Studio
Well calling it a "Studio" is an exaggeration, since this is basically just on "corner" of my office, even the PC I use is used for many other things than just being a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), however I've got a special harddisk to boot on when using if for DAW, hence this OS has been optimized for this purpose (essentially disabling all eyecandy and killing all processes that are not needed). In 2010 I moved and at the new place my office was smaller, so I "retired" some of the equiptment I didn't use to often (still got most of it, however its not hooked up). Its not an ideal place for recording sounds since the noise from the PC will be picked up by microphone, but my voice is not intended for singing anyway :-)
Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor (click image to see a bigger version)
This image shows my primary "working environment" when I am fooling around with my "noise-making". I've got 2 LCD screens connected to my PC (one running at 1600x1200 and one running at 1280x1024). At the time of taking this photo I was running Record, where I normally got "the Rack" and Sequencer on the Left screen and the Mixer on the Right (when running Cubase I normally got my sequencer on the "big screen" to the left, and the mixer on the right). Just in front of me I got my Novation ReMOTE 37 SL (USB) Midi Keyboard/Controller, and to the left I have my trusty KORG padKONTROL. When I started "making noise" I only had a Synthesizer (Yamaha MOTIF) which I used for playing and triggering samples. But for recording drums I really hate using a keyboard - to me it don't have "the right feel", and I guess it feels a bit like if you had to play the piano wearing gloves. But when using the KORG padKONTROL I feel in command and have a good feeling with what I am doing ... but the "End Result" still souds like noise :-)
Mixer, Grooveboxes/Samples (click image to see a bigger version)
Moving further to the left is my Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro mixer and my 3 Grooveboxes/Samplers (Roland MC-808, KORG ESX-1 and KORG EMX-1).
Since I got my RME FireFace 800 audio interface (and 2 ADA 8000) I don't need to plug all my hardware into my mixer so I basically just use it to adjust the volume of the audio (my aplifier is sitting on top of the rack, in the far left of the photo - out of reach when sitting at the PC).
In retrospect purchasing the MC-808, ESX-1 and EMX-1 was an error, since I have never used them much. But now they are there and ready to use if I feel like playing with them. Sometimes I play-around with them, and using some of their presents for inspiration or lift samples from them (sample the output from them). Also they are fun to "play with" since your can instantly get going tweakting the sounds by working the various knobs. But I never use them to sample on (its far more easy on the PC, and over the years I have managed to build a huge sample library that sits on disk ready to use from the PC).
Rack and Yamaha MOTIF (click image to see a bigger version)
The rack is filled with goodies and next to it is my trusty Yamaha MOTIF 6 that I got in 2003. Since I have retited some of my old hardware (e.g. my Roland D-10 and D-50) my rack have plenty of spare MIDI ports and audio connections available. During the last years I am using my hardware synthesizers less and less, and use software more and more in stead, so its not so often I fire up my Triton Rack, Roland D-550 or Roland-JV1010. But just as with the grooveboxes/samplers they are nice to have sitting there if I want to use them for playing or lifting samples from them.
In my rack I have (from the top): Behringer PL-2000, Triton Rack, Roland D-550, Midisport 4x4, Roland JV-1010, MOTU Midi Express XT, a SCSI CD-ROM connected to my Triton (I have a lot of soundbanks or Disc for the Triton), 2 Behringer PX-2000 (Patchbays), my trusty RME FireFace 800 Autio interface, and 2 Behringer ADA 8000 (giving me a total of 26 imput chanels and 24 output chanels). The latest generations of MOTIFs are naturally more cable than my "old" 2003 model, but I still like it a lot (it will be the last hardware synth I get rid of). With 61 keys (5 octaves) it has more reach than my ReMOTE 37 SL, and also its more confortable playing for longer times (it you are not nust recording a few chords). Soundwise I got a butch of soundsbanks for it on smartmedia card, and the build in preset sounds are GREAT for orchestral sounds: Pianos, Keys, Organ, Brass, Reed/Pipe, Strings and so on.
