Portable Racks & Cases

About Portable Racks & Cases

An audio rack is often overlooked when adding to your live sound rig. Whether you’re stacking amplifiers, adding outboard compressors and effects, or putting together a complete drive rack, you need the right number of rack spaces (U), depth, and protection to get the job done.

Most of what fills a rack case comes from somewhere else in your rig: rack-mount mixers, wireless receivers, and the amps and processors feeding your PA speakers. Build that list first, then size the case around it.

How Many Rack Spaces (U) Do You Need?

Whether you go with a portable rack case or a portable rack bag, the first thing you’ll want to look for is the total mounting space, or “rack units” (referred to as U). Each rack space is 1.75", so a 4U audio rack gives you 7 inches of vertical space and a 12U gives you 21. Count what you own and add two to four empty U for gear you haven’t bought yet.

A pro tip from the seasoned sound-reinforcement engineers at Sweetwater: you may want to consider two modest-sized racks instead of one large one, especially if you need to move your gear regularly. Two 8U or 10U audio racks are easier to lift, and they let you keep a delicate stage rack separate from a heavy speaker rack.

Don’t Overlook Rack Depth

Different rackmount devices require greater rack depth, so keep that in mind when you’re shopping for portable racks and cases. Most interiors land between 14 and 19 inches, but plenty of power amps and digital mixers run deeper. Check the depth in your gear manual against the case’s usable interior depth before you buy, because a lid that won’t close isn’t protecting anything.

Rack Bag or Rack Case: Weight vs. Protection

The composition of your case or bag plays a major role in how much protection it provides for your gear. The general rule is that there’s a tradeoff between weight and protection: the lighter the material, the more portable; the heavier the material, the better the protection.

For routine gigs where you don’t have to toss your rack into a truck alongside heavy PA speakers and other bulky gear, a cloth-covered rack bag may be your best bet. These bags still have some rigid components, but they’re about as light and portable as you can get. Coated-wood equipment racks are heavier and bulkier, but they make up for it with the durability to stand up to the rigors of air travel. And if lifting is your biggest concern, a rolling audio rack with casters takes much of the work out of load-in.

For everyday gigs that call for serious protection without sacrificing portability, a rack made from polypropylene, ABS, or another durable plastic offers a solid middle ground. These racks are lightweight, easy to handle, and tough enough to hold up to regular touring use.

Find the Hardware to Finish Your Build at Sweetwater

Once you’ve found the perfect rack, you’ll need drawers, shelves, screws, and blank panels to rack audio gear securely and keep airflow moving through the unused spaces. That’s what turns an empty case into a working sound rack. When you’re ready to fill it out, browse the rest of our live sound selection, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, give us a call!