Under-Desk Keyboard vs on Stand on the Side?

[QuestionAsker]

I was thinking of installing an slide-out drawer for a 88-key keyboard under my desk, but was wondering how much preferable a slide-out drawer keyboard in front of you is, vs on a stand off to the side (such as an x-stand, etc.)

What are your thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of each?

I ask because I'm drawing up desk plans to build myself, and it seems at a traditional desk height the keyboard drawer would almost be touching my knees. Seems like it would get annoying / claustrophobic.

(I did think about a standing desk, which would fix that problem, but don't have the funds for that type of setup atm).

[thecontrolcentre]

With an 88-key you might want to consider weight. They're often pretty heavy (as well as big). My Oxygen 88 would flip my desk over if it was on a slide-out drawer.

[Gavincoolguy]

I've gone back and forth on this. The above poster is correct that with an 88 key board you are gonna be building something custom, ordering the work or buying an expensive desk. You can always snag a deal on a keyboard desk in a city, nobody wants to move a desk. My preferred setup now is an Ikea table that is height adjustable and a plastic folding table. You can do controllers,keyboard, mouse and monitors on a table, keyboard on the folding table. Toss the sliding table on coasters and now the entire table slides in and out as you need it. You can also go keyboard mouse controllers on the folding table, keyboard on the desk and a table on the wall or whatever. Personally I'm using a two tier keyboard stand on wheels janked at an angle off my desk so I can see if monitor without turning my head too much and I can control the daw with my right hand. I only do this because I do more than just music at my computer and it's nice to be able to "put it away". If you are doing everything yourself I think the best addition anyone can get is a monitor on a stand with a wireless keyboard and mouse so you can get comfortable at your instrument and work.

[Constructed Identity]

I was thinking of installing an slide-out drawer for a 88-key keyboard under my desk, but was wondering how much preferable a slide-out drawer keyboard in front of you is, vs on a stand off to the side (such as an x-stand, etc.)

What are your thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of each?

I ask because I'm drawing up desk plans to build myself, and it seems at a traditional desk height the keyboard drawer would almost be touching my knees. Seems like it would get annoying / claustrophobic.

(I did think about a standing desk, which would fix that problem, but don't have the funds for that type of setup atm).

I have thought a lot about this set up. It is pretty hard to have a big keyboard directly in front of your monitor for several reasons- too big both length and depth are a problem for a desk and keep in mind ergonomics are that you want the keys to be where your hands rest with your arms at your sides. That isn't too far away from your legs so even having a drawer like I did with my old desk meant I was constantly hitting my knees. The other factor is space for anything else on your desk, like a computer keyboard which you also want at about the same level. And then there is distance from your monitor speakers and sound reflections off the keyboard.
I have seen some complex custom desks with a keyboard in front, but there is always a compromise in space, ergonomics, or practicality.

[cryophonik]

When I had my 88-key synth (Kurzweil PC3X), I had it on a separate desk to the right of my computer monitors and had a 61-key controller in front me. There simply no space for the big keyboard in front of my and, as discussed, the ergonomics were terrible. My solution was to have a preset on my MIDI interface routed to my 88-key synth so I could play it from my 61-key controller when I wanted to hear it from my monitoring position, or I could just swivel to the right to play it. That worked fine for me.

[FranklyFlawless]

I was thinking of installing an slide-out drawer for a 88-key keyboard under my desk, but was wondering how much preferable a slide-out drawer keyboard in front of you is, vs on a stand off to the side (such as an x-stand, etc.)

What are your thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of each?

I ask because I'm drawing up desk plans to build myself, and it seems at a traditional desk height the keyboard drawer would almost be touching my knees. Seems like it would get annoying / claustrophobic.

(I did think about a standing desk, which would fix that problem, but don't have the funds for that type of setup atm).

Create a L or U-shaped desk then.

I keep my live music equipment entirely separated from my computer gear, but my financial situation is similar to yours. I am thinking about getting an Uplift standing desk in the future.

[zvenx]

Hmmm... I have often wondered about this.
I have four different setups.. and all of them the midi keyboard is on top of the desk since well, this is what i use most often... in three of them the mouse and computer keyboard is under.
rsp

[DrGonzo]

Personally - neither. I absolutely have to have the keyboard right in front of me. I bought two desks with trays and I really disliked it. Having the keys on the side was better but still not optimal. One variation would be to have the big keyboard on the side and having a small compact keyboard on the desk, like a Arturia KSP / Minilab or NI M32.

