Every time I touch a knob on the console, or grab a 1/4-inch cable in the patchbay, I get a shock. It also makes an audible pop in the monitors. I can't imagine this is good. But I don't know how to prevent it (short of touching something else first every time I intend to touch anything connected to the board).

Any suggestions?


Oh, this is what it looks like outside where I am...

I am in Maine, where the current scenary looks amazinly similar to yours.

I also experience lots of static electricity in my little studio around now.

It mostly stems from the below freezing temperatures (which means very low humidity, a common cause of static electricity), and bad insulation in the studio.

My recommendation is to try and get all the popping over with before you press "record."

Having your heater on in the winter time can cause the humidity in your house/studio/whatever to get really low, and can cause all kinds of problems like static electricity, some skin problems and other health problems as well. You might wanna try getting a humidifier.

Well, you could work naked. Most of the static charge is coming from the rubbing of your shoes and clothes against other surfaces. Your skin will not pick up an electrostatic charge in this manor.

Or perhaps just work barefoot and wear all leather.

Getting some humidity into the air is probably a better idea.

Allen

Yeah, a humidifier will help much, plus it is good for your piano or any other wooden instruments in the cold, dry winter.

That's weird. I was going to make the exact same post here after I spent all weekend getting zapped. By the end of the session I realized that I had become classically conditioned to fear studio gear - I would flinch every time I reached out to turn a knob - even on the stereo at my house the next day.

Humidifier it is.

Charles

get an anti-static wristband from a computer store like this:

...or just touch something grounded.

Polypropylene gloves?