When a Good Idea Hits, Run With It
One thing this studio makeover reinforced for me is that when a good idea presents itself—run with it. Some of the best improvements I made didn’t come from careful planning or long-term strategy, but from problem-solving in the moment.
That said, many of those moments came after doing the same work more than once.
Rewiring… Again
One of the more time-consuming stages of my studio redesign was rewiring the entire space to properly separate power cables from audio cables. Anyone who has wired a studio—big or small—knows how much time and patience that can take. And in my case, it wasn’t the first time I’d done it.
During one of these rewires, I had a simple idea that ended up making a noticeable difference.
Instead of running audio and power together along the same paths, I started suspending the audio cables:
- Along a support on my monitor stands under the main production desk
- Between the two shelving units on the synth wall, using another horizontal support
This allowed me to keep:
- Audio cables elevated
- Power cables routed along the desk bottoms
- A separation of over a foot between the two in most places
The result was cleaner routing, fewer cables on the floor, and—most importantly—audibly cleaner signal paths. The difference wasn’t dramatic on its own, but it was noticeable.
Small Changes, Big Results
None of these changes were revolutionary. I’m sure variations of this idea exist in many commercial studio desks and setups. Whether the idea was original or not didn’t really matter—it worked for my space.
That’s something I’ve learned repeatedly throughout this process:
it’s often the cumulative effect of small adjustments that makes the biggest difference. One cable reroute doesn’t fix everything, but twenty thoughtful changes over time absolutely can.
The Other Side of the Coin: Impatience
Of course, this approach also exposed another ongoing issue during the redesign: time mixed with impatience, due to deadline pressure and occasional laziness.
I had a pattern:
- Have a good idea
- Build a quick version to see if it works
- Tell myself I’d “come back later and do it properly”
- Never actually come back
The rack units are a perfect example.
I’d never built a 19-inch rack enclosure before. I had most of the parts, scrounged up the rest from materials around the house, and built a functional prototype. It worked. It looked fine. So I left it.
And honestly? That was good enough.
“Good Enough” Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
Do these imperfect solutions keep me awake at night? Not really.
Could some of them be improved with more time, better tools, and a bit more patience? Absolutely.
There are still a few areas in the studio that could use a bit more care and refinement. Maybe one day I’ll revisit them. Or maybe they’ll stay exactly as they are—functional, slightly rough around the edges, and perfectly usable.
I’ve learned that there’s a balance to be struck:
- Some people need to do everything perfectly the first time
- Others—like me—need to see if something works before committing more energy
During this studio makeover, that approach worked out more often than it didn’t.
