Blackmagic Design Universal Rack Shelf

[@VPR2B]

I bought the Terenex Mini shelf last month to hold my Hyperdeck Studio HD Plus, even though I knew it would only be held by one screw. It actually works pretty well, as the spacers hold it in place. But then I stumbled on this video and thought “oh, NOW they come with one that will allow mounting with two screws.” Imagine my surprise when I viewed this. Thanks so much for posting - saved me time and money.

[@zebrazone]

Thanks a lot ! The kind of info which is literally impossible to find anywhere else before purchase haha. My main complaint would be the weight, I think there is too much metal thickness, especially if they made it deeper ( it’s fun though to see that you are also struggling with the Ethernet on the old one, I wasn’t the only one ! ) . Also it would be awesome to have a Blackmagic design rack system for micro / mini converters. Maybe some modular system that allows you to add pcbs, like OpenGear but a BMD specific system.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

I'm using standart rack shelfs with velcro on them. All small boxes (scalers, hypedeck, mini/micro converters, signal splitters, ethernet switches...)are also equiped with velcro. This gives me a very fast and flexible solution to prepare individual racks for upcoming events. All my TVs/Monitors do also have a Velcro on the backside - for simply sticking on a USB-powered SDI converter, if needed.

[@djp_video]

I don't think you could do this with the HyperDeck, UltraStudio, or Teranex Mini units if you wanted to put another piece of gear in the space above them. They're a full 1U tall and there wouldn't be room for a layer of velcro between a unit and a shelf.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

@@djp_video Yes it needs some millimeter more height. But i mostly prefer to use only every second unit in racks, because it gives me much more space to plug cables on rear side with my big hands. And i like to buy racks with stepless rails. I do most times not understand why they build 1U housings. For example my BMD 1M/E switcher: Bad narrow placed connectors and horrible noisy fans. No need for both, if they had spend a 2U housing for it.

[@djp_video]

@@Juergen_Miessmer Very often we don't have the luxury of leaving empty spaces between equipment. I don't think I've ever been able to do that -- I'm always working in locations with very limited space and need to utilize every inch of space available. The SDI installation tools that are available are a real life saver when things are tight. I have several, and keep one in my trailer at all times.

[@RyanSomerfield]

The video I didn’t know I needed.. haha thanks so much! I didn’t realise this worked with everything else, I thought it was just for the new studio converters.. annoyed I just purchased 4 of the old ones.. oh well

[@LikeThisReview]

Currently the hyperdeck studio hd plus comes with two screw holes that line up with the shelve

[@djp_video]

They must have changed the design of the shelf. I've now had 2 screws shear off in the bottom of the unit because just one screw isn't quite enough to hold it securly when cases get bumped around.

[@hugojacob8390]

What happend with the ventilation?

[@djp_video]

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking

[@fhj007]

Have you looked in to having shelves custom made with the mounting holes you want? Could be nice if you wanted to have gear from multiple manufacturers in one shelf

[@djp_video]

Not really. When I need to do something like that I’ll start with a generic shelf and drill holes or use other mounting methods as needed

[@jrodjared]

Blackmagic, 95% of the way to awesome and then wait.. these screw holes don't line up?!

[@LikeThisReview]

Hi Doug, What screws are included (want to by them separately)

[@djp_video]

They are M3.

[@johnramirez5411]

My 1/6th spacer did not line up with the hole on the Hyperdeck plus. The only 1/2 rack device that lined up for me was the ultrastudio 4K.

[@BensTechLab]

Did the UltraStudio line up with more than one screw holding it in?

[@johnramirez5411]

@@BensTechLab yes it lined up like the smaller 1/3 rack units with two holes. It also accepted the 1/6 spacer perfectly. BMD dropped the ball with the Hyperdeck. I had to drill a second hole in my shelf for the Hyperdeck.

[@SportFlow]

such a big box for a shelve ;) Nice review but I think I prefer off-the-shelve shelves ;)

[@miserepoignee9594]

Ah, yes. Welcome to the world of AV where a piece of sheet metal with some holes costs [checks notes] $125. At least Extron has the decency to standardize their mounting patterns and put enough holes in their shelves that you can attach their gear properly.

[@TimoSund]

Cons so far: price availibility.. screw holes - I’ll be happy with my generic rack shelf units velcroed to it for convienity

[@djp_video]

The price is definitely high for what it is. Availability now is pretty good, but it hasn't been up until now.

[@TimoSund]

@@djp_video I live in Finland. Not yet widely available up here.

[@gil_carter]

Thanks Doug. The missing screwholes thing is maddening isn't it? Even if the BMD shelves didn't come pre-drilled for their current devices, they could at least centre punch where the holes SHOULD go for Hyperdecks to let you drill them accurately. I must admit that I really don't understand how they mapped out the holes in the universal shelf...

[@BensTechLab]

There is really no excuse not to drill another hole once you already have several dozen in manufacturing. Its just design oversight IMHO. Or maybe they dont think more than one is required?

[@Visualcoach]

I just use standard shelfs.i don't see the advantage of these bld shelfs.

[@djp_video]

They look better, and you don't have to figure out a different way to secure the devices in them. But, yes, you do pay a premium for that.

[@bobuk5722]

Hi folks, those design faults - inadequate/wrongly position screw holes, badly position eternity ports just should not be there. No one at BM seems to be doing any quality management on these items. Not worth the cost.

[@mikegreen9774]

You'd save a lot of money buying a Middle Atlantic Universal. Seems like you are paying 75 dollars for a bunch of spacers to me.

[@djp_video]

Finding suitable shelves is somewhat difficult. Many have lips to stiffen the shelf, and those won't work. The MA UTR could work, but whether or not the existing slots line up with the screw holes in the BMD gear is a bit of a gamble. And it's considerably deeper than the BMD offerings, so it isn't well suited for a shallow rack case. In my case I'm happy to not to have to worry about things like that and spend a bunch of time trying to make a shelf work. Especially considering I don't think I've ever paid full price for a BMD shelf, putting the purchase price much closer to the generic shelves than one might imagine.

[@Sixta16]

Has this channel become sponsored by BMD or what? //Not surprised, if holes do not line up. I usually just buy bog standard cheap rack shelf from Thomann, and if holes do not match any of the pre-drilled, just drill ne ones. Easy.

[@djp_video]

I'm not sponsored. I buy everything I review on the channel, unless explicitly stated otherwise, and Blackmagic has never offered to sponsor anything. And in many cases I've been fairly critical of their products.