A cheery wave to all.

I am soon to move house and am hoping to build a studio in the garden. This will mean making a few compromises with space, and I will need to work in close proximity with the dreaded array of fans. Has anyone tried any of the commercially available enclosed racks? I would probably want two, which I would then 'bridge' to form a support for my procontrol, so I would need them to be a realistic height for that.

I would also like to contact anyone in London who has built a small studio space as I am unsure of how to present the idea to the planning dept.

Thanks

Jack


Great forum Jules!

Whatever you do, avoid the IsoRack (from Raxxess). It's made of pressboard, with 1/8" plexiglass held by toggles in the door, and the cooling fans on the back are louder than the equipment I was trying to isolate. OTOH the Iso-Box (Sound Construction & Supply in Nashville) is solid hardwood, double-glazed sealed door, and whisper quiet ventilation fan - not to mention a digital temperature read-out. To top it off, the dang Raxxess piece of crap costs almost as much as the Iso-Box.

Scott

Ditto DigitMus's comment on the Raxxess Isoraxx. I bought one, sight unseen, since there weren't any within driving range to audition. And I had to return it. I was very happy with my rep at the company I bought it from for taking it back- all I lost was the price of the return shipping, which wasn't cheap...

It was noiser than the gear I was putting in it as well (Fostex D1624 and a rackmount DAW). The air intake is on the bottom, so the "removable casters" really aren't removable at all: the unit would starve for air, and the door would also drag on the carpet when you tried to open it. Unfortunately, with the casters in place, it is several inches too tall to rest a tabletop on, unless you like to mix while sitting on a barstool. And the reversible door is only reversible if you are willing to have a bunch of empty screw holes to look at- the hinge hardware and the latch hardware are inexplicably mounted on completely different spacings, and leaving the unit in its stock right-hand opening configuration wouldn't have worked in my space.... So for me, it was a complete lose. Just my opinion, but I'd look elsewhere.

I solved my problems by reengineering the cooling airflow paths, fan speeds, and acoustical damping inside the D1624 and DAW boxes. And I think that I get along better without a hushbox. Now, I just have to figure out how to quiet down the power supply in my Ghost...

Caveat emptor! I believe that hushboxes really need to be auditioned before you lay out the green. Might be tough in London if the vendor's in the States, though... Best of luck!

Thanks for the useful info guys. I'll avoid the iso rack. I'd love to build one myself. I have a good design, and all the neccessary tools etc. It's just a question of finding the time! Also it must look professional obviously.

I only ever mix drinks on a barstool, and I've often come a cropper doing that.

Jack

You might try the ISO 4000k from Nigel Rudd.

Total custom and I think there's a waiting list...
he also said he only has parts for a few more
since the seals are all 1930's German Pre WWII vintage.

good luck.