In Summary

With gear and audio plugins getting better by the month, some might ask whether it’s time to accept that those choices are hard to get wrong. Like many, my audio arsenal ticks many boxes. Here I talk about the things in my studio, audio-related or otherwise, that actually make a practical difference to my working day.

Going Deeper

Earlier this year, Russ talked about the importance of buying affordable problem-solvers that earn their keep. On the same practical theme, I wanted to share some things that actually do make a difference to my studio life, all of which could be followed by “Just add DAW”.

A big part of my job is getting to use a lot of incredible tools that have been created by some very clever people. With lots to choose from, when it comes to audio plugins (and the occasional piece of choice hardware thrown in every now and then), I would have to try pretty hard to pick a ‘bad’ plugin or any tool that doesn’t let me work well.

That leaves the practicalities of getting the work done. Choosing tools that really count can include audio plugins or gear, but just as often will be the things that can extend beyond ‘just’ the scope of recording and mixing. Things that help me work more quickly and more easily within my space, or even keep me in better shape than the alternative all earn a place.

1 - The Music Maker - Nord Electro 4D SW61

As a musician and occasional writer, my trusty Nord is the centre piece of my musical life. After spending decades waiting for it to be invented, I finally got my Electro 4D ten years ago and it’s still going strong. Before this, the idea of having totally believable grand, upright, and electric pianos, plus organs and more in one box seemed impossible. Most know the many advantages of having their keys In The Box, but for me, even now, nothing beats a physical instrument. We’ve written previously about the pros and cons of hardware keys versus VI and what they mean for creativity. You can read more about what what Russ, Julian, and I think right here.

Would you use an acoustic guitar that needed a computer to work? Me neither. My Nord is the keyboard I can ‘pick up’ and play. That makes not only my studio life better, but keeps my musical life enjoyably removed from other work when it needs to be.

2 - The Physiotherapist - Yo-Yo DESK 80-S

This piece of mini-furniture has helped to keep the studio a more healthy place to be regardless of what’s going on in or outside the box.

When I made the move to home-working, one thing I was not about to give up was at least a sense of some physical activity! Working in any facility means more walking around and being generally more active, so not sitting down all day at home was, and still is, non-negotiable for me. My sit/stand desk ticks that box.

There are the well-documented health benefits of not sitting the whole time, but also standing makes me feel more alert and appreciative of those times in the garden in a nice chair… I always thought that keeping my monitoring on the floor would be a problem, but to be honest I have always mixed half standing/half sitting both from live work and from preferring an aerial view of the controls anyway. We on the team are fans of this way of being throughout the day. I settled on the Yo-Yo DESK 80-S in the end having read Russ’ experience here.

3 - The Truth Enabler - SoundID Reference

I used to wonder if speaker correction software could ever make things better or just different. For me, it does make it better, and whatever happens upstream is pretty meaningless unless I can trust my monitoring in the room.

Working from home often means working in a space that can conspire to skew what’s being heard. Many domestic room dimensions (here in the UK at least) can steer the chair into a vortex of bumps and dips in the low end. Added to these are a combo of surfaces and objects that can either eat up or scatter around everything else. Yes, there is acoustic treatment, but the bottom end is especially hard to get right without just filling up a small room with things that eat more space and money than they do sound.

I run my correction system-wide, but when the time comes I will definitely buy monitors with the correction in them for the ultimate set-and-forget fix. As for my B-pair, I won’t ever need DSP grot boxes (sorry Avantone).

SoundID Reference is the one I use to bring out my room’s Good Side and really has helped me turn a domestic space into a place where I can make mixes that travel. Without it, everything else means nothing. Does that sound dramatic? It’s true.

4 - Taking A Stand - Studiospares Desk Mic Arm

Writing this, I’m starting to see a common theme: Space. In a decent-sized space, a scattering of mic stands is such a common feature that they almost become invisible. Things are different in my home studio, and where at least one mic is usually next to (or over) my desk, having a regular tall stand is a bit clunky.

My mic arm (an older, Anglepoise style) lets me just grab the mic and swing, lift, lower, or extend the reach without having to loosen or tighten anything, which I love. It’s not the most exciting thing I’ve ever bought, but when recording myself I rarely use anything else. It also folds away instantly if needed, ‘disappears’ one mic stand base from the floor instantly, and helps me work quicker too.

5 - The Loopbacker - Audient iD44

I think it’s fair to say that audio interfaces are fast approaching the category of gear that is almost exclusively good regardless of price (ignoring the bottom end of things from names you’ve never heard of). That said, for those that offer loopback, experiences vary on how manufacturers tackle recording app audio. I use loopback every day, and the ease with which I can do it counts.

My Audient iD44 was the first small interface I used that did everything well, including loopback. Before, I used to just re-record externally with a dedicated recorder; this always felt like a compromise, but it was the only way to get it done and hear everything the way I wanted. Most importantly, the iD44 makes setting up a loopback mix and being able to listen to it devastatingly simple (in my case I use two of iD44’s cue mixes - one for me and one for the recording software to capture). As a result, my desk is less cluttered, my studio tidier, and my field recorder always ready to go elsewhere.

6 - The Ultimate Console - SSL UF8

Like many, I work exclusively in the box, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want the faders there in front of me. For a long time, my Console 1 was my only way to haptic heaven, and before that I spent far too long just hating the mouse and lamenting the loss of various machines and mixer/recorders. Granted, the control surface is no more a mixer than a keyboard is a typewriter, but in all honesty I don’t mind where the mixing is happening. I’m all about how the mixing is happening, and eight faders, loads of assignable buttons including transport certainly presses all my buttons in a good way.

Could I work without it? Yes of course, but I would draw the line at having no kind of controller at all. I’m struggling to think what I actually did with the extra space before it landed, and the UF8 definitely earns its keep in more ways than one. I also cut video, and with REAPER turning its hand to NLE duties, I can even use the UF8 for feeling out the mix in the cut using its MCU Logic layer.

OK I’ll admit it, I even like its pretty coloured LEDs and metering. These are just as pleasing as everything else it does because it reminds me that I’m still in a pro studio. Even does happen to be in the same building as my home… I bought the UF8 with my own money, and it continues to make my studio better.

Final Thoughts

With industry trends and recent events shaping where many of us work, we have had to think more about how work works for us. Other industries see service and retail staff at home with nothing more than a headset and an internet connection. Home-workers in audio see setups that can go right up to entire Atmos rigs. Whatever the complexity, sometimes the things that make the most valuable contribution can be a little bit prosaic… Even dare I say boring.

So there they are; six things that make my studio better. Not always the most glamorous, but in a place where other toys come and go, this collection of problem solvers and work-enhancers continues to quietly make studio life better. All I need to do now is build a little jetty onto my desk to squeeze in that new UF1 to keep the UF8 company…

What are your studio pieces quietly making your studio a better place to work? Let us know in the comments.

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.