The Number One Must-Have Tool For Home Studios
On Twitter, Robyn Edgar asked, “If you're a mix engineer/sound designer that works from home full time --> what's your number 1 must-have tool besides the obvious computer, external display and monitors?”
We have been watching the replies to Robyn’s tweet, and in this article, we look at some of the answers. We have grouped together the recommendations into similar categories and included links to some relevant articles we have on each topic.
A Good Work Environment
James Evans (@jamesevanssound) came up with my idea before I had thought of it, a decent chair…
“Good chair! Don't try and save on it. More important than 99 per cent of plugins.”
Michael F. Bates (@tonemanufacture) agrees with James… “Have to agree with @jamesevanssound; a good chair is worth the cost. I got a Herman Miller because I’m unimaginative, but a second-hand one off eBay was about a third of the price of a new one.”
Paper Radio (@PaperRadio) picked up on the advice to get a good chair and continued…
“Second the chair, and some room treatment if you can, and in addition to your closed-back headphones (for tracking), some good open-backed headphones like the Beyers are really useful for mixing. A lamp over the keyboard/desk is my tip. This improves my concentration by a lot whatever the work!”
Gray Jones Ossai (@GRAYxJONES) adds their recommendation for a good chair… “A good work chair. Can’t even stress this enough. A good work chair and the perfect table height.”
Katherine Rae Mondo (@MondoScarf) picks up on the importance of a good work environment… “I don’t know if this counts but lots of plants and windows.”
To which Robyn Edgar (@_RobynEdgar) replies… “Definitely counts! Plants are love, plants are lifeeee.”
Yanni Caldas (@amnesiasound) stresses the importance of ergonomics… “Good chair/ergonomics.”
Stuff for your desk for morale
Eliana (@TheStorysinger) makes a great point about encouragement… “Stuff for your desk for morale.” See the picture to the right.
Andy Wardlaw (@andywardlaw) advises taking action against distractions… “Internet blocker. (Activating it now...).”
Steve Little (@littlesclittle) moves the subject onto coffee… “I’m being deadly serious; my bean-to-cup Sage coffee machine.”
Maria (@Maria_Kelly95) recommends two sources of caffeine… “An almost constant flow of Pepsi Max and coffee.”
We spend a lot of time sitting in a studio, either in front of a computer, a mixing console or both. It’s essential we invest in taking care of our backs. In this article, the Experts explain what chairs they use in the studio and, in some cases, the chairs they don’t use.
In one of our surveys, we learnt that more and more of us are working from home and so here are some suggestions on how to work well at home. Working from home isn't for everyone, and it does require an extra level of self-discipline and motivation that can be a challenge at times, especially with family distractions, so here are some thoughts on how to work well from home.
There are definite benefits of working from home, like being able to break off for some family time at the appropriate moment rather than the kids having to 'wait until Dad gets home'. But for Mike Thornton, one of the challenges of working at home is delineating between work and home. Those of us that work at home do not 'go to work'; we do not have a commute to and from work, and so the line between being at work and being at home can be very fuzzy and that in itself has pros and cons.
Acoustic Treatment
Nathan Moody (@noisejockey) makes a very good point about the importance of acoustic treatment… “@jamesevanssound stole my answer, so my next answer would be acoustic treatment. Essential and IMO more important than monitors in a residential environment with <12' high ceilings. 8" traps (remember that wall-ceiling edges are corners, too!) and then 4" absorbers at points of the first reflection. I went with https://realtraps.com, and they're light, have no wooden parts (I live in wildfire country), and can also be set on stands if you can't drill into walls.”
Rob Byers (@RobByers1) agrees with Nathan… “My room became way more useful once I treated it! Still have to put the cans on my head on Mondays, though — apparently that's the day all the neighbours decided is lawn care day.”
John Micensky (@b_lakemusic) pointed out that good monitor correction software can help a lot… “Sonarworks was a game changer for me. It’s helped me discover the problems with my listening environment and adjust my speaker orientation/acoustic panelling based on those measurements.”
Acoustic Treatment Tips To Help You Improve The Sound Of Your Recording Studio Today
This article features a number of articles aimed at helping you understand the basics of room acoustics and how acoustic treatment works to improve the response and overall sound quality of a recording studio environment. If you are dissatisfied with the sound of your studio, take the first steps to improve the acoustic properties of your studio by checking out these articles.
