The latest Tefty & Meems video takes a look at building a ‘synth wall’ to store your synths vertically.
The video takes a look at using Slatwall to mount your keyboards to the wall, documenting the experience, pros and cons, and overall thoughts of using Slatwall vs a keyboard stand.
Topics covered:
00:00 Intro and the keyboard stand options
02:39 The Crownwall Slatwall setup & installation
05:54 Keyboard Slatwall Arms Options
09:50 Some price comparisons
11:00 Power for the gear
11:40 USB Hub for midi (and audio)
12:41 Quick note on the Mackie Onyx24 mixer
13:21 Lighting
14:10 Final thoughts
Check it out and share your thoughts on this approach in the comments!
Did this in my old studio for all my beat boxes circa 2002, all the arms were heavy duty and could be extended; was a cool set up and was strong enough to hold my old O1/W on the bottom level of arms. Thanks to Frank at Zone music for getting me all the materials.
Not for renters. One hundred pounds per square foot? I dare someone to put a CS80 on this wall mount. Vintage keyboards are generally much heavier than modern keyboards because of steel versus plastic. Nearly all my keyboards are vintage.
“I dare someone to put a CS80 on this wall mount. ”
The number of people for whom this would be a realistic concern is 0.
Not the point.
yeah, aluminum A-frame systems are better. also for cable routing. that being said in rentals it is possible to install temporary studs in front of the wall with a fixation just towards the ceiling and then install your rails, slat wall, hungarians or whatever you’re going for to those studs.
See RetroSound videos on Youtube. He has an entire wall lined with floor to ceiling poles, possibly PVC but maybe aluminum, with cross bar keyboard mounts.
Correct, owners of heavy vintage synths should think twice before using such a solution.
The majority of us don’t have a lot of vintage instruments. But if you happen to have Arturia Microfreaks, Ableton Pushes, Korg Wavestates, Roland System-8s, Yamaha Refaces and an occasional heavier synth like a Summit or a Hydrasynth, this might really work out well.
Most CS80 owners will give that synth its own proper stand. It would be ridiculous to explain to the majority of synth lovers why you would want to save some hundreds of dollars on a stand for a CS80, when you can afford that machine 🙂
As is mentioned, the 100 lbs/sq ft limit is largely determined by the number of fastening points of the slatwall boards to the wall. My guess is that this may be a somewhat conservative estimate and could be probably double that if the screws are maximized for fastening. A CS-80 weighs somewhere in the range of about 150 lbs, and is, obviously, much longer in width than 2ft. So, the slatwall would do just fine, even with mediocre screws fastening it to the wall. Think about it. Unless the support arms break, the only two factors that affect the stability of the platform are (1) how well the screws hold into the wall, and (2) the tensile strength of the studs into which the screws are screwed. If you look at the physics of wall mounting, the greatest majority of force of the weight placed on the arms is directed into the wall (not toward the floor, as most people assume). So, in actuality, this solution should support a CS-80 even if it weighed twice as much as it does.
CS80 = 208 pounds. I would not trust those PVC lips to hold more than 40 to 50 pounds, and less under the pounding a keyboard takes and would relay into the mount. PVC has a tendency to weaken and fail catastrophically under point pressure. It certainly isn’t aluminum or steel. I worked on installing wall mounted hardware of PVC and sometimes it was shaky, even with quality hardware.
Actually, it weighs just under 180 lbs (82kg). Also, it isn’t, exactly, point pressure. It is force exerted over area, which in this case is (by the looks of the pictures of the supports) about an inch, or so. Also, you have the spacing of the supports (and of the screws to the studs). Obviously, the more supports you include, you distribute the force into the wall by that amount over the area. Methinks you worry too much 🙂
It’s 2022. Opinions supersede physics. We’re in a post reality world. ?
You got schooled by the Rossi.
great idea.
Great breakdown. Mostly, it made me wish Jaspers were easier to get in the US (including dealing with potential returns).
yes Jaspers is nice (if overpriced for additional pieces) inversely in Europe we mostly don’t have wooden frames in drywall, but thin metal U-profiles unsuitable for carrying heavy weight.
Grass is always greener on the other side… unless they’re metal. :p
I did similar using the Standtastic wall mounted tracks, not the slats, and love the results. I have really limited space and hang a keyboard and a malletkat on the wall above my computer. Works great. I can play on the malletkat pretty hard with no issues.
Re renters? Mount them well, try to go into studs not just drywall, and when you move just fill the holes and touch up the paint….
https://lm-products.myshopify.com/collections/standtastic-keyboard-stands/products/wall-mount-kits
Yeah I have a setup like this in my studio. I ordered four eight-foot metal slatwall segments and a bunch of keyboard arms from the local music store. Managed to free up like 10 keyboard stands by using slatwall.
looks extremely unrealistic to play with any sustained accuracy. pass. I like my keys flat and lap height. like the piano I learned on.
Would you use it for a drum pad, such as the Yamaha Multi12?
Would it take the beating?
Love this finished look (mostly covering the slats) over the stands. After having it this long, how do you think it might handle romplers like the emu command stations or mpcs like the 2500? Sturdy enough not to shake the wall slats? Also seems like great potential for pedals.
Great, hopeful post – thanks much!