Need a rack suggestion

[edwinhurwitz]

I am getting ready to rerack my Metric Halo location rig. I'm adding another ULN-8 to a 2882 and existing ULN-8, replacing an RME Octamic. Right now it's in a standard SKB 6 space rack and it all works OK, except that with the DB-25 connectors, plus the patch bay on the back, it's a little tight. I'd like to find a rack that's at least 18" rail to rail, especially because I'm thinking about adding 2" with the Mamba patch bay, but I really like the light weight of the SKB style rack. I've tried Gator, who does have such a thing, but I'm done with them. The quality is just not there.

So, any ideas?

Thanks much in advance!
Edwin

[JonesH]

Edwin,
I'm in the same situation - I have two ULN-8 and am toying with the idea to add another during the present TEC award rebate. so far I've been looking at this:

http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=sku_rack_space_units-4-80&id=532&o=&offset=1&c=80&s=80

But three ULN-8s might be a bit hot for that one. Especially if I decide to add a blackBox recorder as backup later. This one maybe?

http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=sku_rack_space_units-6-80&id=520&o=&offset=2&c=80&s=80

It's been mentioned before by mr. Donahue and others, I think, that an important issue may be to have the units properly attached to the rear rails also.

Looking forward to further discussion.

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by JonesH

Edwin,
I'm in the same situation - I have two ULN-8 and am toying with the idea to add another during the present TEC award rebate. so far I've been looking at this:

20" Deep 4U Rolling Roto Shock Rack by SKB Cases

But three ULN-8s might be a bit hot for that one. Especially if I decide to add a blackBox recorder as backup later. This one maybe?

20" Deep 6U Rolling Roto Shock Rack by SKB Cases

It's been mentioned before by mr. Donahue and others, I think, that an important issue may be to have the units properly attached to the rear rails also.

Looking forward to further discussion.

You may want to check-out these guys. I think they are in your neck of the woods
EUROMODULE
Peace

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by rmx16

You may want to check-out these guys. I think they are in your neck of the woods
EUROMODULE
Peace

Nice racks but not really deep enough for what we're needing.

Thanks, though!
Edwin

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by JonesH

Edwin,
I'm in the same situation - I have two ULN-8 and am toying with the idea to add another during the present TEC award rebate. so far I've been looking at this:


20" Deep 6U Rolling Roto Shock Rack by SKB Cases


Looking forward to further discussion.

That looks like a good option, but it's a little pricey for me. I definitely want 6 spaces, not so much for the front end, but to be able to fit all the patch bays on the back. I have 3 rack spaces worth of patch bays and 2 rack spaces worth of fans which I got from here:

ProCool_Custom_2x - ProCool Rack Fans - More Air with Less Noise - Custom Rack Fan - ProCooL Rack Fans

The fans are silent and move enough air to keep things really cool. The biggest amount of heat comes from my RME Octamic.


I am thinking about moving one of the patch bays to the front, with all the inputs on the back and the outputs on the front. It's not ideal, but I really don't want to go to an 8 space rack.

[JonesH]

470-something usd from b&h. Not dirt cheap but not so expensive I think...

I have three ULN-8s, would you be comfortable putting them in a 4U rack? Heat may be an issue. Would be nice to leave half a rack space between them maybe.

[Tomas Miller]

I get all my cases made custom through a local shop... The best racks I've ever seen for the money. Same prices as Road Ready and similar but tailored to your needs and much much better build. You specify dimensions, thickness, and what ever other specs and he'll send you out a quote. Be sure to talk to him about shipping though... I always pick them up from him direct so I'm not sure what that's going to look like.

Chuck will make you what you need, I can vouch for his work 100%. Contact him through the X-Treme Cases website..

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by JonesH

470-something usd from b&h. Not dirt cheap but not so expensive I think...

I have three ULN-8s, would you be comfortable putting them in a 4U rack? Heat may be an issue. Would be nice to leave half a rack space between them maybe.

I would do it with one of the 1 space fans at the link I provided if I had enough room on the back for all my ins and outs. They really are silent and move enough air to keep things cool.


Edwin

[JonesH]

Thanks for the link to the fan systems. I'll check them out.

I didn't go for the mamba patch panels, I thought they were inefficient in terms of connectors/space - I wanted combo connectors instead of separate xlrs for mic and line inputs, and stacked TRS for line outputs. I made a custom panel myself (OK, I had help with the metalwork). Since then I got another ULN8 and am thinking of getting another during the 25% promotion. I've ordered a 16x combo 1U panel from Redco since I mostly need inputs. That's 2U for 24 inputs.

[JonesH]

Also Edwin, how deep did you find the cases need to be?
The '8 is 33 cm deep, how much do you need to leave for the DSubs on each side?

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by JonesH

Also Edwin, how deep did you find the cases need to be?
The '8 is 33 cm deep, how much do you need to leave for the DSubs on each side?

Well my rack is 16" from rail to rail, so the DSub isn't really a problem, but the thickness of the cable that goes into the connector means that it comes out to right behind the patch bay that I built (using the 16 hole 1 rack space Redco panels). It's too bad that no one makes a right angle Dsub connector!

So, there's no room at all for the Mamba patch bay. I would imagine that they would be able to customize whatever you want as far as connectors go, but I've come to the conclusion that I can use my existing rack if I replace my 8 hole patch panel (which has 4 extra outputs along with ADAT i/o and FW 400 and 800 connectors) with a 16 hole. I like the idea of the Mamba because it's a very clean system, requiring only DSub on the inside of the rack instead of the various cables I've got floating around inside that are directly soldered to the patch bay. It would also mean that I could pull one of the units for use outside the rack very easily, but as it is, it's an all or nothing proposition. However, for now, I'm going to use as much as I can of what I've got and just get on with recording music.