My band plays some great NYC venues with only a 10-15 minute setup time, nowhere near enough time for me to set up my usual Nord Modular G2X plus GP5 rig, so the laptop and GP5 have to stay at home. I would love to be able play this gig with just a simple MIDI controller and GP5, but I’d need some kind of rack bag that houses at least the audio and midi interfaces and the MacBook Pro, pre-connected and openable.
Does anybody know of a 3U rack bag with a “top” compartment for the laptop that can be zipped completely open so that the laptop can open in place? Gator’s rack bags are great, I currently have a 3U model for the PreSonus Audiobox interface. But for a lightweight rack bag that also houses a laptop, there is only the Gator GSR-2U: in this model, the laptop fits into a compartment that only opens from the side, meaning you have to take it out, place it on top of the bag, and reconnect it – too much extra setup time. It would be perfect if the laptop could remain in its place already connected to the interfaces, as you unzip the outside top of the rack bag, exposing the top of the laptop so you can simply open it.
