Elastic Mobile recording studio construction

[Elastic]

Hi,

after several years in the studio business, lots of different project,... I've decided to move to a new kind of recording job.

Due to economic reason (sad but true) , it wasn't realistic to have a big recording studio anymore.

I've now moved to a smaller recording studio mainly designed for overdubs and mixing, and best of all, away from the city ! This studio is now located in the countryside.

I'm at the same time buiding a mobile recording studio, with loads of gear in flight cases.

The studio will be :

Pro Tools HD1 32I/O
Command 8
Adam S3A & NS10
Loads of microphones from Shure, Neuman, DPA, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser,.... (list to follow)
Loads of preamp from Studer, trident, Universal audio, Philips, Focusrite
Compressor and eq

And best of all, as I'm a lot into the DIY things, I've build lots of eq, compressor preamp, racked some channel strips

Everything flight cased with Elco/Edac connection to a central patch bay.

Photo coming soon as well as some description of what I'm doing

See you soon

[Elastic]

Hi All,

here are some picture of what's on my bench !

Philips LDC 15 Console, stripped down I'll only keep the channels and buils a 5U Box with 6 of them, added feature are JLM Go Between and Simple That balancing boards, Will keep an option to add a new box with 6 channels later.

DIY preamp are "SSL9K" and "Green pre" as well as Gyraf's Gyratec 9 Tube preamp

Have two Trident B range channels which needs to be racked (no pictures yet)

As well as Two Calrec Preamp/eq modules, Two CAlrec Stéreo compressor and TWo Calrec Stereo EQ which will be fitted in a 5U racked near to 4 SAIT passive EQ

And it's not finished !

[Remoteness]

Awesome!

[Ibvee]

Very cool!

[Elastic]

And here is one of the flight case which will contain the outboards

I've bought 3 of those, they are 18U and good value for money.

I'm also building a custom flight case wich will be housing the protools system as well as the mac and headphones amp and monitoring.

More coming soon

[Elastic]

My Custom flight case including the Pro Tools system is done

It contains:

Apple Mac Intel
Pro Tools HD 1 PCIe
2 192 one including Optional 8AD (24 in, 16 out)
A ALesis AI3 8 AD/DA for 8 AD (going to 32 in) and 8DA used for the monitoring section
A Mackie Big Knob
A Command 8
A Furman Power conditioner
A Furman Headphones Amplifier with 8 Station (each including 4 mono Cues ans 1 stereo cue)
A symetrix Headphones amp
A TAscam CD Player

All connection are coming thru 2 Neutrik TRS patchbay used as a simple line splitter (the easiest way for me to plug another DAW or Multitrack recorder for use as a backup in live recording situation) and will be connected to a patchbay thru the 3 Elco/Edac 90 at the end of the rack

SO connection are : ELCO/EDAC ==== Patchbay ==== Pro Tools In

I build the Flight case by myself so It's not the beautifulest build you'll see but it seems really solid and very functional.

[Elastic]

I didn't wanted to plug / Unplug the screen connection so I've made a space available at the back of the rack to slip the screen into, it's a 2U Steel shell with foam on it, the screen doesn't move as it's blocked between the CD player and the foam + Shell assembly.

The back of the screen is blocked by a 1U panel with xlr connection for Monitor 1 & 2 and RJ45 connector for the Furman Headphones amp system

The small power supply transformer for the Command 8 is hold in place with velcro.

The Command 8 and the Big knob have they feet blocked inside holes I drilled into the sliding wood board and held in place with Velcro. this solution works really well

The apple keyboard is also "velcroed" to the board

[philper]

Admire your willingness and abilities in modifying gear, but how will you move that rack around? Do you have a truck (with a lift-gate)?

phil p

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by philper

Admire your willingness and abilities in modifying gear... <snip>

It's amazing how you can do all this wonderful work, but cannot upload a picture right side up...

I mean, I fix one of your pictures, this this would set a bug in you to do the same.

In any event, keep up the great work.

[Elastic]

Originally Posted by philper

Admire your willingness and abilities in modifying gear, but how will you move that rack around? Do you have a truck (with a lift-gate)?

phil p

Hi Phil, I have a truck (but without lift ) the rack isn't so heavy to move, I can't load it in the truck alone, but with somebody helping me it's absolutly not a problem.

This setup is design for location recording, so I'm planning to move this only for big/ long time project. A smaller / lighter setup will come later for live recording and small multitrack recording (8 to 16 channels of preamp max)

[Elastic]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

It's amazing how you can do all this wonderful work, but cannot upload a picture right side up...

I mean, I fix one of your pictures, this this would set a bug in you to do the same.

In any event, keep up the great work.

.... I'll be more carefull next time !

thanks for the good words


Edit: fixed !

[Remoteness]

Tremendous!

I'm looking forward to more of your posts.

