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The Rack Mounted Synth Thread!

I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of rack mounted synths for people to use as a handy reference.

But obviously, this has come about from my own desire to research rack mounted synths. Here's my situation, I'll be diving into hardware very soon, but as with many producers, I have limited space. So I decided to buy some racks (knowing what synths I'm initially going to purchase). I currently own 2x8U tabletop boxed racks and I'm reasonably sure I will be purchasing a double 4U tabletop boxed rack in the near future (providing I can justify it).

The above are essentially restrictions (without modifying my studio further). So, the question is, what options do I have? What gear can I get into my racks? Obviously I'm not just looking to fill them with anything, but if I do have, say 3U of space left, it would be good to scan down a list to see what possible synths I could use to fill it.

I won't be purchasing anything lightly, but I will be aiming to build my studio over the next 12 months and hopefully filling all the space!

So far on my 'to buy' list....

- JP 8080 6U
- Moog Voyager 5U

Audio and midi rack will be 1U each, So that's one of my 8U racks filled. Hmmmm, 3U to use up on the other!

Anyway, feel free to contribute to the rack mount synth list (Name, unit size and maybe even a brief description!), as well as any other information producers might find useful. What do you have in your racks?

- Roland JP 8080 6U http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/jp8080.php
- Moog Voyager 5U http://www.moogmusic.com/voyager/?s...&product_id=161
- JV-1080 2U http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/jv1080.php
- Korg MS2000R 4U http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/ms2000.php
- Waldorf Pulse 2U http://www.vintagesynth.com/waldorf/pulse.php
- Yamaha FS1R 1U http://www.vintagesynth.com/yamaha/fs1r.php


Hopefully it will be useful to the other producers out there who aren't blessed with plenty of space!








The racks I've got are below if anyone is interested .

Two of these 8U's...


And hopefully in the future, one of these (2x4U).

Roland JV1080/2080 - Great stock sounds (especially pads) and the ability to upgrade with some pretty decent expansion cards. 1080s are cheap too.

Korg MS2000R - Handy VA with a superb vocoder.

A bit leftifield maybe but what about a Firewire Powercore? I just bought one for �350 and it's got a great set of DSP VSTs and you can also get the Virus as a plugin on it.

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord Roland JV1080/2080 - Great stock sounds (especially pads) and the ability to upgrade with some pretty decent expansion cards. 1080s are cheap too. Korg MS2000R - Handy VA with a superb vocoder. A bit leftifield maybe but what about a Firewire Powercore? I just bought one for �350 and it's got a great set of DSP VSTs and you can also get the Virus as a plugin on it.

What unit space are they? I'll add them to the list

I think the Korg one has the cables coming out of the top, which means I can't really put them in my racks without sacrificing some unit space.

Is the JV-1080 a 2U? And the Korg MS2000R a 4U?

some wank rackmounted devices have the audio inputs on top (back when used as desktop), practically disallowing you to mount something else directly above it. Nord rack 2 suffers from this too

quote:

Originally posted by Pjotr G some wank rackmounted devices have the audio inputs on top (back when used as desktop), practically disallowing you to mount something else directly above it. Nord rack 2 suffers from this too

Yeah, I mentioned that briefly above. Shame really, because I really wanted a Kord Radias for my racks!

I think the 1080 is 2U but the MS2000R is most likely too big. The Powercore is only 1U though, saying that mine sits under my screen so not really an issue anyway!

i sold all mine, cured my obsession, never looking back. id like to have a rack box like the first one though for a new soundcard, my rackmountable dj mixer and some day a rack cdj desk.

Waldorf Pulse
JoMoX 888

I play to rackmount both of those eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by Zild Waldorf Pulse JoMoX 888 I play to rackmount both of those eventually.

Size?

Waldorf Pulse 2U?

2U
jomox is 5-6 and has outputs on the top so it can't have anything above it

quote:

Originally posted by Pjotr G some wank rackmounted devices have the audio inputs on top (back when used as desktop), practically disallowing you to mount something else directly above it. Nord rack 2 suffers from this too

i had this problem, 90 degree jacks sorted this out

quote:

Originally posted by Ry Thomas i had this problem, 90 degree jacks sorted this out

So the 90 degree jacks don't add anymore height when racked vertically? (For the Nord Rack 2 at least)

powerchord is still problem. JP8080 sorted this out great. thats what u get with buying from big companys.

quote:

Originally posted by palm powerchord is still problem. JP8080 sorted this out great. thats what u get with buying from big companys.

