Box project

The problem I have is that I am sick of plugging stuff in all the time and the missus is a little off with me for having all of the gear all over the place.
I went out and bought an old analogue style 19" rack mixer box. What I wanted to achieve was to have this box that would be able to power all of my units from one kettle socket that I could just take to clubs with me and plug in and not worry. I also have space problems with HDD's As I am a DJ & VJ and a producer and all of the files fill internal laptop HDD's in seconds.
The contents will be:
Akai APC40,

Vestax VCM600,

2 usb hubs,
Native instruments ADJ8,

Evolution X-Session (mounted to to top plate at 90deg so the crossfader will become a level fader),

2 no removable 3.5" HDD (Server style) with 2 2TB HDD's connected to 2 external ESATA plugs that I can connect to my 17" MBP using a Express Card ESATA connector.

Here are some pics of where I am with the project.
Here are the two HDD's that I can remove from a door on the back (They are old HDD's so I dont damage the new 2TB ones that I have boxed at home).

Here is the ATX PSU I am using as it is light and low powered and quiet.

The PSU powers happily my APC40

And a USB powered hub to power my VCM 600 (that will be mounted in the top half of the box and will use UPVC style window hinges when the box is open)

This gives me 4no usb ports for my 2 keyboards and Korg PadKontrol

One of them to power my VCM 600 (that will be mounted in the top half of the box and will use UPVC style window hinges when the box is open to lift it into a tilted position)

Just to give you and idea of how it will end up I am monting the APC40 with an Alu Tread Plate that will be powder coated the same graphite colour of the APC.

to the right of the APC I will be drilling holes to put the Evolution X-Session to give me 16 more rotary pots, and above the APC40 I will be putting the NI ADJ8 - I am not too sure what I will find when I open my ADJ8 and if I can put the plastic bit with the LEDS there and have all of the connectors hidden within.......

I now have to work on the AC input, distribution box, breaker and somehow get my MBP charger slot thingy in somewhere that I can connect the charger but no leave the main body permanently inside the box....

Well this is a really fast moving forum, or does no one know?

I'm just going to do it I think.

Sorry mate, I am not sure. As you say, cant see it being a problem. Let us know the outcome.

Dirk Bigler wrote:Sorry mate, I am not sure. As you say, cant see it being a problem. Let us know the outcome.

Will do, have another 12v device 500ma so will try to run both at the same time for the first few times........

Nice to see there are other users, I guess that shows that there are not too many problems with the gear!

I am glad to report that the old computer ATX PSU has worked a treat! I have managed to make an old style 19" rack mixer have 1 kettle lead supply power to support all of the following:

2no Esata 2 TB HDD's (connectors attached to the PSU (connected to my MBP 17" via express port and are faster than the internal HDD))
2no Powered USB 2.0 hubs (1 for internal devices and 1 for additional outside the box units (keyboards etc))..... (5VDC)
1no VCM600 (9VDC had to get a £8 converter from 12VDC)
1no APC40 (12VDC)

All I have to do now is integrate a charger for my mac and I have my entire setup packed into one 19" box

WHOOT!

Edit: Now working on getting my sound card into the box as well......

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your completed work! (nice Avatar as well!)

Details moved to top of thread

This is looking fantastic, cant wait to see the finished project. Well done on doing something different, you should be well proud.

External disk tests

I now have my 2 WD 2TB Caviar Green discs in the box. Both are powered from the ATX PSU.







I have used a OWC Express card Esata adaptor for this test.



Here are the Benchmark results from X-Bench.

Internal HDD (Seagate Momentus XT 500GB)
Results 39.24
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.6 (10J567)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro5,2
Drive Type ST95005620AS
Disk Test 39.24
Sequential 114.15
Uncached Write 104.94 64.43 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 174.85 98.93 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 69.70 20.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 183.62 92.28 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 23.69
Uncached Write 6.71 0.71 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 256.10 81.99 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 99.15 0.70 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 174.63 32.40 MB/sec [256K blocks]