What Is Speaker Calibration Software? Everything You Need To Know
With software technology providing an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the music-making and mixing tools at our disposal, the only major hurdle most of us still face in getting our mixes sounding their best is the physical space in which we make them. The compromised acoustics of the average home studio have always necessitated acceptance of the fact that what you’re hearing out of your monitors isn’t necessarily true to what’s going into them.
In recent years, however, that disheartening situation has started to change. Thanks to the rise of accessible speaker calibration systems, it really is now possible to counterbalance the dodgy interactions between your speakers and your room using any of a range of software- or hardware-based solutions.
In this feature, we’ll take a look at the most popular options to consider right now if you’re looking to incorporate speaker calibration into your workflow or upgrade your current calibration setup.
Good Monitoring
James Perrett (@James_Perrett) has some good advice on speaker stands… “Adjustable speaker stands - just a few cm difference in height has made a huge difference for me.”
Jordan Fehr (@JordanFehr) makes a point about monitoring… “If you have speakers, an SPL meter and a knob where you can mark your mix levels. It's a boring, awful answer but...”
How To Position Your Studio Monitors To Get The Best From Them
It’s an unavoidable truth that monitoring through loudspeakers gets complicated. With a pair of headphones, you put them on and you get optimal performance - simple! With monitors, things are more involved and this is bad news for anyone looking for quick answers.
You can’t just buy a pair of quality monitors and get what you paid for. Monitors interact with the room in which they are placed and the sound that hits your ears is indivisibly combined with the influence of the room. Ask almost any working mix engineer what the number one purchase that would improve your mix room is and you’ll probably get the same answer - Acoustic treatment. However, there is something else that can help get the sound of your monitors to your ears - the placement of your monitors.
Good Headphones
Katie the Audio Peep (@kstanley42) takes an alternate view on monitoring, especially If you need to be quiet, because choosing the right headphones can make all the difference… “Headphones with good noise-cancelling capabilities without sacrificing sound quality. Right now, I'm using Audio Technica ATH-M50xs; I love the sound quality. No active noise cancelling, but it dampens things pretty well - unless people are super loud next to me, haha.”
Robyn Edgar (@_RobynEdgar) agrees… “So true - I pretty much exclusively mix on headphones now since my home office isn't treated, so quality ones is super key. Do you have a fav set? I'm still pretty into my Sony MDR-7506s from being in public radio, but it might be time to upgrade.”
Alice (@alicechristinea) agrees with Kate… “+1 to the M50xs. They fight tighter over your ears and sound good.”
zvukofor (@zvukofor) adds their +1 for headphones… “Good monitoring headphones.”
Alex Wegman (@ajwegman") makes a different recommendation… “Perhaps not for everyone, but I really like my Neumann NDH-20 phones, powered by a DragonFly Red USB DAC. It’s like going into a cocoon.”
Headphones are an essential tool in recording studios. We rely on them heavily to make countless creative & technical decisions in tracking, mixing and mastering. Audio Engineers the world over demand a lot from studio headphones. We want top-drawer sound quality, comfort, reliability and value for money all within one well-designed product. So which is the best set of studio headphones? That is the million dollar question that we cannot answer, only you can decide as it will always be down to personal choice. If you are in the market for a new set of studio headphones, then we’ve compiled a list of the studio headphones we use.
Engineers will continue to deliberate over which headphones are best for a given task. Given a few objective characteristics, however, the list gets a lot shorter.
A Standing Desk
Jeffrey Nils Gardner (@euripidesredux) picks up the health thread with his suggestion of a standing desk… “Honestly, a standing desk has transformed my editing day- reminds me to walk away and take breaks/stretch during long days of work. Can't recommend it enough.”
Ideosound (@Ideosound) picks up off their suggestion of an RSI fix and adds their +1 for a standing desk… “Same, and if anyone is thinking of getting a standing desk purely for audio work, I wrote about my experience of choosing one on the A Sound Effect blog.”
Aaron Dowd (@aarondowdtx) adds their +1 for an adjustable desk… “Sit/stand desk for sure.”
Is Prolonged Sitting Bad For Us? How Your Studio Lifestyle May Not Be Helping And How To Fix It
Most of us spend a large proportion of our day sitting down with relatively idle muscles. Even though we know that 30 minutes activity at least 5 days a week will go a long way to counteract health concerns, what about the rest of our waking time? In this article, we look at some of the science about what happens to us when we are sitting down for long periods of time and how it impacts not only our physical health but our mental health too.
In this article, Julian Rodgers shares his findings trying out a motorised sit-stand desk, in this case the Yo-Yo DESK PRO2. He’d always assumed that they wouldn’t be stable enough for someone working in audio who needs easy access to their gear, and what about monitoring?
