Where do you put your laptop?

[recordinghopkins]

I had a 16 space rolling rack that had a lid that turned into a table, but the new 10 space I replaced it with doesn't come with that option. I would like to put my StudioLive 24 on top of the rack, on top of it's own case for standing height, or directly on top of the 10 space rack for sitting. But now I've got nowhere to put my laptop without carrying a table.

Any aftermarket options?
I've seen the slide out shelves, and that's a possibility, but that puts the mixer just out of reach with a 17" laptop hanging off the front of the rack.

[hbphotoav]

I use a small 2x4' folding table that adjusts from 18 to 30 inches tall. Short is good for church gigs... Taller works in bars (my experiences... Yours may vary). Sam's Club for $39. I bought two... I put down a piece of rubber drawer liner to keep stuff from sliding, then the Alesis, then the desk, with the computer on the table on one side or the other. And it folds to 2'x2'x3 inches. Works for me. I don't know as I'd trust anything else under the MacBook Pro, if there's not a decent stable surface available from the venue. And it keeps me from using a table that could be used by paying customers...

[recordinghopkins]

Thanks harry.
I've got a 2'x3' table, but I would really like a more creative option. For lack of a better reason, the table is ugly. It's brand new, but I find myself wishing for black cloth to drape over it when I bring it out to gigs. It looks like a funny looking ironing board.

The shelf lid from the taller rack works really well, and is very stable. If I can convert the new lid to do the same, that would be ideal. I really miss it already.
I'd also love to see some new creative solution to mount a laptop above the top of the rack, supported by and attached to the rear rack rails so it will sit up above the "meter bridge" section of a mixer. This device should fold down for transport so that the lid may be fitted, but would ideally remain attached to the rear rails.

[boojum]

I do not use a laptop but have read about overheating problems. I ran across this and thought it might help: Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad F5L001

[recordinghopkins]

Thanks! Laptop cooling pads rock. However since I replaced the fans in my MBP, it barely makes it to 125 degF and runs at a constant 2k rpm. I haven't needed my cooling pad for some time now! That looks like a comfy one though. Mine isn't so great for lap use.

[recordinghopkins]

I'm thinking I can possibly adapt a swing arm designed for use in a vehicle. Many of them can be removed from the base, which is bolted to the floor, with one pin or bolt. Some of them, like the one pictured, have a 90 degree swivel in mounting plate. With a little machining, I bet it could be bolted to the rear of the rack and still be removable from it's base plate so the lid will go on. The arm would then be stowed with mic stands. What do you think?

[Bibster]

Maybe you can make some frame that is to slide in two holes in the back of your rack (Could be a rackmount 'thing' with holes).

A bit like this superb drawing that took me 15 secs to make.

The fact it's 'open' at the back, allows for cables to reach the mixer.

[Muser]

I use this stuff for all kinds of things.

you can have a strip of it horizontally across the back with the slot facing upwards. then bolt on a couple of L shaped brackets or closer to V shaped.

depending on the strengths and rigidity of that bracket you can eliminate a cross brace. Aluminum is always good but not so easy to find L brackets in that material.

then drill the front of the bracket and put in a couple of bolts covered with shrink warp rubber to stop the laptop sliding forward. you could even have a couple of adaptions on the side, to stop the laptop sliding left or right.

(see first image)

actually for that, you'd need a U shape bracket.
for an L shape you'd probably need something more like this.

(see second image)

[recordinghopkins]

Outstanding ideas, fellas!

Look what I just ordered for possible modification. I think this will be a good starting point. I will of course post pictures of my final solution, which will likely incorporate your ideas.

At $30 shipped, this is worth a try!

[Muser]

yes that should work perfectly

show us when your done.

[Bibster]

Yup, the 'grip' could bother the mixer, but maybe you could clamp it somewhere underneath the top.
It seems to be sort of foldable as well...

P.

[philper]

There are a lot of cool laptop arm solutions in the soundcart gallery @ JWSOUND.com. Chindha, the super cart-maker, has some options that look like there were made for NASA.

phil p

[recordinghopkins]

JWSOUND.com is dead...

[Muser]

here's where I put my laptop.. it's actually behind that touchscreen.

[recordinghopkins]

Slick!

[StevenEdwardsAud]

Originally Posted by recordinghopkins

Thanks harry.
I've got a 2'x3' table, but I would really like a more creative option. For lack of a better reason, the table is ugly. It's brand new, but I find myself wishing for black cloth to drape over it when I bring it out to gigs. It looks like a funny looking ironing board.