[Elastic]

Hi ,

the cabling system is all done with Elco/edac 90 Connector,

for me it seems to be the most efficient way to connect multiple outboards, patchbay, multitrack recorder, microphones line fast and easily. I really don't want to spend ages connecting all those stuff together and I want the system to be as modular as possible and as reusable as possible.

So I made those cable (see pictures)

The 2 connector at the back of the rack will be Edac 90 one for 24 inputs and one for 24 outputs available

The patchbay is flight cased in 4U with custom made panels at the back

2 patchbays are for the outboards (4 flight case)
1 patchbay is for the DAW system
1 patchbay is for the microphones lines

The microphones lines are on EDAC 38 connector for one reason

I had, in my previous studio, all my microphones connection coming on wall panel with edac 38 connector (Used as 8 mic line connector) I builded extender cable with EDAC 38 connector on one end and those Neutrik xlr connection box at the other end. All those cable are in various length, some are 24 line with 3 Edac 38 at the end, some 16 line with Two edac 38 and lots are 8 line. This is a very convenient system as it allowed me to chose the right cable length and the right amount of connector needed for each situation.

The main problem is: i HATE long microphones cable as it's a nightmare to roll them, it's always full of dirt, full of knot, you're always walking on it, assistant can't walk thru a recording room without having their feet in one of those cable,....

So for me the dream situation is big multicable with very short microphones cables.

It makes me save time, and I'm less irritated by the end of the day

In total it's 48 edac 90 connector + 5 Edac 38 connector which makes 3576 Edac pin crimped !!!! and 984 solder point !!!

My hands is suffering a LOT .......

[Remoteness]

Nice work my man!

Based on how the pins were positioned in your photos it looks like you went with the Aura-Sonic ELCO/EDAC pin-out configuration, but I may be mistaken.

Which pin-out standard did you end up using?

[Elastic]

Hi,

I used the pinout used by Whirwind

here is a link to their webpage Search results for: edac 90 pinout - Whirlwind

It seems to be the most used pinout.

@ Remoteness I've had a tour on your website and saw some pictures of your gear and setup on this forum, I must say you are of great inspiration for my project ! Thanks

[Remoteness]

IMHO, that standard may be the most used, but it's definitely not the most logical (or easiest) way to wire or repair that pin-out configuration, especially when you're in adverse conditions or under the gun.

The Aura-Sonic pin-out has 12 channels above and 12 channels below the screw.
That's twelve rows; two channels per row.

Channels 25 - 30 when needed are in the same positions as the Whirlwind PDF, but pinned differently.

You never need to break out the slide rule or need to look at a pin-out schematic to wire or repair them.
This can be an awesome thing when you're behind a rack in a dark space and the show is about the start.

[Elastic]

Lots of thing today!

I made some speaker stand out of MDF Boards leftover I had in my garage.

It's probably not the most elegant solution but it's enough for my needs ans it's free !!! These stand are quite heavy, but I'm planning to carry them with me only when using my main speaker pair; Adam S3A which are also quite heavy. So only for on location long period of time recording .

I also finished some DIY preamps.

Two dual channel "Green pre" and one dual Channel "SSL9K" these pre are well known by the fellows hanging on the prodigy-pro forum. I made some years ago a 4 channels "prototype" of the green pre and used it a lot in my previous studio. I must say it's a brilliant mic pre, sounds really good, have a lot of gain, and I couldn't found any situation where it wasn't sounding good.

The preamp all have their custom engraved frontpanels. I'm really happy the way it looks ! I'm really not afraid of renting them to a client as it really looks like a commercial product.

Enjoy the pictures !

Christophe

[Elastic]

Hi ,

have been working a lot these days

here are the results (see pictures)

equipment include

a studer 169 10 Channels of preamp EQ (build a balancing board to have "direct out" thru the insert send)
Trident B range (2 channels racked)
Calrec collection (mic pre, stéreo eq and stereo compressor)
lovely martin sound PA Mixer which sounds amazing
and lots of other machines racked and tested !

enjoy the pictures

more coming later

[Tuberizer]

This looks badass man

[Elastic]

Had a friend of mine come to make some pictures of the mobile setup

here are the results

What's your opinion ?

[Insain]

Beautiful! I love people that "DiY", thank God I am not alone.

[Remoteness]

Very nice gear porn you have there...

Two questions:

Why did you decide to put your patchbay in an SKB case instead of a ATA roadcase?
I have patchbays in SKB cases, but they are in 2U rack sizes, so they can be a quick extra interface when necessary.

What's n the roadcase with the lid on it?


Great thread; keep the pictures coming!

[LX3]

Some nice kit. Looks very cool.

But one thing I feel I need to mention. In both your "Green" and "SSL" preamps, none of the switch, XLR or any other terminals are heatshrinked or sleeved in any way. Which is okay I suppose, but there's potential for them getting shorted if anything breaks free. Quite a lot of unsecured wiring which doesn't help - some self-adhesive bases/clips and/or cable ties would fix that.