Yo-Yo DESK 80-S Review - A Cost Effective Way To Add A Standing Desk In Your Studio
In the article Is Prolonged Sitting Bad For Us? How Your Studio Lifestyle May Not Be Helping And How To Fix It Mike Thornton said;
“The research shows that a standing desk can make a huge difference long-term by making small differences just by being stood up. So the message to all of us is simple and quite achievable – just try doing a little more standing up in your day – whilst at work, on your commute, whilst having lunch or whilst watching TV. It could make a significant difference to your health.”
A lot of us can say yes to a statement like that, but then the practicalities mean it’s easier said than done. It is for this reason, that Russ Hughes decided to try a Yo-Yo DESK 80-S.
Solutions To Prevent RSI
Ideosound (@Ideosound) suggested a solution that works for them instead of a mouse to deal with RSI… “I was getting RSI from using a mouse too much, so I added a Wacom pen for audio tasks. Not for everyone, but it works well for me (and swapped to an upright mouse).”
Simon Norman (@stoltz_co_uk) picked on the RSI problem… “Getting the Pro Tools Control app to work made a difference when setting up automation writes with my ICON Q-control and being able to do surround panning with a finger instead of a mouse.”
Peter Leonard (@petaplaysbass) takes the RSI issue in a different direction… “I'd say a full wireless numeric keyboard. Being able to hit [Option + Numpad 1] to bring up the Time Operations window [in Pro Tools] and already having it set on cut time so I can immediately hit Enter is huge for mixing the pods!! Also, I haven't found a mouse I like better than a magic mouse.”
Transducer Audio (@AudioTransducer) recommends a programmable ergonomic mouse… “I have programmed my most used Pro Tools commands into it. I have even used software to program groups of commands, so I can change state between content editing and adjusting the parameters of my plugins.”
At Production Expert, we often get asked to recommend a mouse or trackball. Like speakers, a mouse or trackball is a very personal choice, so in this article, we asked our panel to share what they use and why.
RSI is a real issue for all of us using a computer all day and every day. Especially over the last year with more and more of us working from home and maybe not having access to a large control surface.
We asked our panel to share what current mouse/trackball they use, why they prefer it, what others have they tried and why did they stop using them. Finally, we asked if they use more than one, to explain why they have more than one.
Before there were computer-based recording systems, we spent most of our working time in front of a mixing console, sometimes turning away to use racks of outboard gear and a tape machine or two. When DAWs first started to appear in studios, they would often end up on a separate trolley or perched on the mixing console, but as computers have taken over more of the roles traditionally done by dedicated hardware, they have taken centre stage in our studios and we have become glued to our chairs in front of a computer screen.
The concentration of so many different functions within the computer means that although we are sat down and not moving around much, we stress our bodies in so many different ways without realising it by extending our wrists, slouching, sitting without foot support and straining to look at poorly placed monitors.
All of this can lead to what health professionals call 'cumulative trauma disorders' or 'repetitive stress injuries' (RSI), which if not dealt with can cause serious, irreversible medical conditions. Symptoms of these may include pain, muscle fatigue, loss of sensation, tingling and reduced performance.
So what can we do about this? In this article, we take a look at a range of options that we can use, bearing in mind that no one solution is the right answer for every person and every problem and not to use this article as a replacement for taking medical advice.
A Separate Workspace And Defined Working Hours
Rob Byers (@RobByers1) makes a very good point for all of us working from home, and that is to have a separate space in which you work…
“I like all of these answers! For me, the essential tool has become a door to shut at the end of the day. Trying to be better about getting out of the space when it's not working hours.”
To which Robyn Edgar (@_RobynEdgar) replies…
“Yeah, that’s my biggest problem, to be honest. The layout of my house makes it impossible for me to have a separate workspace, so I just see my work gear/setup all day, every day. It’s hard on mental health.”
Simon Norman (@stoltz_co_uk) had an interesting solution to the one room problem…
“I did a feature in lockdown 1, which took me 9 months from beginning to end; the flat I shared with my girlfriend at the time had our living room divided into 40% studio, 60% living space. I split the room’s orientation so when watching TV, the kit faced out of view for work/life separation.”
Rob Byers (@RobByers1) replies saying…
“It is definitely a privilege to be able to shut the door.”
Sarah (@sarahb_paw) follows Rob’s advice with some wise words about working hours…
“Maybe not a tool, but just as important is to set dedicated office hours and, if possible, only enter the studio room for work. Don't mix and match cuz it'll feel like you never leave work.”
