My system is as follows:

1 rack containing dual CD controller (top), Mixer (middle), dual CD player (bottom). This is a weird rack which stands upright sloping away from the bottom to the top at about 15 degrees. I love using it but it looks really messy from the audience side.

On one side I have my laptop (main sound source) with a keyboard sitting on the feet at the bottom of the rack. Again, it is really easy to use but doesn't look great.

On the other side I have my amp - same problem - looks messy.

I'd love to get a case or cases that would tidy the whole thing up as I feel it is one of my biggest drawbacks at present - all the wires and cables are visible to the audience which doesn't look good. It's not so bad when I'm up on a stage but when I'm at the same level it looks awful.

Does anyone with a similar system have any suggestions for cases to tidy the whole thing up? I'd also be intereseted in a setup that does away with the need for a table to sit it all on. I've seen these on other forums but they are for setups that have tons more gear than I do.

Here's a picture that shows just how messy it is!



I wouldn't normally have the amp sitting on boxes - this was outdoors and we couldn't find a wide enough table. I also don't usually have a bottle of malt sitting on the amp either - it was a raffle prize ;)

Cheers,

Jack.

Got any pictures so people can come up with some ideas please ?

Just edited to add the picture - I know, I know, it's embarrassing

Ok this can be sorted....

Flight case your amp for a start, this will make it look more pro...

get a proper rack case for the CD player and mixer somthing like a proel SA05PRODJ, should only set you back about £130

it has 3u for cd player and about 10u for mixer and controller all in a nice box

I personly put my gear on keyboard stands , they cost me £20 each for good ones and are hight adjustable and perfect for the job.... one for the new mixer case and one for your laptop with the lid of the mixer case as a table top on the keyboard stand .....

to cover cables I have 3ft by 3 ft light screens but a lot of people use a star cloth... this hides everything from public view.....

using keyboard stands and cloth will mean you never have to borrow a table to stand it all on and it will always look the same...

I've posted these before but it gives you the basic idea of what I use to rack mount my main rig.



I use an Idex Stucco rack case with a collapseable mixer rack. This means that when I set up the mixer (and cd control panel) can either be left flat or raised by a 45 degree angle. At the end of the gig the mixer folds flat again, and a lid is fastened in place for total protection.



The Picture shows the case, which also has 4U space at the front for an Amplifier, Processing Units or CD / Mini Disc. The same case is also available with an 8U space at the front.

I have my Cloud Mixer, Stageline Twin CD, Behringer Dualfex Enhancer and a Behringer Compressor Limiter mounted in this case.



I leave everything pre-wired in the case which does also help setting up times. I also have my USB Soundcard fitted inside the case using two cable tie bases and two cable ties and is left permanently wired to the mixer. At the gig, all I do is plug in one mains cable, Two Amplifier XLR Leads into the Amp and the Laptop USB cable into the laptop and essentially everything else is left permanently wired and hidden inside the case.

I decided against using the 8U version to house an Amplifier as well, since I don't fancy a hernia!. At 95% of gigs I use one single 1600W stereo amplifier whilst at a few larger ones I may also use another amp as well. So as a workaround, I bought a 4U SKB ABS case which houses my main amplifier and a 2U lighting panel and I bought an additional 2U SKB case just to house the additional amplifier should it be required.

So my Sound Equipment at most gigs just consists of one Idex 4U case and a SKB ABS 4U case, all that runs between them are 2x XLR leads taking the output of the mixer to the input of the Amplifier.

The Idex case costs around £110 - £120, the SKB 4U was £60 and the 2U was £48. There are also several generics of ABS cases which are similar to those made by SKB but which are slightly cheaper.

I use the 4U flight box idea. The lid of the flight box becomes The table top. My rack I use is a Metal frame that takes apart into single poles with a Lighting bar above to attach my lights to. Ebay search DECK STAND WITH GOAL POST FOR LIGHTING DJ DISCO KARAOKE and that is what I use. I cover the front of the rack with a name board made out of MDF and a red rope light with my Logo on it one day I'll work out how to put on photo and you can see it.

Hope this is helful
Anne

Thanks for the detailed replies everyone I'll read them in more depth and start searching for the gear.

I like the idea of keyboard stands (espeically 'cos I have a few at home). Do you find they are stable enough - I would have thought they might get a little top heavy and be prone to falling over?

Thanks again,

Jack.

I have 2 of these, they are rock solid and take a heavy deck
Scissor stand

Take a look at the case at the bottom of the page

http://www.proaudioparts.co.uk/index.php?id=void

The front and rear covers come off to form surfaces either side of the mixer. The lower part houses amps, CD drawer units, processing, etc. A bit pricey but good quality gear with some room for expansion. Only a single unit to transport around though which is all good. You could probably get a padded tray to sit your laptop in for transporting too.

Thanks Brian - they look more stable than the ones I have, which are the simple X type. I also like the look of AJS' stands with goal posts for lighting - that would be an "all-in-one" solution. on the other hand, I've aleady bought normal lighting stands.

Does anyone have a picture of something like this "fully laden"? How stable is it? (nightmares of crushing partygoers under twisted metal and hot lights).

Nice box, Norty - perhaps a little overkill for my gear at the moment, but it would certainly solve all of the problems.

Thanks,

Jack.

I use the same set up as chris whereby the mixer and controler can be flatend or raised to your desired angle although my amp is not part of the rack as i prefer this due to ventalation of the amp and cd player as the night draws on the amp of course and cd player tend to get hot etc.

I agree DJ Sparko - plus like Chris said, it would do your back in to lift - ouch.

My amp rack is seperate from my mixer/cd case and i use my amp rack as a stand for my mixer case due to it already taking two people to move my amp rack........

if you want your kit to be relyable and work for years then flight case it all.....

Amps are designed to work in a flight case so get a 6u case so that you have room for a second amp and a crossover in the future....

or ditch the amp all together and get some active speakers !!!!!!

Yeah, versatility (and higher SPL) and redundancy protection all the way with passive designs, just run them fully active (ditch the passive x-overs) to really get the best out of them!! but enough OT...

If you're going to get a single case to house all of your stuff, make sure you get one big enough so you can leave a 1U or greater space between the amps and any other processing gear because of heat issues.

Thanks again everyone,

I think I'll go along the lines that have been suggested - one case with my mixer and CD player in it and another for the amps. I have a Behringer compressor / limiter that I used to use for recording vocals, but I don't need it for that any more. If I get a case with 4U at the front, I could put it in there like Chris has and leave a small gap - I'm not sure if heat is much of an issue with the CD Player (which is only there in case the laptop fails) but a 1U gap shouldn't look too bad.

I'll give some thought as to whether to go with keyboard stands or the all-in-one option. My only other question is just how you hide all the cables? I can see that light boxes or a cloth would hide from the base of the case down but what about the back of the mixer if it is upright - or doesn't this matter as much?

I'd be very grateful for any pictures of a similar set-up that would show me not only the flght cases but the stands as well.

Cheers,

Jack.

Personally always have an amp and always prefer one

Personally i'll always have MANY amps, the larger, heavier and more butch looking the better

Lots of kit with many flashing lights (preferably RED!!) that is only plugged to the mains and a (too hot) audio signal into it.

The laydees love it I tell you.....

Same with any driver 21" or larger... real woman puller....

Useless for anything else but then why else would you buy a 21" woofer in the first place....



Same reason as old men buy Ferrari's