Nice one - thanks for this! Putting the keyboard directly on the rails leaves more legroom (as opposed to using a shelf and putting the keyboard on that) - but does it still feel sturdy? ...and... which of the four lengths do you recommend for the MK2?
Thanks Loopop! It's definitely sturdy enough, which really surprises me! Maybe not Rachmaninoff sturdy... I got the 16" one and it works just great. And yeah, I just didn't have the legroom under my desk for the platform!
I finally took the plunge and followed your instructions on the keyboard drawer... "Screw some holes into the bottom of your desk, realize you got it wrong, and then make sure adjustments"... Boy were you accurate. After 3 attempts I got it right - and how i am so happy! Thanks!
0:53 I'm going to be making a completely new setup for making music next year, and this is exactly what I needed to see! Seeing someone else actually put together a custom mount for their keyboard is a game changer and something that will help me optimize the space in my studio room, especially since it's pretty compact already.
I hope it feels awesome to know that thousands of people are being inspired by you following your creativity and sharing your results. I’m ordering from your affiliate links later this month and am so excited to setup my studio and get going! Keep shining friend. ✨🌟
I live in a tiny house and have a shelf we use often under the window. I want to put a piano keyboard under it so I can flip it out and practice. I could not think of what the heck a pull out keyboard shelf would be called! Thank you so much for helping me with this problem!
I saw you slide your keyboard out from under the desk and had been looking for something on Amazon where I could declutter my workstation. Thanks so much for this!!! I'm ordering the brackets now. This will be my weekend project👍
These are the exact sliders I used on my production side table. I ended up mounting a thin wood project panel to on the sliders first for rigidity. My challenge was then I had to use some scrap wood to get the front of the panel (which wasn’t quite deep enough on its own) to be flush to the very front of the sliders. Took some trial and error but my 61 key KeyLab MK2 fits perfectly and like you said is at the ideal height to play when I need it. It’s great that there are cheap solutions like this to under mount bigger keyboard controllers. Great video as always Jef
I made an amazing desk using an old black ikea headboard, and a riser out of the footboard. I just moved, and threw away the old homemade legs, and got an electric sit/stand setup for it. Now, I’m making a slide out tray for my 88 key midi controller.
I was going to ask why not just use a board as its designed for.... your only saving less than an inch height if thats the issue vs risking having the synth damaged?
I gave up on studio monitors and splurged for Audeze headphones. Not going back. 3 monitors better than 1 big TV. Your reco on the underdesk keyboard is gold.
Gotcha on gear in custom fit boxes: monitor the temperature. Even small amounts of power, if enclosed, can cook things. Wood is a good insulator. As a computer geek I normally think, "Minimum 1.5" clearance on top, half inch on sides. Double this if only vented on one side." I'm both composing (musescore) and playing. I'm going with the compkeyboard under my Arturia Keylab, as my normal typing position is with my elbows almost touching my ribs, but I play with my elbows higher, sitting further back. I like the slides you found. Tip: If you slide your musickeyboard, splurge and get heavy duty slides and make a point of grabbing it in the middle when you slide it in or out. Easy to bind cheap slides, and then you are stuck.
Yeah, always worry about the heat! My audio interface survived over the last few years… on all the time! And the slides are still going… feels flimsy but still working well! Not great for after touch… needs more support for that!
Great ideas! I did things slightly differently and have a couple recommendations. Amazon sells 19" racks that can be mounted to the bottom of a shelf, so I built a simple "hutch" for my desk and the 19" racks hang down from that. I also got a Standtastic Wall mounted keyboard stand that clears the floor under the keyboards and gets them a little further back. I have a lot of junk in a small room, so saving even a few inches is worth the effort.
First, your live edge desktop is amazing. Second, I have the MK3 stand from Art in cherry. Third, I used the 16" sliders with a 1'x4'x1" length of Oak, stained to match, for my actual keyboard tray. Fourth, as usual, your knowledge of all things related to music more than inspires a lot of different individuals. Thank you Prof 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's always cool to see Jef outside of his natural habitat. I'd watch a Jef Gibbons tutorial on anything, be it beat making, desk construction, roof shingle replacement, bicycle repairs...
Nice video, lots of good tips. One thing I will say is that, for anyone who spends long hours editing, producing, etc, your monitor placement is critical. The ideal position for a monitor (according to ergonomic experts and chiropractors) is so that looking straight ahead, your eyes should align about 2 inches from the bottom of your screen. Even a slight head tilt forward over time can cause neck and shoulder issues that can become severe, possibly leading to curvature and even fusion of vertebrae. With this setup, the screen is large enough to place program windows at proper eye level. For those who don't have that option, definitely get a stand before it's too late.
Great points! I had a problem with my older setup with two monitors, my neck would hurt because it was looking left all day! This current giant tv shocks me that I don't have more neck pain... But I have progress lenses in my glasses, and the distance and height means the in-focus area of my glasses lines up perfectly with my head tilted slightly up... seems to work pretty well!
The paint stir sticks worked for me, get drawer rails that are longer than the width of your controller keyboard. I got the 12" rails for an Arturia Keylab 61 Essential, I wish I had gotten the 16".
Thank you for posting this, been struggling to figure what I should do, get a new studio workstation desk with the keyboard slide, get a piano stand with wheels, but seeing how you got the keyboard desk slider without the wood tray and setup it up the way you did is the solution I've been looking for. awesome, thanks
Just a heads up to anyone who's buying sliders, check what height clearance you need for your MIDI keyboard! I ordered the sliders from Jef's link but it turns out it doesn't have enough height clearance for the s88, arturia's keylab88, and others. The sliders fit the s61 keyboard as seen in this video though. I'm still deciding on whether to go with a 61 key or 88 keyboard. - Regardless thanks for the great video Jef!
