Re: Packing a laptop setup (with trombone) into bags

["L.Angulo" <labaloops@yahoo.com>]

Thanx for this info Rainer we need more traveling threads like this!
i am not really sure but i thought i read sometime you been changing 
looping software lately are u using mobius as your main looper?
cheers
Luis






www.myspace.com/luisangulocom


--- On Mon, 3/30/09, Rainer Straschill <moinsound@googlemail.com> wrote:

> From: Rainer Straschill <moinsound@googlemail.com>
> Subject: Packing a laptop setup (with trombone) into bags
> To: loopers-delight@loopers-delight.com
> Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 7:09 AM
> Hi everyone,
> 
> sometime ago (more specifically in February) I asked for a
> bag for a
> Behringer FCB1010 plus BCR2000 to complete the bag/case
> solution for
> my current live rig. Now, as time has passed (and I had to
> take looks
> at different bags), all is ready and completed, and I'd
> like you to
> know about it.
> 
> Read on for a capturing tale of requirments engineering,
> package
> partitioning and how this author was able to beat the
> prestigious Rick
> Walker International Live Looping Festival Challenge in
> record time!
> 
> 1. THE REQUIREMENTS:
> ===================
> The setup is essentially what people were seeing on the
> trombone solo
> gigs on my MoinSound 2008 World Tour (basically, the BEMF
> main
> festival and Pasing). The setup is centered around the
> noise sources
> of trombone and vocals and a laptop (Dell D620) is used
> for
> processing.
> As for the MMI, a Behringer BCR2000 faderbox and the
> well-known (and
> -hated) FCB1010 are used.
> There are, as of now, the following rack-mount components:
> a TC
> Electronic Konnekt24D audio interface, an AKG WMS 40
> two-channel
> wireless receiver (together with fitting bodypacks and
> microphones for
> vocals and trombone) and a LD Systems MEI100 wireless
> in-ear-monitoring system (together with a pair of Sony
> in-ears). This
> is complemented by a Zoom H2 (for recording).
> Of course, there's also a trombone - a Bach Stradivarius
> B42 together
> with a stand.
> 
> My requirements:
>    * the system should be wired as
> completely as possible when packed.
>    * setup (and breakdown) time should be
> minimized.
>    * portability so I can carry the entire
> thing in one trip. Means
> also: lightweight.
>           ("portability" also
> means "to be carried" - i.e. if going up
> a flight of stairs)
>    * the system should work with both 110
> and 230V power supply.
>    * being able to withstand airplane
> baggage handling is not a
> requirement. It's meant for those cases where I drive e.g.
> in my car
> or on a train and am able to handle the stuff myself, thank
> you.
> 
> 
> 2. PARTITIONING:
> =============
> It's obvious that you won't fit everything into one bag, so
> some
> partitioning was in order.
> First of all, putting the trombone in a bag of its own
> makes sense
> obviously, so I can also take it to an unelectronic gig. I
> obtained a
> Protec C239:
> 
>http://www.protecmusic.com/items.aspx?ProductID=60&InstrumentID=37&InstrumentGroupID=1&CategoryID=3&subCategoryID=1
> 
> It's solidly padded, also for the slide compartment, and
> has another
> long pocket on the other side of the compartment for the
> bell, which
> not only holds the mouthpiece, shoulder strap, cream etc.,
> but also
> the trombone stand. I also got the accessory shoulder strap
> so I can
> carry the thing on my back.
> It shows that it works well to keep the bodypack/microphone
> attached
> when packing the trombone. For that, I fitted the bodypack
> into a
> small pouch, attached that to the pipes of the instrument
> and with
> that, everything's set.
> 
> The computer and rackmount components are of course best
> held in one
> of those cases specifically made for this. There are those
> which are
> for the real rough handling - but come with the downside of
> not being
> optimized for carrying (e.g. with a shoulder strap), as
> this one:
> 
>http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=426&o=&offset=1&c=102&s=78#
> However, with a rack depth of 9.5'', this is rather
> shallow. Too much?
