When designing and setting up our studio work spaces, the first thoughts many of us have are towards ergonomics. And rightfully so, since having the equipment easily accessible is a major concern! But, we should also keep an eye towards the proximity of various pieces of gear to one another. Example: Power amplifiers should generally be kept away from other audio equipment, as well as away from your monitoring area. Large amplifier transformers can cause electronic hum problems, and many amplifiers actually emit acoustic hum during operation. Computers and monitors, power regulators, speakers, recorders, and other types of gear can all interact in a variety of negative ways – know your gear and set it up accordingly!
Corollary to today’s tip: Thermal issues should also be considered; audio equipment can require substantial airflow to stay cool. We’ve seen a variety of strange gear difficulties (including hard drive and CD-R problems) relate back to stuffing too many heat-producing items into a confined rack. All electronic equipment produces heat, giving it room to breath is a wise thing to do!