I use a 55" TV for a monitor myself and what I did was have the desk away from the wall and the TV slightly down past the desk, but when sat there your eye level can see the whole thing.
Might be out of date on this comment, but I had the same issue with standing desks and then i learned you can just change the legs on your existing desk. I've done eveything i can to get every cord on the desk routed to a location mounted to the bottom of the desk so when it rises, there are only a few dangling cords underneath. I also do the same thing with monitors. Montor 1 is a 165hz 32 incher, but monitor 2 is a 50 inch tv. I vane to see the mounted keyboard underneath. Right now i have the 88 keys beside the desk and am looking to mount on some rails this aftermoon. Wish me luck!
3M has some super tape that is used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Standing defiantly helps on the long hours. I have a second pair of monitors on top of my mains that"ll switch to when standing so the screens don't block any sound. I have something similar for my keyboard tray. It's great not having it on top of the desk.
Jeff, I coincidentally have a big ol' TV for a monitor, an Ableton Push 2 on my desktop along with a Moog Sub 37 (yeah, not quite the same), a reclaimed wood desktop, and short salt-and-pepper hair. My daughter came into the studio while I was watching this video, and she thought for a split second that the video was of me, not you! Anyways, thanks for this video, as I just used it to add a slider to my desk - and yes, coincidentally, my keyboard is also a Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2. I swear, I'm not stalking you or trying to become you! :)
Ultimate support makes a nice laptop stand. It's flat on the bottom so things can slide on top of it. It's also infinitely adjustable over it's height range.
Thanks a lot, I'll realize my keyboard desk slider is exactly like this (maybe except for the fixing, had another idea here using a removable double sticky 3M tape :) Can't wait until the material arrives.
I'd be worried about having an expensive controller or keyboard simply resting on those rail tabs with the velcro. I'd get a metal shop to make an aluminum shelf for it, and they can also powder coat it black or whatever color you want
3M has some super tape that are used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Where he mounted the keyboard, this is not a load bearing part of the keyboard. Its the plastic lip. Over time I do not think this is a good idea. Maybe ok for the S49. But I would not be doing this on my S88. As the base of the keyboard is metal and this is where the feet are and is meant to take the weight. But where he has mounted them is on the plastic edge/Lip of the keyboard casing. If you are playing on the middle of the keyboard, the extra stress will not be good for the plastic casing over time.
Weird question: What kind of glasses are you wearing in this video? Excellent content, BTW. Optimizing space in the studio is crucial to workflow, and workflow is crucial to overcoming the inertia that can stand between you and making music (especially when it isn't your day job!).
I’m in love with your desk! Are your controller keyboard and your desktop at ideal heights? I bought a studio desk a while back with a pull-out drawer like yours, but the desk was way too high and made it a little painful to use a keyboard and mouse, plus neck strain as the computer monitor was too high.
Thanks Bright! Yeah, getting the height perfect is really tough. The desk is just a slab of live-edge acacia wood from the hardware store with legs! Biggest problem with it is that it isn't perfectly flat and has warped over the last few years. I end up having to put little furniture protectors on most of my devices to balance them out! The desk is 28.5" from the floor, and it seems like the height of everything now (keyboard included) is working perfectly.
Hey love the under desk mount for the mini controller. I’ve been thinking about doing this for mine. Is the TV you have for your monitor is a 4K TV. I have two computers and I’m looking for some type of a monitor that I can A/B between the both or even have them both running at the same time on screen. Thanks. Look forward to.
Great idea with the keyboard tray, thanks! Since I have a 49MK2, I feel like at least the height adjustments should be the same as yours so if you have some specifics it would be great and save some of us a little time on experimenting perhaps! :)
No nuisance reflections off the keyboard mounted in front of the speaker? Usually, the recommendations suggest keeping all gear away from the speakers, based on the resultant frequency/relections bounce.
Velcro under the keyboard to keep it from sliding.... I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that. I built a drawer but the keyboard slides all over the place and I've been dealing with that for 2 years. Going to fix that as soon I post this comment, thank you so much!!!
That's awesome! Yeah I use velcro for everything! And dude, I'm a HUGE fan of you and your channel!! Been following you from the beginning of my wild TH-cam ride, can't thank you enough for what you do! We must connect some time...
While I love the look of your thick wooden desk and the mechanism of the keyboard sliding right there, such setup is still not really optimally in terms of being ergonomical. It also may not be easy at this time to both have an ergonomical body position for both the midi keyboard and typing keyboard, since they basically need the same area for optimal ergonomical position. In your setup for example, your midi keyboard is at a comfortable postion, but your typing keyboard and mouse are way too high, increasing the chances of RSI (repatiative strain injury/carpal tunnel syndrome) when you are using your mouse and keyboard. I see 2 parts of a solution that ergonomically would improve the situation most of us music production guys are in: - We would need a MIDI keyboard that has a very thin base underneath the keys, while at the same time the keys should be normal size and depth. This allows the height of the midi keyboard to be as close to the typing keyboard as possible. - The desk ideally be as thin as possible, so also this decreases the distance between the the midi keyboard and typing keyboard are at the same height as much as possible. The MIDI keyboard should slide right under the typing keyboard, in terms of height. I still do not understand why there are not more places selling such setups, as it seems like a easy money for a relatively simple, yet common problem. It should not even have to be something that is expensive. Whenever I look at 95%'s people's setups, It's really never ideal for this reason. I see half of the people with comfortable midi keyboard locations and the other half with uncomfortable midi keyboard locations while realistically speaking both options should be possible. Another theoretical possibility would be to have the typing mouse and keyboard and mouse slide under the midi keyboard, but I'm not sure if that would be better or than the previous solution. The keyboard (typing or midi) you operate most of the time should be most optimally ergonomically. For instance, I tend to spend a lot more time programming notes than actually playing them on the midi keyboard. So for me the typing keyboard is right in front of me, while the midi keyboard is on the left of me (both at ideal height, but not ideal position because I have to rotate). However, it's always a compromise to some degree, but the amount of comprimise people have to live with at the moment should not be needed. Dom Sigalas even went from using regular mouse to such a thing that you rotate with your thumb because he also had carpal tunnel/Repetative strain injury (pain in which means arms/shoulders) which is no wonder because also his desk is way too high for his typing keyboard. I think a lot of us use the typing keyboard and mouse more than we think, since playing something is done in a few seconds and tweaking your music can really take ages. Also, this solution would also increase the legroom anyone has under their table as much as possible. *So manifacturers, please make such a a keyboard and desk. We do not need 100 competing DAWS or 1000 different orchestral kontakt libraries, but rather actually need something this*
attach the rails to the controller/keyboard. Have a friend hold it under the desk use a bubble leveler to get it straight then mark the screw holes with a pen or pencil.