Disc 1 External 2TB Westerndigital
Results 87.74
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.6 (10J567)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro5,2
Drive Type WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0
Disk Test 87.74
Sequential 144.67
Uncached Write 130.77 80.29 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 190.90 108.01 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 96.60 28.27 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 226.67 113.92 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 62.97
Uncached Write 21.51 2.28 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 329.60 105.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 115.33 0.82 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 187.32 34.76 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Disc 2 External 2TB Westerndigital
Results 83.18
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.6 (10J567)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro5,2
Drive Type WDC WD20EARS-00MVWB0
Disk Test 83.18
Sequential 128.20
Uncached Write 131.94 81.01 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 166.03 93.94 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 76.03 22.25 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 224.92 113.04 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 61.57
Uncached Write 21.19 2.24 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 279.64 89.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 110.84 0.79 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 192.97 35.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]



So I now have 4TB of disc that runs at double the speed of my internal discs, perfect for all of my Ableton Sound banks, videos for VJ and old Traktor files etc.......

post your quest on the ALDJ forum, thats a bit more active than this one, and you might find some people with interest over there.

RIP_KING wrote:post your quest on the ALDJ forum, thats a bit more active than this one, and you might find some people with interest over there.

Thought about it but can't seem to find somewhere I can place it..... I just posted some questions here re power supply and was asked to keep the thread posted about progress.......

I have a vision of what I want, I hope to f**k that I get it.......

Please keep posting on here. There are a lot of voyeurs currently but looking for a relaunch in the next couple of months with a new and improved site.

We are slowly growing with nearly 2,000 members and we will get there. Please continue to support your site!

Thanks for posting, this is a great project.

Admin wrote:Please keep posting on here. There are a lot of voyeurs currently but looking for a relaunch in the next couple of months with a new and improved site.

We are slowly growing with nearly 2,000 members and we will get there. Please continue to support your site!

Thanks for posting, this is a great project.

To be honest I am chuffed that there is a forum for the APC40..... One of my gripes with the VCM600 is that there is no support apart from some weak video on utube with Paul Van Dyk looking smug with himself!

The project has just become even more complex as I have found a water metal cutting company that are going to cut out the button holes for the pad part, potentiometer holes and screen of the X session. They have also agreed to cut my dj name out of the back of the unit (part that faces the clubbers) in my own font. I have purchased some LED strips and will be put into a back mounted box and have my name lit facing the crowd...... Whoot..... for £35
I have also ordered the RCD and terminal blocks for the AC distribution... I have cut the hole for the external female kettle socket with LED switch.... I will post pictures soon.....
I have a deadline of 2 weeks to have it slightly ok as I have a gig to go to...........

This is project is growing by the day! Looking forward to seeing progress!

I will be buying a LED strip light ton Monday for lighting up where my name will be, I was thinking of using blue as it looks quite cool in LED's. Does anyone have any opinions or recommendations?

Here is what I am thinking of as 12V is one of the outputs from my psu LINK

I have now fitted the kettle lead to the side of the box so the unit is nearly self contained.

I know the wires should be brown, blue and green but I just wanted to make sure it works.......

I will be fitting a din rail for the disribution blocks and breaker early part of next week.....

This is one hot project man!

You'll know better than me but how far does the pwoer switch stick out from the box, does it get protection form the case edging? I'd hate to get to a gig and find i'd busted the switch that turns it all on... And this is coming from someone who nearly had to cancel a gig last week when a plug got shut in a car door and shattered ( i mean who brings a spare plug with them....!)

Cheers
D

I am on that and buying some rubber stops.......
Cheers for the pointer!
Its always the bits you dont expect that have the biggest impact.

Pity it can't be recessed, or one of those outdoor rubber switches i've got in the garden just in case of spillages, i'm guessing you'll be running some silicone around most of everything just in case??

Cheers
D

S4racen wrote:Pity it can't be recessed, or one of those outdoor rubber switches i've got in the garden just in case of spillages, i'm guessing you'll be running some silicone around most of everything just in case??

Cheers
D

Nothing cannot be undone......

The statement of a true innovator!!

Cheers
D

I seem to be doing nothing but performances and have not looked at this box for weeks......

Have a chance now for the weekend so hope to make good headway then.

I wondered what was happening? Looking forward to an update.

Yeah loving it so far, totally dig the idea of one unit....

Cheers
D