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I’ve built a few studios in my time, and I’m no stranger to what Output products bring to each creative space. Whether it be their highly regarded line of VST plugins or studio desks, they’ve been a constant in almost every pro-audio opportunity and initiative I’ve been involved with for the better part of a decade.
So, when I heard about the updated Platform Studio Desk by Output, it goes without saying that my interest was piqued. Currently, on their second version of the product, it’s a sturdy, wood-built workstation for any level of producer, engineer or recording artist. It has a massive workspace, with 60 inches of width and a depth of 36 inches. In addition, with the added keyboard tray, you’ll gain about 15 inches of space that retracts back into the desk when needed.
In this review, I’ll cover everything I love about this desk, how it fits into my workflow, and which producers, audio engineers, and recording artists I think would benefit from it. With a price point of just under $1,000, its far more accessible and affordable than some of it’s competitors making for a great addition to any studio space.
By the end of this comprehensive review, I hope you’ll have all the information you need to make an educated decision on whether this desk is right for you. So, let’s start with the basics—I’ll go over the tech specs before diving into my personal takes and recommendations.
Check out the Platform desk and the greater DeFi online shop here 🔗
What Is The Platform Studio Desk By Output X?
The Platform Studio Desk by Output is a professional-grade workspace for the modern musician. This desk’s new and improved version features a redesigned middle hutch for ergonomic comfort. It also has a larger keyboard tray that can accommodate almost all professional-grade keyboards. The height of the tray is also adjustable, pending how much space you’d like to take advantage of. Another fun note on the keyboard tray is it now has an indent in the middle. A small but subtle detail that’s allowed me to be more centered and comfortable when playing whatever keyboard I have in front of me.
Output also put a new cable management system on the backside for easier organization of all your wiring. The 3 pairs of racks can hold up to 9 gear units, pending where you select to have the middle hutch seated. The addition is something I’ve loved as it’s been much easier to switch out rack gear, and follow cable routing. I also don’t have to worry about anything hanging down to the floor making for a more clean and organized workspace as a whole.
As someone who used the first iteration of this desk in their own studio for nearly four years, I can confidently say I am a big fan of the new edition. It features everything I loved about the first while improving upon areas I wasn’t even thinking were needed. Below, we’ll dive into some of my favorite aspects of The Platform.
Platform Studio Desk – The Pros
Ergonomic Are A Big Part Of Its Design
One challenge that music producers face these days is the ergonomics of their workspace. I remember when I first started making music with just a laptop and headphones. I’d be hunched over my laptop for four, five, even six hours straight, and I’d end up with a sore, achy back and strained shoulders. This was back in my early 20s, when you’d think I’d be in prime shape to handle that kind of work.
But now, as I get older, ergonomics have become one of the more important factors I consider in a creative space. Output’s desk crushes it in this area. The adjustable middle hutch is a significant improvement, allowing me to bring the computer screen down to eye level without having to hunch over. This has done wonders for my back, shoulders, creative workflow, and overall mental health. It’s these little details in the design that have impressed me with Output products over the years.
A larger keyboard tray with adjustable heights
My keyboard skills have improved significantly after producing music for over a decade. Where I used to manage with just a 25-key keyboard, I now use an almost full-range keyboard with numerous expressive parameters, knobs, and encoders to make my music more dynamic. The larger keyboard tray with adjustable heights on this desk is a major advantage and I’ll tell you why.
It provides ample space for all my gear and allows easy access to the encoders, pads, and other features I rely on. In contrast, other studio desks I’ve used tended to cramp the keyboard, making it playable but leaving the additional functions of my MIDI keyboard inaccessible. Those desks often offered just enough space to slide the keyboard in and out, but not enough to comfortably reach the essential controls. In addition, I was highly impressed with how far out the tray pulls, making it a true 15 inches of extra space as I noted earlier in the specs.