So you can't fit another racked synth directly above it because the powercord gets in the way?

quote:

Originally posted by Acton So the 90 degree jacks don't add anymore height when racked vertically? (For the Nord Rack 2 at least)

not a lot, i was lucky with mine i guess cos i had a jp8080 above it and theyre thin at the bottom, i can see where you're coming from though, pretty bad design.

quote:

Originally posted by Ry Thomas not a lot, i was lucky with mine i guess cos i had a jp8080 above it and theyre thin at the bottom, i can see where you're coming from though, pretty bad design.

Well I plan on getting a JP 8080, so If I get a Nord Rack 2 at some point, I'll just stick it under that then .

quote:

Originally posted by Acton So you can't fit another racked synth directly above it because the powercord gets in the way?

another rack synth works fine beacuse they usualy are slim in the bottom part. but forget about soundcards etc. but anyhow on the nords, the powerbutton is back there too so u kinda need access back there anyway lol. also its like 3,5HE so u need 4 rack units anyway, and then theres 0,5HE open air for access to cables and powerbutton. thats my only negaive about nords: powerbutton-location and that the cables arent hidden like on JP8080, and the un-standard size. it should have been either 3 or 4, not somewhere between.

Re: The Rack Mounted Synth Thread!

quote:

Originally posted by Acton Anyway, feel free to contribute to the rack mount synth list (Name, unit size and maybe even a brief description!), as well as any other information producers might find useful. What do you have in your racks?

Currently, I have a Nord Rack 3, Dave Smith Prophet 08, and Yamaha FS1R in my rack (well, actually, the P08 is currently in desktop configuration - wood panels on the side - rather than rack-mounted).

The FS1R is an incredible synth that I highly recommend due to its incredible sound and capabilities. It's widely regarded as the most comprehensive FM hardware synth ever produced and also does formant shaping synthesis (you can make it talk [without using samples!]), but it has one major drawback - it's a bitch to program. It's 1U with 4 knobs, 9 buttons, and thousands of submenus. There is an editor available, but it's quirky at best, is no longer supported, and certainly not intuitive. But the synth itself is incredibly powerful and creates some of the best pads, FM basses, electric pianos (perfect for house enthusiasts), and SFX/drones I've ever heard. It will also load Yamaha DX7 patches! This is one synth that I can (and do) just turn on and play for hours on end. The great thing about it is that it doesn't overlap with my other synths and it's definitely in the "synths that I will never consider selling in the foreseeable future" category.

BTW, Acton - you may want to check out Vintage Synth Explorer if you haven't already for a near complete listing of every rackmount synth ever made. They also have a very good and active forum where you can find a lot of good info.

quote:

Originally posted by Ry Thomas i had this problem, 90 degree jacks sorted this out

I have this problem with my Nord Rack 3 and Prophet 08 and have had it with other synths in the past. Right-angle jacks work for most of them, but I've had a hell of time finding right-angle MIDI cables, especially considering that my MIDI interface (M-Audio 8x8) is situated pretty snugly in my rack and only has enough peripheral space to accept standard (i.e., not right-angled) MIDI connectors on that end. So, if anyone knows where I can find MIDI cables with right-angled connectors on one end only, please let me (and others reading this thread) know!

Re: Re: The Rack Mounted Synth Thread!

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik BTW, Acton - you may want to check out Vintage Synth Explorer if you haven't already for a near complete listing of every rackmount synth ever made. They also have a very good and active forum where you can find a lot of good info.

Yeah, it's a very useful site, although I haven't really browsed the forums .

quote:

Originally posted by palm powerchord is still problem.

I find those difficult too when trying to learn the guitar.

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord I find those difficult too when trying to learn the guitar.

theres no powerchord on guitars. do u mean the signalcable for an electrical guitar?

quote:

Originally posted by palm theres no powerchord on guitars. do u mean the signalcable for an electrical guitar?

It was a joke, palm.

power cord <> power chord

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_chord

haha ok, i fail.
going to the mirror and spits on the reflexion.

It's my dry British sense of humour that got you. Well spotted Dave


Incidentaly have you tried using a MIDI cable extender on the end of a right angle bend to turn it into a straight connector?

who are u asking?

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