Edit Suite Set up / Design

[michellelord]

I am currently renovating my partners Studio. The next room on the schedule will be my little editing suite.

Any ideas on the *best* way to set an edit suite up?

Im computer based, have a very small behringer eurorack mixing console, some monitor speakers, 2 computer monitors, and a TV.

Ive tried searching the net for designs, there certainly is a lot for studio control rooms and audio post production, but ive havent had any luck for editing rooms.

wondering if anyone has come across a method or style that works better / more aesthetically pleasing that the other.

My room is quite large in comparasion to some edit suites (Especially news room edit suites, and uni edit suites.) In comparasion to production house, i guess the room would be average size.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

ta,
mish

[Matthew]

A BIG desk with as little on it as possible. You'll need lots of space. We used an entire sheet of 8x4 plywood with a bit of wood trim, sanded and varnished. So far its been very popular. Put it where you can see out of a window!

monitors raised about 10cm from desktop, keyboard, mouse.
Audio mixer, perhaps a VHS deck to one side. Nothing more on desktop. Keep it uncluttered.

Monitoring Amplifier in the middle so you can tweak volume easily.

Loudpeakers are nice suspended from wires above the desk. They sound better and don't transmit as much doof doof through the floor to the neighbours.

Keep the cpu and storage as far away from the worksurface as you can. Better still, in the next room! You can run USB/video/audio/VGA cables up to six - ten metres quite easily. (USB might need a hub to extend this far)

if you can't keep the CPU in another room put them near where most ambient sound will come from, say near the door. I find it less intrusive like that. Make sure you can easily get around to the back of the computer to plug bits in.

Computer on floor under edit bench sucks dust and gets kicked. on a trolley is better. make a trolley big enough to sit a betacam machine on top!

Tie all permanent cables with cable-ties!

Tip of the month - You can use a row of large cup-hooks screwed underneath the benchtop about 30cm apart to "hang" cables in while setting up the suite, its much better to have them hanging out of the way than tangling on the floor.

I find natural light nice, otherwise I find dimmable halogen up-light reflected from white ceiling gives a nice even ambient light to work with. Spotlights are not nice cos they cast shadows.

lastly, I used to prefer to hang a painting or two (as opposed to a photo or poster) in the room to rest my eyes on. Something about the difference of medium.

Oh and a spa bath in the corner's good too, right next to the frige.

[michellelord]

thanks matthew,

i especially like the idea of a spa bath....
:)

[Matthew]

how big is your room going to be? do you have a window? how about some before, during and after photos for the website?

Have you seen these:

http://www.screeneditors.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=458

http://www.screeneditors.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=452

[Daz]

quiet air-con is a must in summer...even in England!

[michellelord]

thanks once again matthew, I did see those pix the other week.
unfortuantely i dont have a beautiful view as that, i dont even have a window.

I am thinking of putting in a sky light.

and I will take some before during and after pixs.
:)

[Jude]

Hey Mish

You're welcome to come look at both of my setups - then you can see what is good and useful for you and what is not. Give me a call if you like.

Love the cupholder tip Matthew! All my cables are gaffer taped to the bottom of the desk, which is normally fine, but a pain when you need to move or change anything. (There is a cable obsessive in this house ... You know who you are)

[shilby]

I once worked in a suite where the edit console was at a 90 degree angle to the client, neither facing them or having them looking at the back of my head. I found this a really useful setup, especially during client or agency screenings as it allowed me full view of the discussion between director, producer, client and agency. Without placing me right in the thick of it, it still was enough for me to be included (who hasn't at one time spent a session being treated like a button pusher) . Being able to have eye contact during screening allowed me to play a support role to the director when the politics got heated, in that I was able to have the right options available just by watching the drama unfold.

Also, working in a more intimate situation makes the director watch the monitor and not get distracted by the timeline. Personally I don't mind wiping grubby fingerprints off the client monitor but I draw the line at the bin monitor. I found that in most cases, just being able to glimpse what I was doing was usually enough.

WaZ.

[rachelw]

I think that ergonomics come first - Matthew has got the right idea with regard to desk space - you will wind up using it a lot on big messy jobs! I like my audio bits n pieces just behind my keyboard, it makes it easier. A patchbay integrated into the desk structure can be handy if you will be plugging away on a regular basis, and I like having my own deck near and my drives for importing media accesible but protected - as well as protecting the workstation itself. Under the desk stinks - building a cabinet space into the desk can be ok but you need to insure ventilation is adequate, and depending on the chassis you will need to consider what your options are. There's a lot to be said about keeping the system out of reach in another room, but at the same time, when you are having system problems, being able to stare at the monster and the monitor at the same time and scratch your head is very soothing. Keep your monitors away from your face and high enough to promote good posture, give yourself something cool to allow eye rests (focusing on something on the opposite side of the room for a few minutes every hour or so will fight off eye fatigue, so get something fun to look at), get a trolley or something for coffee to avoid drinkies on the workbench - clients are always trying to screw up gear with a variety of warm and cold bevvies. Think about your needs, how to protect your gear from your client, create an environment that is relaxing and comfortable to work in, but not comfy enough to promote too many sleepless nights. No sleeping in the suite. Ive done it and it makes you loco.

I usually keep dual monitors for work in front of me and big vid monitor on wall for client. I keep a piddly small vid mon on my right with code for my viewing of tapes and playout - that is a good way to go because a good small profesh monitor is cheaper by far than a damn big one, then you can use a standard consumer - grade monitor for viewing...gives you a clear understanding of end results on domestic screens and saves a bit of loot if you are broke as hell. And that way they can see from a distance and without pissing around with the timeline. Some directors or producers fancy themselves editors, and want to piddle about with gear. If it is physically in front of you and a personal space issue it makes that more difficult. Keeping monitors at a healthy distance also will reduce fingers on glass. I like the 90 deg idea. That's cool.

and get yourself a good chair. you need it.