Ideas for installing board and saving counter space

[earshot]

You guys have helped me in the past. I have another question.

We're a reading service for the blind and are soon launching a station using SCA. Programming will be pre-taped by our volunteers. We've added a second mic and a Telos in our large booth to enable us to produce local shows pertaining to health, accessibility issues, etc.

We just received a Mackie ONYX 12201 board. There's a great deal of wasted space under the counter, which I think would be the best place for a small equipment rack for the Telos and Symetrix processors. We have a nice, long counter. However, much is used up with the computer monitor and several writing pads, Kleenex , pens, dictionaries, and so forth for our volunteers.

To avoid using our limited counter space (and to discourage curious fingers), my thought was putting the Mackie in the rack on some sort of drawer or shelf that could pull out to access. The only time the board will be used is when 2 mics or the Telos are in use for interviews. Since the majority of volunteers are older, I'd like to keep the changes as minimal as possible. It throws them for a loop when we change or move anything.

I haven't found any kind of rack mounted drawer that looks like it's designed for this type of use. There's no telling how many years of installation experience that log into this forum, so I'd like to ask for any ideas of where and how to place the mixer, so it's out of the way, and hopefully, off the counter top.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[earshot]

I should have added that between the floor and the underside of the counter, we have 2'8" of space.

 

[Lazy J]

I've used these racks both on the counter top and below the counter.

http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=DR12

It's not a drawer rack like you were looking for, but it would get your mixer turned up vertical so it would take up less space.

 

[TomT]

Middle Atlantic makes a key board drawer that fits into a standard 19" rack.

Of course, the board has to be narrower than 19 inches....

Middle Atlantic also has a variety of small rack options. You can get a table-top style rack, with sides made of pressed board, in varying heights. Or you can just order their rack rails, & mount them on two x fours under the countertop. Paint the wood black.

Another solution is to install an under-counter keyboard drawer, these are wider, but narrow back to front.

If you are ready for a complete remodeling...

What I've done in three studios I've built in the last couple of years is to support the countertop with cut-down kitchen cabinets. Won't get you down to typical 30" desk height, but will come out close to the 32" you have now. A 24" sink base works great as a rack--the kind with a silverware drawer & opening below for the pots and pans. Pull the door off--then shim in the opening with 2X4's or 2X2's & mount rack rails to make a rack.

In two of these concoctions I have EAS equipment --I re-mount the drawer in the bottom, put a board across half of the drawer & mount the printer (dot-matrix) for the EAS. Makes it easy to change paper. The same approach could be used for your mixer--either leave the drawer where it is, and mount the mixer inside, or move it down to near the top of the bottom compartment & mount rack rails below it for other equipment. If you have anything that generates heat, helpful to pull the drawer & mount one of Middle Atlantic's perforated or slotted vent panels.

 

[earshot]

Thank you for your input. Lazy J, I'm not married to the drawer idea. It's simply the only thing I've been able to come up with. So I'll look at that.

TomT, my BSW guy recommended looking at Middle Atlantic site, so I'll certainly check that out as well.

I feel lucky to work for a non-profit that was able to get a private grant during the last year. For an ex-PD, it's fun and challenging to work on a studio project. I'm trying to be careful with our donors' money, while putting together all these new toys. So thanks again for your help; it's much appreciated.

 

[kenglish]

How about mounting the mixer in a recessed area in front of the operator, with a removable acrylic panel that hides all but the faders? They can see the meters (or, put a set of meters up at eye level, for better visibility) through the glass, and can always access the faders. They can just slide the glass out of the way to make rare adjustments of everything else, then slide it back, and have the extra counter space.
That little bit of extra effort (moving the glass panel) will discourage a lot of knob twiddling.