I avoided buying a "studio desk" with a keyboard shelf after watching your videos with the keyboard on the desk! If it works for you and you are my Cubase tutor, then it must be good for me! Now, you have a keyboard that slides in and out below your desk. Only joking! To be honest, I was not convinced that desks with sliding shelves would work that well for me because often they were too low, lacked rigidity and tended to sag in the middle due to keyboard weight. So I bought an office desk, placed the monitors at the edges on foam pads and am about to purchase a 49 key Arturia controller to sit between the speakers and in front of my screen. I have a Roland RD2000 keyboard next to me at a right angle for piano parts. I think this might work for me as I have minimal equipment as described although I need a new Apple computer. Will I need a screen as big as yours? It seems to work for you ~BUT hold on, I have been here before.........
Ha! Loved this Alan! I keep changing my setup... I'll make sure I stick with the under desk slider for a while at least! A 49 Key might work perfectly on your desk since it's a little smaller. Having the right angle keyboard is PERFECT if you have the right setup for it, then the little guy on your desk for trying out patches and playing little things here and there. You should be good to go!
also sitting that close to my 40" 2 tvs i had in the time was not right so now i have a 34" alienware aw3423dwf and its much better for me sitting close. i also use it with a macbook pro 16 m3 max sometimes. im looking at new setup and especially monitor speaker pads or stands for my yamaha hs8 white. i have a 49 keyboard width see through glass stand for my monitor and keyboard but tbh i hate the look of it and prefer without the glass monitor stand. im also thinking of a new pc build with the Thermaltake tower 100 which is only itx. or tower 200 which is a tab bit big im guessing to be put on top of my yamaha hs8 where as tower 100 will easily fit nice. i like my arturia keylab 49 white keyboard and i defo want this sliders bolted to my wood top. i also have to change 2 of my cables for my keyboard and focusrite 2i2 scarlett audio interface to usb type c to usb type b. i seen the price of the thunderbolt audio interfaces and jesus christ it must of been a dodgy website because they were in the grands for what i want it to do.
@@jefgibbons what do you compose with more, your maschine or your keyboard? I really want to use my Mikro, but I feel like it was designed to be a complicated niche' unit. I've been looking at your videos (which are great) trying to get back into using it. My Komplete Kontrol has TAKEN KONTROL of everything now.
Quick question, do you feel that those sliding draw trays can only handle a light touch on the keyboard? In other words, do you feel like you can't put a lot of pressure on the keyboard tray?
Great job Jef. Love the monitor. If you had to do it over again, would you purchase the same monitor? And by the way what is the brand and model number of the monitor you’re using now? Thanks Jef
Man that is a gorgeous setup 😍Side question regarding your monitor placement... what is your sweet spot like with your monitors being so far apart? It looks like it would be behind your head which I know some prefer. I ask because I have it in my head that the distance from my cones need to be exactly the same distance from my ears as they are apart, and the wider you go, the farther back you have to be to make that true. Thanks!
Hi Jef, love your channel. Can you recommend a great midi keyboard with a drum pad, night wind up using for live looping. I’m an experienced musician, I also play guitar mostly. I basically want to do what you do with your loop/songs
@@jefgibbonsableton live. I basically want to do something like what Marc Rebillet does so I'm also in the market for a looper. I was thinking about getting the boss rc-505. I play guitar, a little synth/keys, and sing occasionally. I want to make beats on the fly and add the other layers. There are way too many options and I'm overwhelmed. Budget is pretty decent. I use a lot of Kontakt/Native instruments as well. I also have Maschine but not the standalone version, I find it kind of annoyingly complicated sometimes.
@@boonatuna Yeah, Maschine takes a while to get really comfortable with it! You might want to look at the Push 2! If you're not a keyboard player, using the scales option on the push 2 is awesome... and then having 64 pads to drop sounds on... and if that's not enough... just a simple controller with a few octaves for keys should do you!
great tips Jef,still have to put a desk together,but tragedy struck,not only have i contracted two times covid,i wanted to demolish a wall and broke my right ringfiger badly,i dont know if it will heal,for the moment i cant use that finger in any way,and certainly cant play the keyboard anymore,"thats life" as the saying goes,cheers Jef
Ahh man that's awful! You may have to retrain yourself to not use that finger... Easier said than done though. I hope things get better for you soon Ronny!
