Ergonomics - Where to position stuff when your main PC is also your DAW?

I am in the process of upgrading both my DAW and my main PC to a single fast PC.  I'm now wondering how to position things optimally for the new setup.

With my old setup, my keyboard (Triton) sits directly in front of the DAW's 2 monitors, with the computer keyboard in front of the Triton and the mouse off to the side.  This works well for me, and I've done it for years. 

However, with the new setup, I need to use the music computer for work as well, so don't want to sit so far back from the monitors. This means the music keyboard (Triton) needs to be off to the side, either the left or the right; I don't know which would work best. 

I'm curious about how those of you who use your main PC for Sonar have organized your studio so that when you are working (or playing games), the musical stuff is not in the way, but when you are making music, everything is convenient.  And if you have 2 monitors, how do you position them?

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks for the responses!

My studio/office is a small, cheap "U" setup: desks in front, left, and right.  Got the swivel chair.  I also have a Contour Shuttle Pro, which could be used to control sonar, assuming it works in Win7 64-bit.  I'll test it soon.

I have a little Edirol PCR-A30 keyboard controller I could put in front; it's narrow enough to not push me too far back from the monitors.  However, it's got fewer octaves and less responsive keys than the Triton.  Not sure how I'd manage 2 keyboards in Sonar; how do you decide which one to use?

Roger, what happened to your post?  I have the email notification so can repost it if you like.

One option: you can keep your setup as-is and invest in a pair of good monitor arms that will bring the monitors out so they basically sit directly over your Triton.  Good arms cost probably $100-$150/each but are very sturdy and adjustable as well, so you can move the monitors as needed.  You could get a dual-monitor arm (2 monitors on 1 arm) or do what I did, basically tether the two arms together so that the two monitors move as one when you need to adjust them.  I have 2 very large and heavy 30" monitors and have had no problems with putting them on adjustable arms.  That said, I never actually adjust them, they sit over my Yamaha Motif and I still have full access to the piano keyboard and buttons while having the monitors maybe 16" in front of my face.

I could write pages about my painful experience with ergonomics and carpal tunnel, but the cliff notes version is it's important to situate your monitors where you're comfortable viewing them with good posture.  If you feel like you lean forward even the tiniest bit to get closer to your monitors, over time you will pinch the nerves in your shoulders and can develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

In case it may give you some ideas, here is my DYI setup:


I have 2 monitors, keyboards and mice.
The keyboards and mice are set on a rolling shelf.
Monitor are behind the main wood furniture, but of course you need enough space to do that.
My DAW pc is dedicated to music, but this may give you some ideas for setting up your configuration