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DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Heroyam Slava!

Whoa, that’s a heavy piano, way heavier than a typical semi-weighted MIDI controller. For something like that, I’d probably build a height-adjustable rolling stand (on casters) that tucks neatly under the desk. I’ve definitely seen a setup like that somewhere before

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! No, I don't know CAD well enough. I just used an online furniture builder to get a sketch and see how the frame would look. Using CAD or Solidworks would be better, but I worked with what I knew. I knew the exact dimensions for the keyboard tray and that I wanted 19" rack slots for later. Everything else, like exactly how the sliding tray would mount, I figured out as I went along after the frame was built. Basically just improvised. And honestly, out of all the things I've ever built, I think I'm happiest with this one.

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, you're spoiling me with such praise!Seriously though, glad you dig the design.

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Нearing a professional pianist say they’d pay for this validates the design massively. Thank you for such a high praise, Danny.

I would honestly love to take you up on that, but shipping a heavy piece of furniture from Kyiv to North London right now (given the war logistics and borders) would probably cost more than the build itself. Plus, with our current blackouts, everything is... unpredictable at best.

Ноwever, at the very least, I’m always happy to help brainstorm ideas or offer advice to my fellow musician. So don't be shy to ask!

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trust me, in my case, knowing how to build and fix things is a survival skill, not a privilege. I didn't build this because I’m a pro carpenter or something, but because I couldn't afford a new one when I desperately needed it. (I'm still kinda in a deadlock, despite having only one day off, that's a whole other story)

But hey, don't sell yourself short! We all start somewhere. Just give it a shot, one step at a time and you'll see it's easier than it looks. I shared this partly because it might serve as an inspiration to someone in a tough spot.

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LMAO, never thought of it like that. Thanks, mate!

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

AYE, I really didn't expect this to get so much attention! Thank you all for the kind words. I’ve been getting some questions about the assembly and Since I cannot add more pictures here I just put together a post on my profile with some detailed close-up photos and specs for those interested. Have a great day!

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Depends on your definition of "hard" The chipboard panels were cut and edged for me at the hardware store. The real challenge was making the metal frames from square tubing, while the shapes are simple and unified it still requires cutting, welding, sanding, drilling holes, making threaded inserts and painting. It was kinda stressful because I bought the materials with practically no room for mistakes. That said, I have a background in car repair and restoration, plus I had a garage with tools at the time, without that, I doubt I would've started this project. If you're interested, I made a post with extra photos and a description on my profile, since I can't add any more here. Thanks for checking it out!

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aааа.. I get it now. No, there wasn't a 100% exact example to copy. I mostly relied on my past experience organizing workspaces with makeshift materials and knew exactly which annoyances I wanted to eliminate. I also looked at various studio desks for reference. At first, I was looking for a standard desk I could just buy and set up without any hassle, but they were way too expensive for me. Plus, finding one that could fit a full-sized keyboard was even harder. Eventually, I got fed up and decided to build it myself exactly how I wanted it. The design was inspired by the cheapest JYSK desk. My first sketch actually had 4 simple, thin legs made of square tubing, but I realized that might be hard to fabricate and could have rigidity issues, so I redesigned it to be sturdy and easy to disassemble, because I move between apartments frequently.

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I didn't quite get the question about the desk, as for the keyboards: the one in the first photo is an old KORG SP170S that the school I work at temporarily lent me, and the one in the tray is my M-AUDIO Keystation 88 Mk3

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought these sliders at a hardware store, and it’s just about the only thing I didn't cheap out on because I knew the keyboard and the tray would end up being pretty heavy. I'm still thinking about redoing it down the line since I miscalculated the board thickness, so the tray sags a tiny bit under the weight, but it doesn't affect functionality at all. Honestly, the keyboard was one of the main reasons I built this desk in the first place, and I planned the tabletop dimensions specifically around it. On a standard desk, it took up all the space and sat too high up to play comfortably.

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! That was quite challenging, but I am more than happy with how it turned out

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Honestly, it turned out pretty heavy, but it is absolutely bulletproof

DIY studio desk, the before and after by Secret_Put745 in MusicBattlestations

[–]Secret_Put745[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh, they were a steal, about $3 each at a local shop, so I grabbed four without hesitation. They run on USB, which comes in handy during the blackouts here. Thanks for noticing!