Getting a big, tall, mobile rack setup

KingRazor · #1 10-14-2011, 10:50 AM

So, after the last time we tore apart half the sound system at my church for our Men's retreat, I decided it might be nice if we had everything we normally take with us in one big rack.

In order to fit everything in it, we'd need 18 spaces.

This is what it would look like:

[====Power====]
[Receiver][Receiver]
[Receiver][Receiver]
[Receiver][Receiver]
[Receiver][Receiver]
[=Blank=][Receiver]
[=Blank=][IEM Rec]
[==Monitor Amp==]
[==Monitor Amp==]
[====REAC A====]
[====REAC A====]
[====REAC A====]
[====REAC A====]
[====REAC B====]
[====REAC B====]
[====REAC B====]
[====REAC B====]

All the "receivers" are wireless mic receivers.

REAC A and REAC B are our two digital snakes.

With that setup, we could just wheel in the rack, send two cat5 cables out to the board, two 1/4" cables to the monitor wedges, and plug the instruments into the rack and we'd be set.

Right now our setup is kind of all over the place. We have an old 14-space rack case on the floor that was left over from the people who used the building before us, we generally leave the stuff we don't take with us in there (house speaker amps, GEQs, etc).

Right now we have one of the REAC boxes and most of our mic receivers in this thing:

What should I look for?

uhdinator · #2 10-14-2011, 06:07 PM

Good luck lifting it!
I break mine up into 3-4 smaller racks.

Easier to carry.

elgecko · #3 10-14-2011, 06:12 PM

Sounds top heavy and less stable.

KingRazor · #4 10-14-2011, 06:35 PM

The reac boxes are heavier than the mic receivers. To make it more bottom heavy, we could put the monitor amp at the bottom. The thing at the top that says power is just a power conditioner, not an amp.

KingRazor · #5 10-14-2011, 10:33 PM

Anyone else?

Marko5657 · #6 10-16-2011, 01:14 PM

How heavy are the monitor amps?

KingRazor · #7 10-16-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

How heavy are the monitor amps?

It's just one, I put two because it takes up two rack spaces.

It weighs 28 pounds.

Randall · #8 10-16-2011, 02:18 PM

I would put large rubber wheels on the 14 space rack and use it for the "light" equipment. Buy another rack for the "heavy" amps. Even just my preamps add up to make a pretty heavy lift so I seperate my power amps from them.

troy mcclure · #9 10-16-2011, 02:54 PM

I am sure SKB makes what you need.

KingRazor · #10 10-16-2011, 04:56 PM

I think something like this might work: Gator Cases is the manufacturer of musical instrument and audio visual cases - 10U Top, 12U Side Audio Road Rack Case (G-TOUR 10X12 PU)

1958Bassman · #11 10-16-2011, 05:04 PM

Omni, Middle Atlantic, FatCat, Penn-Elcom and several other companies make racks that can be mobile. Or, you can check Craig's List. I see racks in there all the time.

MNAirHead · #12 10-16-2011, 07:46 PM

where are you located.. I have one of these EXACTLY what you're describing in my storage area .. Please PM me.

When looking, I couldn't find anything avaialble on the ready-made market.

KingRazor · #13 10-16-2011, 10:03 PM

I'm in Oregon. Beaverton area. Near Portland.

I think I found just what I'm looking for on ebay: 20 Space 16" Deep ~LATCHLESS FLAT LIDS~ 3/8" Rack Case | eBay

T-Bird · #14 10-16-2011, 11:53 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I think I found just what I'm looking for on ebay: 20 Space 16" Deep ~LATCHLESS FLAT LIDS~ 3/8" Rack Case | eBay

LOL.

Unless You're talking about less than 30Kg of equipment, I'd spend my money better.

Any good real ATA style rack with casters or with a dolly will do the job.

You do have loading ramps on the venues You frequent?

Regards
Sam

KingRazor · #15 10-17-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

LOL.

Unless You're talking about less than 30Kg of equipment, I'd spend my money better.

Any good real ATA style rack with casters or with a dolly will do the job.

You do have loading ramps on the venues You frequent?

Regards
Sam

This would just be for when we go to comp outs. We have a ramp for our equipment trailer, plus usually a team of 3-5 adult men. So as long as this thing isn't inhumanly heavy.

So, what price range am I looking at here?

BagelBruin · #16 10-17-2011, 09:26 AM

Let me talk to my studio friends. They have bought dozen and dozen of these kinda things and they probably know the best place to buy them. I'll get back tomorrow.

KingRazor · #17 10-17-2011, 05:21 PM

Here's another one. Is this builder anymore "reputable" than the ebay one I linked earlier? Odyssey Carpeted Studio Rack with Wheels: Shop Accessories & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

walker rosewood · #18 10-17-2011, 06:29 PM

R&R cases are indestructible. R&R Cases - Racks

Also, it's a good idea to leave a blank space below and above your amp, for cooling. It doesn't hurt to have a few spaces free for expansion either.

KingRazor · #19 10-17-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

R&R cases are indestructible. R&R Cases - Racks

Also, it's a good idea to leave a blank space below and above your amp, for cooling. It doesn't hurt to have a few spaces free for expansion either.

Yeah, that's why I'm looking at 20 space racks.

Marko5657 · #20 10-17-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Yeah, that's why I'm looking at 20 space racks.

Actually, leaving a space doesn’t help, as the fan cools the amp by drawing the air through the amp, and there’s no reason to have the hot air coming out of one end drifting back to the other.

Might be good to get amps that pull the air in the same direction (some pull front to back, some the opposite), but in many cases that’s not even an issue.