Rackmount Gear Thread

[RolandJC120]

Way back when, I started with the bog standard Boss pedals, until the day I picked up and Ibanez HD1000, which I would just sit on top of my amp. It was my gateway drug to rack gear.

Over the years, I still used pedals, but slowly started to mix in various pieces of rack gear, only because there would be a particular piece that could do stuff that a pedal couldn't (or vise versa). In reality, they're all sonic canvas tools.

What's been in my rack forever has been;
- BBE 422
- SGX 2000
- Roland GR 50
- Two 360 Systems AM16's (16x16 audio matix - for mixing in pedals)

In recent years, I've also added;
- Boss GT-Pro
- Kurzweil Mangler
- Line 6 Filter Pro

I'm not going to go into all the other gear that's been in and out of there, but I will lament the fact that I sold my SDD 3300 way back when. The half second audio drop out when patch changing was really annoying, but nothing could cop the the chorus one could get by running the three delays in series, and setting each delay 90 degrees out of phase to the next. Absolute gooey goodness. I'm using an Ola now, and while it good, it's no 3300. I had that beast running most the time. Should have kept it.

Are your am16s really noisy? Mine make them almost unusable

[The Eristic]

I use an Ibanez HD1500 all the time. It does all kinds of fucking weird with mod and pitch shifting but also does just straight up great slightly lo-fi digital delay. Been keeping an eye out for its "normal" counterpart, the DMD2000 w/ foot controller so I can dedicate the HD exclusively to its more adventurous side. I also use an Electrix Mo-fx quite a bit, which isn't particularly amazing in any one aspect BUT when you start combining all the effects and features, it's really powerful.

[codetocontra]

This format sucks.

:starts thread: Let's get amped up for rack shizz

:two pages later: racks blow ass, brah

LOL

Honestly, I've never related to codetocontra more because of this thread ... I do this shit all time. Near daily basis 2bH.

I've explored some more rack stuff and mostly not impressed. Unless I want to transform my guitar rig into a into a computer rack system, which I don't. Pedals have surpassed much of the cheap rack gear with signal quality, better effects, unmolested dry signal, etc. I suppose I was looking at rack stuff to try to put together a new setup to avoid more pedals. But it doesn't make things more simple. The opposite is true. It is more to carry around and setup. It needs a case which seems to be the size of a mini fridge. Doesn't eliminate a pedalboard, just creates a need for a larger one. Then the cabling is like tripled somehow. I regret trying this format. Still have the EDP and a Valverb, not sure if I will keep the around at home but I don't think they are gig worthy. Going to try a few pedals and focus on putting together a band board and likely dump the rest. Or not. Don't judge me.

[Gone Fission]

Pedals still haven’t surpassed my PCM-80 and DSP-7000, but we’re still talking expensive pedal zone even at their lowest prices. Ensoniq DP-Pro is a hen’s tooth, but you’ve probably paid more for a fuzz than what they sell for and they do fantastic things. If you’re in rack stuff, as between an MPX-1 for $100 and 95% of delay, modulation, and reverb pedals, the MPX-1 is a no brainer.

But if you aren’t doing stereo setups and aren’t using a mixer to have the effects all wet in parallel to the dry signal, pedals will likely get you a better result.

The best older rack stuff is falling behind on the glitch, granular, and microloop effects, so I’m definitely for “all of the above.”

[$harkToootth]

Pedals still haven’t surpassed my PCM-80 and DSP-7000, but we’re still talking expensive pedal zone even at their lowest prices. Ensoniq DP-Pro is a hen’s tooth, but you’ve probably paid more for a fuzz than what they sell for and they do fantastic things. If you’re in rack stuff, as between an MPX-1 for $100 and 95% of delay, modulation, and reverb pedals, the MPX-1 is a no brainer.

But if you aren’t doing stereo setups and aren’t using a mixer to have the effects all wet in parallel to the dry signal, pedals will likely get you a better result.

The best older rack stuff is falling behind on the glitch, granular, and microloop effects, so I’m definitely for “all of the above.”

Anyone feel inclined to post pictures of their racks stuff? Namely Rfurtkamp? Any one else though? Happy to receive PMs too but I figure there are at least 7 other people who are curious.
Personally, I'm trying to use all of what I have now and make bitwig and renoise my DAWS. But I might pick up cheap rack stuff in 2020 "as a bit". You know... for the bit.

The best older rack stuff is falling behind on the glitch, granular, and microloop effects, so I’m definitely for “all of the above.”

This is the correct answer for me too Gone Fission. I would love eventide racks but I've been able to acquire all their pedals for around $180 a pop. So I'll stick with those. For racks, I want the oddities like weird triggerable sample delays and the electrix stuff.

I always find myself thinking of these ratios.
-Cost
-Functionality
-Size

Some stuff is so big, but so cheap (Those $40 racks that don't do a ton, but they're $40... but they're bigger than you . So stuff is pricey but smaller that a pair of wool socks (the new red panda particle and tensor).

[ognoy]

Recently got a Alesis Midiverb 2 for 30$. Haven't got around to getting to know i properly yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
The plan is to use it as outboard in the studio.

[spacelordmother]

Recently got a Alesis Midiverb 2 for 30$. Haven't got around to getting to know i properly yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
The plan is to use it as outboard in the studio.

I love Alesis verbs so so much.

[$harkToootth]

Uncle $hark Penis might be going on a rack buying spree. 2 much cheap stuffz on the local craigslist. It might not happen... but it might... god speed!
Roland DEP-5 for $125 (this thing does a ton of shit)

Alesis MicroVerb 4 for $95 from the same guy (might see if I can get both for a discount... might)

This fucker has not sold in months! cEvin Key was a fan of these (I think I posted it a couple pages back). Peavey DEP 3.2S Digital Sampling Processor

MISSION ABORTED
CLASSIC ZAG
ZAGGED 2020

[MrNovember]

Wish you were able to score a deal on these. These are the kinds of local ads that make my mouth drool. I have zero use for them, but yes I do want more completely outdated and hard to use effects units

[$harkToootth]

Wish you were able to score a deal on these. These are the kinds of local ads that make my mouth drool. I have zero use for them, but yes I do want more completely outdated and hard to use effects units

The people who know my personally here know my dumb brain works like this....
1. Go down rabbit hole
2. Do lots of research
3. Develop a "solid plan"
4.A. About to pull the trigger and execute plan
4.B. Fuck all. Not I'm not doing this.
Repeat ad nauseam.

[codetocontra]

The people who know my personally here know my dumb brain works like this....
1. Go down rabbit hole
2. Do lots of research
3. Develop a "solid plan"
4.A. About to pull the trigger and execute plan
4.B. Fuck all. Not I'm not doing this.
Repeat ad nauseam.

Similar here, but I will sometimes make the jump into the idea and quickly followed by wanting to abort mission quickly. Such as my interest in rack gear.

[MrNovember]

I'm more of a plan to death, but never pull the trigger kind of guy

[Psyre]

Anyone feel inclined to post pictures of their racks stuff?

NSFW: show

[coupleonapkins]

[Warpsmasher]

I've just stumbled down the rabbithole of rackmount monitors. HDMI is commonplace now, as is 1080p. I am quite tempted with the idea of 3 HDMI screens in a 2U rack unit, as my current computer screen sits atop a sturdy 4U desktop rack which currently has nothing in it. There are also touchscreen monitors in 4 to 6U, and plain old HDTVs. My new video card has 4 outputs, so 3 little screens and one big main one is one way I could go with it now.
This also makes me want to build a video synth rig right underneath it: