume in Reason or Reaper. There's a lot of clicks left, and before I put up my panels it wasn't that loud at half crank.
 
Tadpui said:
Looking at BH's monitor placement, they seem to be both isolated from the desk surface, and placed such that they are firing over the desk and straight at the listener. Is that still a problem?

Also, are mopads sufficient to decouple the monitors from the desk?
Click to expand...

The Mopads are great for smaller speakers. They do SQUAT for the M3's, thus the Iso system (only about $60 more and well worth the difference.) But the biggest problem is they're just all too close...I'm now looking forward to getting a budget for next year, getting some new cans (my Denons finally gave up the ghost and started buzzing in the left ear), some stands for the corners, and maybe a new bass (it's been 8 years, I'm having withdrawals!!!) Still keep my MK though, as I can play it sans amp. It's great for practice and gives a good mellow tone that's hard to beat when recording.
 
Tadpui said:
Looking at BH's monitor placement, they seem to be both isolated from the desk surface, and placed such that they are firing over the desk and straight at the listener. Is that still a problem?

Also, are mopads sufficient to decouple the monitors from the desk?
Click to expand...

There are still sound waves coming from the monitors towards the desk top, per John's diagrams, you'd need to have your monitors near the front edge of your desk, or you're going to get some reflections.

Mopads are nothing more than dense foam, you can most likely find foam or rubber pads that will work as well. Those ISO stands are nice, but they raise the speakers up more, so you need a lower stand/shelf for them. I'm going to have to cut my shelves down 1.5" because I designed the height based on my old smaller monitors.
 
I've got some of the Auralex mopads (someone was desperate for gift ideas last xmas, so I pointed to those). I've got some of those cheapie On-Stage monitor stands too. They're height-adjustable, although its a pretty granular adjustment. I just get nervous because my monitors are pretty heavy and those cheap stands are just a little wobbly since they're so top-heavy. I've been upgrading equipment and moving things around lately, so I've been behind my desk quite a bit. I've bumped those monitors several times and I'm always terrified that they'll topple one of these days. That would be a huge bummer.

I've been wanting to move the monitors to the desk surface, but maybe I'm better off where they are?
 
I'd be worried with wobbly monitor stands, too. :eek: I have some solid rubber vibration-isolation pads (from when I worked at a rubber manufacturer 30 years ago, wish I had grabbed some more), and I used some folded up neoprene foam thin sheeting on the back side to slope them a little towards facing me.

Tweeters are supposed to be aimed at mid-ear height, right? So I guess its's not important where they are, just how they are aimed - plus the factor of unwanted reflections
 
Photos of my desk are below.
Built mine for $50 in 2009.
Runs about $80-$90 to build these days and Build Plans are available.

DSC02379 (3).webp

DSC02383.webp

DSC02394 (2).webp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top