Hi Jef, what about your mixer to get all the audio output coming from your gear, also referring to your video about Maschine plus and live looping in which I suppose you go into the stereo line in of Maschine plus itself from the mixer ? Thanks
Great video Jeff. What should be the height of the table and how high should the midi keyboard from ground. Secondly, like the MK3 wood case. What color is it? Thanks
Thanks a lot Jeff really appreciate it. Could you please mention the size of the desk you use please cause I’m interested in building up my own desks but I don’t know the size of yours which could perfect suit me. Thank you
I don't know about velcro holding my beloved keyboard on that tiny ledge. I would rather have it on a wood plank which is the way I have it now, but I will hunt those sliders down as they look perfect upgrade to what I am using now witch is regular drawer sliders
Ooh, I wouldn't count on it! Maybe order two sets of rails just in case ;) It's pretty firm but wouldn't take much to pull it down! It's definitely cheap enough to try it out... but not if it wrecks your keyboard!
Great Ideas Jef, great video on studio ergonomics 101. Can you also comment on the lighting setup your using? Your space has such a nice warm feel too it. Ambience is such an important factor for creating a creative environment. I'm having a little difficulty getting it right in my space...I'm thinking indirect lighting, colored LED strips and the like, not sure if I'm on the right track. Any help from you or viewers would be much appreciated...thanks.
Thanks! I have some Philips hue in there, but there are loads of cheap alternatives now. My latest faves are Globe led bulbs, cheap at Costco, don’t need a hub, and you can dial in any color… you’re seeing a bunch of those in my studio!
Hey Jef, what size option did you buy with keyboard sliders from your recommendation? They do have different sizes so I'm not sure if bracket size also differs or it's all the same?
thanks for the video. Exactly what I was looking for. I just have a quick question, I clicked on the amazon link for the sliders and saw that they come in a bunch of different specs like 12", 14", 16" etc. which one did you buy? I have a 61 key midi. Thanks
I'm sitting here with my S88 MK2 wondering if I'll end up spending more money on making a sliding desk trey than the keyboard itself.. lol. For now I just haul it to my desk when I want to use it and haul it back away when I need to get close to my desk for typing/gaming/or whatever. A big hassle but saves me money
Yeah, you might be able to use these sliders, but I’d reinforce with something on the bottom that your keyboard sits on. You’d need something thin and sturdy!
The way i figured it out was anything shorter than 16” would not be able to recess far enough to be hidden and extend long enough for the knobs and screen to be usable. I went with the 16” and it works well.
The way i figured it out was anything shorter than 16” would not be able to recess far enough to be hidden and extend long enough for the knobs and screen to be usable. I went with the 16” and it works well.
Nice one - thanks for this! Putting the keyboard directly on the rails leaves more legroom (as opposed to using a shelf and putting the keyboard on that) - but does it still feel sturdy? ...and... which of the four lengths do you recommend for the MK2?
Thanks Loopop! It's definitely sturdy enough, which really surprises me! Maybe not Rachmaninoff sturdy... I got the 16" one and it works just great. And yeah, I just didn't have the legroom under my desk for the platform!
@@jefgibbons thanks - no Rachmaninoff here so I will try them out!
@@loopop sadly it's been a long time since my Rach days, so not much here either!
@@jefgibbons Good to know. I've been wanting to do the exact same thing but was afraid it wouldn't be sturdy enough. Cheers!
Great idea Jef. Im wondering what the height is of your desk?
Dude. I haven't thought of putting the keyboard directly on the rails!! You saved me a lot of trouble!!
I finally took the plunge and followed your instructions on the keyboard drawer... "Screw some holes into the bottom of your desk, realize you got it wrong, and then make sure adjustments"... Boy were you accurate. After 3 attempts I got it right - and how i am so happy! Thanks!
Ha! That’s great!
0:53 I'm going to be making a completely new setup for making music next year, and this is exactly what I needed to see! Seeing someone else actually put together a custom mount for their keyboard is a game changer and something that will help me optimize the space in my studio room, especially since it's pretty compact already.
I hope it feels awesome to know that thousands of people are being inspired by you following your creativity and sharing your results. I’m ordering from your affiliate links later this month and am so excited to setup my studio and get going! Keep shining friend. ✨🌟
One of the nicest things I’ve heard in a while, thanks Ashe!! Definitely the reason I keep doing this!!
I live in a tiny house and have a shelf we use often under the window. I want to put a piano keyboard under it so I can flip it out and practice. I could not think of what the heck a pull out keyboard shelf would be called! Thank you so much for helping me with this problem!
I saw you slide your keyboard out from under the desk and had been looking for something on Amazon where I could declutter my workstation. Thanks so much for this!!! I'm ordering the brackets now. This will be my weekend project👍
Literally have been looking at how to make a keyboard tray under a desk for the last few weeks, perfect timing!
Nice! Post back to let us know how it went!
Me as well.
I love the all wood look. Great retro early 80's late 2010's revival feel.
These are the exact sliders I used on my production side table. I ended up mounting a thin wood project panel to on the sliders first for rigidity. My challenge was then I had to use some scrap wood to get the front of the panel (which wasn’t quite deep enough on its own) to be flush to the very front of the sliders. Took some trial and error but my 61 key KeyLab MK2 fits perfectly and like you said is at the ideal height to play when I need it. It’s great that there are cheap solutions like this to under mount bigger keyboard controllers. Great video as always Jef
Which length slides did you go for? 16"?
@@yeppy013 I’m pretty sure the 16 or 18. My Amazon order history detail doesn’t specify the exact size I ordered.
I made an amazing desk using an old black ikea headboard, and a riser out of the footboard. I just moved, and threw away the old homemade legs, and got an electric sit/stand setup for it. Now, I’m making a slide out tray for my 88 key midi controller.
Great tip about putting keys directly on the sliders instead of using a supporting plate!
I was going to ask why not just use a board as its designed for.... your only saving less than an inch height if thats the issue vs risking having the synth damaged?
I gave up on studio monitors and splurged for Audeze headphones. Not going back. 3 monitors better than 1 big TV. Your reco on the underdesk keyboard is gold.
I have this same setup I used a husky work bench from Home Depot and put the slider right below the main desk,worked out great.
such a nice studio.....my favourite that ive seen so far on TH-cam
Hey thanks BareBones!
