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Why isn't rackmount a thing in this generation?
Since getting my Electribe 2 late last year, I've been branching out into hardware synthesizers and trying to integrate them with my setup. Looking around for potential additions to my rig, I noticed there aren't as many new 19" rackmount solutions these days. Why is that the case?
I'm thinking it might be the popularity/accessibility of DAWs and ITB production that killed off the nondescript rack module + the boutique eurorack boom. Some companies like Modal still crank out amazing units like the Argon and Cobalt 8M but apart from those, and like maybe Deckard's Dream (unobtanium to me), not much else.
I kind of think it's a shame because the modularity of the rack system + not having to mess with cables /routing as much reminds me of what I like about guitar pedalboards-- everything wired together in one place, ready for use. These days, my only options are vintage rack gear (relatively affordable, but can be unreliable due to age/component degradation) or the Modal stuff.
What do y'all think?
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If you don't want/need your gear to be wide, rack is too wide. If you do want a lot of controls it eats a lot of U. It's just not a great fit for some devices.
That being said, if device is basically the size of rack and just lacks few screw holes and rack ears to be compatible that's just shame
track me
Interesting point. I have two rack mountable multi-effect units, and one is over twice as deep as the other. An old multiverb or so is like a pizza box. Could it be that with modern microprocessors and DSP techniques, the frontplate-to-innards ratio is such that the rack format just doesn't make sense anymore?
I honestly feel that way about the Roland Boutique series, since that could've been a rackmountable format for sure.
On one hand, I get the frustration of having something like an old Roland JV unit. The lack of controls on the UI could be frustrating, but the Modal stuff seems to do a good job of staying not too big, and still closer to knob-per-function.
I guess it's the whole DX-7 tradeoff again, with flexibility vs. control. Was thinking of getting something like a Roland XV5050 so it's not too ancient, takes up 1U and does a fair amount of stuff. They seem to only have the Integra left for recent rack units.
I love my rackmount stuff, but its for the studio, not for moving around. But then again, I have a 19u rack and the Samson mpl1204 mixer alone weights like 40 pounds.
I use a lil tabletop Mackie for live stuff.
ROI.
Also, there's a much bigger market for someone with a couple of synths at home than a studio. There aren't many studios, and more and more people are just making music at home for fun. People at home are getting hardware for knobs and buttons to go with their cats and succulents. Software synths are so strong now that buying a box with few controls feels more like buying a computer - and "everyone" has access to a computer.
The cost of creating, storing, shipping, selling, etc. a different form factor is considerable - esp. when the keys versions of everything far outsells everything else. Even desktop modules don't generally sell well in comparison to things with keys.
Side note: I'd love to have a synth (or synth engine?) built on a PCIe card. Sure, fewer slots, but far more amazing possibilities and virtually no latency. Imagine Omnisphere on a PCIe card....
Because rack gear is a pain in the ass unless you are invested in enough of it to warrant actually buying a rack to put it in.
That isn't most of the market these days. It's not 1994 anymore, where you'd need a rack full of EQs, compressors, multi-FX, synth modules, etc. to accomplish a fraction of what a single MacBook Pro can today.
Most people these days will just want a couple of hardware synths, some interesting pedals, etc. to go along with their DAW and VSTs and the desktop format just makes a lot more sense.
Strongly agree with your reasoning on DAWs and ITB production. There are two types of rack units... those with lots of knobby controls, and those that are limited to a few buttons / controls and an LCD. Why would anyone buy the later if you can just get a similar sounding VST? IMHO, 'analog' vs 'digital' is not reason enough these days to shell out for some rack unit that I need to control with my computer / midi controller.
Why fewer knobby synths is a bit tougher to justify, but if less people own 19" racks due to the above, less people will buy knobby 19" rack gear. It's another barrier to entry, like how getting a case is practically necessary for eurorack. Frankly, I don't own a 19" rack and never will. Hence, we have a bunch of 'desktop' units (Dave Smith, Moog, etc.) that may or may not have been designed with any consideration for a 19" rack. I'd argue more folks have modular cases these days than 19" racks, hence why Moog went eurorack.
Seems like rack mounted gear solved a particular problem that people just don't have anymore.
I have two theories on the lack of rack mount these days.
One, to echo what a lot of people said, the rise of DAWs and informal home studios. In the days when studios were almost entirely a professional domain, rack mounts made sense as they neatly and efficiently inserted into studio furniture. These days, most people with home studios are using cheap IKEA desks where desktop units make more sense.
The other, a bit out of left field, is the popularity of DJing. Desktop units fit a lot more smoothly into a DJ setup than either a keybed or rack mount unit, which makes them attractive for DJ’s that might want to incorporate some sequenced synth bits into their set. So the combination of those two markets is just a lot stronger than the market that wants rack mount these days.
Preordered a behringer 2600 blue marvin which will be rackmountable . I use rackmount (nord 2 rack) with a Yamaha SPX990 FX rack. Also got a Behringer 1602 V2 Line Mixer, ADA8200 (Adat interface) on my rack. I really wish there were some new rack mountable FX units that aren't extremely overpriced and unobtainable for me right now such as the Bricasti M7, Lexicon etc... Anyhow still love the room I am saving with a rack mounted setup. Will also be adding a 48 point TRS patch point soon as well to help connect everything easier as that is becoming a problem.
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