Karaoke Forums

Hi

I am considering buying a larger rack case, since I have outgrown mine. I want to be able to keep most of the cables hooked up on my mixer so I can cut down on setup time. Also I would like to have a platform for my laptop on top of the mixer. Plus have it at a good working level. I am considering the Odyssey FZGS1116WDLX http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00184YBCA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
My problem is weight, it's gonna be heavy since it weighs almost 100lbs without the equipment in it. How to get it in and out of my truck without breaking my back. Future purchases are gonna include an enclosed trailer, then I can just roll it up the ramp and don't have to load before a show and unload when I get home, just back the trailer in the garage and be done with it. I run 5 shows a week so all this loading does get old quick.
So in the mean time how do you all manage. Would love to hear your sugestions.

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KLAM Entertainment..."Come Out Of Your Shell And Sing"

i built something similar to that out of 3/4 plywood and stained it....

it's on rollers on the bottom and put a set of roller at the top. so when I roll it up to the van I can grab the bottom and roll it in on it's side. with out have to life the entire weight of the case....

you will like it, even if it doesn't have wheels on the top side you can just lay a blanket down to slide it.....

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It's all good!

One day I would like to get a case for my stuff. It can't be too tall, though. I drive a Grand Cherokee. Not much head room. I wish I was a carpenter. I am terrible with a saw.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

We have a ramp from the van to the ground. At a couple of our regular venues we built ramps from the floor to the stage. And to get it from the van to the stage, we use the best woman in the world - Dolly.

http://www.stthomasrentall.com/hand%20cart.jpg

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I have thought about ramps. Since it is probably gonna have to lay on its side anyway, I might just have to get something like a furniture dolly so I can lay it on it's side and shove it up the ramps.

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KLAM Entertainment..."Come Out Of Your Shell And Sing"

http://amzn.com/B000V0DALA

Hey smoothedge... I have one of these and loaded with my gear it weighs between 90-95 pounds.

put your saw away and put this on your wishlist...

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Never the same show twice!

I recommend these. I have 4 of them now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400613323337?ss ... 1439.l2649

Make an offer and see what they will accept.

-Chris

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-Chris

I thought about one of those big, long rack type deals but they would be a pain when I have to deal with stairs, and I do regularly. I am modular with two easy lifting sections now. Top rack has wireless mics, mixer and processing. Bottom has amps and power conditioning and had wheels so I can move them together if I desire. I can use the top rack with any of my sound systems if I want. It's much easier to carry and it's only three hookups.

But if you will never deal with stairs, definitely a long wheel-able rack would be a good ideal. A slick bottomed, carpet top pivot board would be ideal for loading and unloading if it's something like a SUV.

i have this as well for my first rig http://www.ebay.com/itm/400613323337?ss%20...%201439.l2649
no stairs to ever deal with in AZ. but for my second i made it smaller
http://goo.gl/ae3xyV lighter than the Odyssey ones and the cover can go on with the laptop still on the shelf. 0 wires to deal with on the rack.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

That second link is perfect for what I need. Board, player, compressor, and those pullout lights, with or without the computer shelf. It's small, not too heavy, And I could always add an amp later on. I am looking more for convenience and faster set up and breakdown, rather than armor. Thanks folks!!

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

works great for me. i use powered speakers so i have one 3' mic cord plugged into the board output and it goes out the side where i just daisy chain cords from there out to my sub.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I'm not using a sub yet. Can't really afford one, right now. But that is why I will eventually need an amp. One day at a time. Thankfully I run my shows in smaller places. I know how to maximize the bass my speakers put out, without muddying up the sound.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

OP, I have the same Odessey case you are looking at. I bought it about 5 years ago when my bar owner told me he'd be cool with me leaving my equipment at the bar. I needed something big and heavy that wouldn't walk off during the week. It houses all my cables, my laptop, mixer, DJ controller, the amp for my mains, power conditioner, DBX Driverack, mics, and a few other miscellaneous items.

I have a second mobile rig that I use for most of the other events I do, but 3-4 times a year I need to use this system outside of my bi-weekly gig. It weighs about 160lbs loaded, and I CAN move it and load it by myself, but I'm 6'6", 215, and it requires all my strength.

If I had to put together a rig that would be moving around 5 days a week, there's no way I'd go with this case. I'd go with separate cases that could be stacked, which is how I configured my mobile rig. It's basically all powered speakers and a small mixer case that stacks on a small effects case. Four or five quick trips of about 35-40lbs each and I'm loaded in. I'll take that over loading a single 160lb case any day.

Hope that helps!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

How do you handle stairs?

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

My only problem with any of those cases is my board wouldn't fit in any of them. It's not rack mountable. I have the 20 channel Behringer PMP6000. It's 25" across and has a handle built on. So, doing some research, I am looking at something more like this:


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q3KT1A/ref ... US9C2C5EUE


I can expand on it over time, and I can just lay the board on top of it. I would just have to connect the board. No biggy. Still would speed things up, and neaten them up.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

i might still stick with SKB for weight concerns, but seems like a good solution to your situation.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

No Stairs in 3+ years.

-Chris

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-Chris

I do 5 nights a week in 5 different places so I know a lot about setting up and tearing down every day. I try my best to make my system as light and compact as possible. Here is a picture of my setup from tonight's gig at Applebee's.

4 of my gigs only require 2 trips on my dolly from my SUV to the venue for load in. My casino gig requires 3 trips because it's my biggest setup and requires a bit more stuff. My Applebee's setup is the quickest. Total setup time from arriving to venue to having music playing is 15 minutes. That includes loading in too.

My casino gig, which requires hooking up 2 mains, 2 stage floor monitors, 2 big screen TVs for audience view and one 23" flat screen LCD for singer's lyrics takes a total of 30 mins to set up. I totally recommend powered speakers for people who have to set up and tear down every day. My main case holds my mixer, compressor, karaoke disc player and wireless mics receiver. My other smaller case holds my dj controller which has a shelf for my laptop. I slap that stuff on a table, set up my speakers and make a few connections for power and audio and I'm ready to go.

Keep in mind though, for every gig I have, the equipment stays on site. The 7 night/week I just picked up did require I haul the rig up a single flight of stairs. I had one of the hosts that is working the show help me. But it was a one time affair. The rig now sits on a stage and hopefully we keep this place for the next 20 years.

The speakers for this same place had to be taken up a second flight of stairs. But again, are permanently in place.

Ultimately I want to talk to this location about hanging the speakers. I would also like to build a DJ booth but they also do live music and it is a very small stage. I have an idea for an option, but I am waiting until after the first of the year to suggest it. Still waiting for the newness of the gig to wear off and business in general to level off.

-Chris

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-Chris

I have been looking at an SKB Gigrig seems like a good solution. The thing I like about the Odyssey is the ability to hide the wires and cables behind the rear cover during a show. The Gigrig is open at the bottom with the pedestal and wheels in place. I would like to see one of the SKB rigs in person so I could make a better judgement about wire routing. Also it seems SKB is the only other company offering a laptop shelf provision...But it is a $100 add on.

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KLAM Entertainment..."Come Out Of Your Shell And Sing"