Show us your studio

[Paul B]

It's a work in progress.

Still making the speaker stands and have cable work to do.

The other two walls of the room are for art - there are a couple of desks with various supplies.

The 5" Eris speakers are a lot larger than I had anticipated

I'll swap you my Eris 3.5 Gen 2's for them - they're much smaller

Look, they even fit on top of a Coffee Mate container!*

I considered the E5 XTs but figured they were too big for what I needed them for but now I'm thinking perhaps I should have ...


* I'm currently making the stands in the workshop.

 

[Sim]

I considered the E5 XTs but figured they were too big for what I needed them for but now I'm thinking perhaps I should have ...

I was originally planning on laying the speakers sideways, because all the documentation on the Eris speakers said they could be.

... but then I found the specific documentation for the XT model which said to not lay them sideways as the waveguide only works with the speaker in standard vertical position

The E5 is hugely overkill as a desktop speaker - 3.5 would have been plenty, but I'm hoping to justify the purchase by actually using them as studio monitors with my synths - if I can make enough room in the office to move the synths in here. I have been using my Roland HP107 digital piano as a speaker in the lounge, which sounds great, but is not exactly wife-friendly.

 

[Paul B]

using them as studio monitors with my synths

Don't make me regret not getting them!

 

[Sim]

Don't make me regret not getting them!

I'm going to take a guess at the keyboards I see in your studio - Arturia Keylab Essential 61 MK3 contrtoller?

The other one looks a bit like a Yamaha ... PSR-I500 maybe?

I have:

• Casio CZ-5000 - Casio's flagship synth from the 80s - same era as the DX7 but was never in the same league. Currently sitting in my Dad's shed - don't have room for it. Retro sounds are back in, so it would be good to pull it out if I can make room.
• Roland U20 rompler - broken due to known issue with the keybed. Also sitting in my Dad's shed - one day I'll find time to dismantle it and repair the keybed, loved this keyboard
• Roland Gaia SH01 that I was hoping would make the kids love synths - easy to program, but the sounds are a bit lacking. I should sell it.
• Roland D05 boutique - because I always wanted a D50. Love the sounds - but I need a decent controller. HP107 piano has great piano action, but I'd like a good synth action controller.

I'm currently salivating over the new Yamaha Montage M6 Workstation released a few weeks ago, but the US$3,500 price tag and a weak AUD at the moment will make it difficult to justify. Nobody has stock yet - but I'm seeing local RRP of AU$5,999

 

[Paul B]

Arturia Keylab Essential 61 MK3 contrtoller

Yes, and very nice it is too ... for the price.

I originally got the MiniLab 3, which was perfect for messing around on the sofa late at night but quickly upgraded to the KE 3.
It's nowhere near as portable but far more accomplished.

Yamaha ... PSR-I500 maybe

It's actually an old PSR-E443.
Had it for well over 10 years and shipped it over (well, aired it over) from the UK when we moved here.

I'm currently salivating over the new Yamaha Montage M6 Workstation released a few weeks ago

Me and @Kier were discussing that the other week. You should see what he's got in his studio!
Very nice but my sausage fingers would never justify it.

Hmm, should probably split these posts off to a new thread ...

 

[Suzanne O]

I'll take pics after but as i said yesterday my mac sits on an old pine desk that i had as a 7 year old kid.
my printer is on another old desk that belonged to my late uncle.
On the other side i have a small table that has my desktop easal on it and drawing utensils.

 

[Wildcat Media]

Save a spare wall for Steve Porcaro's rig:

I have no room here for a studio of any kind, but I would probably have a room large enough to hold a baby grand and a Hammond B3 with Leslie cabinet. Which is silly since I'm so rusty at keys anymore.

 

[Paul B]

A member of my forum was the keyboard tech for this guy for 5 years.

0 points to the first person who can guess who that is.

The kit in that room is priceless!

 

[Wildcat Media]

Took me a minute. I'm old. "It's that guy from Asia!" So yeah, Geoff Downes.

(And yes...er, Yes, I know he was also in Yes, the Buggles, etc.)

 

[Wildcat Media]

Oh and yes (not Yes, but yes), things have slimmed down so much today with software and emulators. One touring musician I know (in jazz) who used to tour with three or four keyboards now tours with one MIDI keyboard and a laptop, which sits atop whichever piano the venue provides. Basically he can hop on a plane now and have the entire kit with him.

For my part, all I could swing was getting the Arturia keyboard emulator package, and using the Yamaha MIDI keyboard my youngest left here. I had to sell the family piano I inherited because we simply had no room for it, and I was tired of moving it from house to house as we relocated. Eventually I want to get another digital piano but the key action has to feel just right. I really struggle with synth keys--they're fun to play*, but not having that key action really throws me. (*I like to go to Guitar Center with my youngest, find a preset for Journey, and annoy her with some of their generic riffs. )

I'm more a woodwind guy. I did try the EWI for a short time but like synths, I couldn't get used to the key action. Or lack thereof. The keys are touch-sensitive, so it's difficult to hover over them whereas in a real woodwind, fingers can rest on some of the keys all the time. (@Mr Lucky can vouch for that I'm sure.)

Oh and yes (not Yes, but yes),

Why does Was, Not Was come to mind now?

 

[Paul B]

Midi and software will never truly compete with analog synths.

They're convenient and affordable but just not the same.

It's like the difference between a valve and transistor amp.

 

[digitalpoint]

I can't make music, but I can mix it. haha Does that count? I learned to DJ the first month of COVID.

 

[Wildcat Media]

Midi and software will never truly compete with analog synths.

Oh I'd love a real Hammond B3, Clavinet, DX7 (and a couple others I'm forgetting), Mellotron, Farfisa, and a Rhodes stage piano (which was all the rage in the 70s) but it's not in the budget. The MIDI keyboard just adds insult to injury. But for my purposes, it is good enough. Probably because I have other things that eat up any spare funds, like keeping the hoopties running (and the occasional rally), or...

It's like the difference between a valve and transistor amp.

...yep, tubes in the audio system here.

 

[Paul B]

I can't make music, but I can mix it. haha Does that count? I learned to DJ the first month of COVID.

It all counts.

This is one of my current projects.

 

[digitalpoint]

Okay then this is my studio...

and my DJ controller thrown off the side of my dining room table because sometimes people have to eat.

 

[Paul B]

I've only had the MIDI controller and DAW/VST software for a couple of weeks so I'm still working out how it all works and experimenting.
The manuals for the DAW, VST and controller total 1,000 pages!

The oldies amongst us may recognise this, which was my first foray into MIDI music and production.

 

[Suzanne O]

Here are the photos.

my desk


my easal and drawing utensils filing case


printer and other things

 

[Suzanne O]

I've only had the MIDI controller and DAW/VST software for a couple of weeks so I'm still working out how it all works and experimenting.
The manuals for the DAW, VST and controller total 1,000 pages!

The oldies amongst us may recognise this, which was my first foray into MIDI music and production.

View attachment 293404

Nice!

 

[MattW]

I can't make music, but I can mix it. haha Does that count? I learned to DJ the first month of COVID.

I can also count to 4

Decks have been in the loft and not used in 2 years, and the Traktor S4 gets used every couple of months if I find the time.

 

[duderuud]

I've only had the MIDI controller and DAW/VST software for a couple of weeks so I'm still working out how it all works and experimenting.
The manuals for the DAW, VST and controller total 1,000 pages!

The oldies amongst us may recognise this, which was my first foray into MIDI music and production.

View attachment 293404

You just can't get enough can you..