Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

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Felix Hüsken

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Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostFri Sep 25, 2015 4:16 pm

Hey BMD Forum,

a couple of months ago, FARBKULT Post-Production and I designed a desk which integrates the Black Magic Design DaVinci Resolve Control Surface, because we always felt that the control panels sat on top of the tables a little high, both visually and ergonomically. So we went ahead and created the following prototype, on which me and several other colorists have already graded a bunch of feature films with incredible comfort.


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The desktop is made out of solid oak wood, which was darkened using sal amoniac (Salmiak). There is space for up to four 24" screens on adjustable VESA-mount arms and we designed it, so that a client can sit to the right of the colorist too, with enough space for a laptop, a notepad or just a drink and a snack. There are also two touch-dimmable spotlights on adjustable arms at the sides of the control panel, so that both the colorist and client can take notes in the dark, without any light contaminating the projector screen or monitors.


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Since I like to stand at work sometimes, I proposed motorized adjustable height table legs, so you can smoothly raise or lower the whole desk to fit your sitting and standing positions.


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Below the desktop, there is a small slide-out compartment for a remote, which controls the motors to precisely raise or lower the table. By the way, the tabletop looks really thin in this picture, but it's actually bevelled around the bottom edges, similar to the new iMacs' backs, so that it looks thin and light from most angles, while actually being super sturdy.


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In front of the middle control panel, there is a thin strip of black leather inserted into the table surface, which feels good on the wrists and also acts as a slide stop, so that you can put a backlit keyboard, a graphic tablet or a notepad in front of the trackballs. I've worked with all of those pictured configurations myself already during conform, grading and approval and it's great! Of course we made sure that the trackballs are always comfortably accessible too and that you can still sit close enough to the control panels in an ergonomic position.


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The DaVinci Resolve Control Panels are lowered into the table so that their fronts sit flush on the wooden surface. The original angle of the panels remains the same.


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As an added bonus, we had some inlets milled for notepads, glasses and pens, so that you always know where to find them in the dark.


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If no client is present, we can use the right side of the table as a workplace to access our Clipster and watch its timeline on the projector or TV.


We are currently hashing out the details to offer custom tables like this for sale, so if you are interested in one, send an e-mail to info@farbkult.com. Also, feel free to post questions in this thread or send them in via e-mail.
Freelance Colorist and Developer of "EDL Spy", the EDL & XML media consolidation tool for OS X and Windows
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Marc Wielage

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostSat Sep 26, 2015 6:20 am

Very cool design, Felix.
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Felix Hüsken

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostSat Sep 26, 2015 9:27 am

Marc Wielage wrote:Very cool design, Felix.

Thanks, Marc! As a colorist I'm usually more concerned with ergonomics than looks, but I'm also really happy how the desk turned out visually :)
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MellissaManzagol

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostSat Sep 26, 2015 11:30 am

Very nice!


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waltervolpatto

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostSun Sep 27, 2015 8:01 pm

nice!
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Willian Aleman

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostMon Sep 28, 2015 2:50 pm

WOW! Thanks for posting the layout of the studio. Indeed, it seems to be a very well ergonomic design. Congrats!

Going by the pictures, I would like to know, what was the approach of having a tungsten ambience color temperature in a room designed for color grading, instead of having 5600K or 6500K for matching the reference monitor color temperature?
Last edited by Willian Aleman on Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Felix Hüsken

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostMon Sep 28, 2015 2:59 pm

Willian Aleman wrote:WOW! Thanks for posting the layout of the studio. Indeed, it seems to be a very well ergonomic design. Congrats!

Going by the pictures, I would like to know, what was the approach of having a tungsten ambience color temperature in a room designed for color grading, instead of having 5600K or 6500K for match the reference monitor color temperature?


We put some ARRI lights in there to take the pictures of the table ;) The room is usually pitch black for grading on a projector screen and we also have a D65 backlight for TV work.
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Willian Aleman

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostMon Sep 28, 2015 9:45 pm

Good to know it. Thanks for the extra info.
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RowanStrang

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostTue May 06, 2025 10:22 pm

I'd love to see these images if thats at all possible
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SeldomSeenKid

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Re: Custom ergonomic DaVinci Control Surface Desk

PostWed May 07, 2025 7:21 am

I can't see the images. :(
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