Here we go again.
Never one to rest, I've decided to rework my large rack system. If you'll recall, last summer, I completely reworked my small system. It was supposed to be an easy project, but suffice it to say, it turned into a MUCH bigger project than I anticipated. You can click the link below to get my final entry, which summarizes the entire project...
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=40437&share_tid=47276&share_pid=614791&url=https%3A%2F%2Fourdjtalk%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fposts%2F614791%2F&share_type=t
The small system rework came out GREAT, and I love the result. The small system upgrade morphed into a less extensive redo of my large system as well, but left some work to be done. Now I want to accomplish some similar objectives with my large system.
Before listing the goals of this project, perhaps it would help if I talked about my two systems (Large and Small). Why do I even have two systems you might ask? My small system was intended to be used for house parties or for smaller venues where getting my large rack inside might be difficult. Originally, I also had several speaker setups too, so I could scale up or down depending on venue size. Since I sold all my speakers and have just 3 RCF EVOX 8's, I'll be using the same PA speakers for every gig (though I can still scale by using one, two, or even all three). My large system is the one I use for 80-90% of my gigs, but when I say LARGE, I mean HEAVY. I don't know how much it weighs, but I can't lift it alone. I have a folding ramp I use to get it in and out of my minivan. The weight is actually the biggest issue I'd like to resolve. I like the components I have in my large rack since the upgrade last summer, but it needs a little downsizing.
My small system has fewer components, and was originally intended to be used without a dance lights (though I have since purchased a second Eliminator light controller and mounted it in a smaller portable rack, so I can use lights in Sound Active mode with my small system if I need to). The small system consists of the following components in a Gator Cases GDJ-8x2 Slant Top Mix Station Rack Case.
1. Dell Optiplex 7440 AIO computer
2. Denon MC6000MK2 Controller
3. GTD Audio G622HL Wireless Microphone System
4. 1U Drawer
5. Rack mounted Power Strip

My large system consists of a Gator 14U Rack with Casters (GRC-BASE-14) containing the following components:
Frontside...
1. Furman Power Distributor
2. GTD Audio B-33 Wireless Microphone System
3. Denon DN-410X 10 Channel Mixer
4. Eliminator ETPro-8 Light Controller
5. Keyboard Drawer for Video Computer
6. DJ (Music) Computer
7. Video/Light Computer
8. 3U Drawer
Backside...
9. ART T8 8-channel Hum Eliminator/Isolation Rack
10. Rack mounted Power Strip
Inside...
11. 4 Port Ethernet Switch
12. MyDMX 2.0 DMX Dongle
13. IMP Line Level Combiner

... And as you can see, my American Audio VMS 4.1 Controller is in a separate case that sits atop my folding table, and the dual 22" monitors and mounting arms (travel in yet another case), mount to a pedestal attached to the inside of the controller case.
The graphic below is a feature comparison between the large and small systems:

