Rocktron Rack Interface

I've been building guitar racks and studio setups for many years so I am very comfortable with configuring equipment setups. The Rocktron manual is very insightful and has lots of examples. You have to read it a couple of times when you are about to start on a new build project because there are so many things it can do very well that it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Map things out before you start.

Completely transparent. I wish all other guitar / rack gear was this clean!

I've had mine for 15 years and it's been everywhere with many different setups both in the studio and live. Still works like a charm. I've never worried about the Rack Interface. It always just works.

Never had to call them.

I play live and do a lot of studio session work. I used to have the giant fridge of equipment for live and the Rack Interface was indispensable for that set up. The active splitter guarantees that you have enough juice for what ever it is you are driving. It can be configured just about any way you can think of. You just have to think things through and plan before starting.

Example: Have multiple guitars that need to be assigned to different pre-amps and then summed to a guitar amp, PA or board? No problem. Very cool design.

Built in wha is very usable.

Used to combine it with a SR&D Octopus midi loop to change channels/bypass/etc. Great pair!

I eventually migrated to a Sound Sculpture Switchblade GL for the live kit and retired the Rack Interface to studio duty as a front end / mixer for various favorite preamps I've collected over the years. It still works like always.

The rack interface is a great component that was very well thought out. It has everything you would want to have and a lot more than you would not initially think of for a rack system. It really is a swiss knife in a ultra convenient package.

I'd get another one in an instant if I saw one.

Not that what you want to do with the Rack Interface causes any difficulty. The bothersome part is trying to map out how you could possibly put this many features to use (if it's there why not use it, you know?). Fortunatly, everytime I decide to access a function, I've had little problem achieving what I want.

Here's what gets me though... they design this with the MIDI thru on the opposite side of the rack (in most cases, especially as far as Rocktron gear goes). Also the splitter thru's are on the opposite side of where most preamp inputs are ("^"). I don't particularily like stretching cables across the full length of the rack for no reason, especially if it means blocking LCD screens, but whatever. This unit still does these jobs well & I don't know of many other non-custom (inexpensive) convience tools which have these options at all. So I let it slide. I'm actually thinking about mounting it on the rear rack rails just to get it right.

The manual lays everything out perfectly. I'll give an added point for that. Especially for the splitter diagram options. But, the setup diagrams are way out of control.

No noise, no degradation. Not on any of the configurations I've ever used anyway (and I've used quite a few). It even has a buffer for the guitar in jack; how thoughtful.

Built very well. I'm almost certain I could count on this unit for my entire guitar playing life. But then again, with this many functions, maybe one of them would go. I just hope it's not one that I use.

Luckily, I happen to have the original schematics & test procedures if something were to happen. Invaluable considering these racks haven't been manufactured in years.

Rocktron Support is getting better each & every time I contact or deal with them. This fact does help make up for the past but not completly. Jim has always been very prompt, up-front, and helpful with my concerns. Carolyn is quick to ship with the manuals. Egnater & his guys are great; I'll go ahead & count them. - That's all the good I have to say. I'm going to be very nice because of a recent situation that proved quite helpful.

I've been putting together racks since before I even took up playing guitar. So I can tell you all about how valuable this piece of equipment can be. There is nothing else quite like it. In order to get these type of features intregrated into your existing setup, it could cost thousands of dollars in custom work.

Here are the features I use:
Splitter
Stereo/Mono thru's
MIDI thru

I've also used the wah before. Great option for it's time just as the VCA was. I no longer need either because I can control the wah and/or volume with an expression pedal by way of my MIDI controller.


Other available options include:
Dual Stereo Line Mixing
Direct/Balanced outputs w/ Cabinet Simulator
Headphone & Monitor controls


Now, here's my story. With this device I can send the stereo signal from my preamp into 2 seperate stereo power amps. It's like having 2 heads but I only had to acquire 1 preamp. Which is great because my preamp cost 2 grand & I would not pay it twice over. So I don't have to tell you that if my Rack Interface were lost or stolen I would gladly seek out another & be thankful that I still have a preamp. - In time I will be able to power 3 dual-channel power amps from the same preamp. Listen to this... 6 full stacks & all I need is my one preamp for all of it. That's just one of several brilliant creations that can be assembled.

Those of you who have given up on rack systems... it is a sad day for you to ever witness my rig. You have no one to blame but yourselves, remember that.

This thing is a glorified patch bay. I bought it used with no manual, so setup in my rig was a bit complex, but generally speaking, pretty easy once I realized what was going on. I only use the VCA section for my volume control (in conjunction with an Ernie Ball 6167 25k ohm pedal - it's all I've ever needed out of it and it works just fine.

Very transparent - at least in my setup and usage of it. I patch it out of a Mesa/Boogie Midi Matrix and, as mentioned, use it strictly as a VCA (voltage controlled actuator).

Used it for well over a year and I've never had any issues with it thus far. But, being that it's used, anything can happen - but so far, it's been absolutely dependable.

Very quick email responses for a manual. Otherwise, never dealt with them before or since, as I don't own any other piece from them.

I orginally wanted a Rocktron DVC , but this is so much better (and besides, I could never find a DVC). It's a decent, low-cost investment for anyone with a rack - especially if they want to run a VCA. I've had a rack for almost 3 years and this has been in it for over a year. Also, it's very unobtrusive in the rack, which I like - it doesn't stand out like my silver-faced Korg rack tuner. Anyone who sees it, gear-heads included, has no clue what it is. For the price, it's an excellent value. Would I replace it if stolen? If I could find it again, probably. But it not, I'd purchase a System Mix Plus from Digital Music Corporation.