RE-Reworking My Small System... AGAIN

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One nice thing about the Samson is each output zone is switchable from the front panel to mono. So if you have a weird setup with a pair of mains, a rear or side fill and maybe a remote ceremony .. you can adjust each separately (bass/treble too).
 
Just 2 or 3 wires each on a screw terminal. I'd probably cut some older XLR or 1/4" for internal wiring and use some mic cable to a XLR chassis connector .. the other end just screwed into the euro-blocks.

Yeah... That's kinda what I was thinking. I need to make it easy to connect and disconnect the wireless mics inputs, controller (left & right), backup computer, and speaker outputs. Not really many connections, so probably wouldn't be too difficult.


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Yeah... That's kinda what I was thinking. I need to make it easy to connect and disconnect the wireless mics inputs, controller (left & right), backup computer, and speaker outputs. Not really many connections, so probably wouldn't be too difficult.


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If I pre-wire a system, I'm going to move to a front or rear connector panel anyway .. it's tough in dim light to try and reconnect things deep inside a case.
 
If I pre-wire a system, I'm going to move to a front or rear connector panel anyway .. it's tough in dim light to try and reconnect things deep inside a case.

I agree... darn near impossible. Even with my new Large System, with that big LED light mounted inside the rack, there's just too much going on in there to try changing anything inside at an event. My solution is simply to bypass the mixer and plug the speakers directly into the controller. It would be too stressful to try to fix a problem inside the rack. There has only been one time in almost 4 years that I had a problem with my rack wiring, though, and fortunately I felt around on the back of my mixer and popped a 1/4" connector back in the jack from which it had partially come out.


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If I pre-wire a system, I'm going to move to a front or rear connector panel anyway .. it's tough in dim light to try and reconnect things deep inside a case.

I like having all the audio connections hidden inside the rack. I can't imagine having the wires in front, but I've seen others do it. Having everything on the rear panel may not be so bad if you use a facade anyway. You'd still have to connect the connectors from your devices to the back side of the patch panel though, so you'd still have internal wiring.


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I like having all the audio connections hidden inside the rack. I can't imagine having the wires in front, but I've seen others do it. Having everything on the rear panel may not be so bad if you use a facade anyway. You'd still have to connect the connectors from your devices to the back side of the patch panel though, so you'd still have internal wiring.


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I don't currently use a facade .. just a DJ table drop, so cables coming out on my side are easier to hide. If I switch to a facade or table topper, I might change my mind. I have also used the rear cover or top cover of some of the cases as a mini facade just behind the case to hide some connections. In a bar, I just run cables out the back to one of the corner openings on my table drop.
 
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I still haven't pulled the trigger on a 1U mixer. I'm leaning toward the LD Systems 622, but... OK, I'm going to show my ignorance here, but can someone please explain to me what the FOH channel is for and how it's used?

This is from the specs...
FOH Channels: 1
FOH Input Connections: 6.3 mm stereo jack (2 x balanced)
FOH Input Controls: level, Cue
FOH Input Display Elements: Cue-LED, Signa-LED
 
I still haven't pulled the trigger on a 1U mixer. I'm leaning toward the LD Systems 622, but... OK, I'm going to show my ignorance here, but can someone please explain to me what the FOH channel is for and how it's used?

This is from the specs...
FOH Channels: 1
FOH Input Connections: 6.3 mm stereo jack (2 x balanced)
FOH Input Controls: level, Cue
FOH Input Display Elements: Cue-LED, Signa-LED
It would typically be the input from the main house mixer (or DJ mixer in your case). FOH is Front Of House.
 
The replacement power strip came... Easy swap out, although I don't know yet if it's gonna go back in the same slot on the back of the rack. Things may end up in a slightly different order depending on how the Floating Facade is attached.

I've been giving the Facade attachment a lot of thought. I think the biggest issue is my table. If I attached my Floating Facade to the existing table, it still wouldn't be Floating because the table has no wheels. However, I had been thinking about replacing the rolling case in which I transport my Small System anyway, because it is WAY too big... so follow me here... I could build or buy a custom rolling case, then use the bottom of the case (with the wheels) as a platform for the table. It could also provide the bottom attachment point for the Floating Facade. Then, perhaps, I could use the upper part of the case as the table top. So basically, my case would split into two parts with legs in between. I'll draw up a concept and post it when I get a chance.

This is just something I'm thinking about for now, because replacing my table WAS NOT something I was planning to do for this project, but it may help with two of the objectives... Attaching the Floating Facade, and Creating space for a backup computer.
 
OK... Here's a kinda quick-n-dirty concept. Not to scale of course, but it convey's the general Idea...
1530497393065.png
My small rack would be transported inside, then it comes out and sits on the top at the event. I can attach the Floating Facade to it pretty easily I think.

Comments?
 
