#368

Not that I know of (I’m sure there are some out there), but it might not be that difficult to have one made. i did this with acrylic but am now toying around with the idea of aluminium. Even with the rails and power, it’ll def come out to be cheaper.

https://metalscut4u.com/calculation/

2 Likes
#369

If I understand it correctly, the handle on the Intellijel cases is rigid – it doesn’t fold down. Is this the… uh, case?

If so, are no-one finding this cumbersomely stiff when carrying?
Not to mention portruding and taking up space when using system flat down on a table?

#370

The hanle is not collapsable and quite stiff. Has not gotten in the way for me when using the system but isn’t the very comfortable to carry for moderate distances. A soft cloth wrap attached with velcro has served me well.

#371

Thanks. It’s seems so… don’t know if counter-intuitive is the right word, but… to make a good quality case (and so light!) and then fit it with an uncomfortable, unfoldable handle.

I have an Elite 104 that I am very happy with, but it is still heavy. I’m eyeing the Make Noise case but the weight worries me. I’m eyeing the Intellijel but that handle…

#372

Yeah I thought the handle would bother me a bit but I’ve taken it out twice now and the case is so light that the odd shape of the handle doesn’t really bother me when carrying it.

I do think I’d get the gig bag if I was going to carry it outside with any chance of rain.

#373

This is pretty neat. You’d want to make sure you got your dimensions correct, measure twice as they say.

Seems you could make a skiff/boat/tray and add some rails and end caps.

#374

I own a Doepfer P9 and a Doepfer Monster case. I recently got an Intellijel 7u case, as I needed something compact and liked the clever layout of the ins and outs at the back. My other tips for this case:

  • Use a 1U usb tile plug in a dimable usb-light or power external equipment such as a BS Pro.
  • Get the additional carrying bag. Great quality and the safest way to travel.
1 Like
#375

I have one of these on the way. It’s designed for jump starting car batteries. It also has 12V output and some USB charging stuff. I’ll post when it arrives.

1 Like
#376

NLC Andrew posted a DIY case to Instagram, made of gutters.

6 Likes
#378

So, I have this plan to downsize from 460HP to somewhere in the 360HP range. It seems like a good opportunity to think about changing my case setup.

Right now, I have a corner desk with cases on either side and QWERTY/Maschine/LCD in the center, with a Doepfer Multicore connecting them.

On the left is a desktop rack stand with 9U of Euro, a 1U power strip and 1U Focusrite audio interface, CV.OCD strapped to the top support rail, and a Microbrute in front. On the right, a Mantis with a shelf over it for pedals and small devices.

It’s all pretty ergonomic, and I like having the modular and non-modular gear close together like that. But:

  • It uses a lot of desk space. That rack stand is 15" deep, where 4 would be fine for the Euro gear, and the Mantis has to sit pretty far forward to not be too obscured by the shelf.
  • The rack stand is not at all portable or sturdy.
  • I tend to “patch locally” and minimize use of the Multicore, so some combinations of modules happen a lot more than others for arbitrary layout reasons.

I’ve thought about several case options. My criteria are:

  • It has to fit on one side of my desk; 120HP might be too wide.
  • Patching Euro to the audio interface, MIDI-CV converter, pedals and toys has to be non-awkward, and all those devices have to be easily acecssible.
  • The 16n Faderbank has to be close to the Teletype/TXb/ER-301 to minimize i2c run length.

For instance: I could replace my rack with a 6U/7U 84HP case, assuming I can fit the Focusrite in a sideways 2U rack case or put it underneath or something, and leave the right side as is. That case could be a RackBrute 6U (encouraging me to upgrade the Microbrute to a Minibrute 2), Intellijel, etc.

If I got a single large case (12U 104HP for instance), I’d want the Faderbank in front and a bridge to the other side for Microbrute, pedals etc. That might take the form of the Doepfer Multicore and a passive DIY box, or a 4MS Pod. A powered Pod would let me put the pedal interface modules on the side with the pedals. But now I’ve got something like 436 HP and have barely downsized at all…

So I could go with 12U 84HP or 9U 104HP for the left, and a lunchbox or Pod 60 for the right – that’s closer to my target size. But I don’t know what gets relegated to the right side with the pedal interface stuff, and it seems like a worse balance than my current split.