Velcro to bottom of keyboard instead of a shelf is Brilliant!
Gotcha on gear in custom fit boxes: monitor the temperature. Even small amounts of power, if enclosed, can cook things. Wood is a good insulator. As a computer geek I normally think, "Minimum 1.5" clearance on top, half inch on sides. Double this if only vented on one side."
I'm both composing (musescore) and playing. I'm going with the compkeyboard under my Arturia Keylab, as my normal typing position is with my elbows almost touching my ribs, but I play with my elbows higher, sitting further back.
I like the slides you found. Tip: If you slide your musickeyboard, splurge and get heavy duty slides and make a point of grabbing it in the middle when you slide it in or out. Easy to bind cheap slides, and then you are stuck.
Yeah, always worry about the heat! My audio interface survived over the last few years… on all the time! And the slides are still going… feels flimsy but still working well! Not great for after touch… needs more support for that!
Great ideas! I did things slightly differently and have a couple recommendations. Amazon sells 19" racks that can be mounted to the bottom of a shelf, so I built a simple "hutch" for my desk and the 19" racks hang down from that. I also got a Standtastic Wall mounted keyboard stand that clears the floor under the keyboards and gets them a little further back. I have a lot of junk in a small room, so saving even a few inches is worth the effort.
I would love to see your setup Andy using the Standtastic stand. I have a tiny space but was considering the Standtastic.
First, your live edge desktop is amazing. Second, I have the MK3 stand from Art in cherry. Third, I used the 16" sliders with a 1'x4'x1" length of Oak, stained to match, for my actual keyboard tray. Fourth, as usual, your knowledge of all things related to music more than inspires a lot of different individuals. Thank you Prof 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
It's always cool to see Jef outside of his natural habitat. I'd watch a Jef Gibbons tutorial on anything, be it beat making, desk construction, roof shingle replacement, bicycle repairs...
Nice video, lots of good tips.
One thing I will say is that, for anyone who spends long hours editing, producing, etc, your monitor placement is critical. The ideal position for a monitor (according to ergonomic experts and chiropractors) is so that looking straight ahead, your eyes should align about 2 inches from the bottom of your screen. Even a slight head tilt forward over time can cause neck and shoulder issues that can become severe, possibly leading to curvature and even fusion of vertebrae.
With this setup, the screen is large enough to place program windows at proper eye level. For those who don't have that option, definitely get a stand before it's too late.
Great points! I had a problem with my older setup with two monitors, my neck would hurt because it was looking left all day! This current giant tv shocks me that I don't have more neck pain... But I have progress lenses in my glasses, and the distance and height means the in-focus area of my glasses lines up perfectly with my head tilted slightly up... seems to work pretty well!
The paint stir sticks worked for me, get drawer rails that are longer than the width of your controller keyboard. I got the 12" rails for an Arturia Keylab 61 Essential, I wish I had gotten the 16".
Thank you for posting this, been struggling to figure what I should do, get a new studio workstation desk with the keyboard slide, get a piano stand with wheels, but seeing how you got the keyboard desk slider without the wood tray and setup it up the way you did is the solution I've been looking for. awesome, thanks
Loving the keyboard sliders, defo need something like that myself, my keyboard is really quite beefy and I need to save every millimetre I can!
Nice office/studio/desk also like the seventies robots I used to have one like that. Obviously need the keyboard in the right spot.
Ah! Thank you. This solves a dilemma I've been having and I couldn't figure out a solution.
Just a heads up to anyone who's buying sliders, check what height clearance you need for your MIDI keyboard! I ordered the sliders from Jef's link but it turns out it doesn't have enough height clearance for the s88, arturia's keylab88, and others. The sliders fit the s61 keyboard as seen in this video though. I'm still deciding on whether to go with a 61 key or 88 keyboard. - Regardless thanks for the great video Jef!
Great tip! You can always send the sliders back… mine was definitely specific for the Komplete series.
Also, to consider is the weight of the keyboard?
I use a 55" TV for a monitor myself and what I did was have the desk away from the wall and the TV slightly down past the desk, but when sat there your eye level can see the whole thing.
Might be out of date on this comment, but I had the same issue with standing desks and then i learned you can just change the legs on your existing desk. I've done eveything i can to get every cord on the desk routed to a location mounted to the bottom of the desk so when it rises, there are only a few dangling cords underneath.
I also do the same thing with monitors. Montor 1 is a 165hz 32 incher, but monitor 2 is a 50 inch tv.
I vane to see the mounted keyboard underneath. Right now i have the 88 keys beside the desk and am looking to mount on some rails this aftermoon. Wish me luck!
3M has some super tape that is used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
Good tip!
Used your approach with the stir sticks to mount my mpc61, thanks for that one. Waiting on the glue to dry before I sit the keyboard ontop
Standing defiantly helps on the long hours. I have a second pair of monitors on top of my mains that"ll switch to when standing so the screens don't block any sound. I have something similar for my keyboard tray. It's great not having it on top of the desk.
Jeff, I coincidentally have a big ol' TV for a monitor, an Ableton Push 2 on my desktop along with a Moog Sub 37 (yeah, not quite the same), a reclaimed wood desktop, and short salt-and-pepper hair. My daughter came into the studio while I was watching this video, and she thought for a split second that the video was of me, not you! Anyways, thanks for this video, as I just used it to add a slider to my desk - and yes, coincidentally, my keyboard is also a Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2. I swear, I'm not stalking you or trying to become you! :)
Ha!! That is awesome Mario! We’ll have to hang out one of these days!
Dude back health is vital respect
Very helpful, thanks so much! Love the velcro idea! Will now look into what you have to share about the TV...
