Rack Cases & Flight Cases

Nineteen inch (19") or 482mm wide rack cases or flight cases are the standard for equipment protection and transport. 19" standard size rack cases and flight cases allow different equipment makes and models to be safely and securely mounted in a protective case for storage and transport. Rack cases and flight cases all have the same basic size. They accommodate equipment that is 19" (482mm) wide and in height increments called units (U). The smallest height is 1 U (unit) of 44.5mm (1 3/4") and the height of the cases increases in multiples of 1 U units.

An example of modern sound equipment rack sizes:

• Most PA power amplifiers are 2 U high although some are only 1 U and others 3 U or bigger.
• Effects processors and sound modules are usually 1 U
• Graphic equalisers are 1U to 2U

Rack mount amplifiers and effects units all mount securely into the rack cases and their controls are easily accessed. Some mixing desks are also rack mountable. They are often supplied with "rack ears" to facilitate mounting vertically into a rack case.