(somewhat) mobile Tonelux rig

Mike O · 21st March 2006, 08:50 PM

Hi Guys -

I have done a search and reviewed what a lot of people are using for rack solutions. Perhaps I have missed something that fits my particular need/situation? At this point, rather than trying to build a mobile unit, what I am trying to do is to create a "mobile studio". Small distinction? Perhaps!

Instead of recording a "one off event" or a couple of nights, my intention is to on occassion be able to make use of various available acoustic spaces to record for 2-3 weeks at a time. Transport will be by van over short distances (not more than 20 miles; for the most part on very good roads.

70% of the year my rig will remain in my home studio. Current equipment is: Radar 24, various preamps in one rack (GML, Neve, Cranesong, etc.), various comps in another rack (1178, Distressors, CS, Avalon, etc.); and various EQs in yet another rack.

My current intention is to buy a Tonelux console. The console will fit in two bays of 13-14 spaces each (24 channel, 4 send, 8 return, 8 buss, with faders). There will be an additional bay of 13-14 spaces for patch bays for a total of 3 bays for the 'console' and three for outboard.

My problem? I am have trouble finding a suitable solution for the racks that lets me work in a conventional (horizontal) fashion, but is 'mobile'.

Any ideas? Or am I down to going to see the fab shop? Or just absolutely NUTS? I find plenty of furniture type racks like Sterling Modular etc. (not mobile at all; lots of vertical racks (not what I want when not mobile); and some cheaper stuff that 'tilts' (still not horizontal).

I have an 'extension' for an old Mackie 8 buss that was sold when those were hot that just had the Mackie sides and rack rails horizontal. No mixer, but same 'look and feel' and really very sturdy,and able to be carried by two people. But impossible to find.

Thanks in advance for any ideas you have!

allaccess · 22nd March 2006, 10:28 AM

Paul is making frames for Tonelux consoles.... just add casters dude! check out what he built for Jimmy Messina, and imagine it with big blue wheels to go offroading...

Ryan Hewitt

Jim vanBergen · 22nd March 2006, 04:43 PM

Ryan, your Tonelux rig is making many of us lust even more for these babies...
now that we find there is a rack solution in the works, a remote Tonelux console could be a reality!

Thanks man, peace-

Mike O · 22nd March 2006, 05:09 PM

Thanks Ryan.

To make it easy for everyone else, you can see many pics of the Messina Tonelux console solution here:http://www.tonelux.com/messina.html

This looks REALLY nice for a fixed environment. But I am not so sure that I would want to move it 4-5 time a year. As I understand it, the buckets shown at the link above are not re-inforced. The rack ears from the Tonelux powered racks are removed and screwed into the buckets shown. The powered racks is what gives the buckets their structural integrity.

The console as shown (which is similar in size to what I am looking at) is about five feet long and since the buckets "simply sit" on the frame it appears that moving it would be a case of striking interconnects, lifting buckets out of the frame and moving them and re-assembling on the other end of the move. It is not clear if the buckets shown are screwed together for rigidity (making them harder to strike/reassemble).

Just not sure how the buckets with screwed in powered racks would hold up to this. Perhaps it would be fine. I definately like the ergonomics once in place. The only other problem I see is one of fexibility. As an example, the Messina solution is somewhat more 'fixed' in that on the two right buckets have the rack ears removed. This reduces re-config options to some extent although they did get a API rack in the buckets by cutting of the ears. On the other hand, with the Tonelux (and other) ears removed it does look and feel more like a console.

Decisions, decisions...... still looking for options. I guess what I am thinking is a "conventional" rack/rail widget somewhat in the form of the buckets Paul made for Jimmy Messina.

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21st March 2006, 08:50 PM	#1
Mike O Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 700	(somewhat) mobile Tonelux rig Hi Guys - I have done a search and reviewed what a lot of people are using for rack solutions. Perhaps I have missed something that fits my particular need/situation? At this point, rather than trying to build a mobile unit, what I am trying to do is to create a "mobile studio". Small distinction? Perhaps! Instead of recording a "one off event" or a couple of nights, my intention is to on occassion be able to make use of various available acoustic spaces to record for 2-3 weeks at a time. Transport will be by van over short distances (not more than 20 miles; for the most part on very good roads. 70% of the year my rig will remain in my home studio. Current equipment is: Radar 24, various preamps in one rack (GML, Neve, Cranesong, etc.), various comps in another rack (1178, Distressors, CS, Avalon, etc.); and various EQs in yet another rack. My current intention is to buy a Tonelux console. The console will fit in two bays of 13-14 spaces each (24 channel, 4 send, 8 return, 8 buss, with faders). There will be an additional bay of 13-14 spaces for patch bays for a total of 3 bays for the 'console' and three for outboard. My problem? I am have trouble finding a suitable solution for the racks that lets me work in a conventional (horizontal) fashion, but is 'mobile'. Any ideas? Or am I down to going to see the fab shop? Or just absolutely NUTS? I find plenty of furniture type racks like Sterling Modular etc. (not mobile at all; lots of vertical racks (not what I want when not mobile); and some cheaper stuff that 'tilts' (still not horizontal). I have an 'extension' for an old Mackie 8 buss that was sold when those were hot that just had the Mackie sides and rack rails horizontal. No mixer, but same 'look and feel' and really very sturdy,and able to be carried by two people. But impossible to find. Thanks in advance for any ideas you have!

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22nd March 2006, 10:28 AM	#2
allaccess Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 438	Paul is making frames for Tonelux consoles.... just add casters dude! check out what he built for Jimmy Messina, and imagine it with big blue wheels to go offroading... Ryan Hewitt

22nd March 2006, 04:43 PM	#3
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,286	Ryan, your Tonelux rig is making many of us lust even more for these babies... now that we find there is a rack solution in the works, a remote Tonelux console could be a reality! Thanks man, peace-

22nd March 2006, 05:09 PM	#4
Mike O Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 700	Thanks Ryan. To make it easy for everyone else, you can see many pics of the Messina Tonelux console solution here:http://www.tonelux.com/messina.html This looks REALLY nice for a fixed environment. But I am not so sure that I would want to move it 4-5 time a year. As I understand it, the buckets shown at the link above are not re-inforced. The rack ears from the Tonelux powered racks are removed and screwed into the buckets shown. The powered racks is what gives the buckets their structural integrity. The console as shown (which is similar in size to what I am looking at) is about five feet long and since the buckets "simply sit" on the frame it appears that moving it would be a case of striking interconnects, lifting buckets out of the frame and moving them and re-assembling on the other end of the move. It is not clear if the buckets shown are screwed together for rigidity (making them harder to strike/reassemble). Just not sure how the buckets with screwed in powered racks would hold up to this. Perhaps it would be fine. I definately like the ergonomics once in place. The only other problem I see is one of fexibility. As an example, the Messina solution is somewhat more 'fixed' in that on the two right buckets have the rack ears removed. This reduces re-config options to some extent although they did get a API rack in the buckets by cutting of the ears. On the other hand, with the Tonelux (and other) ears removed it does look and feel more like a console. Decisions, decisions...... still looking for options. I guess what I am thinking is a "conventional" rack/rail widget somewhat in the form of the buckets Paul made for Jimmy Messina.