While having racks of synths around me is great fun, for my own workflow, I like having one universal MIDI keyboard at the center stage of my desk. This allows for quicker writing sessions that don’t have me bouncing around my room to find a synth to play ideas on. The larger tray allows me to keep a full-sized keyboard in front of me at all times. The tray fits an 88 key easily, allowing you to play the entire chromatic scale without adjusting octaves on the keyboard. A subtle but great feature that allows me to have a more natural feel when playing the piano.
New cable management system
My experience with cable management on version 1 of this desk wasn’t bad, but it was definitely something I had thought could use improvements. Originally, I found myself using zip ties and various other organization methods to keep wiring behind the desks tidy.
The new and improved system has a shelf that slots along the backside of the desk. A small board then hides it with two sizable holes for routing cables to the back mount. I found myself laying various cables with ease, quickly and efficiently organizing my routing. It also removed a lot of the need for me to do extra maintenance to keep the cables from becoming messy, such as the zip ties I mentioned.
I love that fact that it handles all the cables that I currently need in my setup but also gives me a fair amount of confidence knowing that this thing can handle even more wires and cords as my studio continues to expand (images above are from my temporary studio while my custom studio gets built in our new house).
Instructional Video on how to assemble
Output provides a clear and easy-to-follow instruction video on how to build the desk. I found this massively helpful in making sure I built mine correctly.
As I mentioned before, I had the first version of this desk, and I had some trouble following the written instructions provided. That may be personal, but having a video showing me exactly what to do put my mind at ease. It was nice to know I was building everything by Outputs standards, ensuring proper support of my gear / creative space.
The ease of assembly is also a huge bonus for musicians who move every so often. I have been able to dismantle and rebuild the desk with ease a few times, fitting it perfectly into my studio setups at each new location.
You can find a direct link to the instructional video via Outputs website here.
30 Day Guarantee along with an instructional video for how to assemble
If you’re not enjoying the way this desk fits into your space, you have 30 days to notify Output and send it back. This risk-free trial shows a commitment to customer satisfaction, as they value your studio space just as much as you. If this desk doesn’t fit the vibe you’re going for, just contact Output, and they’ll direct you from there.
…And The Cons
While the instructions recommend two people for assembly, they still state that a person could put this together on their own. I would advise against that, as I don’t think I’d have been able to build this desk properly solo. So make sure you’ve got a friend on standby when it comes time to set everything up.
In addition to this, a few of the screw holes required me to pre-drill them with a bit. While I could still see where the screws needed to go, the holes weren’t properly prepared. I risked stripping a few screws during the process as they caught early, which added (manageable) complications to my build—nothing you can’t solve with a bit of patience.
The last con I have is that due to its large size, moving the desk to a new space could be a bit difficult. This is why it’s essential to follow the instructions provided, and use the proper tools when building. This will ensure you have no damage points, so you can easily dismantle the desk.
I speak from a bit of experience here as I dealt with this when relocating my own studio space in the past. That being said most console desks are very large, and would need dismantled when it comes time to move them through doors / hallways.
Who Is The Platform Studio Desk For?
The Platform desk is a beautifully put-together wooden workspace, made from sturdy materials while remaining affordable compared to competitors. Its looks and features make it perfect for any professional or home studio space. At $999.00, it offers an accessible price with a line of accessory products to complement and upgrade around it. For this reason I think it’s a great product for all levels of music producers.
For the professional, this desk offers a reputable workspace with a lot customization options. It’s sturdy and rugged, allowing it to handle heavy use and gear. In addition, the sidecar and speaker stand attachments fit perfectly into the setup of this desk, optimizing workflow and creativity as you expand your studio.
For the beginner producer, it offers a chance to start the next stages of your production journey. There’s a certain feeling to having a desk geared toward music production and the creative workflow. As you acquire more gear, you can be confident you’ll have a proper place for it. And if you like a minimal workspace, this desk still offers a great entry point that won’t feel cluttered and has a setup geared toward the creative personality.
