Reel to reel rack/cabinet - what's a good design?

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dethride

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I'm setting up my studio and want to custom make a cabinet rack for my TEAC 3440S. I am a woodworker with a full shop and lots of materials and also do metalworking.

I'm thinking of slanting it upwards towards me as I sit and it will also be better when I'm standing and playing. I want to make a nice oak cabinet with wheels to make it portable. Maybe a couple of drawers underneath to hide crap (I tend to be a slob).

I'm always interested in how veteran's set up their studios and have googled a million times to get ideas, but I'm still lacking.

Love this forum.
 
I've posted pictures of my custom cabinets for my Tascam 80-8 and Teac 7300 in the past, but don't mind posting them again for your enjoyment. Everyone always likes the simplicity and functionality of the design. ;)


Seriously, though, the main thing to consider is that the reels clear everything. I would build a 19" wide space above for the machine (with room for reel overhang) and also a 19" wide space below for future rack mount equipment.

3371040.jpg
 
A breakthru in simplicity! Damn, and I sold my chair that would have worked. I guess I;ll have to go back to my uber-complicated custom oak cabinet. LOve you 8 track machines. I can only dream.
 
This used to be a straight-front equipment rack that I modified for use with my 38.

After cutting the front at the angle you see, I moved the rack rails forward to flush mount the equipment. I also cut the rack rails to fit only the sloped area.

The left over rail I used to make a seven space equipment rack.

38rack0001-1.jpg
 
Digital Equipment Corporation had a nice design.
 

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RTR deck rack

I made these myself and I'm really not to good at wood working. If you can handle a saw and a screwdriver, maybe you can make your own over a weekend. The rack and tape machine stands have nice wheels on them (hard to tell). The one with the Otari holds tape on the bottom and the other one can hold 19" rack gear. Got everything from Home Depot and didn't cost too much, they work fine and look pretty cool (I think!). Hope this helps.

Jerry
 

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gerard said:
I made these myself and I'm really not to good at wood working. If you can handle a saw and a screwdriver, maybe you can make your own over a weekend. The rack and tape machine stands have nice wheels on them (hard to tell). The one with the Otari holds tape on the bottom and the other one can hold 19" rack gear. Got everything from Home Depot and didn't cost too much, they work fine and look pretty cool (I think!). Hope this helps.

Jerry
Click to expand...
Nice desk! What kind of mixer is that?
 
Mixing Desk

Hi, it's a Tascam N3500, 24x8 mixing desk. Got it about 2 years ago and it's a perfect match to the Tascam MSR 16. Thanks, appreciate the comment! Jerry.
 
Really sweet ideas and work. This is what I'm looking for. I don't want to re-invent the "reel" here and it's good to see some ideas. I also don't want to spend an eternity on creating a masterpiece only to have it not quite user-friendly.

Nice idea on modifying a straight cabinet, M1Fanatic. If I had one, I'd be doing the same thing.

VERY nice work, Jerry. Yikes, I'd better clear the crap offa my drawing board and jot down some ideas I'm getting ready to steal from all o' ya'll.

I'll learn to post pics and let everyone see some progress. But I gotta finish my bass traps first!
 
Nice pics, Gerard. Where did you obtain the table/enclosure for the large mixer? And is that a vintage Sansui receiver I see I see in the pic, looks like a G series model.

I have a Tascam M-512 mixer, and I'm looking for a good pedestal-type table for it. Back in the mid 80's, Tascam offered the CS-512 and CS-513, (as seen in the operating manual binder) but they are long discontinued.

The 512 is about 32" wide and deep. The width is not a problem, but most tables' depth are 30" max. Rather than Raxxess and other well known suppliers, I was looking at various catalogs of office furniture/computer workstations, and was thinking of the WSG-3060 with optional accessories of caster wheels and riser shelf (and either oak or cherry, not blue :)

http://k-log.com/item.asp?PID=6406
 
I just bought one of these off C-List. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Studio-...-i1152467.gc?source=4WFRWXX&CAWELAID=29484193

I haven't put it back together yet. Figure the top part I'll need to raise up a bit with like a 2x8 or something as the 520 I have won't fit otherwise. I'll post a picture as soon as it is all done. (Part of an overall redo of the studio space so it'll be a while. )

They fib on the rack space though or use a different standard than the rest of the known universe for "1U"
 
Can't delete DAMMIT! WTF???????????????????????
 
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gerard said:
I made these myself and I'm really not to good at wood working. If you can handle a saw and a screwdriver, maybe you can make your own over a weekend. The rack and tape machine stands have nice wheels on them (hard to tell). The one with the Otari holds tape on the bottom and the other one can hold 19" rack gear. Got everything from Home Depot and didn't cost too much, they work fine and look pretty cool (I think!). Hope this helps.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Really nice work! :)
 
Too bad you don't live closer to me...I'm giving this away for free (sans parts 440...but that could go for really, really cheap):

IMG_6276.JPG



Picture directory here:

https://www.torridheatstudios.com/temp/440B_in_lang_console/

Maybe useful for ideas, or inspirational if you feel like making a road trip. :D

I need room in my shop worse than anything right now...
 
Cool, more good ideas for a cabinet. I like the ebay ones because it suggests a workable angle. After I finish my bass traps, I'm gettin' started on the Rack. I know, I said this before, but I have a new toy that's got my attention - a killer commercial-grade zero-turn mower! It's like I have my own personal hovercraft! That cuts grass! More time for my "Reel" world!
 
Cabinet

Thanks for the comments gents. SteveM, my console is a M3500, not "N" as stated in my post, lack of coffee, sorry. Beatlefred, i just made plans to fit my needs. I'll see if have some shots without the board on the stand, maybe you can get a idea or 2 from the photos. Again, I'm not a wood working guy and I tried to keep cost down by using plywood and pine. But it does what it's supposed to do: hold up my board, the power supply and patch bays!:D

Also, the gear you see is part of a very old Technics stereo setup, no plastic, all aluminum. I have the whole set, most in storage. The turn table (Thorens) is wired to the pre amp section and the output of that is tied to my patch bays. Just so I can listen to records through the "system".

Jerry
 
sweetbeats said:
Too bad you don't live closer to me...I'm giving this away for free (sans parts 440...but that could go for really, really cheap):
I need room in my shop worse than anything right now...
Click to expand...

ooooh, that looks pretty cool - love the rack loft! - and R2R decks with ears slide right in the place of the 440?

if I had a van/truck I'd go over and get it, but I guess I'd have a hard time strapping it to my bicycle...
 
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