How To Be Kind To Yourself And Stay Healthy As A Creative Professional
When Russ told his story of depression and anxiety, some asked if he had any advice for those who might be facing it. He was clear then and wanted to reiterate that he is not a medical professional, when you've hit the bottom you need to see your GP first and get some professional advice.
What he can do is share some things he tries and do to take care of himself and prevent burnout. In this article, here are his tips for staying healthy, as he is a creative they are in no rational order.
Useful Tools - Recording Light
Michael Brinkman (@onthebrinkaudio) suggests a recording light to warn family members…
“As silly as it may seem, this light-up sign outside my door has made it very simple to let my wife and son know when I am in a meeting or in the middle of a take. Highly recommended if you don’t live alone. Though, it was a tough way to discover that my dog cannot read.”
Cherry Live Light App - Cool Way To Add Recording Light Using Philips Hue Lighting
Have you ever had a perfect take trashed because someone didn’t know you were recording and came into the room? Cherry Live Light links the record function in your DAW to a Philips Hue Light system. So when you press 'Record', it automatically turns on or changes the colour of your chosen lights. We have the details.
Useful Tools - At Least One Fader
Nicholas Papaleo (@papaleeyo) believes you should have at least one fader to hand… “If you're mixing, faders. Even just a single fader forces me to be more attentive to the mix instead of staring at rubber bands in Pro Tools.”
Control Surfaces For Home Studios - Everything You Need To Know
With more and more of us working from home, a lot of us need a control surface, but we rarely have space or the budget to have a large format control surface or console. However, to get the work done efficiently, we do need access to a control surface. In this article, we look at the control surfaces suitable for your home studio.
When you mix a session using just a mouse and keyboard you generally have the power to adjust one thing at a time in your DAW such as setting a track’s fader level or pan position, what’s wrong with working this way?
Have you ever watched a skilled engineer mix on a large format console or control surface? If you have, then you would have noticed that the engineer was more than likely using both hands and all of their fingers to manipulate the console.
Engineers who are accustomed to mixing with physical faders often perform a number of mix moves in one go such as balancing multiple tracks together to perfection in what seems like a blink of an eye, try doing that one fader at a time with a mouse! Mixing with two hands is for some the only way to mix as it’s a quick and intuitive way of working, which is why using control surface is the preferred route for many to get the job done.
Useful Tools - Stream Deck And SoundFlow
Nicholas Papaleo (@papaleeyo) highlights the advantage of the SoundFlow and Stream Deck combo… “Sound Design/FX & DX editing is definitely the StreamDeck/SoundFlow combo.”
Fred Greenhalgh (@finalrune) picks up on Nicholas’s advice… “Well, @papaleeyo turned me on to the power of Stream Deck/SoundFlow combo, and it changed my life. My most common task is reviewing dialogue edits, so I use it for really tactical editing shortcuts, but all the same, it's a huuuuuge time saver.”
Nicholas Papaleo (@papaleeyo) replied saying… “This makes me so happy to hear. I can’t imagine how much time I’ve saved with that combo.”
Rob Byers (@RobByers1) agrees, saying… “SoundFlow user here! What are your go-to SoundFlow shortcuts/macros for dialogue editing? A single-button press for Cut Time and Insert Time is my latest favourite. And swapping between scrolling modes (constantly flipping between no scrolling, continuous, and page depending on the task).”
Fred Greenhalgh (@finalrune) responds… “Same; I use it for all the 'buttons' I'd want if ProTools were on a console instead of a GUI... insert/cut time, shuffle/slip mode toggle, and the extremely valuable iZotope RX shortcut to 'Mouth De-Click' -- the dialogue editor's best friend :)”
Nick Norton (@NickWritesMusic) offers a +1 for SoundFlow and Stream Deck… “My Stream Deck and SoundFlow. Saves me hours!”
In a comparatively short time SoundFlow has made a massive impression on the industry, particularly with Pro Tools users who have found its power and customisability to be a huge benefit to the working lives of professionals everywhere. In around 5 years SoundFlow has gone from a scripting based app which, while powerful, required technical know how to use, to the fully featured tool we recognise today.
The newest version, SoundFlow 5, targets Pro Tools users and seeks to address the principal barrier facing new users - Getting SoundFlow set up. Previous versions of SoundFlow installed as a blank canvas and required the user to set it up before any work could be done. It was like a powerful synthesizer which shipped without any presets. SoundFlow 5 ships with 1700 Pro Tools macros and 30+ preinstalled Decks. The setup process now requires zero product knowledge and a new users can be set up and working with SoundFlow, with or without a Stream Deck or via an iOS or Android device in 10 minutes.
