Rack and mixer bags - what do you use?

[bhodaway10]

Hey guys,

 

I just made the Accugroove/QSC/mixer plunge.

 

What are you guys using to make sure your racks and mixers are easily and safely transported?

 

Some people I've talked to don't use a rack case or bag for their QSC. Also for mixers, I'm kind of afraid that one of those knobs are going to fall off on a non padded case.

 

Things I'm looking to get :

 

http://www.gatorcases.com/productsdetail.aspx?LID=1&PID=27

 

and

 

http://www.cyrk.com/mackie/Product.asp?dept_id=2&pf_id=MKEX9929&retdept=10&allprod=y&iPageNum=8&mscssid=5D0KXCRM0KQ09JJCAN6UP1TUF8388W8ECRJJF8

 

Thanks!

 

Brian

 

 

[eric]

I roll with ATA-style custom cases. Bags are ok for light duty if only you're doing the loading and you don't gig too much.

[bhodaway10]

hmm.....I gig semi often......

[Dave Horne]

Buy a rack case with wheels, permanently set up the components inside and when you get to a job you only have to plug in a few cables.

 

An investment in a rack case is, for most of us, a one time investment. I bought my 12 space (rails front and back) rack case about 20 years ago. I get to a job and simply plug in my keyboard and my speakers.

[Moonglow]

Buy a rack case with wheels, permanently set up the components inside and when you get to a job you only have to plug in a few cables....

+1

 

It's a beautiful thing.....

[Byrdman]

Don't forget to think about how you are going to load the thing though. A full depth high U (8+ say) is a loathsome thing when its the last thing to go into the car and there's no space to put it even if you could get it through the opening.

 

Plus a fully loaded large rack gets amazingly heavy. And with so many short units these days, all the weight ends up in the front so it does not balance.

 

I went to two 4U shallow cases for this reason. Those will pretty much squeeze in anywhere. I used color coded cables permanently attached internally to help with cabling up. Unless you have your mixer in the rack too you are going to have to cable that up in any case.

[Moonglow]

Don't forget to think about how you are going to load the thing though. A full depth high U (8+ say) is a loathsome thing when its the last thing to go into the car and there's no space to put it even if you could get it through the opening.

 

Plus a fully loaded large rack gets amazingly heavy. And with so many short units these days, all the weight ends up in the front so it does not balance.

 

I went to two 4U shallow cases for this reason. Those will pretty much squeeze in anywhere. I used color coded cables permanently attached internally to help with cabling up. Unless you have your mixer in the rack too you are going to have to cable that up in any case.

Actually, I suggest something like this:

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/resvht4v/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/rack.JPG

 

P.S. The above is the rack Jonathan Cain uses in Journey.

 

 

[bhodaway10]

Wow exactly what I was thinking of getting!! lol =)

 

 

[timwat]

But if you get one of those racks, doesn't the obligation to work with Steve Perry come with it?

 

To answer your question, bhodaway10, I use one of those rack bags like the Gator you linked to. Only thing rack mounted is my 1U MOTU 828 and my wireless IEM transmitter. The rest is cable storage.

 

I use it because only me or my bandmates ever handles my gear. If I was in a bigger deal of an outfit that was traveling with road crew, I'd go with something more bulletproof.

[Sven Golly]

But if you get one of those racks, doesn't the obligation to work with Steve Perry come with it?

 

Uhhh... only if we've just gone back 20 years in time.

 

 

[bhodaway10]

Tim - where do you keep your rack? I'm planning to put it on top of an accugroove. I wonder if it'll just go on top of a chair or maybe on a music stand if I decide to use them more as PA's....

 

 

 

 

[timwat]

My stage rig has my self-powered pa speaker on a pole stand behind me, and often off to a side depending how the stage plot varies. I don't need it for monitoring, so location is more for to supplement PA and band monitoring. My rack sits right at the foot of speaker stand, on its side.

 

I run one 1/4" unbalanced audio run (mono from from DP) and one firewire run (from 828 to MacBook Pro).

 

Because my rig is based around Mainstage and a Novation Remote SL, all the volume faders, etc. are configured to run from the controller so I never have to touch the rack once it's in place and powered up.

[Byrdman]

Actually, I suggest something like this:

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/resvht4v/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/rack.JPG

 

 

 

Oh for the days before roadies became dodos.

[J. Dan]

I've used just about everything at one time or another and will give pros/cons (imho) of each:

 

Rack Bag

 

Pros: Light weight, compact, has pouch for cables, no lids to stowe away (velco flaps, fold 'em back and you're ready to go).

 

Cons: Not much room for cables/power supplies IN the rack. Didn't last long, started to tear, rack rails started cracking away from the inside. Not deep enough or strong enough for larger/heavier components

 

Plastic Rolling Rack (with handle)

 

Pros: Still pretty light weight, rigid handle is comfortable to carry with, wheels and handle make for easy transport, especially if you stack other stuff on top. Only one large lid - the back lid is flat.

 

Cons: The 1/4-turn things that hold the back lid on are plastic and break (I replaced with home-made metal ones that have not broken), don't put too much stress on the handle because if it bends you're screwed.

 

ATA Rack (metal edges/corners)

 

Pros: Lots of room, deep lids, virtually indestructable

 

Cons: Heavy, bulky, not particularly convenient to carry, Lids take up room when removed.

 

In a nut shell, for my stuff I like the plastic rolling rack. Although I thought I needed a rolling rack because my ATA rack was so heavy, but once I put it in the plastic one, it's so light that it's usually easier to just carry. But sometimes if I don't have a hand free or if I want to stack stuff on it, I'll still pull it. The latches on the back lid are a real downer though since they break very easily. If anybody wants more detailed tips on fixing those, let me know. I would only use the rack bag if you rarely transport it and want the convenience of the pouch. Also, pay attention to the depth you need INCLUDING power supplies/cables that you want to keep tucked inside since various racks vary in depth. In my case, the soft rack was shallowest. You would think the ATA was deepest because it was biggest with the lids on, but actually because of the design, there was more room inside the plastic rolling one.

[bhodaway10]

Hmm....thanks for the info.

 

I'll try to see if my amp will fit inside the soft bag when I pick up the amp. It would be nice to have all of the cords "plugged in" inside the case and just pull it out and plug it into the speakers.

 

I believe the soft racks come in 2 space and 3 space so I guess I could get the 3 space and put store the cords on top plugged into the mixer. Is that safe though?

 

I like the plastic ones but with an 11 lb amp though, I don't know if it makes sense to get a 15 lb or more case.

 

 

[Dave Horne]

ATA Rack (metal edges/corners)

 

...

 

Cons: Heavy, bulky, not particularly convenient to carry, Lids take up room when removed.

 

The lids can actually be used. I sometimes place one lid on the floor and place the rack case itself inside the lid. This is one way to prevent the rack case from moving about.

 

The other lid gets placed on top of the rack case and apart from obscuring the top rack item (if there is one), it really takes up no space. (My rack case is 12 spaces high.)