When the Simplest Solution Really Is the Best
In my previous post, I talked about how I ended up using felt strips on the shelving brackets of my synth wall to act as sliders—essentially turning the shelves into drawer-like surfaces. After considering proper drawer slides and realizing they would compromise the structural integrity of the shelving unit, the felt solution turned out to be the best option.
Sometimes the simplest solution really is the right one.
That small change dramatically improved the usability of the synths on the shelves. Instruments that were previously awkward to access suddenly became inviting to use, and nothing about the structure of the shelving system was weakened in the process. Easy, inexpensive, effective.
The Appeal of Simplicity
That experience naturally got me thinking more broadly about studio design. Sometimes the simplest setup really is the best setup.
And yes—I’m fully aware of the irony of writing this while finishing a studio that is anything but minimal.
There were moments during my redesign when I imagined a very different space:
A mostly empty room.
A single high-quality studio desk—literally from Studio Desk.
One top-tier synthesizer, maybe something like the latest ASM Leviathan.
A pair of excellent studio monitors.
One or two pieces of carefully chosen outboard gear filling the rack space in the desk.
A modern Mac with a large display.
And maybe a couch in the back, paired with tasteful custom acoustic treatment that doubles as artwork.
Simple. Clean. Expensive—but clear.
Choosing a Different Path
That’s not the direction I took, and I’m okay with that.
I like having options. I like turning on different machines, learning what they can do, and slowly going deeper than presets and surface-level understanding. I enjoy the process of exploration, even if it means my studio is more complex than strictly necessary.
But I completely understand the appeal of less is more.
For some people, a minimalist studio isn’t just visually appealing—it’s the most productive environment they can imagine. For others, a more complex setup sparks creativity and invites experimentation. Neither approach is right or wrong; they’re just different.
Every Studio Tells a Story
That’s one of the things I enjoy most about visiting other studios or watching studio tours online. Everyone’s setup reflects how they think, how they work, and what inspires them. You can learn a lot about a person just by seeing how they’ve built their creative space.
Whatever your studio looks like—minimal or maximal—I hope it continues to be a place that inspires you, relaxes you, and helps you create the music you want to make.
Happy creating.
