tosca925 Posted May 10, 2006 Posted May 10, 2006 We have got to kit one of our music rooms out this summer with ICT kit, they have told us they want to be able to have the keyboard and the music keyboard all out at all the time, we have limited space and could do with some ideas/pictures on desk set up for these. Any suggestions?
plexer Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 PC's mounted under the desks with midi breakout box on top to plug the keyboards in? Ben
Andrew_C Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 TFT screens on arms to keep them off the desk too. Alternativly, a shelf above the desk to take PCs and "bits". Our Music Tech teacher wanted desks facing out so kids had to turn away from keyboard for "being talked at" bit. Otherwise they continue to play etc.
Ric_ Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Our department uses small (computer) keyboards which they like to rest on the keyboards' music stands. If you get a keyboard with inbuiilt trackpad/tackball this will also help save desk space. Cherry make some very good quality ones but they are not cheap... although the TCO of a cheap one can be high when the keys fall off as ours have done!
webman Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Our music room has a desk with a sunken shelf for the computer keyboard beneath the main desk level and looks pretty good.
steve Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Look similar to the ones we use - Quik-Lok http://www.mveducation.com/invt/16023/
Andrew_C Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 SFF PCs, 17" TFTs Wall Mounted, problem solved.But in practice SSFs tend to have small, fast fans and those are noisy. Noise, above all else, needs to be controlled ina situaton where you need to LISTEN to something. It is often difficult to get this across to IT types how important this is. Big, slow CPU fans; solid cases, all screws tight, over spec'ed PSUs with slow fans, all fans speed controlled. My background is in theatre/audio, and I now use IT stuff in these fields.
Ric_ Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 @Andrew_C: Big headphones can mean that it isn't vitally important to have silent computers. Increasing the quality of components to keep the noise down will bump up the price and then you multiply that by 20 and you have no money left.
john Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 SFF PCs, 17" TFTs Wall Mounted, problem solved.But in practice SSFs tend to have small, fast fans and those are noisy. Noise, above all else, needs to be controlled ina situaton where you need to LISTEN to something. It is often difficult to get this across to IT types how important this is. Big, slow CPU fans; solid cases, all screws tight, over spec'ed PSUs with slow fans, all fans speed controlled. My background is in theatre/audio, and I now use IT stuff in these fields. I do some work for an Audio Specialist and out testing of machines showed Laptops and SFF PCs are the quietest around. My SFF PCs at work are as silent as a laptop when the fans are set to smart, not full speed. Set them to full speed they will be whiney etc, but mine are on 24x7 and they still are running at less than 2,000 RPM with 3GHz P4 Prescotts in them. Maybe some other SFFs are noisey, but my Biostars are far from it, with that, I have build a MCE machine from one at home as they are that silent.
Andrew_C Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 @Andrew_C: Big headphones can mean that it isn't vitally important to have silent computers. Increasing the quality of components to keep the noise down will bump up the price and then you multiply that by 20 and you have no money left.Sure, but not everyone will want to have their head in cans. Bear in mind the cost of buying / replacing good headphones... @John I thought you were refering to 3/4 size, but if you meant those with external PSU and fanless, I accept. You do (and with laptops) run into real connectivity issues. USB externals are OK, but not the whole answer to all audio issues.
tosca925 Posted May 11, 2006 Author Posted May 11, 2006 Thanks guys i will be looking into those desk tomorrow, just what i have been looking for.
john Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 John: Any specs/links on those machines? Ben They are made to my spec by CCL Computers - http://www.cclonline.com. Now I am sure some will say I sound like a broken record, but for space saving, and quiet, powerful machines you cannot go wrong with a Biostar SFF PC. Give the education team a ring and they will spec it up to your needs, so if you want a Creative X-Fi sound card in it they will add one in etc.... 01274 471203 Off the top of my head, they cost me something like £389 and they are: Biostar 220M 3GHz P4 630 CPU (so 64 bit ready) 512 PC3200 DDR 40GB IDE HDD CD-Rom Keyboard & Mouse XP Pro OEM 3YR OS Warranty Good machines, cannot fault them at all, or the support of CCL, and for those who prefer AMD over Intel, the AMD based one is a 220K rather than M and then you just swap for a Sempron or Athlon 64 and then you got an AMD based system. CCL will build to your spec from parts, so if you have an idea what you want they will sort it for ya. Great team.
plexer Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Thanks for that John I have just dealt with CCL on a monitor purchase and have to say it was good service. I personally am sticking with intel chips as that's what we have so far. Ben
tarquel Posted May 15, 2006 Posted May 15, 2006 @john - whats the audio recording like on those? Our music room is a bit of a mess at the moment - I have a load [7] of HP DX5150 SFF desktops to set up there, with external USB Edirol UA-25 soundcard's to go with them. My plan is to run extension cables on them and keep them in a locked cupboard - mainly to prevent "tampering" but also would help keep the noise down too. Its worked in another room - i get very little go wrong there, although the cabling could be neater - but thats what you get for doing it "on the cheap" hehe I did a pretty good job I think Nath
john Posted May 15, 2006 Posted May 15, 2006 @tarquel, never tried to use them for audio, mine are currently in use in CAD/CAM setup. I have my own personal one with a Celery in it at home and that run Windows MCE very well and its a great product, and wouldnt swap the onboard sound for anythign really. Its got optical in and out as well as 5 channel support, so its not as if its something naff really.
Ric_ Posted May 15, 2006 Posted May 15, 2006 I have 12 SFF Biostar machines (not sure of the model but they look like Shuttles). IMHO the build quality is poor and I have one that died the other day. Yet to diagnose the problem (time!). If you are in no rush to purchase these, it may be worth waiting for some of the new Viiv-compliant machines. These promise to be small and quiet. Core Duo processors would also be great for music editting/compostition.
john Posted May 15, 2006 Posted May 15, 2006 @Ric, those ones, also cannot remember the model, but they are known for being pants, hence they are no longer made. They seems to be winning many award for the new generation ones as well as the ones I use, I think it was probably the case that they jumped on the SFF band wagon a bit too early, rushed the goods out and then regretted it later on. They all make mistakes, and hopefully, as they seem to have, learnt from them.
SpuffMonkey Posted May 15, 2006 Posted May 15, 2006 The IT guy at our local music specialist school swears by these guys http://www.pafsystem.com/pages/workbench.htm Must say they looked great after 2 years use when I visited.
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