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Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
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Author:  keddano [ Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Putting together a system for the rec room with the thought that a friend that sings in a band and also host for a local KJ company may pull some gigs at some of the small clubs/bars in some of the small farm towns around here. (Under 30 people normally)

I have a Acesonic AM-425 (rack mounted) mixing amp,and want to build a new PC in a rack mounted case. That would be good reguardless of how big or far we add to the system in the future.

Other then my Laptop,I've been building my own PC's since my first P-90 with 32 mgs of ram - LOL

So my questions would be:
What CD+G/DVD drive is a good choice for loading the discs onto the HD.

What sound card would be suggusted?

Any preferance on Video cards....Do I need something like I would use on my Gaming 'puters or is that just overkill. (seems to me to be)

I'm figuring (1) Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive, With a extra 250 Gig just for the OS and programs.

2-4 gig of ram,depending on the MB I'll put in.

Also any suggustions on a rack mounted Power Conditioner?

I'm also thinking if she starts playing out,maybe building a different PC sorta as a Alum. briefcase style with a LCD monitor mounted inside the lid.
I work for a major Areospace company that does alot of cockpit boxs,so have access to all the neat connectors for building a sweet unit.
I have been searching the forums for ideas,but the tech is jumping so fast would like to get the latest and greatest advice.
Sure I'll have more ??? as this gets going.

Thanks in advance,Dan
Author:  Gryf [ Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
I just built a rackmount system. I'll give you my impressions real fast:
  • CD Drives: Can't tell you what will absolutely work. I have been building/working on PCs for 20 years and have a load of drives around the house. I had no fewer than 13 drives lying around the shop and went through all of them one day and tested them for reading CGDs. I've had identical Plextor drives give different results. The only drive I have had consistently work are Liteon 48x12x48X drives and I have one in my desktop, one on my server and one in my audio rack.
  • CPU/MEMORY: Get what you can get. Honestly you can use a slower system if you have a good audio processor on the PC. Just about anything will run you a decent speed and memory is dirt cheap any more ($40 for 4GB?!).
  • Soundcard: I've heard that USB sound out is the way to go but I can't vouch for it. Use the X-Fi Titanium without issue but have looked at other options to enable use of optical out/in for the card.
  • Video: Get a decent video card with 2 video out (either VGA, DVI or mixed) and an s-video. A Geforce 8400 series or up is overkill but does what you need without effort and it's cheap (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814121235)
  • Drives: I do like the two drive idea and I just bit the bullet for the Seagate 1.5 TB drives. One of those with an 80GB OS drive is fantastic.

That mental vomit probably didn't tell you anything you already didn't know but it was a good exercise for me :)
Author:  keddano [ Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Thanks, Added the sound card and video to the wish list on Newegg. Buy most stuff from them. Will be doing the build in a few weeks,always like to watch for the specals on the Mother Boards and chip sets. Could use one of the old systems,but want to go all new build.

Which rack case did you get?

Has anyone have any experance with the ACESONIC AM-825?
Author:  Gryf [ Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
No experience with that case. I got a bare bones case like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811182566

And added my own 500w power supply. If you get a big bad CPU/Mainboard combo you might need more power. I like picking my own power supply personally but your mileage may vary.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
On a rack-mounted PC I would not go with a USB sound card -- they are mostly recommended for laptops. When you can use a PCI card, that would be the choice. I would pick up an M-Audio 192 or 24/96. They have RCA connectors instead of 1/8", and sound great.
Author:  Gryf [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:14 am wrote:
On a rack-mounted PC I would not go with a USB sound card -- they are mostly recommended for laptops. When you can use a PCI card, that would be the choice. I would pick up an M-Audio 192 or 24/96. They have RCA connectors instead of 1/8", and sound great.


Never played with those and I'm intrigued. I have stuck with over-the-top game sound, are these music specific cards?

The M-AUDIO Audiophile 2496 and the M-AUDIO Delta 1010LT intrigue me, I might just have to pick one up and let the sound guys test it a bit :)
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
I would go with a pro grade sound card like the M-Audio 192 Audiophile.
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-MII-AP192-LIST
Pro balanced 1/4" connections vs RCA or 1/8" mini jacks.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:52 am wrote:
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:14 am wrote:
On a rack-mounted PC I would not go with a USB sound card -- they are mostly recommended for laptops. When you can use a PCI card, that would be the choice. I would pick up an M-Audio 192 or 24/96. They have RCA connectors instead of 1/8", and sound great.


