In the hectic world of us recording artists trying to get everything done "Right NOW", sometimes we have to take a break. We're in such a rush to get that song done, get that demo ready, and finish that CD, while the poor studio gets more and more in disarray. Set-ups on top of set-ups, bad cables left were they were, while new cables are put in to make the session happen.

This all builds up. The pots and faders on mixers and amps get scratchy, the patch points, patch cable tips have oxidized. The growing birds nest of cables under the console, or desk that is getting mysteriously thicker by the day.

So take a break. Relax from all of that tension, and take a "B" day. This is a day to turn on all of the lights in the studio, get some cool tunes going, and do your maintenance.

The cool thing is, there are good things that you can do in the background while you work. There should be a method to your madness though. So let's take an approach perhaps like this: Work top to bottom, then side to side.

By this I mean, it doesn't help to clean your faders THEN go and dust the lamps next. Where do you think all of that dust is going to go? Of course, in your nice freshly cleaned faders.

In my studio, I cover things that dust can really get into, then I dust. Lamps, window sills, ceiling fan blades, cobwebs, artwork, all of the stuff you really never touch on a day to day basis. Then I get to items on desks or table tops. Trophies, pictures, small lamps, phones, etc. More stuff that's lower, that I hardly ever touch. Now while good music is playing in the background, I can really pay attention to detail. While I'm doing all of this, which may take an hour or two, I usually tend to be making back-up DVDs that need to be done at the same time. iTunes back-ups, all files that I haven't backed up lately. All of your session files should already be backed up, but if not, do that now.

If everything is backed-up, it's a perfect time to run diagnostic software, like TechTool, or Disk Warrior. Some of those tests can chew up time, which is the last thing you want to do during a session, but on a "B" day, you've got nothing but time. Go ahead, run the full suite! Run it on all of your external drives as well. It's also a good time to optimize the drives, and de-fragment them. This whole process can be going on as you happily dust away!

OK, maybe not SO happily…

After the dusting/cleaning routine, next comes the gear. I start more side to side here. I make sure that everything is put away. Every CD/DVD is in a binder or case, all my patch cables, guitar cables, mic cables are put up. Mics are covered or stored away. Every pen, pencil, Sharpie, dry erase marker, or china pencil (wax pencil) is in its correct place. If I've done this well, then all of my surfaces should be free and clear of any items.

This is also a good time to go through every drawer and cabinet, and clean house. Do a serious triage on what things to keep, and what items need to either go to storage, or into the trash.

I ended up going to a local hardware store for some little bins to keep electrical adapters and phone adapters in. Another bin for MIDI connectors, and small computer adapters. Still another bin for those headphone adapters, RCA to ¼" adapters, and the millions of other audio adapters that you won't want to have to search for at 2 AM.

While important things are still covered for dust, I'll polish wood items, and clean window/glass items. This includes audio monitors, computer monitors, desktops, meter bridges. rack wood, etc. I usually have a couple of rags. One to spray into and use, the other to wipe up. I mention this because, you don't want to indiscriminately spray cleaners and waxes towards gear.

At this point, I uncover the console, or control surface, and start on those. It's a really good idea to see what the manufacturer has to say about how to clean their gear. Check the documentation that came with the gear. Some consoles have plastic-coated faders, or plastic surfaces that can be harmed by cleaners. I've gotten away with a watered down cleaner that I use for regular cleaning on these items.

To really get to the faders and pots sometimes requires getting inside the gear. I would not suggest this unless you are a technician that's really used to component level repair for this kind of work.

I have an old analog console that each channel strip can be removed one at a time which makes things easier. Then I can get to the underside, and spray cleaners, and lubricants right into the pots and faders. After that I'll exercise them, by rotating them or sliding them a few times to make sure they're getting well cleaned and lubricated. If your console or control surface doesn't open up, you can still use the cleaner with the little straw attached to the spray mechanism. This way you can get into the fader slot to clean and lubricate, without getting the surface all messed up. AGAIN-CHECK WITH YOUR DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE SURE OF THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN THESE PARTS!!!

Using the wrong solvent/lubricant can significantly reduce the life of these parts, if not ruin them outright. Be careful!

After cleaning the consoles, and control surfaces, then I get to the mouse. Open it up, grab a Q-Tip, some rubbing alcohol, and clean all of that junk around the wheels in there. Clean the wheels themselves. Using a mouse or trackball shouldn't feel like four wheel driving. Some steel wool, or Scotch-Brite is great for those patch cables. Be sure to wipe them down after cleaning them though.

So now after all of this is done, I grab all of my guitars, and change the strings, work on set-ups, and change batteries in them for the ones with active pick-ups. Make them all playable. I'm not too concerned with the little pieces, as I haven't cleaned the floor yet.

Next I climb under the desk, and clean out all of the cables, separating power from audio, analog audio from digital, and digital from MIDI. Place all of the new cables into the runs of like types, bundle each up, while getting rid of either bad, or unused cables. If I know where the break is in a bad cable, I can set it aside for repair. The point is to clean those cables up. Use strap ties to organize, or suspend them from hooks.

Clean all of that stuff up, do a little "finger-vac" to pick up items that would kill your vacuum cleaner (strings, picks, etc). Then run the vacuum through the place.

After this, your studio should be a place that's ready to make music, that looks good, and works great!

That's a good "B" day.

Have Fun,
Phil Gates

makintrax@philgates.com
http://www.philgates.com