But most worryingly, there's no sleeving or insulation around the IEC mains inlet terminals or the panel fuse holder.

Also, the mains wiring... is it me, or do both the earth and the live terminals have yellow wires soldered to them? Then the (presumably live) wire from the fuse holder is blue...

This has quite a high probability of killing someone. I hope you have a few million in third party cover.

Seriously, I'd deal with this before you do anything else. For your loved ones and your clients' sake, don't use this rig until you make it safe.

[Elastic]

Hi all,

thanks for the good comments!

@Remoteness : I'm a bit short on budget right now so I used whatever case was available at the moment. I'm planning the Patch panels to be reconditioned in 2U Road cases for more flexibility. The SKB is fine now for the next project i have, but it will not stay like this forever.

In the second SKB Case is the amplifier for the NS10

@LX3: I'm not sure I've understand all your comment (My English is not so good) but; I've build quite a lot of gear over the year and didn't had any problem with my wiring. But I must admit the gear where always used in a "non-mobile" recording studio, so thanks for the advise, I should probably take some time to protect the main power connections with Heatshrink. (Will do this in the near future !!!)

For the color of the wire, I actually don't care about them and use whatever is available at the building time. But be sure that my wiring is 100% safe. I'm the only one to use, install and maintain the studio and I'm always very careful with main power... And I never thrust the color of the wire, only their section and electrical property.

Thanks for the advices and comment,

more are welcome thumbsup

[philper]

Very impressive--ready to rock. Nice work. Trying to contain my envy at your skills.....

phil p

[LX3]

Originally Posted by Elastic

I should probably take some time to protect the main power connections with Heatshrink. (Will do this in the near future !!!)

Seriously, do it NOW! Or you'll put it off in the excitement of getting your rig going.

For the color of the wire, I actually don't care about them and use whatever is available at the building time.

But if someone else ever services it, or just takes the lid off for a peek, or you simply forget what you did when you built it, someone is likely to assume that the blue wire is neutral. Or that the yellow wire is an earth. They're not, in both cases they have LIVE 220 VOLTS on them.

How much extra effort does it take to wire the internals properly with the right colour cable? Less than it does to wire it wrong, then rewire it properly later, that's for sure.

But be sure that my wiring is 100% safe.

Sorry, but, I'm certain from your pictures that it isn't safe. I personally would not want to go near it. But it's fixable.

I'm the only one to use, install and maintain the studio

Maybe, but you're not the only person that's around this equipment. You're planning on renting your services out and recording other people aren't you? Can you guarantee that only you will ever touch your gear?

Realise that if something should come loose in one of your preamps and make contact with the exposed live terminal, the case of the preamp and the case of every piece of kit you have could end up with 220v on it (since they're all earthed). If you're lucky, a breaker somewhere in the building will trip, but I wouldn't like to bet on it. The fuse in the preamp won't do anything.

There's plenty of stories of musicians getting electrocuted. It happens and it can be fatal.

See that picture I have as my avatar? Now imagine doing that, knowing that the control you're turning is about 7mm away from being connected to 220v...

[Elastic]

@ LX3 Ok, I'll put some new picture with the mod in afew days...

I can tell you some Horrible Story seen in the studio in the days I was a studio assistant and this is really nothing in front of what I've seen.
Like earth lifted power cable to reduce Hum on a tube guitar amp stikestikestike something I would NEVER do and scared me like hell !!! , not to mention the argument I had with the "sound engineer" which clearly didn't understand what I was talking about ....

But I must admit your comment are really important and smart, and be sure I'll follow your advise ! Thanks a lot !

Cheers

Christophe

[Remoteness]

All I can say is...

Standards are paramount!
Color codes must be followed even if you know what you're doing.
Standards and codes may not be for you; they are there for every one else.

We have used whatever was available during the build-out stage, but if the color of the cable was different than what we needed, we made sure we heat shrunk the right color code or wrapped the proper colored electrical tape and capped it with clear heat shrink tubing.

Believe you me, this is something you never want to play around with; I'm dead serious!

IMHO, being 100% safe is making sure everything is in order and that standards and codes are met even when you're the only one using the stuff because there may be a future situation when someone may cover for you...

You will never have enough time to go over your special (whatever if found) code system;-)

[Elastic]

Hi;

long time no news !

I've been really busy these past weeks

First of all, LX3 will be happy I've modded the gear builded with right color code cable and heatshrink

I've also made my first mobile recording in a nice location here in Belgium, in the middle of the countryside, far far away from civilisation, and I must said I really enjoyed it ! All went smooth and didn't had any major trouble.

And most of all, it sounds good ! and musicians are happy !

Hope to record more!

[livingstone]

I'm glad to see that the LDC has a great second life

Congrats for the good & promising work Christophe !