Never played with those and I'm intrigued. I have stuck with over-the-top game sound, are these music specific cards?

I guess you could say that. They were the cards recommended for recording when I first built my office karaoke system. I have loved them -- they sound great and have no lag when recording.
Author:  Gryf [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)
Author:  mckyj57 [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:17 pm wrote:
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)

No, they don't -- RCA, not TRS. They are unbalanced.
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:34 pm wrote:
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:17 pm wrote:
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)

No, they don't -- RCA, not TRS. They are unbalanced.


The M-Audio 192 has balanced TRS.
Author:  Micky [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
I would also go with a PCI and here's my recommendation:

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=9872

It's a "BEST BUY" but it has to be with the m like 1212m or 1616m otherwise it's like an M-Audio, the "m" version has the same D/A converter used in the ProTools flagship cards :wink:
Author:  mckyj57 [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Lonman @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:42 pm wrote:
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:34 pm wrote:
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:17 pm wrote:
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)

No, they don't -- RCA, not TRS. They are unbalanced.


The M-Audio 192 has balanced TRS.

Aha! I must have the 24/96 then. For some reason I thought I had the 192.
Author:  Micky [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Lonman @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:42 pm wrote:
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:34 pm wrote:
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:17 pm wrote:
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)

No, they don't -- RCA, not TRS. They are unbalanced.


The M-Audio 192 has balanced TRS.


Same with the Emu-1212m :wink:
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Micky @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:47 pm wrote:
Lonman @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:42 pm wrote:
mckyj57 @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:34 pm wrote:
Gryf @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:17 pm wrote:
Those are balanced TRS connections for left and right and not just TR? Very nice.

Ok, I'll try it :)

No, they don't -- RCA, not TRS. They are unbalanced.


The M-Audio 192 has balanced TRS.


Same with the Emu-1212m :wink:


That was actually my first choice but GC didn't have any in stock & talked me into the 192 - it cost more but they price matched what I was planning on spending on the EMU.
Author:  Micky [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
These two cards are excellent but the real difference is the D/A converter with the "m" series! I paid mine close to $300,00 when it first came out, now you can get it at $139,00 CND :( No doubt, the best card for the price!
Author:  keddano [ Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
AMS has the non factory sealed M audio for $20.00 cheaper then the Sealed one. Hummmmmm.....
And the E-mu is also a few bucks less.

It seems if your going top notch on sound,Then the SC would be as important as the Video card is in Gaming,So it makes sense to put the money there as much as anywhere. Also is a PCI card and not a PCI Express which opens up more lower cost Mother boards.

With me being a PC Sound card Bozo,(was always concerned with Video), I could spend weeks trying to figure and compare the ones mentioned,and still be lost. So my fellow experts,with the cards noted.....After this great discussion,is the M Audio or the E-mu the best by general consences? Also anyone know were's the best price?

I really want to Thank everyone for the input again.
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
keddano @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:49 pm wrote:
AMS has the non factory sealed M audio for $20.00 cheaper then the Sealed one. Hummmmmm.....
And the E-mu is also a few bucks less.

It seems if your going top notch on sound,Then the SC would be as important as the Video card is in Gaming,So it makes sense to put the money there as much as anywhere. Also is a PCI card and not a PCI Express which opens up more lower cost Mother boards.

With me being a PC Sound card Bozo,(was always concerned with Video), I could spend weeks trying to figure and compare the ones mentioned,and still be lost. So my fellow experts,with the cards noted.....After this great discussion,is the M Audio or the E-mu the best by general consences? Also anyone know were's the best price?

I really want to Thank everyone for the input again.


Either one you aren't going to go wrong, unless you really want to get into some high end insaneness, but for karaoke, either card will do just fine & sound great.
Author:  Murray C [ Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
I found a lot of useful information that may be relevant to you on this site:

http://studio-central.com/phpbb/index.php
Author:  flight120 [ Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Let's build a Rack Mounted PC
Gryf @ Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:02 pm wrote:
The only drive I have had consistently work are Liteon 48x12x48X drives and I have one in my desktop, one on my server and one in my audio rack.


I'm also looking for a rock-solid drive for ripping, and looked on Newegg for the above mentioned Lite-on 48x12x48X drives. I see other speeds, but not specifically a 48/12/48. Do you know if the others are as good? Any specific model number better than others?

Anyone else care to chime in with another suggestion?

Thanks!
Tommy
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