Hi,
I'm looking to optimise my set-up time. The main problem is that I'm a PC DJ, and have a USB controller and an Audio mixer. I'm not using a laptop, the Mini ITX PC is very good and well cooled, but not as easy as a Laptop to get up and running.

So, after seeing a few videos on youtube, and seeing how my amp flightcase is constructed, I've decided to built my own.

So:
-Mini ITX PC
-15" LCD Monitor
-Behringer BCD3000 USB controller
-19" Audio Mixer
-Small USB Keyboard with integrated glidepad (or trackball, not sure- happy with either)
-all cabled up, including power/audio/usb etc.

All in a <4ft x 1.5ft space. ~200mm high.


Parts purchased so far;
-9mm ply
-alloy angle
-rivets (and rivet gun...)
-hinges (not lift-off - the monitor will be wired and mounted into the lid)
-extruded alloy bits for the mating faces of the lid and bottom to ensure good location when closed.
-ball corners
-speaker carpet
-handles
-butterfly latches

This weekend I should be making the box, but I didn't order the carpet+corners etc until last night.. grr
The PC will be mounted with some high-density foam (allowing space for cooling) with a simple cross brace to keep it from moving about too much.

The end idea is to have a recessed IEC socket and 2 audio connectors, allowing me to place it on the 4' stand, open the lid, plug power+audio and go..

I'll get some fixed casters and it should be pullable, just like a big suitcase, but I'll have handles and each end (and in the middle if I need to carry it)


I spent some time looking into coffin cases, but couldn't find any that had either the height or suitable width for the component parts. I looked into most scenarios, but short of a custom jobbie, nothing would fit.

I think it will turn out very well. I didn't want to just screw the plywood together, and it looks like the trick is to build the complete box, and then cut it in half, rather than try to build 2 halves.


I'll post pictures of my progress, and if I hit failure, the suitable bonfire at the end.

Jason

Best of luck.

What method are you using to keep the lid (housing the monitor) in its angled upright position when in use - (to prevent Drunken Donna and Rude Rachel from pushing your lid/monitor back down on-top of your mixer sliders/mic/headphones, as they drape themselves over the kit with "This ain' R'n'b - play some decent muzic mai'

Also, working on the idea that heavier flightcases get more accidental knocks and bumps than lighter/smaller ones (even with the best will in the world), are you planning on securing the less secure items in the PC eg: Memory DIMMs, modular cards etc, with extra retention? With this is mind, I would heartily recommend staying well clear of casters. The der-dum der-dum der-dum of rolling the flightcase over flagstones, blockpaving, and pretty much any surface other than smooooth seamless tarmac could shake something loose either on the way out of the last gig, or on the way into the next.

Might be worth having everything that is built for the road, in the flightcase, all wired together, but carry the PC in it's own smaller, lighter, solo case. Your hard drives will love you forever... This would still cut down on some of the set-up time, but with considerably less potential for the domestic PC loosing its inards every x or xx gigs.

Sounds good jason Cant wait to see some pictures of what you do. As said above make sure you give some thought to Suspension of your HD etc. However I have used PC's and laptops for many years and worked with big production companies that drive the whole of the presentation from PC, Mac and laptop. from the audio and visuals to controling the lighting. Not once have we had one fail. All equipment can be prone to failure though. What ever make or model it is...

Good luck

Nik

This man has a good point...I use pc and have built my own flight cases.

I have built one for my pc (with a locking angled screen) I you want pics my Email is supersounddJ@ntlworld.com also..What are you using ti stick the carpet?I reccomend latex carpet glue (copydex to the layman) but theres a knack to using it.

Hope this helps.
Paul

Hi Gary,
I'm currently looking into some decent stays, I wouldn't want to rely on gravity to stop the lid from shutting on my gear and pinkies!
It was suggested to use gas struts, but I will want them locked in place.
Not sure how to stop Drunken Donna and Rude Rachel. I could always strap a high power strobe to the lid and fire it off it anyone touches.


The PC will be locating using high density foam on bottom and sides, keeping space for airflow (the case has a decent variable speed fan on the side intake). Across the top will be a metal plate (foam on the underside) to stop it popping out if it ends up side down.
The HDD is a 2.5" laptop one, with better shock resistance than 3.5" ones. I did consider going Flash/SDHC, but far too much money for decent storage- if I wanted just WinXP, it would have been fine.
There are no PCI cards (only 1 slot and I've just got additional USB connectors, and I've secured the IDE/USB connectors is a small dab from a glue gun.
The ram is well secured, but admit its something I've not thought about as a problem.


The PC case is very well built, and the motherboard is of the same type I use in the embedded stuff I develop for work (yes.. I did pay for it ;-) haha )
The instrumentation we develop is environmentally tested for vibration, humidity and temperature (as well as the normal EMC stuff for CE marking)
In 3 years of sending instruments around the world, we've not seen a PC failure even on the hire units.

I'll take your point about a separate case on board though.. I have all my tracks on 2 external USB HDD as well as the internal PC HD. (and the Laptop is a backup).
At the moment, its all in Plastic cases (ie from Homebase...)


Interestingly enough, in a previous job, I developed some rotating backdrops (ie control system+software) for "Orbital". They supplied an office PC which was supposed to tour the world with the kit (we did tell them it wouldn't be good enough). After a year or two, we got the gear back for an upgrade, and the PC was a very sorry state.
The HDD had fallen off its mount, crashed into the motherboard and caused it to crack. The whole case was twisted and pretty much scrap.
We supplied an industrial chassis PC (the motion gear needed 3xfull length cards), proper cooling etc. This time, things worked well, and the kit was used on a 2nd world tour. It also gave me a chance (well, 2 weeks) to write some software and sort out some issues.

I'm no longer working at the company - so can show some pictures;
http://www.micromech.co.uk/dir_news/2001/fullnews_8.shtml

The main pics where taken at a sound stage in Elstree (I now work 2 miles away..), and I was damm proud to see all the gear in action at Cambridge Corn Exchange.

I guess, what I'm trying to achieve is some better level of protection that I currently have (plastic bins were never a long term solution)
Good point on the casters... I have a collapsible sack barrow (nice big rubber wheels..), and will see if I can use that instead.

Thanks for your advice!
Jason