This new version continues a pattern which has been in progress throughout the development of SoundFlow - opening up the product to new users who are put off by the learning curve necessary to use the product, either for reasons of technical confidence or for a lack of time. SoundFlow 5 streamlines the onboarding process so much that even the busiest professional can afford the minimal setup time - 10 minutes!
Source-Connect
JB_Audiopro (@JB__Audiopro) has chosen Source-Connect from Soure Elements… “Having Source-Connect is great for not having to go in to record." I have Source-Connect Standard, plus I had to buy a few things to get up and running, like Source-Nexus, the control panel and their talkback plugin, but it's $35 per month for the Source-Connect subscription.”
Robyn Edgar (@_RobynEdgar) was pleasantly surprised at the price… “Oh! That’s not bad. I seem to remember it being more. But maybe that was dependent on how much you need to use it.”
JB_Audiopro (@JB__Audiopro) replied saying… “Yeah, it came down in price since they started a subscription, but it will add up over the years, haha. It does come with tech support which I've needed a few times.”
Robyn Edgar (@_RobynEdgar) responded by saying… “Yeah, I recall looking at it years ago and it being well over a grand, but this is more affordable. You’re right, though, definitely adds up. Wonder if you could just pay for subscriptions as needed if you don’t use it often?”
JB_Audiopro (@JB__Audiopro) pointed out… “They have a $75 reinstatement fee 😰. But there may be other options.”
Joe Miuccio (@joemixr) has an alternative suggestion to Source-Connect… “My absolute must-have is @SessionLinkPRO.”
Don't Let COVID-19 Stop You Running Your Studio - Check These Tools And Tips Out Now
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to use remote tools exploded. A community member reached out to us to ask if we could put an article together covering the various apps and services available for us to work from home. As part of our support for people now working from home here is some advice we hope you will find helpful. In this article we covered…
Improving The Acoustics Of Your Temporary Studio
Cloud Based File Transfer Services
Handling Mix Approvals
Tech Suggestions For Working Remotely
Suggestions For Collaboration Tools - which included Source-Connect…
How To Use SessionLinkPRO During The COVID-19 Lock Down - A User Shares His Experience
In a recent article by David Thomas, he looked at 3 different remote recording services, which are becoming more and more important for the industry during the current COVID-19 situation. Having read it community member Erik Gierich commented that he uses SessionLinkPRO and so we asked Erik if he would share his experiences of using SessionLinkPRO and here is his article.
Good Backup Software
Randy Coppinger (@RandyCoppinger) has chosen a reliable backup system…
“Carbon Copy Cloner. I work remotely from my company's server where we store all of our work. The download speed isn't bad over cable modem, but huge files going up to the server aren't quick. CCC will babysit transfers, report errors, and I can resume if the server dropped. I can start a transfer over lunch, stop however far it gets so I can work again, then pickup where things left off at end of day. It's absolutely essential for me.”
Backups are literally insurance, and like insurance, it’s not interesting until you need it. Marko Fazio shares his advice on how to backup effectively and shares a free E-Book on the subject with the community.
Every year the emails start arriving, ‘it’s time to renew your home insurance.’ This annual event begs the question how many people actually claim on their house insurance each year.
It’s a fair question, some people put the money they spend on insurance into a savings account and use it should they have to make claim. After all insurance companies make it so hard to make a claim, what with excesses and other hoops to jump through, for many, home insurance feels like a waste of money. It makes one think why bother? We started to wonder if data archiving in the modern studio is the same.
In this article, we expand on a similar question from a community member and look at how to set up and run a business working from home in the audio post-production sector, although for a lot of what we are going to cover will apply just as much to music production too.
We will look at the background and show how more and more people are making the jump to working from home, what structure to use to set up your business, insurance, how to find clients, how to set your prices, contracts, terms and conditions, invoicing, getting paid, security for premises, equipment and data, protecting your health & wellbeing, the challenges of working alone and finally some guidance on equipment choices.
A number of team members as well as community members have contributed to this article, and we have identified who is speaking throughout the article.
We look at money, insurance, joining a union, how to find clients, setting your pricing, your reputation, contracts, terms and conditions, invoicing and getting paid, managing clients, security -both equipment and premises as well as media and client’s projects, working well from home, protecting your health and wellbeing, the challenge of working alone, and equipment choices.