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Post by craigmorris74 on Jul 1, 2019 16:19:28 GMT -6
I've almost bought all the studio gear I need to make music for a while. I may swap some things in and out of the rack, but I don't need more at this point. The one thing I don't like about my setup is how stuff is plugged in. I have everything plugged in to 7 or 8 power strips/surge protectors (I always turn them off when I'm done for the day), so before I sit down to work on a mix, I have to tun all these strips on, many of which are behind my racks and a pain to get to. I typically have around 30 pieces of equipment running when doing a mix.
What is best practice for powering a studio? I really have no idea, but would really like something more professional/easier to use.
Thanks, Craig
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 1, 2019 16:24:09 GMT -6
Furman makes products specifically for this and they come with lights so you install in top rack spot.
You can plug them into each other so one master switch everything powers up and down.
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Post by mulmany on Jul 1, 2019 16:30:59 GMT -6
They also make sequencers so everything is powered up in the correct order.
Your needs are all dependant on the amount of current you need.
In large installs I will use something like the Furman ASD-120. 120amp distro and sequencer. They also make standard 15 and 20amp units.
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Post by craigmorris74 on Jul 1, 2019 16:39:50 GMT -6
They also make sequencers so everything is powered up in the correct order. Your needs are all dependant on the amount of current you need. In large installs I will use something like the Furman ASD-120. 120amp distro and sequencer. They also make standard 15 and 20amp units. How would I calculate how much current I need? There would be 20-30 pieces of gear plugged in-my computer, a couple of a/d converters, monitors, a power amp, and then 20ish pieces of mostly transformer balanced old style gear-mostly solid state, some tube. I think the room is on a 20A breaker.
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Post by stratboy on Jul 1, 2019 17:05:04 GMT -6
Look at the back of each piece. The label by the IEC plug should have the watts. Add up all the watts and convert to amps (internet has conversions). Add 20-50% for safety/surge/growth and that’s it.
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Post by craigmorris74 on Jul 1, 2019 17:16:34 GMT -6
Look at the back of each piece. The label by the IEC plug should have the watts. Add up all the watts and convert to amps (internet has conversions). Add 20-50% for safety/surge/growth and that’s it. Got it! Thanks!
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Post by spindrift on Jul 1, 2019 17:28:18 GMT -6
I've almost bought all the studio gear I need to make music for a while. that’s a good one craigmorris74
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Post by Ward on Jul 1, 2019 17:37:05 GMT -6
Turning everything on and off from power bars or strips or conditioners is not unlike gear being powered down by a blackout.
Turn all your gear off, individually, from end to beginning of signal chains or order of use, then turn off all strips or conditioners.
Powerup Turn on all gear in the reverse order. Turn on power bars/strips/coditioners first then power-up gear From beginning to end of chains, and in order of usage.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 1, 2019 18:03:08 GMT -6
So if people have 20 pieces of gear do they really turn it all off and on one by one ?
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Post by stratboy on Jul 1, 2019 18:17:20 GMT -6
So if people have 20 pieces of gear do they really turn it all off and on one by one ? No. I have a Furman as the master, connected to the 20A dedicated circuit.The 8 outlets have Furman power strips (each with 8 outlets) plugged into them. So I can have up to 64 outlets on a single, sequenced switch with power protection.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 1, 2019 18:33:16 GMT -6
Thx, I thought that was a benefit of the furman, that you could hang them and have master power, otherwise other then the outlets: what’s the point ?
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Post by hio on Jul 1, 2019 19:05:36 GMT -6
I used to use one of those smart power thingies, you know the ones where you sit in the comfort of your studio chair and turn everything on or off by many labeled button switches.
You can probably do that now with a smartphone, an app, and those little devices that are remote controlled.
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Post by mulmany on Jul 1, 2019 20:07:44 GMT -6
If you need more current or have a few circuits to power up the Furman solution is great.
One master unit is required, then you can connect 20 or 15 amp controlled outlets to it via Low Voltage wiring. The standalone outlets are then sequenced by the master.
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Post by shoe on Jul 1, 2019 20:33:59 GMT -6
Turning everything on and off from power bars or strips or conditioners is not unlike gear being powered down by a blackout. Turn all your gear off, individually, from end to beginning of signal chains or order of use, then turn off all strips or conditioners. Powerup Turn on all gear in the reverse order. Turn on power bars/strips/coditioners first then power-up gear From beginning to end of chains, and in order of usage. I do just power up whatever pieces I am using at the moment and then power them off after, personally, but I don't think it's really much different to switch everything on at a master switch if you generally do run the whole rack all the time. Most power switches on most types of rack gear are not really any different from what a master switch would do. It's generally just a plain old switch that breaks or makes the connection to power. I have some gear that doesn't even have a power switch of its own, actually. The only way to turn it off is at a strip or conditioner. The only danger I can think of, really, is if your gear all turns on at once and the inrush current is higher than what the supply can handle. You'd probably just blow a fuse, though, I imagine.