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OK... Here's a kinda quick-n-dirty concept. Not to scale of course, but it convey's the general Idea...
View attachment 34708
My small rack would be transported inside, then it comes out and sits on the top at the event. I can attach the Floating Facade to it pretty easily I think.

Comments?
Of course the legs need to be hydraulically activated.
 
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Today I actually started disassembling my Small System to start making the modifications. With my Large System now deemed to be road worthy, work on my Small System can begin. The first thing to come out was the PDU. Had to shorten the cord on the new CyberPower unit; 15 feet of cord is simply too much to wind up inside this little rack. The second thing to come out is the 1U drawer. I'll miss having some storage for some small items, but frankly, 1U just isn't tall enough for most of the items I'd like to put in there. I SURE WON'T miss the weight. Steel rack drawers are just weigh to heavy to be used in mobile setups. The aluminum drawer I have in my Large System is definitely the way to go if I ever use another drawer.

I haven't bought a 1U mixer yet. I can't find the PERFECT mixer, so it's just a matter of deciding which option has MOST of the features I want. Still leaning toward the LD Systems mixer. No hurry... I can use the Samson SM-10 ( I already own) to get everything working, then swap in the new mixer once I decide which one to buy.

I had forgotten how clean and simple this Small System was. There's just not much to it, and the wiring is VERY simple. I'm not looking to make it a lot more complicated, so I need to resist adding too much more stuff into it.[emoji4]


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I started playing with my micro system (or mini, though I call my Denon 6000 the mini) .. I bought a new Gator 2U deep case and put in my Rane MP4 slim DJ mixer and my Denon 300Z media player for now. Going to see how tough it would be to add a wireless receiver or 2 and a I/O panel to the other side and put a small surge strip inside. I think I should have gone with the 3U version ...

The case is light but has many quirks. The raised ribs are supposed to go "up", but then it's tough laying on a laptop, since if you bump it, it falls off one of the humps .. and if you put it the other way (as I have), the ugly extrusion joiner is on top and the lid lock blocks are in the way.

IMG_1667.JPG
 
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I started playing with my micro system (or mini, though I call my Denon 6000 the mini) .. I bought a new Gator 2U deep case and put in my Rane MP4 slim DJ mixer and my Denon 300Z media player for now. Going to see how tough it would be to add a wireless receiver or 2 and a I/O panel to the other side and put a small surge strip inside. I think I should have gone with the 3U version ...

The case is light but has many quirks. The raised ribs are supposed to go "up", but then it's tough laying on a laptop, since if you bump it, it falls off one of the humps .. and if you put it the other way (as I have), the ugly extrusion joiner is on top and the lid lock blocks are in the way.

View attachment 34729

Nice little system. I had one of those little Gator cases... Sent it back because it wasn't deep enough for what I wanted to use it for at the time. Now I wish I had kept it. I have my spare Eliminator light controller in a 2U steel rack, and it's HEAVY, with NO handles. It works pretty well when I use it with my Small System, though, because I can just set my Small System rack on top of it and drop the height of my table a few inches. I had to add the extra light controller rack when my Large System was out of commission (being redesigned).

This reminds me that I need to factor the light controller into my Small System reworking plans. Even though I don't typically use my Small System when I need lights, I need to make sure I still have the option if I want to use it with lights.


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Nice little system. I had one of those little Gator cases... Sent it back because it wasn't deep enough for what I wanted to use it for at the time. Now I wish I had kept it. I have my spare Eliminator light controller in a 2U steel rack, and it's HEAVY, with NO handles. It works pretty well when I use it with my Small System, though, because I can just set my Small System rack on top of it and drop the height of my table a few inches. I had to add the extra light controller rack when my Large System was out of commission (being redesigned).

This reminds me that I need to factor the light controller into my Small System reworking plans. Even though I don't typically use my Small System when I need lights, I need to make sure I still have the option if I want to use it with lights.


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I have Gator and SKB shallow cases (I have a 6U Gator with a larger wireless rig in it). This one is normal depth. The Denon media player needed it.

This system would be audio only, for playlist driven events. I can plug a mini controller in (I have a Numark DJ2GO and a similar Behringer CMD-Micro) if I need to. I'll try 1 AT 3000 wireless receiver and see if it works. I found a place that will custom make rack panels with whatever you want in it .. e.g. a panel with Powercon in, 5 AC outlets, 2xXLR outs, and 3 other jacks (jacks included) was pricing at $64+shipping.

1531163143846.png
 
... I found a place that will custom make rack panels with whatever you want in it .. e.g. a panel with Powercon in, 5 AC outlets, 2xXLR outs, and 3 other jacks (jacks included) was pricing at $64+shipping.

View attachment 34735

Funny you should mention custom patch panels. I was just working on the patch panel on the back side of my Small System, and realized I need to order a couple of jacks that I don't have in my stock of jacks. Would you mind posting a link to the place that makes the custom patch panels?




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