So now for the objectives...
1. It would be nice to downsize if possible (smaller and lighter), but at a minimum, my large system needs to be more mobile. I'd like to be able to lift it in and out of the minivan.
2. It needs to be quicker to setup. Even with all the internals pre-wired, it still takes and hour to set up, and nearly as long to tear down (but that includes lights).
3. It needs to be durable.
4. Needs to retain as much contingency/backup capability as possible.
That's it, in a nutshell.
Where to start??? I plan to buy a split rack... a slanted top for mounting a controller with some lower space for mounting additional components, and I'll buy a smaller (than my current rack) rolling rack for additional components to fit underneath of and attached to the top rack. A configuration kinda like this...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X67W12?tag=viglink22816-20
Of course, this will have fewer spaces than my current rack for mounting my components (the 10U top can't be considered since it will house a rack-mounted controller), so I'll need to eliminate some stuff. Also, since it's likely not possible to split the components to fit correctly in this new split rack configuration, I'll probably need to make some other modifications, or find more suitable components. I hope to keep the component changes to a minimum, though, as I really like the way everything works.
I've already made a few decisions that I'll talk about in future posts in this thread. I think this is enough for now.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=40437&share_tid=47276&share_pid=614791&url=https%3A%2F%2Fourdjtalk%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fposts%2F614791%2F&share_type=t
The small system rework came out GREAT, and I love the result. The small system upgrade morphed into a less extensive redo of my large system as well, but left some work to be done. Now I want to accomplish some similar objectives with my large system.
Before listing the goals of this project, perhaps it would help if I talked about my two systems (Large and Small). Why do I even have two systems you might ask? My small system was intended to be used for house parties or for smaller venues where getting my large rack inside might be difficult. Originally, I also had several speaker setups too, so I could scale up or down depending on venue size. Since I sold all my speakers and have just 3 RCF EVOX 8's, I'll be using the same PA speakers for every gig (though I can still scale by using one, two, or even all three). My large system is the one I use for 80-90% of my gigs, but when I say LARGE, I mean HEAVY. I don't know how much it weighs, but I can't lift it alone. I have a folding ramp I use to get it in and out of my minivan. The weight is actually the biggest issue I'd like to resolve. I like the components I have in my large rack since the upgrade last summer, but it needs a little downsizing.
My small system has fewer components, and was originally intended to be used without a dance lights (though I have since purchased a second Eliminator light controller and mounted it in a smaller portable rack, so I can use lights in Sound Active mode with my small system if I need to). The small system consists of the following components in a Gator Cases GDJ-8x2 Slant Top Mix Station Rack Case.
1. Dell Optiplex 7440 AIO computer
2. Denon MC6000MK2 Controller
3. GTD Audio G622HL Wireless Microphone System
4. 1U Drawer
5. Rack mounted Power Strip

My large system consists of a Gator 14U Rack with Casters (GRC-BASE-14) containing the following components:
Frontside...
1. Furman Power Distributor
2. GTD Audio B-33 Wireless Microphone System
3. Denon DN-410X 10 Channel Mixer
4. Eliminator ETPro-8 Light Controller
5. Keyboard Drawer for Video Computer
6. DJ (Music) Computer
7. Video/Light Computer
8. 3U Drawer
Backside...
9. ART T8 8-channel Hum Eliminator/Isolation Rack
10. Rack mounted Power Strip
Inside...
11. 4 Port Ethernet Switch
12. MyDMX 2.0 DMX Dongle
13. IMP Line Level Combiner

... And as you can see, my American Audio VMS 4.1 Controller is in a separate case that sits atop my folding table, and the dual 22" monitors and mounting arms (travel in yet another case), mount to a pedestal attached to the inside of the controller case.
The graphic below is a feature comparison between the large and small systems:

So now for the objectives...
1. It would be nice to downsize if possible (smaller and lighter), but at a minimum, my large system needs to be more mobile. I'd like to be able to lift it in and out of the minivan.
2. It needs to be quicker to setup. Even with all the internals pre-wired, it still takes and hour to set up, and nearly as long to tear down (but that includes lights).
3. It needs to be durable.
4. Needs to retain as much contingency/backup capability as possible.
That's it, in a nutshell.

Where to start??? I plan to buy a split rack... a slanted top for mounting a controller with some lower space for mounting additional components, and I'll buy a smaller (than my current rack) rolling rack for additional components to fit underneath of and attached to the top rack. A configuration kinda like this...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X67W12?tag=viglink22816-20
Of course, this will have fewer spaces than my current rack for mounting my components (the 10U top can't be considered since it will house a rack-mounted controller), so I'll need to eliminate some stuff. Also, since it's likely not possible to split the components to fit correctly in this new split rack configuration, I'll probably need to make some other modifications, or find more suitable components. I hope to keep the component changes to a minimum, though, as I really like the way everything works.
I've already made a few decisions that I'll talk about in future posts in this thread. I think this is enough for now.