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Best Studio Accessories | Buying Guide : Things to consider while buying a Studio Accessories

Studio Monitor Stands

There are many recording artists out there all with differing requirements, and once you’ve established your own unique needs, you should be able to find the best stands for you. The following are aspects you should consider;

Price

For Musicians just setting up new studios it may be best to experiment with a cheaper studio monitor stand to really get a feel for the different monitor bases and the functions they perform. Many of the cheaper studio monitors in our review proved to be extremely durable and of good quality construction.

Height Adjustability

Do you only use your monitors whilst sitting at a desk in your studio, or do you need to adjust the height of your stands for listening both sitting and standing?

Many of the non-height adjustable studio stands are engineered with a standard desk and chair in mind, if you are planning on listening to your sound from an extra low sofa, bean bag or something similar, you may require a more flexible stand. Similarly, if you are planning to place a stand behind existing studio furniture (click here for our full guide), please ensure that the stand offers enough height for your monitor to protrude above objects and not be obstructed by same. Remember any such barriers will greatly affect the accuracy of the sound you hear!

Stability

When considering stability, it is necessary to asses both the upper and lower bases. Lightweight, tripod style stands are very stable, but not suitable for smaller studios or cramped spaces.

Adding to stability, many stands also offer both leveling carpet spikes and rubber feet or glides, making them suitable for both carpeted and hard floor surfaces. Some studio stands also have a large inner cavity which not only improves the sound quality of your monitors but greatly adds to the general stability of your ensemble.

None of the studio monitor stands we tested were supplied with wheels. For heavier monitors, stands with wheels could be extremely useful in assisting with the correct positioning of your speakers, providing they are lockable. One can only imagine the discomfort of witnessing your precious monitor’s slowing exiting left and disappearing down the stairs.

When considering stability, the size of the upper plate is also of great importance. Perhaps a stand can easily cope with the weight of your monitors, but their size will make the stands wobbly ad unstable.

Your recording or listening space is another important factor to consider. For example, will children or pets have access to your recording studio? A cat curled on top of a monitor could render the stand top heavy and shaky. Similarly, is it possible that an errant child or pet could push past your monitors, sending your expensive kit crashing to the ground? Certainly, in this sort of environment, stands with wheels that cannot be firmly locked, or studio stands with smaller bottom bases would, in all probability, not be the best bases for your purposes.

Suitability

There are some stands, such as the Definitive Technology Professional 600/800 Monitor Stands, which have been engineered with a specific range or brand of speakers in mind, and ensure the safety and stability of these particular monitors. It may not be possible to adapt or modify these stands to work with your particular brand of studio monitors.

Sonic Decoupling

As already discussed, one of the main functions of your studio monitor stands will be to give you a cleaner, more accurate sound.

Neatness and General Appearance

Appearance of Speaker HolderModern studio monitors are built with a variety of different finishes, designed to suit professional studios, small home studios, studies, and even general living spaces. Wood laminate finishes fit nicely into a general home setting or a sleek commercial style studio. Many other stands come in elegant black metal finishes, an elegant, but a durable option which may be better suited to your purposes.

Some stands also offer separate cavities, keeping your power and audio cables neat and hidden from view. Should you have numerous cables and wires snaking around your studio, cable management could be something to consider.

Maneuverability

The positioning of your speakers, the height, distance from your ears etc. is incredibly important. Monitor stands allow you to move speakers away from studio walls, elevate them away from floors and desk surfaces and adjust your speakers so they are as symmetrically placed as possible. All of the aforementioned ensure the best audio reproduction possible.

‘Cleaning up’ your space will ensure that the sound you hear whilst recording will be as close as possible to your final studio mix, even when played back on many different devices.

Portability

You may require a more portable, traveling studio and certain stands that are designed to be quickly packed up, and will even fit into your regular luggage. Other stands, such as the wood-laminate finished are much heavier, and not really suitable for lugging around the country. It is also worth bearing in mind that the laminate finishes may be more vulnerable to chips, scratches and other damage which is likely to be sustained when traveling. Perhaps stands with these types of finish are best left in your permanent studio or home base.

Studio Racks

For the beginner, it may seem reasonable to place their equipment on shelves and go from there. Doing so compromises the very sound quality you are trying to produce. Every piece of equipment has a vibration signature. Placing them on a shelf magnifies that signature. Pieces of equipment also produce considerable heat. Placing them on a solid object of any type creates a barrier that reduces the exhaust of heat. Take it from the professionals: the only way to combat these two critical concerns is to use a studio rack mount.

Rack Mount Size

The consistent element has created a market where rack-mounted equipment is restricted to the width of the traditional rack mount, 19-inches, with the height occupied by the module inside of the rack regulated in units. Each unit is 1.75 inches in height. Many modules are built higher, with some reaching more than ten-units is size. For the home studio, the largest device that you will use is likely four-units.

Order of Installation

For most of us, our home studio does not include the advanced airflow systems found in production studios. The unwritten rule is to keep the ambient temperature around your studio equipment below 85-degrees Fahrenheit. Your home studio rack mount provides the area necessary to allow for heat dissipation. The rack design configures 0.5 inches of open space between each unit and 0.24-inches of space on each side, allowing for air to flow naturally and cool the equipment.

The trick is to place a module that generates the most heat at the top of the rack creating a chimney type of effect that draws cool air from the bottom and sides of the rack. The order of installation, then, is determined by the module’s heat signature. Here is the correct order of module installation in a home studio rack mount from top to bottom:

• The power conditioner regulates all power that runs through your equipment. Since all power runs through this module, the heat signature is significant and continuous
• The multi-channel mic preamp is filled with micro-circuitry that produces a tremendous amount of heat. Placing it near the top helps in establishing a chimney airflow effect that whisks away heat
• The headphone amp is a key component of the home studio system. It allows the operator to increase or decrease pure sounds coming through the device to get the perfect aural quality. The device generates little heat
• The monitor management system is a light-weight module that basically distributes the volume to create the stereo effect. Its heat signature is virtually non-existent
• The audio interface works to condition sound and removes noise through a series of in/out cables and switches. The process generates so little heat that the module is the perfect choice to occupy the bottom position of your rack

Types of Rack Mounts

The main types of rack mounts for homes studios come in three categories, including:

• The basic rack is the cheapest available and works well in the home studio where the function is more valuable than fancy design
• The portable rack is designed for use by musicians and groups while on the road. These racks are more expensive as portability requires a stronger framework and reliable, lockable wheels
• The high-end studio rack is the most expensive on the market. I do not recommend these for a home studio due to the cost. These racks are insulated with a soundproofing material that does not conduct heat and therefore requires a silent fan to create airflow to protect your expensive equipment from heat damage