The shelf lid from the taller rack works really well, and is very stable. If I can convert the new lid to do the same, that would be ideal. I really miss it already.
I'd also love to see some new creative solution to mount a laptop above the top of the rack, supported by and attached to the rear rack rails so it will sit up above the "meter bridge" section of a mixer. This device should fold down for transport so that the lid may be fitted, but would ideally remain attached to the rear rails.

Small world. I recognize this picture from a craigslist ad in Murfreesboro I was looking at yesterday... must have been yours.

[recordinghopkins]

Cool. Good to know that someone is at least clicking through.

Here is that rack in it's former glory, an action shot from a recent gig.
One of the back of the rig to demonstrate how I used it and the preamps for sale, and lastly, the new rack and Studiolive 24.
Sorry for the phone pics.

[12ax7]

.

It would seem that the only place nobody EVER puts their laptop is on their damn lap!

.

[recordinghopkins]

[Howie J]

No idea if this helps at all....but after you posted the Odyssey stand, I thought of the one I have. I use it more when I do DJ'ing since I'm standing at a table and it brings it level to my DJ rack...

Stanton UBERSTAND - DJ Equipment, DJ Gear, Phono Cartridges & Needles, DJ Mixer, DJ Turntables, Headphones, CD Players

I just haven't been in a location situation where I needed it....yet...but I know it would be fine for it.

It doesn't look that strong, but it's all anodized/machined aluminum and actually super sturdy. It folds completely flat (thinner than my MBP) and stores easily. It holds my 15" MBP without thinking twice.

....just something I use and another random suggestion...

Howie J

[recordinghopkins]

Thank you all for your suggestions!

My solution until a better one presents itself:
I drilled a couple of holes in the front of the feet to attach the clamps, where normally the feet would be removed and replaced by clamps. This makes it a bit springy and the laptop bounces a bit when you type on it. It's not really a problem, it doesn't sway back and forth, so it's not going to fall off. Still, I plan to take this contraption to a local steel fabrication shop and have them weld each piece together and to the clamps, then brace the "feet" with just a small piece of angle to give it some more rigidity and eliminate the leaf spring effect. I'll grind the welds, and spray paint them black.

The studiolive's case doesn't provide enough clearance in the back to allow the power cable, direct outputs, and firewire cables to be connected with the mixer remaining in the lower part of the case. As it happens, the laptop would hang too far over the mixer to reach the gain knobs anyway. Both of these problems are solved by pulling the mixer forward over the lip of the case, with a sheet of polyethylene packing foam underneath to prevent slippage and scratches. This foam sheet is removed and placed over the faders when the lid goes on the case. Bonus, there's a great spot for my external hard drive back there.

Eventually I'll add a rackmount keyboard and mouse tray, but I don't really ever need to do a lot of keyboarding or mousing, unless I am doing a location recording that isn't live. In these cases I likely won't be using the studiolive, but rather continue to use external preamps (rented or owned) direct into the HD24xr, and on to firewire via the presonus lightpipe at the top of the rack. This will leave the top of the rack open as table space for the keyboard/mouse and my notebook of sheet music.

I will eventually dress my cables once I am confident in this arrangement.

[Bibster]

Hops,

If you're willing to go with a key/mouse drawer, why not use a full KVM drawer, and stick the MBP neatly in a dock like this?

Edit: I don't really get how a KVM drawer would fit in your setup, as drawing the screen out, it will block access to your mixer, or anything within the next 6 U's or so above the drawer.
This doesn't bother in my case, as it's the top one, and I don't have anything on top.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

More stands and more colors here Odyssey Cases - ATA Flight Ready Cases, Flight Zone Cases, Turntable Cases, DJ Cases, Road Cases, DJ Gear

[recordinghopkins]

Originally Posted by Bibster

Hops,

If you're willing to go with a key/mouse drawer, why not use a full KVM drawer, and stick the MBP neatly in a dock like this?

Edit: I don't really get how a KVM drawer would fit in your setup, as drawing the screen out, it will block access to your mixer, or anything within the next 6 U's or so above the drawer.
This doesn't bother in my case, as it's the top one, and I don't have anything on top.

Yeah, I actually looked at those! That looks great. I had some concern over whether the 17" mbp would fit in the dock with the Speck brand plastic enclosure still on it. I also thought about just mounting a monitor off the back of the rack instead, and putting the laptop in a drawer. With an external monitor, it can be run in clamshell mode. As it turns out, the 17" is too large to fit in a 19" rack and still allow some space for connections on the side.

I'm looking at keyboard drawers right now. Two on craigslist 30 minutes away for $25 each...