Brilliant idea to stuck the keyboard directly to the shelf! I always wanted a lightweight workstation desk this should do the job. Thank you!
Nice. I want to remake my studio. I soon get the arturia 61 key midi board and want it to fit in here.
Great choice of keyboard. I know you know what you are talking about.
Ultimate support makes a nice laptop stand. It's flat on the bottom so things can slide on top of it. It's also infinitely adjustable over it's height range.
Nice really ! I was wondering, in terms of ergonomics, is it better to have your mouse on the table or below on another slider/piece of wood?
Your space is awesome! So is the monitor screen!
Thanks a lot, I'll realize my keyboard desk slider is exactly like this (maybe except for the fixing, had another idea here using a removable double sticky 3M tape :) Can't wait until the material arrives.
I love all of this, thanks Jef
Hi thank you for your tips, question: with the new keyboards Mk3 his still working from the bigger size?
I love it do you think set up will work with an s88 komplete kontrol or is that to heavy?
That was my first idea from the very beginning: I always hated the image of a keyboard on the desktop, particularly having a 61 keys one.
I'd be worried about having an expensive controller or keyboard simply resting on those rail tabs with the velcro. I'd get a metal shop to make an aluminum shelf for it, and they can also powder coat it black or whatever color you want
The only other issue is that if you get a new keyboard you might have to drill new holes to get it to fit.
3M has some super tape that are used on the side of semi trucks for moving billboards, people also use it to put solar panels on the top of vans, it's that redicuously strong, but don't expect to EVER get it off.
I would try a masonite board the width of the keyboard. it's going to be no thicker than the paint sticks and velcro
Where he mounted the keyboard, this is not a load bearing part of the keyboard. Its the plastic lip. Over time I do not think this is a good idea. Maybe ok for the S49. But I would not be doing this on my S88. As the base of the keyboard is metal and this is where the feet are and is meant to take the weight. But where he has mounted them is on the plastic edge/Lip of the keyboard casing. If you are playing on the middle of the keyboard, the extra stress will not be good for the plastic casing over time.
Nice first video for your new home improvement channel! 😜
HA! Yeah right... better get some better supplies before I go there!!
@@jefgibbons yay for power tools ! And reviews!
Oh, and nice set-up, by the way!
Good info on the slider build, about what I'm getting ready to do.
Weird question: What kind of glasses are you wearing in this video? Excellent content, BTW. Optimizing space in the studio is crucial to workflow, and workflow is crucial to overcoming the inertia that can stand between you and making music (especially when it isn't your day job!).
I’m in love with your desk! Are your controller keyboard and your desktop at ideal heights? I bought a studio desk a while back with a pull-out drawer like yours, but the desk was way too high and made it a little painful to use a keyboard and mouse, plus neck strain as the computer monitor was too high.
Thanks Bright! Yeah, getting the height perfect is really tough. The desk is just a slab of live-edge acacia wood from the hardware store with legs! Biggest problem with it is that it isn't perfectly flat and has warped over the last few years. I end up having to put little furniture protectors on most of my devices to balance them out! The desk is 28.5" from the floor, and it seems like the height of everything now (keyboard included) is working perfectly.
@@jefgibbons the look of that beautiful wood more than makes up for the wonkyness, in my opinion 😃 thanks for your reply!
Nice vid again. I like the wooden rack for the 19” gear. No issues with equipment heat there?
Hey love the under desk mount for the mini controller. I’ve been thinking about doing this for mine. Is the TV you have for your monitor is a 4K TV. I have two computers and I’m looking for some type of a monitor that I can A/B between the both or even have them both running at the same time on screen. Thanks. Look forward to.
Great idea with the keyboard tray, thanks! Since I have a 49MK2, I feel like at least the height adjustments should be the same as yours so if you have some specifics it would be great and save some of us a little time on experimenting perhaps! :)
Hey, are you referring to the m audio 49 midi keyboard? I have the same thing, I am about to order from Amazon the railing thing, what worked for you?
how did it work ergonomically for you retrospectively? armheight vs bumping into the keyboard with your legs
No nuisance reflections off the keyboard mounted in front of the speaker? Usually, the recommendations suggest keeping all gear away from the speakers, based on the resultant frequency/relections bounce.
Some great tips Jef!
Velcro under the keyboard to keep it from sliding.... I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that. I built a drawer but the keyboard slides all over the place and I've been dealing with that for 2 years. Going to fix that as soon I post this comment, thank you so much!!!
That's awesome! Yeah I use velcro for everything! And dude, I'm a HUGE fan of you and your channel!! Been following you from the beginning of my wild TH-cam ride, can't thank you enough for what you do! We must connect some time...
While I love the look of your thick wooden desk and the mechanism of the keyboard sliding right there, such setup is still not really optimally in terms of being ergonomical. It also may not be easy at this time to both have an ergonomical body position for both the midi keyboard and typing keyboard, since they basically need the same area for optimal ergonomical position. In your setup for example, your midi keyboard is at a comfortable postion, but your typing keyboard and mouse are way too high, increasing the chances of RSI (repatiative strain injury/carpal tunnel syndrome) when you are using your mouse and keyboard.
I see 2 parts of a solution that ergonomically would improve the situation most of us music production guys are in:
- We would need a MIDI keyboard that has a very thin base underneath the keys, while at the same time the keys should be normal size and depth. This allows the height of the midi keyboard to be as close to the typing keyboard as possible.
- The desk ideally be as thin as possible, so also this decreases the distance between the the midi keyboard and typing keyboard are at the same height as much as possible. The MIDI keyboard should slide right under the typing keyboard, in terms of height.
I still do not understand why there are not more places selling such setups, as it seems like a easy money for a relatively simple, yet common problem. It should not even have to be something that is expensive. Whenever I look at 95%'s people's setups, It's really never ideal for this reason. I see half of the people with comfortable midi keyboard locations and the other half with uncomfortable midi keyboard locations while realistically speaking both options should be possible.
