How organised is your studio space?

Music creation should be the sole focus of your studio time but an unorganised approach can be a heavy downfall. Distractions and hindrances are everywhere for the computer musician which means that your studio time can be wasted and your productions will suffer as a result. You might have top end audio gear, and awesome controller and everything that you need to create professional sounding tracks, but if things aren't completely organised then you might not be as productive as you could be.

There are a few things that you should take into consideration when organising your workspace.

How organised is my computer?

Having an unorganised computer can be a nightmare. When your desktop’s cluttered with icons and you have hundreds of unnamed project files it’s more than easy to lose vital data.

Keeping samples, instruments, effects, etc. organised can make your life a lot easier. Knowing where everything is on your computer will increase your productivity and make the process of producing music a lot smoother.

Samples and loops can cause hassle to any computer musician. When you create your own samples it’s easy to give them vague names that you’ll forget and then put them in a random folder on your hard drive. The same goes for purchased sample packs; you've brought it, downloaded it and placed it in a random place within your documents. Weeks (or even months) later you forget where it is and have to download it all over again, causing you to have duplicates on your computer.

Keeping track of everything is important and if you have quite a large sample collection then it’s really easy to let it get out of hand. Having a dedicated folder for these samples and loops is highly recommended. Even if you just take one day off from producing music every now and then and sorting through your system can make a lot of difference. You will find that having an organised computer with everything in one place can make music production more fun.

Is my workspace tidy and clutter free?

The organisation doesn't have to stop with your computer; a clean and tidy workplace will also help. Keeping your desk and surroundings clutter free will keep your mind focused on the music. A messy work area can result in a messy outlook on the projects that you’re working on.

It doesn't take long to have a quick tidy before you start work. It’s not the most glamorous activity but it will help you in the long term and a clean studio with give you a positive approach to any tasks that you are about to undertake.

What am I going to be distracted by?

So far we've talked about keeping things clean and tidy but there are other things that can get in the way of productivity. The Internet is an amazing thing and it has opened up a lot of doors for musicians but it can also take up a lot of your valuable time.

Taking your computer offline during studio sessions can be a real time saver. It’ll take away the temptation to check social networking accounts and stop you from falling into that endless void that we know as YouTube. That time that you spend roaming around the Internet can be put to good use.

 You might justify yourself by saying that the time that you spend on the Internet is used to seek out new sounds or plug-ins that will ultimately benefit your future projects. However, while you’re looking for that new plug-in you could be learning how to use the one’s that you already own. Spending some quality time with the plug-ins that you already have can save you both time and money.

There are other things that are likely to distract you as well. A TV in your studio area can give you that well earned break from working, but it can also draw you away at times when you’re supposed to be knuckling down. The same can be said for books, magazines and pretty much anything else that is likely to draw your attention away from the task at hand. 

Keeping your relaxation space and work space separate can highly benefit your productivity.

Is my studio a comfortable environment?

If you work on music for long periods of time it is essential both to your health and morale that you are working in a comfortable environment. The most overlooked thing in any studio is the furniture. A decent chair and desk can ensure that you’re comfortable when you’re hard at work on that new track. It will keep your mind focused on your art without that worrying numb sensation creeping up your back.

And remember: no matter what you’re doing, if you’re working with computers then it is advised that you take a quick break every now and then to make sure that you’re not doing any long term damage to your body.

When you sit down at your desk in your studio there should be one sole focus and that’s music creation. If you haven’t optimised your work area then you might find that you spend more time tidying, searching and even getting-side tracked by something completely irrelevant. Don’t let these tasks get in the way of what truly matters to you: the music.