The Valves recording studio

The Studio - Phase 7 The Console Begins Work on the console got underway ahead of schedule. Once again, Steve the Builder is doing all the heavy lifting, while I've been involved in the design. My primary input so far has been to suggest that it look as much as possible like the helm from the Starship Enterprise.
		Here again is the drawing I did of a possible console design. For reasons of practicality, some changes have been made, but overall, Steve's desk is surprisingly close to this. The keyboard drawers are probably not going to be necessary, though nifty slide out cupholders like they have in a Dodge Caravan are still in duscussion.
		Compare this to the drawing and they are very similar, which I think is pretty cool, if I say so myself. I know what you're thinking: "But Joe, why the hell are there three computer monitors? Are you insane? And why are you wearing those tight pants? Jesus, you wanna give me nightmares?" Well, the reason there are three monitors is because one of them is connected to the
		mixer and is used to do things like route effects and change mix automation parameters, while the other two will be connected to the computer allowing us to have one dedicated to the virtual mixer in the software while using the other to control effects plug ins and the like. As for my pants, I'll wear any damn pants I want and why are you looking at my pants anyway?
		This is our mixer, isn't it pretty? If I didn't think it would screw up the motorized faders, I'd make love to it. One of the changes between the drawing and the reality is that we've decided that the deck will go in the slanted rack on the side to make it easier to get at and see while still having it mounted in a rack instead of sitting on the desk itself as in the drawing.
		That leaves all the space on the right side for computer keyboards, mousepads, twinkies boxes, lava lamps and a place for hot chicks to sit during mixdown.
		Here is the rack space again. The bottom section will be for mostly heavy items, like the power supply for the mixer, the power amp for the Polk monitors and that sort of thing. The top, slanted part is for the deck and miscellaneous rack stuff, or it's possible a patch bay may go in there, that hasn't been decided yet.
This is all just getting started, Steve assures me that when completed, it will resemble a fine piece of victorian craftsmanship, or amish craftsmanship, or some kind of craftsmanship that doesn't look like something from Bob's discount furniture. And it looks enough like the helm of the Starship Enterprise that I'll be able to make little beeping noises whenever I push a button and pretend that romulan warbirds are on the main viewscreen. Fire Phasers Mr. Sulu!!!