Any ideas? :slight_smile:

#379

Now that I have two cases (104hp 4u and 84hp 7u), I like the ability to keep them as separate instruments if I want to (which is a nice creatively stimulating exercise sometimes), but as a default in-the-studio-space config, it is really nice to have them close together. If the main issue is the amount of space it takes up, could you build up instead of out? Example w the oscilloscope as a 2nd tier.

IMG_3706
IMG_3706.jpg3024×4032 2.76 MB

4u is currently to the side, but considering doing a 3 tier thing (moving the oscilloscope up a level and putting the 4u where it is currently) with one of these

http://www.quiklok.com/catalog/?p=productsMore&iProduct=516&sName=QL-723

2 Likes
#380

I’m sort of trying, but not doing it very efficiently with the current setup :slight_smile:

While I’ll have to measure it in person when I get home, each side of the desk should give me about 24" wide x 23" deep to work with, and I’d estimate a 30" max in height would be comfortably within reach (lower if it’s something like a pedalboard shelf, as opposed to front panel controls on the Focusrite for instance).

Based on those dimensions I think I could fit a Structure 360, MDLRCASE Studio, or two Intellijel 7U cases, etc. in there with room for the faderbank as well. Hmm.

1 Like
#381

Naive question. Is it ok to connect 2 separate cases? I have acquired omsonic ouch and pixel dust, and there’s a bass drum module coming shortly that will be great too I’m sure! So I’m thinking of making a wee drum skiff. Would it be ok to connect triggers from my nerdseq in my main rack to a smaller one?

1 Like
#382

There can sometimes be ground issues, but otherwise connecting two cases is fine. From experience, you won’t want to use a Modular Addict stacking cable for it, but a TipTop stackable or standard cable should be OK.

To eliminate some noise in my setup, I had to run a ground wire between the faceplates of my two cases. No big deal though.

1 Like
#383

Possible plan: go with a synthracks.com 9U 126HP portable case, unpowered (since my existing PSU and busboards will handle it).

–

I shuffled my current stuff around to try a different layout:

image
image.jpg960×720 360 KB

2U rack case on the desk, pedals on top, shelf above that with Euro case on it.

Reach and visiblity are fine with a Mantis. A 9U rack will probably work if I mount the shelf a little closer to the front of the desk. That shelf can tilt but is more stable when close to level (and it doesn’t put as much stress on that little black plastic gizmo in front) so the case should be capable of tilting itself.

Only one row of pedals (4 or 5 normal sized ones) is about the max I can access this way since anything behind that front row is out of reach. But they’re less awkward than my previous arrangement.

The SQ-1 would have to go in front, along with the 16n Faderbank. Maybe I could fit a Nanokey there too, but I expect to keep the Microbrute on the left side… which means I’m not recovering as much desk space as I’d actually hoped.

Gotta think about this more.

#384

Hi! I’m thinking about getting one Make Noise 7u steel case BUT, and here is the newbie question: ¿is it easy to completely remove the lid?

I mean, looking at the photos, the hinges look pretty sturdy and I can’t identify any way of disarming them…

If not, any 6U/7U recommendations?

#385

The lid is easy to remove. You might benefit from a bit of grease on the pin to help it slide easier. Basically one half of the hinge has a pin that sides into the other. To separate you slide the lid off to the side.

1 Like
#386

I’ll post my reviews of all the cases I own or have owned, starting from the beginning!

Make Noise Powered Skiff: Not bad for the price, not a huge fan of the Make Noise busboards in general but they’re fine if you don’t have a bunch of thirsty digital modules. The black screws look nice but they’re 2.5, not M3. I also very much hate sliding nuts, and that’s what you get here. The logo on the side is a nice touch, and its about as low-profile as a 104hp skiff comes. Wish it had a lid, but otherwise most things are still good. I still have this one.