Another theoretical possibility would be to have the typing mouse and keyboard and mouse slide under the midi keyboard, but I'm not sure if that would be better or than the previous solution. The keyboard (typing or midi) you operate most of the time should be most optimally ergonomically. For instance, I tend to spend a lot more time programming notes than actually playing them on the midi keyboard. So for me the typing keyboard is right in front of me, while the midi keyboard is on the left of me (both at ideal height, but not ideal position because I have to rotate). However, it's always a compromise to some degree, but the amount of comprimise people have to live with at the moment should not be needed.
Dom Sigalas even went from using regular mouse to such a thing that you rotate with your thumb because he also had carpal tunnel/Repetative strain injury (pain in which means arms/shoulders) which is no wonder because also his desk is way too high for his typing keyboard. I think a lot of us use the typing keyboard and mouse more than we think, since playing something is done in a few seconds and tweaking your music can really take ages.
Also, this solution would also increase the legroom anyone has under their table as much as possible.
*So manifacturers, please make such a a keyboard and desk. We do not need 100 competing DAWS or 1000 different orchestral kontakt libraries, but rather actually need something this*
Great video! Guitar Center has the Odyssey stand for $33. They have had it for $14.99 the last 2 Black Fridays.
Thanks for the tip!
attach the rails to the controller/keyboard. Have a friend hold it under the desk use a bubble leveler to get it straight then mark the screw holes with a pen or pencil.
you really going to drill holes in your nice Keybed. I don't think so!!
@@rdalcroft3934it worked for over two years. Took out the screws sold as is when i moved
@jefgibbons love that live edge desk you have. Is that one solid piece of wood?
Sort of, it’s a butterfly type piece… but it’s pretty warped now, which isn’t great for the gear!
Nice video! which slider could I use for my nektar gx88 midi keyboard?
I avoided buying a "studio desk" with a keyboard shelf after watching your videos with the keyboard on the desk! If it works for you and you are my Cubase tutor, then it must be good for me! Now, you have a keyboard that slides in and out below your desk. Only joking! To be honest, I was not convinced that desks with sliding shelves would work that well for me because often they were too low, lacked rigidity and tended to sag in the middle due to keyboard weight. So I bought an office desk, placed the monitors at the edges on foam pads and am about to purchase a 49 key Arturia controller to sit between the speakers and in front of my screen. I have a Roland RD2000 keyboard next to me at a right angle for piano parts. I think this might work for me as I have minimal equipment as described although I need a new Apple computer. Will I need a screen as big as yours? It seems to work for you ~BUT hold on, I have been here before.........
Ha! Loved this Alan! I keep changing my setup... I'll make sure I stick with the under desk slider for a while at least! A 49 Key might work perfectly on your desk since it's a little smaller. Having the right angle keyboard is PERFECT if you have the right setup for it, then the little guy on your desk for trying out patches and playing little things here and there. You should be good to go!
also sitting that close to my 40" 2 tvs i had in the time was not right so now i have a 34" alienware aw3423dwf and its much better for me sitting close. i also use it with a macbook pro 16 m3 max sometimes. im looking at new setup and especially monitor speaker pads or stands for my yamaha hs8 white. i have a 49 keyboard width see through glass stand for my monitor and keyboard but tbh i hate the look of it and prefer without the glass monitor stand. im also thinking of a new pc build with the Thermaltake tower 100 which is only itx. or tower 200 which is a tab bit big im guessing to be put on top of my yamaha hs8 where as tower 100 will easily fit nice. i like my arturia keylab 49 white keyboard and i defo want this sliders bolted to my wood top. i also have to change 2 of my cables for my keyboard and focusrite 2i2 scarlett audio interface to usb type c to usb type b. i seen the price of the thunderbolt audio interfaces and jesus christ it must of been a dodgy website because they were in the grands for what i want it to do.
Love your videos, Jef! Great setup you got there!
Thanks!
@@jefgibbons what do you compose with more, your maschine or your keyboard?
I really want to use my Mikro, but I feel like it was designed to be a complicated niche' unit. I've been looking at your videos (which are great) trying to get back into using it. My Komplete Kontrol has TAKEN KONTROL of everything now.
Quick question, do you feel that those sliding draw trays can only handle a light touch on the keyboard? In other words, do you feel like you can't put a lot of pressure on the keyboard tray?
Great job Jef. Love the monitor. If you had to do it over again, would you purchase the same monitor? And by the way what is the brand and model number of the monitor you’re using now? Thanks Jef
Man that is a gorgeous setup 😍Side question regarding your monitor placement... what is your sweet spot like with your monitors being so far apart? It looks like it would be behind your head which I know some prefer. I ask because I have it in my head that the distance from my cones need to be exactly the same distance from my ears as they are apart, and the wider you go, the farther back you have to be to make that true. Thanks!
Hi Jef, love your channel. Can you recommend a great midi keyboard with a drum pad, night wind up using for live looping. I’m an experienced musician, I also play guitar mostly. I basically want to do what you do with your loop/songs
Sure thing! Arturia has drum pads on theirs… quality is good for the price! What DAW are you making your music on?
@@jefgibbonsableton live. I basically want to do something like what Marc Rebillet does so I'm also in the market for a looper. I was thinking about getting the boss rc-505. I play guitar, a little synth/keys, and sing occasionally. I want to make beats on the fly and add the other layers. There are way too many options and I'm overwhelmed. Budget is pretty decent. I use a lot of Kontakt/Native instruments as well. I also have Maschine but not the standalone version, I find it kind of annoyingly complicated sometimes.