[rod_zero]

18012966_10155326416356654_1467544669_o.jpg

I have also confronted this problem, I eventually came to the conclusion the computer keyboard can be at the same height of the 88 controller so I made a desk with a lot of space, so computer keyboard can be in front at the appropriate height, for me it is comfortable to type or play, I now have a more slim keyboard which allows to pull the digital piano closer to me. I also have a kesington expert mouse to requires less area than a normal mouse.

Typing at the computer kb with your arms almost resting, avoiding having them in a weird angle has been a real saver for me as far as back pain goes.

[Gavincoolguy]

..

[Gavincoolguy]

Figured I'd share my desk. As you can probably tell I'm a hobbyist using no outboard analog gear outside of some guitar amps that I place a mic in front of. Any 6ft+ table + a folding table both with adjustable height becomes a nested desk that is very cheap to put together. I've been a computer dork for 30+ years and have tried/destroyed all manner of keyboard trays and really need a 3 foot space to work optimally on the mouse of not more as I age and start to turn down the sensitivity. Wish I had discovered the nested desk sooner.

[Gavincoolguy]

Derp

[magog]

I use a wireless computer keyboard with a built-in trackpoint instead of a mouse. That means I can type comfortably with the computer keyboard resting on my lap, and I don't need a surface for a mouse. That frees up my desk for my MIDI keyboard and other music equipment.

I have my laptop and external monitor on arms above the desk so they are at eye level and don't interfere with the music gear.

[sin night]

I have a 5 octaves keyboard on a sliding shelf. I'd rather have it on my desk, but I need that desk for my computer for those days when I'm working from home (I tried the opposite for a week, with computer keyboard and mouse on the sliding shelf, but it didn't work that well, it was a bit too low while the midi keyboard was a little bit too high / fatiguing for the wrist)... it's not a bad compromise... in my setup, it barely touches my knees / upper legs, as long as I don't try to cross them... but I'm still comfortable (and I'm 1.80m). I can lower my office chair if I really want to cross my legs, anyway.



I need a keyboard when I'm in front of the computer, so I don't need to change my position... I can't go back and forth between the computer and the keyboard and have to change position / turn my chair every time, it's a waste of time and attention.
I could manage to work with a keyboard on my side, although I don't like it much (I've been there...).


Most of my synths are behind me (my room is really small), but I can just turn and play them without staring at the computer screen... if I need to interact with a computer while using a piece of gear, I try to keep it as close as my computer as possible, in order to move as little as possible.

With that said, a 88-key keyboard could be heavy, so maybe I'd consider a sliding U-shaped stand on wheels, rather than a sliding shelf (if that solution is more robust), both going under the desk, of course.
My current desk is only 120 cm wide, so I can't put my digital piano under it, otherwise it would be on a sliding stand (my digital piano is about 20 Kg), but if/when I'll have the chance to change room (or the current desk will be in bad shape), I'll consider moving my digital piano under my desk.


Just my two cents, of course.


Oh, and I forgot to say that I don't like x-shaped stands, I feel like they are always in the way...

[QuestionAsker]

I have thought a lot about this set up. It is pretty hard to have a big keyboard directly in front of your monitor for several reasons- too big both length and depth are a problem for a desk and keep in mind ergonomics are that you want the keys to be where your hands rest with your arms at your sides. That isn't too far away from your legs so even having a drawer like I did with my old desk meant I was constantly hitting my knees. The other factor is space for anything else on your desk, like a computer keyboard which you also want at about the same level. And then there is distance from your monitor speakers and sound reflections off the keyboard.
I have seen some complex custom desks with a keyboard in front, but there is always a compromise in space, ergonomics, or practicality.

Thanks Constructed - I think I've realized the same - if you want to have a desk at a comfortable level to type (which I do, since it'll be the desk I'll be working at my day job most of the day, from home), a lower desk is quite nice, so your shoulders can be relaxed.

I'm going to custom build my desk - was thinking of making it only about 26" high, almost touching my knees - I hear this type of setup feels great from an ergonomic standpoint - though obviously I won't be able to fit a keyboard under there.

I suppose the best solution is to have they keyboard on a stand off to the side, or on rollers to wheel it in front of you to play.

(Here's a pic of my room which I want to put the desk in, to fill the large empty space on the right. To the left I plan to record vocals (with a duvet covering the closet walls), and I could put a keyboard on a stand up against the bed. Might get kind of cramped though)

https://imgur.com/a/5X5b45R
https://imgur.com/a/TuWGP29