6U Monorocket (orange, 2015 build or so): Probably one of the nicest looking cases I’ve had, the orange tolex is great. More sliding nuts here, on vector rails - so I’d have to say this was my least favorite rail setup of everything. Also since this was an older case, it was cut super deep, so the lid fits on the case patched, but closed up it’s just as big as a folding 12U, there’s way too much depth behind the modules. Incredibly stable power supply, tons of headers, loved that. Sold this for a 12U.

12U Dark Modular folding case: My first 12U folding case. Make Noise boards again here, which I mentioned my thoughts on earlier. This one had legs that fit into the bottom of the lid to stand it open, which I did not like, as it was quite easy to push it over when patching, potentially ripping cables out and damaging modules. Also ,the total clearance between the two halves when closed patched was about 2", which is very small, and you basically need to use tiny cables like the CTRL branded ones, or tendrils, otherwise you can’t close it patched. Great side latches, feels very sturdy. Sold this for a folding 12U MDLR.

42hp Erica Synths Pico case: Love this little thing. I don’t put the cheeks on it for max portability but it’s been a great little travel buddy. Tons of power, and I think my only complaint is that the rail spacing here is tighter than any other case I’ve tried. Some modules like the Nano Rand needed some gentle sanding to fit, and other larger modules like the WMD performance mixer don’t fit at all due to the rails being too close together.

12U MDLR Performer: This is probably the be-all end-all of folding 12U cases. This is the model with the ring that slides between the two halves so you get more space closed patched, but don’t have to deal with a lip when playing. This has split threaded M3 rails, which are great. I much prefer it over sliding nuts, and the split rail allows you a little more wiggle room when screwing that last module in. The half-ring as stand is genius, and I love the fact that one peg is longer than the other when sliding half of the case on to the ring, so it is easy to guide in. I have the internal doepfer PSU3 - it’s a great power supply but it is heavy and adds significant weight to the case, as well as robbing you of a lot of internal depth. If I did this again I might go with the external bricks and the MDLR busboards. That said, I’ll never run out of power headers with this thing. Flew with this case and the biggest problem was that it was quite heavy, and the carrying handle is on part of the ring, which after an extended time carrying it through airports and public transit, started to squeak as it flexed under the weight of the rest of the case. Still have this thing, but don’t plan on traveling far with it again.

7U/104 Intellijel: My favorite case so far. The 1U row is fantastic for utilities (despite lack of support for non-IJ tiles), and the weight can’t be beat. The lid is plenty deep so you can use almost any kind of cabling and still close patched. I wish the latches on the side felt a bit more solid, and the aluminum is prone to scuffing, but that’s what you trade for such a lightweight case. I do feel that the handle could be more ergonomically shaped, and a sleeve to protect the metal case (not nothing bulky like the gig bag) would be a nice option to have. Last nit is that I wish the threaded rails were split like in the MDLR, but that’s a minor issue. Great power supply, no issues at all with it, and plenty of headers. Currently using this as my primary case.

11 Likes
#387

It might seem a little outside the overall spirit of lines - which seems to focus probably quite rightly on smaller set ups - but does anyone have any recommendations/experience of larger cases. I have about 704 hp of modules in four case solutions that I want to consolidate. Relatively cheaply.

Current thoughts are the ADDAC monster frames, or the Doepfer LCM base and LCM three row.

Is there anything obvious I might be missing? I quite like my current set up and have no real desire to downsize. But it’s a bit ugly/unwieldy with the four cases in the studio/home office.

#388

There’s no shame in larger systems – a full orchestra is just as valid as a quartet or a soloist.

Two Trogotronic m420s would be a bit cheaper than the Doepfer setup.

A MDLRCASE studio 12U 114 and 12U 84, in birch with the Doepfer PSUs, would be about $1200. I understand a lot of people order customized stuff from them too.

Four Mantises would come in at about that price range too (and can often be found used for significantly less). Over on MW there have been a few people with larger setups using arrays of Mantises.