Laptop/Portable Recording Setup

[ed_chisholm]

Hi guys,

I'm in the process of setting up a portable/home recording studio, and I'm just trying to work out the most practical way to go about it! I know what gear it is I'm after, so my problem is just the practicalities.

I'll need space to store and transport mics, leads, a rack of at least 4U and my laptop. I've come across two ideas so far (which may not work anyway, hint why I'm throwing it open to you guys).


Number one is...

I look at a 12U or 16U flight case, and stick in 2 or 3 4U drawers (depending on if it were a 12U of 16U). Store mics and leads in the drawers (Not sure how much would even fit in them anyway so might not work after all!), and then with 4U spare at the top I put in my preamps and whatnot. Then the laptop just sits on top.


Or numer two is...

I've seen a few laptop/rack cases, of which I'd get a 4U, and then just stick all mics and leads in a utility flight case. Then stack the rack on top and the laptop on top of that.


What do people think? I'm also on quite a tight budget and some of these flight cases cost what I'd rather be spending on mics! Thanks guys. Of course, if anyone has a solution that I've totally missed, do shout out!

Thanks,

Ed.

[claying]

I was in the same situation a year ago when I started to expand my recording hobby from stereo pair to multi-mic.

I tried your "number one" solution but failed. One major problem with a large 12-16U rack is that it is too heavy to be lifted up by a single person. Moreover, you really need a van for transportation.

I now go for your "number two":
- a single 4U SKB XRACK4 for interface / mic pre / converter
- two large industrial plastic cases (one for cables / snakes, another for mics, power, UPS and various accessories)
- SKB 4812 stand case for the mic stands
I can now drive all the equipment in an ordinary sedan. Upon arrival, the 4U rack and plastic cases can be stacked on a folded trolley and moved into the hall in one go by myself alone. And the SKB stand case has wheels itself.

[ed_chisholm]

Yeah man, the 2nd option sounds a lot more practical for moving around. My concern was that, as a drummer - the main interest of recording my own drum parts - I would just have even more cases lying around to deal with! But yeah, I don't think the first option is really that realistic. Thanks man.

[henryrobinett]

I do number two myself. I drive to my gigs. I load it myself, going at least. The bigger the rack the more difficult it is. Modular always made more sense to me.

[Petrus]

I have a 3U case for converter (Orpheus) & 4-channel micpre, which both are 1U. Power cords & firewire cable wrapped in foam and stuffed into the empty space. Midsize Pelicase for mics & SD722 backup. BACKPACK (or two) for cables, laptop etc. So 2 hands are enough to carry these 3-4 pieces, no trolleys needed.

Ultralight unit is just a backpack with SD722, cans, pair of DPA 4060s, cables and carbon stand in a 5' carboard map tube. Total weight maybe 5 kg, including the handbell weight for the stand.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

...Modular always made more sense to me.

Me too, after I learned the hard way: having EVERYTHING in one case is only cool for the five minutes when you're plugging in the mics at a gig and presto, that's all you have to do because everything else is pre-wired.

For the other 23 + 11/12 hours of the day, it's a nightmare-- carting this huge, heavy thing up and down stairs, in and out of your car, needing essentially wheelchair access wherever you go...

[claying]

Originally Posted by Petrus

no trolleys needed.

How about the stands and cables for your 8 mics?
I found these are the most heavy & bulky stuff to carry.

[MichaelPatrick]

The idea of rolling a rack around with everything inside is attractive, but just as claying says, it won't work unless you have a small van.

This is what I use to move equipment around quickly and easily... RocknRoller® Multi-Cart®

[claying]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

This is what I use to move equipment around quickly and easily... RocknRoller® Multi-Cart®

I use this: ITSEN FW-99F
Very compact when folded up, good for small places in Hong Kong!

[Petrus]

Originally Posted by claying

How about the stands and cables for your 8 mics?
I found these are the most heavy & bulky stuff to carry.

I use an invention called a "boy" or "son" for this, I have three...

Besides, you can not fit tall stands into road cases anyway, so I left those out of the equation. Cables are in the backpack(s).

[pan]

Originally Posted by claying

How about the stands and cables for your 8 mics?
I found these are the most heavy & bulky stuff to carry.

Drum hardware case or bag on wheels does the job over here.

Stagg PSB-48/T Caddy Tasche Groansicht 1

[Tommy-boy]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I use an invention called a "boy" or "son" for this, I have three...

I did the same thing at my last few gigs!

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I use an invention called a "boy" or "son" for this, I have three...

Good for you. I have two. Rarely was able to get them on the same page regarding helping. Then it was only for a brief period of time, as they're out of the house.

[jnorman]

"I have three..." - i hear those things are really spendy though, and require lots of maintenance.

[Petrus]

Originally Posted by jnorman

"I have three..." - i hear those things are really spendy though, and require lots of maintenance.

My DIY versions have turned out quite nice, never needing all that much heavy maintenence, just a polishing touch here and there. V1.0 is turning a pro musican/composer, V2.0 and V3.0 are are starting electrical & mechanical engineering studies. Besides SD722 and Orpheus, also life is good!

[philper]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I use an invention called a "boy" or "son" for this, I have three...

Besides, you can not fit tall stands into road cases anyway, so I left those out of the equation. Cables are in the backpack(s).

"Intern".

phil p

[Bibster]

Hullo,

No one here uses the Method one-and-a-half ? Set up a drawer at the top of a small rack, solely for the laptop? That's what I was about to do...

2U would do for my old iBook + external drive, wouldn't it? PSU's stay in the rack, just yank the laptop out of the drawer, and put it on top of the rack, plug you FW cable, done.

