In Short
We often think that the things that will make the biggest difference in our recording studio are the large ticket items. As in other parts of our life, sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
In Depth
At the end of 2022 we completed a project which meant we were fortunate to have some spare cash to invest into the studio. It was not an insignificant sum, so soon my imagination was running wild. I scanned eBay looking at used Juno 106 synths, around £1800. I considered an SSL Big Six, I’d been considering one for some time. I considered all sorts of things to spend the money on. However, the more I thought about what the studio needed, the more my spending aspirations decreased.
I’ve already spoken in another article about how 2022 went, it was a mental challenge, although the business flourished. One sign of this was that my studio space started to look and feel somewhat unloved. I’ve also written about how changing small things in our habits can make big differences, much of that thinking informed by James Clear.
As I considered what the studio needed, I realised that some of the things that needed investment were small, but could make a big difference. They don’t make for sexy social media posts, but in terms of improving workflow and environment, I’m glad I made these choices.
New Hardware
I have two display monitors in the studio, one is a large 4K TV and the other a 27” HD Viewsonic grading monitor. I work a lot in video as much as I do audio, so I need the second screen for colour checking and correction. They had previously been mounted on a floor mount stand for the 4K TV and a pile of plastic storage boxes for the smaller monitor. I had considered mounting the large screen on the wall, but that would be difficult because of acoustic treatment. Then I found a solution.
A floor to ceiling pole to mount them both on, which can be held by its own weight or screwed to the ceiling and floor. I opted for the latter, belt and braces and all that. It cost me £117.00 and it works a treat and looks great.
I grabbed a new mounting arm for my iPad too. It clamps to the desk and can be moved to all sorts of positions. I can use it for apps like Avid Control or the Studio One app, or for Zoom calls. Cost £23.00
My last hardware purchase was a decent telescopic mic mount for the desk. I previously had a cheap one, anglepoise style, complete with clanging springs. It rarely stayed in position when using my SM7. The new one is a Frameworks Gator. Cost £129.00
New Cables
It may seem a little insane that a few weeks ago I took a box of cables to recycling and now I’m buying more. The problem was that most of those cables were no longer useful, FireWire 400 and other old audio cable stuff. I also find that a lot of the cable in the studio are used because they came with something so they are usually far too long.
So I invested in lots of new cables. For example some Lindy 0.5m cables meaning that the cable run between my Mac and my Kii Control has a cable that is the right length, and not sprawling all across the desk. Cost about £9.00 total.
I also invested in some other cables with things like right angled connectors, where it made sense.
Lighting
When I first designed the studio I installed some lights which looked really cool in pictures. However, in reality they were about as useful as chocolate fireguard. The ones over my studio desk were had a number of issues; they hung so low that they interrupting the view of my monitor. They also generated significant heat when on due to the bulbs used. So I replaced them with less sexy but much more practical spotlights from IKEA, costing around £30.00
In the house we have a Philips HUE smart bulb system, invested in over about 7 years. We love it for a number of reasons. It allows for home automation, scenes and also the ability to dim otherwise undimmable lights.
So I’ve invested in HUE for the studio too. It means I have much control over lights, for example, the aforementioned IKEA spotlights are in a row of three. As they stand, out of the box, it’s either three lights on or off. Now I can control each light and dim them if I wish. I’ve also zoned the studio too so I can change the lighting scenes as and when I’m working in another part of the studio. However, on a wet or cold night (we get a lot in Ireland) I can turn the lights and and off from my phone from the house, or anywhere in the world! Total cost for the system and bulbs around £100.
Summary
So no Juno 106 or SSL mixer. However, I’d suggest that the improvements these purchases/investments have made to my workflow and my workspace are worth far more than the money spent. The investment in all these items is around £500, which I think is money well spent.
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