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Post by hio on Jul 1, 2019 20:57:43 GMT -6
My Apogee's power button started to intermittently fail and they told me if I sent it to them they would fix it for free even though it was well out of warranty.
There is however an internal jumper switch that supersedes the power button so when there is power it just comes on as a studio convenience and problem fixed.
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Post by svart on Jul 1, 2019 22:25:35 GMT -6
I have all the gear going to two outlets and two hardwired 30 outlet power strips.
I just flip the breaker for the whole studio on or off. Been doing it like this for years.
LoL
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Post by swafford on Jul 2, 2019 2:31:54 GMT -6
In the barn I use 3 rack mount Furmans and organize them so the monitors, interfaces and computer are plugged into one; all rack gear with inaccessible on/off switches are in the 2nd (and plugged into the first); gear with switches on the front plugged into the 3rd. The monitors are plugged into a separate power strip mounted under my desk (heh) so I can turn them all off or on at once before or after the DBox.
The whole thing and my OCD is powered by ants.
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Post by craigmorris74 on Jul 2, 2019 7:31:54 GMT -6
You guys that are using Furmans, are you using 15 or 20 amp models of something bigger?
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Post by mattbroiler on Jul 2, 2019 7:50:09 GMT -6
I am using a bunch of Furman power conditioners some of them have the voltage readout which is handy.
The more expensive one is the P1800 PF R - this actually had a serious current leveler that takes in any power source - it has some large capacitor banks that store the power - and doles it back out at the correct level. There are specific outlets for power amps and electronic outlets, the power amp outlets go to regular power conditioners and power strips and out to the amps and the electronics outlets go to rack gear interfaces and computers. I think that one cost about $450 used on eBay but it is critical to having everything run cleanly and worry free.
I had high voltage at the house I am living in and when I moved in there my turntable blew and my receiver blew up and light bulbs were burning out quickly. Turned out the voltage was around 125 to 128 which is not good for older gear that expects 117 volts or less. I had to have the power company come out and tamp down the voltage to the house twice and now it reads around 120. Also had an electrician add a dedicated circuit for the living room / back room and all of the gear goes on that breaker circuit so as to not mix with the house outlets and lights etc. It's great to have things sorted out and all separated now but it took awhile and some money to figure out and get through everything properly.
Another thing to keep in mind is to turn off any heating or AC systems and your refrigerator because if you are recording when those turn on you may get a click or some hum coming through. Don't forget to plug the fridge back in when you are done!
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Post by nudwig on Jul 4, 2019 16:34:14 GMT -6
I was at a studio recently that ran everything off a Vertiv Liebert double conversion UPS. The unit itself was super noisy when you were in the machine room with it but in the studio every piece of gear had an extremely low noise floor, enough to be noticeable which (while subtle) surprised me. The owner told me the electricity at his location wasn't the cleanest or most stable so he went with this system. I can't say I ever noticed a problem with noise in my Furman setups but as I occasionally have power fluctuations I've been thinking of trying this route.
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Post by Ward on Jul 4, 2019 16:58:58 GMT -6
I have all the gear going to two outlets and two hardwired 30 outlet power strips. I just flip the breaker for the whole studio on or off. Been doing it like this for years. LoL Fine for you. You can repair everything!! (once you fry it)
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Post by svart on Jul 4, 2019 17:19:00 GMT -6
I have all the gear going to two outlets and two hardwired 30 outlet power strips. I just flip the breaker for the whole studio on or off. Been doing it like this for years. LoL Fine for you. You can repair everything!! (once you fry it) Never fried anything though..
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Post by keymod on Jul 4, 2019 18:29:35 GMT -6
I have all the gear going to two outlets and two hardwired 30 outlet power strips. I just flip the breaker for the whole studio on or off. Been doing it like this for years. LoL Fine for you. You can repair everything!! (once you fry it) Why do you feel that there could be a problem doing it this way?
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Post by Ward on Jul 5, 2019 6:55:34 GMT -6
Fine for you. You can repair everything!! (once you fry it) Why do you feel that there could be a problem doing it this way? Because I have fried gear doing it that way. Then again, I take the proof out of foolproof.
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Post by svart on Jul 5, 2019 8:07:49 GMT -6
Why do you feel that there could be a problem doing it this way? Because I have fried gear doing it that way. Then again, I take the proof out of foolproof. Most power switches are on the AC input side of the power supply in rack devices, so it's analogous to switching the power externally..
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