KVR Audio

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:30 pm

I have 3 desktop synths (possibly 4 soon), 6 pedals, a Komplete Audio 6, and a ridiculous tangle of cables in a pile on top of a wire rack shelf (under which is my computer). It's really too much clutter and I'm not sure what to do about it.

My available space is limited; laying everything out on a pedalboard doesn't seem practical.

A patchbay and some better power routing would mean not having to unplug and replug things, but it's also another big bunch of cables and I don't think it'd be much of an improvement

Typically I'm using between 0 and 2 hardware synths/effects at a time. Maybe my best option is to rig up more and better shelf space, or stacking drawers, and put away everything not actively being used (plus maybe culling the least used devices).

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:57 am

A patchbay would be nice. It moves the main cable clutter to the back, so out of sight. But you still need a bunch of short patch cables at the front to patch your devices to their effect loops & destinations. Keeping these patch cables short will keep them off the ground, so not that much clutter.

enroe · Post by **enroe** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 11:58 am

foosnark, I commiserate with you!

Years ago I spent half a year only for connecting
all devices in my studio. It was in the nineties when
almost everything was hardware. In order to have
a creative environment I wanted my studio to
be optimized. Optimized so that I could use every
instrument and device without a new tampering
with all the elements.

The effort for this was a nightmare!

One time I decided to concentrate on recording
music only. So I expulsed all the hardware and
cabling and transfered the whole landscape into
one PC. This was a giant step - but it was
extremely necessary. At least for me.

Believe me: There are so many software-synthesizer
that you won't miss your beloved hardware-synths.
Inside the PC all the synths, instruments and devices
are virtually connected. Much more flexible, much
faster, and always with total recall!

For me it was the decision between having a studio
for the purpose of creating music. Or for the purpose
of wallowing inside a bunch of museal knob-attached
big boxes ?

So my recommendation is: Ponder about what you
really want!

ras.s · Post by **ras.s** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:31 pm

Consider putting them on a pedalboard, but installing the pedalboard at a 80 degree angle. Or something along those lines, basically rack everything vertically, even the synths. It will save space on the table and make everything easily accessible and the cables can go behind it, out of sight.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 4:09 pm

enroe wrote:Believe me: There are so many software-synthesizer that you won't miss your beloved hardware-synths. Inside the PC all the synths, instruments and devices are virtually connected. Much more flexible, much faster, and always with total recall!

I've taken that step before, and at the time it was the right move. But I've been working 100% in the box (aside from the occasional sample) for years, and I'm moving back the other way just a bit. I find working with hardware again is refreshing and fun, but would never want to go back to a 100% hardware environment.

ras.s wrote:Consider putting them on a pedalboard, but installing the pedalboard at a 80 degree angle. Or something along those lines, basically rack everything vertically, even the synths. It will save space on the table and make everything easily accessible and the cables can go behind it, out of sight.

Hmm, that's a possibility. I'd still have to shuffle my workspace around quite a bit to make room for it though.

physical organization