Hi guys thought I would post about my project I have in hand…
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,
2 no removable 3.5" HDD (Server style) 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…
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 disc, perfect for all of my Ableton Sound banks, videos for VJ and old Traktor files etc…
I have opened it up, Its a very good (German) design, I will post photos for all of your information. The shame is that I think its unlikely that I can use it in the way I was hoping!
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 :shock:
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…
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 use a lot of LED strips in different projects. I order all mine from http://www.oznium.com/ they have some good products, fast shipping, and amazingly great customer service. I’ve had to call them on a couple things in the past and barely even had to explain the problem before they tell me a replacement is on the way.
Awesome project you got there though! I’ve built several DJ coffins in the past and am prepping for my newest one soon as I have a garage to build it in!
I’ve had to bodge things for now as I have a gig tomorrow and I need it functioning. Some of my suppliers have been very slow with the supply of parts and its stitched me right up…
