Karaoke Forums

Stacking and wiring various players, mixers, etc. is getting old. I've never done the rack thing before but am now considering it. I'm wondering if y'all could give me some pointers on what to buy and where to rack everything.

Right now all I have is a JVC triple tray, two CAVS 202G units, an API-DVD 701 player and the Mackie CFX-12 mixer. Soon I'll have a Nady 401-HT wireless mic unit as well as a compressor/vocal limiter. My mains and subs are all self-powered, so I dont' need to worry about mounting any anyplifiers. Any and all help would be greatly apprecieted.

We use an SKB case 1SKB19-1006 for our players, mixerm and cordless unit. For our discs 1SKB19-4U and we've built wooden drawers for them. Each case holds three drawers of 120 discs (regular jewel cases) per row.

http://www.skb-industrial-cases.com/

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I went and priced a few racks tonight and man what a rip! I can make a rack better suited for what I want for about ONE TENTH of the cash they want for new ones! Have many of y'all done this? If so, any advice will be appreciated.

I am currently using a gator rack purchased on Ebay, but I am getting ready to do a custom build (I do woodworking as a hobby, and have the tools and skills to do so) that will incorporate rack spaces for my equipment, as well as disc storage. I plan to put it all on casters so I can roll it in and out of veues quickly and easily.

The big advantage to having everything racked is that you just plug it in, plug in the speakers and away you go!

Good luck!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

I have an Odyssey CS4804 (it slides open with 4 spaces on top - dual CD control unit, effects, eq; 8 on the slant - mixer and 4 below - dual CD player, wireless receiver/RF modulator and a blank). For karaoke, I set my player on top of it and pull up the audio, video and power cords which I keep pre-wired in it. Everything else is pre-wired as well (mains, monitor, sub, mics, coax - makes the set up quick and clean.

On the downside, it is large and heavy. I can move it only a limited distance (on/off cart and table, in/out of van). Definitely need to have a cart, and if stairs are encountered, find help. For a lot of gear, you might do well to use two racks that can be quickly patched together. If I had it to do over, that's probably the route I would go.

Got mine at musiciansfriend.com - there are plenty of other online stores as well as auctions. And, combo racks that come in virtually every size and configuration. I'd just caution to not put too much into one unit if you operate solo. Grundorf is another popular brand that might be of interest to you as well as building your own if you have the skill to do it.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

Nice Rack!

I see J.D. Has been to Dollyworld one too many times.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Like Marty3, I had all my equipment in one large roll around rack. But it was too heavy. So i broke it down into smaller racks.

I put my mixer, one light controller, Dual CD player, and Tripple tray in a combo rack.

I put two amps, a crossover, equalizer, a Sonic Maximizer, and a line conditioner in a 8 space rack.

Then my computer is in a 4 space rack. I can take all or just part depending on what i want to play. And it's easier to carry.

Jim

I'm now down to one very Huge system that is 5 racks in size 4 - 12u and 1- 16u + top rack. and alot of speakers. It is a very nice show to say the least. And for now, I doubt I will use it all in one place for a while.. But it does have everything Audio/Video, DJ, Karaoke, Electrical, and Lighting control.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

for the person who said the costs of cases is a rip-off...and that you can build one cheaper..... I ask out of what???

3/4 to 1 inch plywood and carpet covered is going to be heavey really quick......

I reccomend a SKB 10U case, and an SKB mixer case that pops up

If you want wheels get a gator roller case

I have an SKB DJ Shuttle that my player, backup wireless and mixer is housed in

Then i have a Gator 10U roller case that has my AMP, and dj hard drives and stuff for the laptop...... i set the laptop ontop of the gator, and the SKB beside the gator on the table

Wood is nice a sturdy, but also adds too much weight onto your load, I much prefer the ABS cases anyday

Midnight ..
Ever flown an ABS case on an airline?? 10 times.. 30 times.. 50 times??
Then had to replace it?

Or accidently dropped it off a table at a show because some singer fell off the stage drunk with a wired mic?

Or has it even fallen out of your vehicle when someone has tried to assist you when loading into a club?

They crack. SKB, Gator, (Except the soft side) and others look nice if in one location but to travel they are not roadworthy.

ATA-300 cases are the way to go.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

www.knightshow.com/docs/System1.jpg

www.knightshow.com/docs/System_3.jpg
These are older photos... the EQ has since been dispatched to audio heaven, as has the Behringer mixer, but I use a Mackie DFX-12 now, and it works wonderful.