OW, and drumcase for stands, heavy duty stackable cases for the rest, on a trolley

[Murton]

Originally Posted by Bibster

Hullo,

No one here uses the Method one-and-a-half ? Set up a drawer at the top of a small rack, solely for the laptop? That's what I was about to do...

2U would do for my old iBook + external drive, wouldn't it? PSU's stay in the rack, just yank the laptop out of the drawer, and put it on top of the rack, plug you FW cable, done.

OW, and drumcase for stands, heavy duty stackable cases for the rest, on a trolley

I've used an SKB Studio Flyer in the past, macbook pro in the top, interface and wireless mic and IEM's in the rack. Made for a great playback, wireless and IEM rack for touring.

[Bibster]

Darn, that's pretty neat!

The 4U could be a perfect solution for me...

[pkautzsch]

I do both: my music system is 2 4U racks (pres/converters, 24-track backup recorder) plus laptop - my movie system is cart-based, the cart housing a few wireless receivers, lots of accessories, clamps, windscreens, batteries, and a 788T or a Deva. Movie shooting will often require me to relocate a few times a day, therefore it's about moving quickly, and ideally leaving all stuff powered on. My cart is just light enough for me to get it into/out of my car on my own, but stairs will require boom op's collaboration.
In a music job, it's usually setting up once, and then staying there all the time. Load-in/out can be done on my own but is quicker with two or three people carrying the stuff.
BTW: Each setup fits quite precisely into my Volvo's trunk. Stands go to the back seat.

[hbphotoav]

Since I run my business from my MBP, and since racks have been stolen in my past, I keep the computer in a backpack, either a Wenger with a padded dedicated slot, or a new BugOut Bag, which I'm in process of configuring. It never leaves my side/back/shoulder. It's never left in a vehicle. Hard drives as well (small 500GB 2.5s in OWC FW cases). Everything else can be (relatively) easily replaced... what lives on the drives cannot.

Everything else for a 8-ch gig (DAV BG8, Apogee Ensemble, TASCAM CD burner) is racked in a 4U Gator. Cables and a small UPS are in a small duffel. Alesis HD24 (for backup) has its own 4U Gator. Cable looms (24ch of DB25-TRS) live inside. For 24ch tracking gigs, the PreSonus 24.4.2 has its own ATA case.

Mics travel in a couple of aluminum briefcases purchased at Lowe's about a decade ago. They don't stay in the vehicle, either. I've started carrying a 4' adjustable height plastic folding table (Lifetime Fold-in-Half Table with Adjustable Heights - 4' - White - 1 pk. - Sam's Club) so I'm not dependent on the venue. Some non-slip rubber drawer/shelf liner keeps everything in place.

Stands generally travel locally in OnStage ballistic nylon bags. For fly gigs, I pack stands, long-run stereo cables and lightweight video tripods in a SKB 2SKB-4812WS case (see here: skb golf travel cases - hard sided), and manage the weight to 49.7 pounds (23kg) to avoid overweight. In 13 years of an annual European gig (and a dozen or so US travel dates, trucked and/or trailered, a year) the baggage monkeys and I still haven't managed to destroy one. Uglified... yes. But still perfectly useable.

I use a couple of different two-wheelers, depending on if it's a station-wagon gig (lightweight folding), or one that requires the van or the trailer (a heavy 2/4 wheel convertible).

HB

[Piranhadrum]

Originally Posted by Murton

I've used an SKB Studio Flyer in the past, macbook pro in the top, interface

Same here!

I use the 4U version.....thank God it has wheels and a handle!

[charlienyc]

Originally Posted by Bibster

2U would do for my old iBook + external drive, wouldn't it? PSU's stay in the rack, just yank the laptop out of the drawer, and put it on top of the rack, plug you FW cable, done.

better yet, this thing would have it all racked nicely: Penn-Elcom EX-6301B 19" Lockable Vented Laptop Drawer 1RU

Originally Posted by hbphotoav

In 13 years of an annual European gig (and a dozen or so US travel dates, trucked and/or trailered, a year) the baggage monkeys and I still haven't managed to destroy one. Uglified... yes. But still perfectly useable.

uh oh, did you just summon Murphy?

Originally Posted by Petrus

I use an invention called a "boy" or "son" for this, I have three...

hmmm gotta ask the wife if we can get one...

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by charlienyc

uh oh, did you just summon Murphy?

Nope. I've had gear stolen and boinked (modeling light lamps mainly)... but the CASE only gets uglier. One of my better purchases...

[Boschen]

Originally Posted by claying

I was in the same situation a year ago when I started to expand my recording hobby from stereo pair to multi-mic.

I tried your "number one" solution but failed. One major problem with a large 12-16U rack is that it is too heavy to be lifted up by a single person. Moreover, you really need a van for transportation.

I now go for your "number two":
- a single 4U SKB XRACK4 for interface / mic pre / converter
- two large industrial plastic cases (one for cables / snakes, another for mics, power, UPS and various accessories)
- SKB 4812 stand case for the mic stands
I can now drive all the equipment in an ordinary sedan. Upon arrival, the 4U rack and plastic cases can be stacked on a folded trolley and moved into the hall in one go by myself alone. And the SKB stand case has wheels itself.

I use a very similar rig for mobile work.

In addition, my regular day to day work gig utilizes a similar 'modular cases stacked on a folding trolley / dolly' approach. Cases are strapped down, with bungies or ratchets. If there are stairs, I use the dolly config; if not, I use the trolley config. I heartily endorse this method.

[surflounge]

we use their lightweight kevlar Military transit cases by ECS Composites