@@boonatuna Yeah, Maschine takes a while to get really comfortable with it! You might want to look at the Push 2! If you're not a keyboard player, using the scales option on the push 2 is awesome... and then having 64 pads to drop sounds on... and if that's not enough... just a simple controller with a few octaves for keys should do you!
@@jefgibbons thanks for taking the time to reply!
How do you manage the cable connections to the keyboard so they extend and retract when the keyboard is pulled out and pushed in?
great tips Jef,still have to put a desk together,but tragedy struck,not only have i contracted two times covid,i wanted to demolish a wall and broke my right ringfiger badly,i dont know if it will heal,for the moment i cant use that finger in any way,and certainly cant play the keyboard anymore,"thats life" as the saying goes,cheers Jef
Ahh man that's awful! You may have to retrain yourself to not use that finger... Easier said than done though. I hope things get better for you soon Ronny!
@@jefgibbons thanx for the kind wordsJef,have a nice weekend
You have a damn sweet setup there!
Hi Jef, what about your mixer to get all the audio output coming from your gear, also referring to your video about Maschine plus and live looping in which I suppose you go into the stereo line in of Maschine plus itself from the mixer ? Thanks
Yeah I’ve got a cheap little mixer for that stuff!
great video, lighting is also fantastic in your videos!
Thanks! Thinking of doing a video on my video production setup!
Thanks man good stuff!
OMG look at that first generation Macintosh computer in the background. There's a blast from the 1980s lol. Does that thing still turn on? :D
What length of sliders did you use for your studio?
Wowwwwwww So Nice !!!!!
Thanks for your share^^
Awesome, Jef! Anyone know if this can be mounted on the underside of an Argosy Halo (the regular version)? Thanks!!
Also, Jef-- if I haven't said it numerous times over the years..... you're a genius. Thanks, man.
Great video Jeff. What should be the height of the table and how high should the midi keyboard from ground. Secondly, like the MK3 wood case. What color is it? Thanks
Thanks a lot Jeff really appreciate it. Could you please mention the size of the desk you use please cause I’m interested in building up my own desks but I don’t know the size of yours which could perfect suit me. Thank you
thanks i was looking tfor this
I don't know about velcro holding my beloved keyboard on that tiny ledge. I would rather have it on a wood plank which is the way I have it now, but I will hunt those sliders down as they look perfect upgrade to what I am using now witch is regular drawer sliders
That sounds much better!
Do you think this would be strong enough if my five year old leaned on it some? It is for his school desk for music class
Ooh, I wouldn't count on it! Maybe order two sets of rails just in case ;) It's pretty firm but wouldn't take much to pull it down! It's definitely cheap enough to try it out... but not if it wrecks your keyboard!
Great Video - what width keyboard tray did you use? 12, 14, 16 or 18 inches? Thanks!
Very nice! Lots of good ideas in here.
Great Ideas Jef, great video on studio ergonomics 101. Can you also comment on the lighting setup your using? Your space has such a nice warm feel too it. Ambience is such an important factor for creating a creative environment. I'm having a little difficulty getting it right in my space...I'm thinking indirect lighting, colored LED strips and the like, not sure if I'm on the right track. Any help from you or viewers would be much appreciated...thanks.
Thanks! I have some Philips hue in there, but there are loads of cheap alternatives now. My latest faves are Globe led bulbs, cheap at Costco, don’t need a hub, and you can dial in any color… you’re seeing a bunch of those in my studio!
@@jefgibbons Excellent info...thanks for taking time to reply, greatly appreciated...
A shoutout to a company called audiorax that makes a lot of this stuff, great quality, and quite affordable...
Excellent tip!! This tray is a little light weight!
Nice setup up bro
Hey Jef, what size option did you buy with keyboard sliders from your recommendation? They do have different sizes so I'm not sure if bracket size also differs or it's all the same?
what size sliders did you use for the S61?
thanks for the video. Exactly what I was looking for. I just have a quick question, I clicked on the amazon link for the sliders and saw that they come in a bunch of different specs like 12", 14", 16" etc. which one did you buy? I have a 61 key midi. Thanks
I'm sitting here with my S88 MK2 wondering if I'll end up spending more money on making a sliding desk trey than the keyboard itself.. lol. For now I just haul it to my desk when I want to use it and haul it back away when I need to get close to my desk for typing/gaming/or whatever. A big hassle but saves me money
Yeah, you might be able to use these sliders, but I’d reinforce with something on the bottom that your keyboard sits on. You’d need something thin and sturdy!
How do you feel about the sturdiness of the sliders as of now? I have the same on the way
Had it since then and it's still working great! Just moved them to a new desk and they're still good... just don't play too hard!
@@jefgibbons noted. Haha. Thanks! I have one of those OnStage workstation desks that I'm modifying. The included tray it a tad too low.
can it screw into a carbon fibre desk ?
Hi Jef, what mm are the shelves used in your video? In the UK there are multiple sizes and I dont know the correct item. Please advise. Many thanks
Hey Jef, great video. I’m thinking about using your method and am curious why you chose the 16” rails when the keyboard is on 11.6” depth.
Was also curious about this! Thanks!
The way i figured it out was anything shorter than 16” would not be able to recess far enough to be hidden and extend long enough for the knobs and screen to be usable. I went with the 16” and it works well.
The way i figured it out was anything shorter than 16” would not be able to recess far enough to be hidden and extend long enough for the knobs and screen to be usable. I went with the 16” and it works well.
Unc jef!!! Dope product's!! Definitely can make a producer's life lil easier..lol. Enjoy your week💯
For sure! Thanks V!
@@jefgibbons 🎯💯
Hey thanks so much for this recommendation what size keyboard arms did you get I’ve also got the NI 🌸🌸🌸
I got the biggest ones I could, just make sure it has the nubs when you get it in, someone reported theirs didn’t have them!