Most everyone has an amp and preamp in their rack but what else? I have some openings in a rack so I’m curious as to what else is out there. I also have a power conditioner and contemplated a rack mounted compressor. What’s in your rack???
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Nice Rack!!!!
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Currently I have a Furman power conditioner, some R2D2 figures and boxes from other equipment I'm not using!
I retired my road rack ages ago but at it's height there was a Proco R2DU, DeltaLab Pitch Shifter Delay, Roland SDE1000, RANE 31 band EQ plus various pre amps and depending on the continent Peavey, Crown or Yamaha power Amps.
I do have gear in the studio racked up but have not even used that in quite a while it being so easy to do it in the box these daze. Probably going on sale in 2022.
I do have gear in the studio racked up but have not even used that in quite a while it being so easy to do it in the box these daze. Probably going on sale in 2022.
I need to look up to see what those items are. I use a Furman power conditioner too.
This is all mid to late Eighties early Nineties vintage gear. I worked for SHOWCO and had access to pro gear most didn't.
Proco R2DU was a rack mounted dual Rat with a remote footswitch, about the only rack mounted distortion back in the Eighties.
Deltalab was an early effects and delay unit that offered pitch shift, modulation and short delay and a pseudo reverb, I used it for octave up as well as detune, flange and chorus. These were usually found in broadcast in low budget radio stations for gimmicks and gags, I got mine from a salvage job otherwise I would never have been able to afford one. MXR and Eventide made the big dollar units.
Roland SDE1000 was one of the first digital multi effect units they are still popular in some circles despite their age
Effects Timeline - Vintage Digital
Korg Pitchblack Tuner/Cable Checker
MESA/Boogie TT-800 (Rack Ears + Walnut veneers)
iSP BETA PREAMP
In the rear: TC Electronic S+PEQ in EFX Loop #1
Rack/Case: MISSION ENGINEERING Gemini (long)
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My preamp has optical compression , so I have a pre amp, stereo power amp, a tuner, and a Furman “power supply” (glorified gang outlet with lights). That’s it. All 75lbs of it.
I only have one racked amp . . . An old GK 400RB with a dbx160x Compressor.
What’s all that gear? Looks like something Dr. Evil might have concocted to fire “lasers” or something like that. It looks intimidating, in a good way!
how does that DBX compressor compare to a pedal compressor. I have a few different compressor pedals (Empress, Diamond, EBS, Cali76 & MarkBass) but I have considered getting a DBX.
I've bever used a pedal so I can't compare, plus I have so much gear that I haven't played through that kit since about 2016. I do recall really liking the versatility of that dbx back in the day, though.
Amp, tuner, and custom in/out panel with a SansAmp VTDI behind it. Power strip in back. Everything I need, and nothing I don't 
LOL!
It's not as complicated as it looks, it's just two peamps, a compressor, tuner, a line mixer to run either/both preamps to the amplifier and intake and exhaust fans to keep it cool!
How do you like your DbX?
Do you use any compressor pedals? If you do, do you prefer the pedal or rackmount?
I'm very happy with the dbx compressor. It has all the I need features like noise gate and auto attack and release and being a dual mono/stereo, This one rack unit does the job for both of my preamps. I mainly use it for dynamic level control so the power amp won't receive too many overloads which is very important being the high power I'm running.
I used a Boss pedal years ago and I liked it but it's not as versatile as a fully featured rack model.
The Keeley Compressor Pro seems to be a very versatile for a pedal and looks like it could be just as good compared to most rack compressors. It would be perfect if it had a noise gate on it. Kind of pricey for a pedal but worth looking into if you prefer pedals.
I used a Boss pedal years ago and I liked it but it's not as versatile as a fully featured rack model.
The Keeley Compressor Pro seems to be a very versatile for a pedal and looks like it could be just as good compared to most rack compressors. It would be perfect if it had a noise gate on it. Kind of pricey for a pedal but worth looking into if you prefer pedals.
I've used dbx 160A in the past. A single channel compressor, but doesn't have a noise gate that is nice!
I mentioned using a pedal in the rack in a specific EFX Loop. I was looking to add a single selectable parametric EQ band into the channel and found the TC S+PEQ. I have found a "touch" of the Sustain feature very cool with all of the tubes involved. The noise gate takes the extra bit of light noise out of the signal. The parametric EQ is a nice tool for situations where needed.
I run a pedal compressor up front. A Darkglass Hyper Luminal on the same channel. (I have two channels, as well). This compressor has a voltage doubler from 9v to 18v AND has a current draw of 250mA. There are fully functional settings, but they need to be accessed with the DG Suite to make the settings happen.
I have felt that this compressor is likely the closest thing to a hardwired rack compressor that I have personally encountered if looking for a pedal. Of course, many on TB feel no need for a compressor, but then, why so many options??
It helps!
I have seen a dbx 160A in the TB Classifieds for awhile @ $240 that is less than either of the DG or Kelley mentioned.
I mentioned using a pedal in the rack in a specific EFX Loop. I was looking to add a single selectable parametric EQ band into the channel and found the TC S+PEQ. I have found a "touch" of the Sustain feature very cool with all of the tubes involved. The noise gate takes the extra bit of light noise out of the signal. The parametric EQ is a nice tool for situations where needed.
I run a pedal compressor up front. A Darkglass Hyper Luminal on the same channel. (I have two channels, as well). This compressor has a voltage doubler from 9v to 18v AND has a current draw of 250mA. There are fully functional settings, but they need to be accessed with the DG Suite to make the settings happen.
I have felt that this compressor is likely the closest thing to a hardwired rack compressor that I have personally encountered if looking for a pedal. Of course, many on TB feel no need for a compressor, but then, why so many options??
It helps!
I have seen a dbx 160A in the TB Classifieds for awhile @ $240 that is less than either of the DG or Kelley mentioned.
