Cheap place for mixer desks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pahtcub
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Pahtcub

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Hey I've been looking for an inexpensive DAW/mixer desk with a rack in it but they all look expensive, even for the most simple peice. I'm not looking for crazy finishes or anything, just something with rack spaces in it, anyone know where I should look?

Pat
 
At the lumber yard, under MDF. :p Takes 2 sheets of 4'x8'. Build 2 boxs with interior width of 19 1/16" x 26" H x 20"D. Span the boxes with a 2x4 frame. Lay a piece of MDF what eversize you determine, on top and voila! Some paint, or stain, or even just a clear coat...or what ever...even laminate...or use Melamine instead, which is MDF with a thin laminate on it. Even Home Depot carries it in woodgrain and white. Cheapest desk you will find, if you know how to cut panels SQUARE. Thats the key to building boxes. Rack rails are available at most music stores, or on the net.
fitZ :)
 
I mean it doesn't have to be the best, but I definately don't want it falling over, and that's what would happen if I made it myself, I've built sub enclosures for cars, and they always come out crappy.

Pat
 
I would take the approach of getting a good solid desk and then adding a desktop rack, either building it yourself from MDF or having a friend somewhat more skilled in woodworking do it. as the others have pointed out it is not a complex piece of woodworking.

Then later on if you want a different desk under your rack you can do it.
 
I thought about the same thing and decided to build my own soon. I just cant see wasting my money by having someone else build it when I can take my time and build one to my spcification/needs.

Strangler



http://stranglerfig.com
 
I would take the approach of getting a good solid desk and then adding a desktop rack,
Oh, I thought he was looking for something CHEAP :D Solid and cheap usually don't relate. Well if its SOLID your looking for, then make it out of steel. Heres mine in the assembly stage. Heres a few features I designed into it.
Stainless steel rectangular steel legs that are cable chases(die into floor chases with no feet). Welded rectangular steel tubing frame almost 10' long. Sound and vibration proof belly cabinet for computer, patchbays, amps, etc(not shown in these pics but it is built) Full length padded arm rest with 4 output headphone jacks with A/B/C source select switch modules at each end, also with 2 hi z and unbalanced inputs for direct line ins, fold out hood for repatching equipment, full length cable tie off gloss black laminate monitor shelf(part of hood), 10 specie hardwood endcaps, full length multicolor plex lighting lens over mixer,
full length linear rolling racks for remotes(ball bearing carriages under armrest)
2 custom multi directional arms that latch into brackets for Midiizer, drinks, ashtrays and other things, ......ah.... lets see :p oh yea, remote air supply under belly cabinet for computer.....ah.....vacume port......ah ....grounded conduits through legs for network lines, electrical, video, cable, multi snakes for 2 16 track MSRs and Master, builtin rotating FX racks on each side of mixer.......custom full length chrome bracket under lens for flat panel monitors.....well thats all I can think of at the moment. Heres links to more pics if you care to look. And some AUTOCAD files that I detailed it. These were taken in the assembly stage, but I'll post some pics of it as it now later on when I have time. Ok, I'm done. Have fun. I did, and still do. I modify it all the time. Still using it after 8 years. It was the best thing I ever did for my studio. Its worth the time to build something that lasts. Mine took 3 months to fabricate. I did it ALL myself.
fitZ :)

Detail files
http://www.clubq3a.com/rkpics/consldtlB.jpg
http://www.clubq3a.com/rkpics/consldtlD.jpg

More Pics
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Never said I was a great welder. But it did the job. Besides, thinwall is hard to do for me....ha, any welding is a pain for me. I'm a designer, not welder. Besides, who cares....its held for 8 years and no one can see any of them when assembled :D Beats anything on the market for me. :rolleyes:
fitZ :)
 
RICK FITZPATRICK said:
Oh, I thought he was looking for something CHEAP :D Solid and cheap usually don't relate.
Maybe I should have said a standard or conventional desk. But I don't necessarily agree that solid and cheap are mutually exclusive if you know how to shop.

The desk I am sitting at right now is a massive and rock solid piece of furniture. It is quite a number of years old by now I would guess but does not show it. I recall that it cost me $180. It used to be in the office of a partner of the worldwide accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, and it was available for liquidation real cheap. No I am not kidding.
 
My $100 walmart special computer desk is holding up just fine, but I wanted something more geared tward recording, I think I'm gonna get some tube steel and make my own, and show what a nice TIG bead should look like:-)

Pat
 
This one has worked out great for me...

Click here

It comes with 28 rack spaces but is easily modiified to add more.

BTW, it was inexpensive AND solid as a rock!
 
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