HDR mod

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This page shows how I modified my Mackie HDR to quiet the noisy beast down. It sits in a rack just to the left of my consoles and was very distracting as well as a problem when recording in the control room.   (Click on the photos to see a larger view.)

Step 1. Opened the unit and started disassembly. beginning.jpg (184101 bytes)

Step 2. Removed Sparkle power supply. Sparkle removed.jpg (174722 bytes)

Step 3. Cut out cross brace over fan hole. fan cutout.jpg (186754 bytes)

Step 4. Drilled a pilot hole for switch cutout. hole for switch.jpg (201510 bytes)

Step 5. Used a nibbler and file for switch cutout. switch hole finished.jpg (158867 bytes)

Step 6. Mounted the SilenX power supply. SilenX mounted.jpg (182356 bytes)

Step 7. A rear view of mounted SilenX. rear.jpg (174133 bytes)

Step 8. Routed the supply wiring. wiring.jpg (193058 bytes)

Step 9. Mounted the CPU fan control on blank panel. fan control mounted.jpg (160052 bytes)

Step 10. Mounted the CPU fan control between the video and sync cards. control between cards.jpg (188930 bytes)

Here's an external view of the rear CPU fan speed adjuster. rear adjuster.jpg (164091 bytes)

Step 11. Reassembled the unit and wiring. job done.jpg (225316 bytes)

Step 12. Crossed my fingers and applied power. on the bench.jpg (203638 bytes)

It works! What a big difference. Now the most noise I hear is the hard drive in the external RH-58.   I'm going to have to work on that next. The fans are disconnected and there has never been a heat issue. When I'm using the internal drive I can shut off the RH-58 and it really helps. The total cost of the SilenX 300W power supply and the Zalman Fan Mate-1 including shipping was just under $80. That and a couple hours of work have made a great improvement in the noise level.