> In my case, yes: the Konnekt24D is 9'' deep - add to that
> cables and
> it becomes a no-go.
> 
> What I finally selected was this:
> http://www.gatorcases.com/productsmodeldetail.aspx?LID=25&PID=26&MID=384
> Not as sturdy as the SKB item, however with a aluminum-made
> rack
> frame, it seems sturdy enough (unless put on a plane - this
> is true
> especially for the laptop pocket, which is merely padded).
> Note that when installing, I found that my hestitation
> towards the
> SKB's depth was not without reason: including power strip,
> PSUs and
> cables, this rack is completely filled. There is a hole in
> between the
> rack and the laptop compartment - important to fulfill my
> "all cables
> have to be in place" requirement.
> 
> With that, the leftover components are: two bodypacks (one
> with
> headphones, one with headset mike), the Zoom H2, the
> BCR2000 and the
> FCB1010 - all of which I liked to have in one bag. In the
> emails here,
> Fabio recommended a Warwick Rockbag to me (thanks, Fabio!),
> and
> although the item he uses didn't work for me, another one
> did: a DJ
> bag:
> http://www.warwick-distribution.de/?katID=19088&cl=EN&did=1
> (note to self: why is it that we end up using products made
> for DJs
> all of a sudden? Just the other day, I talked to Per about
> a MIDI
> faderbox, and he told me about his faderfox, which one
> store carried
> in the DJ department as well).
> Normally meant to hold two CD players and a  DJ mixer,
> it works
> equally well in its new role.
> 
> 
> 3. PUTTING IT TOGETHER:
> ====================
> Surprisingly, it worked right from the start. As mentioned,
> the
> laptop/rack case is totally cramped, but otherwise works
> fine. Note
> that there's a power distribution strip sitting in this
> case, not only
> feeding the wireless units, interface and laptop (the PSUs
> for the
> wireless units have already been replaced by SPS to be able
> to handle
> 110V as well), but also holding the power strips going to
> the BCR2000
> and FCB1010. For this reason, they are tied together with
> the MIDI/USB
> cables respectively. And of course, cables are tied
> together, in case
> of those which need to be extended by refastening velcro
> ones.
> 
> 
> 4. A FIRST PERFORMANCE TEST:
> ==========================
> For a first performance test known to many here as being
> hard to
> fulfil, I chose the Rick Walker International Live Looping
> Festival
> Challenge: You come onto a stage where you find two cables
> leading to
> the board, one power socket and a table. You need to be
> ready in 30
> minutes. Everything over that will eat into your allowed
> performance
> time.
> In a first attempt (not practised or rehearsed), I came out
> at 9:02.
> Yes, that's right! I did it more than 20 minutes under the
> target.
> Now, can this be improved?
> 
> Of course, there's the option to practice a little and
> perhaps bring
> it down to a little over eight minutes. However, another
> question
> would be if (and how) the process can be put in parallel.
> The quick
> answer: yes, it can. You're albe to have one (instructed)
> person boot
> the computer, set up computer (yes, in that order),
> faderbox and
> pedalboard and make the connections to the mains, while the
> performer
> sets up the trombone and gets his bodypacks ready. By doing
> so, it's
> possible to get into the region of 5 minutes for this
> challenge.
> What's more, the bodypack attachment/trombone setup tasks
> can easily
> be done backstage in advance, so this works even if you're
> all by
> yourself.
> 
> 
> 5. SUMMARY AND OPEN TASKS:
> ==========================
> Did it work? As far as I can tell: yes, absolutely! I'm
> really happy
> with this solution which really allows for super-fast and
> hassle-free
> setup and breakdown. Add to that the fun I gained from
> using wireless
> components, and you know I'm a happy little looper.
> There's not much remaining: choosing which additional parts
> to bring
> along. A batch of spare batteries would be nice, and as
> we're talking
> about it, it seems that also my video camera (with stand)
> would still
> fit in the bag.
> 
> 
>           Rainer
> 
>