_             _ _         _   _                      _ _   _         
 ___| |_ _   _  __| (_) ___   | |_(_)_ __  ___  __      _(_) |_| |__      
/ __| __| | | |/ _` | |/ _ \  | __| | '_ \/ __| \ \ /\ / / | __| '_ \     
\__ \ |_| |_| | (_| | | (_) | | |_| | |_) \__ \  \ V  V /| | |_| | | |    
|___/\__|\__,_|\__,_|_|\___/   \__|_| .__/|___/   \_/\_/ |_|\__|_| |_|    
                                    |_|                                   
     _                                           _ _                      
 ___| |__   __ ___      ___ __    _ __ _   _  __| (_)_ __ ___   __ _ _ __ 
/ __| '_ \ / _` \ \ /\ / / '_ \  | '__| | | |/ _` | | '_ ` _ \ / _` | '_ \
\__ \ | | | (_| |\ V  V /| | | | | |  | |_| | (_| | | | | | | | (_| | | | |
|___/_| |_|\__,_| \_/\_/ |_| |_| |_|   \__,_|\__,_|_|_| |_| |_|\__,_|_| |_|
 
          ________________________                   ______
         \\ - -  - - - -  - - -  \\__________    ___/______|
          \\ - - -  - - - --- - - \\ - - - - \      |o  o  |
           \\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ o o o o \     | (    |
            \\_\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_\\_\\\\\\\_\   _|______|_
       ___________________  __________________    /          \
      \\ - -  - - - - - - \ \ - - - - -  \ \ \\  /   S   R    \
       \\ \ \\   \  \   \  \ \ o o o o o o\ \ \\/  ______,---- \
        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ \\\\\\\\\\\\ \ \\              /    
         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ \\\\\\\\\\\\_\_\\       
                                                                          
This time we let Pittsburg producer Shawn Rudiman do all the tips!
If you are unfamiliar with him, he is a badass US techno producer and
gear head making records since techno year zero. Lets go SHAWN:

Some pointers to help keep your ship functional, sane and with a working
hyperdrive:

1: always have 3/4" artist labeling tape around for your desk, cables, and
any thing that needs to be labeled that you dont want to permanently write
on.

2: always have a fresh pack of yor favourite shapie or sharpie type
pen-marker for the tape.

3: (optional) if you're possibly ocd like me, keep an exacto or razor knife
aroud to cut the tape to strips and sizes you need with super square corners
and straight edges.

4: purchase a super soft, 2" paintbrush. why? yu can ever so lightly mist it
with windex or whatever cleaner is your choice in the studio to clean and
get between vaster spaces of knobs-sliders etc. (mix desks, large synths with
too many knobs to take off etc) and yu can then keep them free of the regular
odd dust, and shit that may drive you nuts.

5: keep a soft old tshirt around
that been cut into small pieces. use it for machines lcd screens with a tad
of windex. if youre like me in any way, i hate hate hate to see dust on lcd
screens and it makes me crazy. so this is the best way ive found to do it.
> never use it for anything else. no spilled soda, coffee, beer or crumbs.
it has a singular purpose.

6 : LABEL EVERY CABLE ON EVERY END. minus modular patch cables and things
like that etc. sanity goes way up then. 7:arrange things that require the
most intense on board programming and have the least friendly user interfaces
as close to you and comfy as you can. if you want to use it, make it easy.
not hard. ..and balance it with its averrge use amount too. 
dont waste precious real estate on things that youll use occasionally.
give it to the go to machines and regular every day use machines.
no matter how "uncool" people say they are.

8: all drinks go away from any and all power and are always only away
from rolling chairs, and arms, hands. this never works i know. but try and
follow it to avoid hating yourself for things that are avoidable.

9: dont pile things up physically. keep your workflow arranged to feel good.
figure out ways to make shelves, risers, mounts, stands and the physical
things you need to put machines exactly where you want them. think outside
of the musical world box. it will save you time and lots of money. dont be
afraid to try and build something, no matter how crude it feels to you.
right down to bricks and cynder blocks with stolen construction site wood :)

10: always try and enter the studio with only a good mindset. it will yield
better results. want to be there. it your sanctuary.  its your refuge. make
it right in every way to fit you and your ideas. "

By Shawn Rudiman