We all love buying new gear. Whether it’s hardware or software, the acquisition of new stuff is often exciting, but even more importantly, it should allow us to do our job more effectively. In this article, Russ Hughes talks about some of the tools which he wishes he’d had sooner.

Kii Three

It took some time to get a demo pair into the studio but once I’d spent a weekend listening to the Kii THREE on everything from old mixes to favourite songs spanning around 4 decades of my life I was smitten. It was at this point that I knew that whatever the cost the speakers weren’t going back - it seems a cynic can still fall in love with gear.

In the several years that I’ve owned the Kii Three speakers I’ve not had a single mix returned for amends. This means that what I’m hearing is translating to client systems, irrespective of what speakers they listen on. For a professional that kind of mix confidence is worth its weight in gold.

A Kii Three system is not cheap, it’s perhaps the largest single investment I’ve made in my studio in the last few years, but to have such trustworthy monitoring makes them a no brainer. One word of warning, don’t demo a pair if you can’t afford them, you’ll want to keep them! I recently had the chance to hear the new Kii Seven, the baby Kii Threes, at around half the price, they are stunning. So if you want to get on the Kii train but can’t stretch to a pair of Kii Three then check out the Kii Seven early next year… they are NOT half the sound!

Avid Carbon

The Avid Carbon is an interface aimed at small studios, offering the HDX experience at a fraction of the price. I was sceptical about how much difference the hybrid workflow would make, then I tried one.

Within minutes of using it, I realised how much difference it could make to the tracking part of my creation process. Yes, I know HDX has been doing this for years, I had an Omni for a few years, but the Hybrid engine and the simplicity of the workflow, takes the inertia out of the recording process for me. I’d battled with all sorts of recording solutions and nothing had given me the inertia free workflow that Carbon has. I’ve recorded more in a week than I have in the previous six months! Opening up old sessions to re-track keyboards and guitars.

I’ve used most interfaces and experienced their workflows, and nothing comes close to the Avid Hybrid workflow for me.

Studio One Pro

It may seem odd for me to be talking about the streamlined workflow using Avid Carbon and Pro Tools then list Studio One Pro as well. It’s simple, the Carbon/Pro Tools workflow makes tracking live stuff second to none. However, when it comes to getting ideas down fast using VIs and MIDI then Studio One is simply so fast.

The drag and drop workflow makes adding instruments, plugins, busses, FX sends, in fact anything, super quick. It’s therefore my DAW of choice when working with VIs and MIDI.

Like many, I’ve settled on two DAWs for my work, Pro Tools for audio and mixing and Studio One for song writing and ideas. Together they make my life better.

Apple Mac Studio Ultra

The Mac Ultra is as lightning fast, as quiet, and as rock solid as the day I bought it and installed it as the centrepiece of my studio.

That coupled with my Carbon, I think it’s damn near a perfect set-up for any small studio, both for music, and after Avid’s recent Carbon update, for post too. I’m certainly not tempted by a Mac Pro 2023 in the slightest, this is all I need. I know some people struggle to think that an aluminium block this small can compare with a large tower, I understand that. Many of us have had at least a decade of using the Mac Pro in its various iterations. I used the original Cheese-Grater and Two Trashcan Mac Pros, they all served me well.

Can a Mac Studio replace the old paradigm? Yes, and then some! I’ll repeat the line I’ve used before, when asked how fast it is. I said; “So fast I don’t notice.”

Yo-Yo Desk 80S Standing Desk

I purchased the Yo-Yo 80-S as a bit of a punt to see if it lived up to the claims and secondly if I would convert to using it. 

It’s a desk that can be used either in seated or standing mode, with plenty of space for keyboard, mouse and all the other paraphernalia one often finds in a music studio. It has two shelves and the top one is large enough to house my MIDI keyboard and a PreSonus Faderport 8.

I’m in love with it, so much so that I’ve completely redesigned my studio and workflow around it. I now work in the standing position 99% of the time - so I think that speaks for itself.

The most important thing I love about it is that many of the aches and pains I used to have in my back and hips are gone. I also invested in a rubber mat to ensure there’s not too much strain on my spine from standing on a concrete floor all day. Highly recommended.

What are the pieces of software or hardware which you wish you’d got sooner? Let us know in the comments.