IBC2022: Sonnet RackMac Studio and xMac Studio Professional Rackmount Systems for Apple Mac Studio Computers

Sonnet Technologies, Inc. announced the RackMac Studio and xMac Studio professional rackmount systems for Apple Mac Studio computers.

RackMac Studio front

The RackMac Studio is an enclosure to install and secure 1 or 2 Mac Studio computers. Available in 3 configurations, the xMac Studio holds a single Mac Studio computer plus a Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion module. Both systems are 3U in height, designed to fit in standard 19-inch equipment racks, and include space beneath each computer that enables users to securely store connected Thunderbolt or USB SSDs behind a panel.

What they do:

RackMac Studio rear

• RackMac Studio
  This 9.5-inch deep, 3U rackmount enclosure supports the installation of 2 Mac Studio computers, securing them behind a removable front panel and providing open access to their SD card slots and front and back panel ports. The RackMac Studio enables front panel operation of a Mac Studio’s rear-mounted power switch and connects a panel-mounted passthrough USB cable to 1 of its USB-A ports, enabling the user to switch each computer on and off without having to access the back and to connect a keyboard, mouse, thumb drive, or other USB device to the front of the enclosure. Its shallow mounting depth makes it especially for installation into small travel racks and shallow molded rack cases.

xMac Studio front

• xMac Studio
  This 16.5-inch deep, 3U rackmount enclosure plus Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system supports a single Mac Studio and includes either a 3-slot or 1-slot Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion module. (A model without an expansion module is also available for customers who already have one from a Sonnet Echo III or DuoModo system.) Like the RackMac Studio, the xMac Studio secures the computer behind a removable front panel and provides open access to the computer’s SD card slot and front and back ports. It includes the same power button assembly to switch the computer on and off but replaces the single-port USB passthrough cable with a 4-port USB-A hub for connecting devices at the front of the enclosure. It includes adjustable extension rails to support its installation into racks 16 to 24 inches deep. In place of a 2nd computer, it includes a Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion module in 2 optional configurations:

xMac Studio rear

xMac Studio/Echo III incorporates an Echo III expansion module (the same one used in Echo III Desktop, Echo III Rackmount, and DuoModo expansion systems); features one x16 and two x8 extra power. It also features dual Noctua cooling fans for quiet operation. The module is for use with adapter cards that require Thunderbolt’s full PCIe signal bandwidth for performance.

Why they’re important?
Mac Studio computers offer processing power, outperform computers multiple times their size and price, and provide a lot of ports for connecting peripherals. But on their own, they’re not ideal for every user. Integrating a Mac Studio – designed to sit on a desk – into a rack to support many professional workflows poses challenges, and the lack of internal expansion card slots found in tower desktop computers limits its connectivity and capabilities. RackMac Studio and xMac Studio address these issues.

RackMac Studio and xMac Studio enclosures secure Mac Studio computers without trapping them in hot, recirculating rack air, enabling them to stay as cool in a rack as out on a desk. Both enclosures are ruggedized and utilize firm rubber cushions that securely hold the computers in place during transport, making the solutions for use in molded rack cases, fly racks, or most any travel rack to make Mac Studio computers mobile. Because they feature front panels secured with thumbscrews, RackMac Studio and Mac Studio allow computers to be installed or removed without the need for tools.

How they’re distinctive?
For more than 10 years, the company‘s Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion products and computer mounting solutions have enabled users to overcome limitations in connectivity and adaptability with the computers often favored by pro audio and video users. The Echo III and Echo I models’ ability to connect specialty PCIe cards to computers lacking card slots is integral to enabling countless workflows.

With the launch of RackMac Studio and xMac Studio, the company offers pro content creators multiple options to fulfill their workflow requirements.

When you can get them?
The xMac Studio/Echo III (part number XMAC-STD-III), xMac Studio/Echo I (part number XMAC-STD-I), and xMac Studio/No Module (part number XMAC-STD-0) will begin shipping from the company the week of September 26 and soon after from its WW distribution and reseller partners at suggested retail prices of $1,649.99, $1,249.99, and $549.99, respectively.

RackMac Studio (part number RACK-STD-2X) will be available from the firm the week of October 24 and soon after from its WW distribution and reseller partners at a suggested retail price of $449.99.

Where you can see them first?
RackMac Studio and xMac Studio will be on display in Sonnet European distributor Blitz Micro s.r.l. ‘s booth, at IBC2022 in Amsterdam September 9-12.

Resources:
Video: RackMac Studio – Product Overview
Video:xMac Studio – Product Overview