for your information: a collection of articles we find interesting, useful, or amusing
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Sound Cart Project Progress Update (Post NAB)
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This page is continuously under construction. Check back regularly.
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We'll post photos and information about the development of the new cart as we have it available. After showing the cart at NAB, using an example on a production, and selling a unit to a local mixer, we have been refining the design. |
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mouse over for a closer view
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This and the following photo overlap the page on Cart 1st Efforts. You see the cart outfitted for a project and carrying equipment.
This is a patch panel that Chinhda is making as an accessory for the cart. It is set up to handle both audio signals and power. Five individually fused XLR connections can supply either 12 volts or 24 volts from a single input. An LED readout provides a constant voltage monitor. There are also up to 16 audio inputs to facilitate making connections to the mixing panel.
This ratio of 5 power to 16 audio is entirely arbitrary. The client can specify (within the limits of real estate) how many of each connector should be fitted.
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mouse over for a closer view
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We're trying to extend the versatility of the cart by providing for rack mount recorders. We have a DV-40 mounted up here. A number of mixers are beginning to use the Fostex 824 as a field recorder in preference to the PD-6 (or perhaps along with a PD-6). In any event there are a number of applications where it would be useful to have rack-mount gear above the base section of the cart and protected by the same shock mounts that protect other gear. The rack mounts are suspended below the shelf holding the Nagra V and benefit from the protection of the same shock mounts. However, the rack equipment is stationary; it doesn't move when the shelf holding the Nagra V is extended.
The backside of the patch panel is also visible here.
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Chinhda redesigned the bracket securing the top shelf. It no longer tilts (although he could supply that function again if there is real demand) but it is considerably stronger than the previous design. We found that people would put two monitors, or a monitor and a six-pack of radios, on the shelf and that put too much strain on the bracket. The new version is easily up to the challenge. As before, the shelf can slide up or down the poles to be positioned wherever it is convenient. It is also possible to loosen the brackets and slide the shelf to adjust how far it protrudes from the frame. |
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mouse over for a view of the drawer action.
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The recorder shelf easily accomodates any of the machines in use. The handles mounted here provide easy points to secure bungee cords. Of course, for the most popular machines there will be custom brackets. (Scan down the page to see this applied to a Fostex PD4.)
Mousing over the picture will show the recorder shelf pulled out.
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mouse over for a view of the drawer action.
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This cart is fitted with the largest mix drawer, sized to fit the Yamaha 01V. Typically the cart would be provided with a drawer of this width but about 3 inches less depth.
This drawer is also fitted with an underslung keyboard drawer. Some of the new, non-linear recorders permit entering scene and take numbers in the Metadata section of the file. This is more easily accomplished with a keyboard than fooling with touch-screens or entry buttons on the recorder.
Mouse over the picture to show the mixer shelf pulled out.
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This picture shows a Fostex PD4 mounted up on a client cart. The mesh aluminum facilitates mounting gear in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Here a metal strip is bolted to the mesh aluminum - without drilling any additional holes - and the Fostex brackets screw down to that aluminum strip. The recorder is securely fastened without any necessity of making holes or attachment points on the machine (or the cart for that matter); the brackets make use of attachment points (like the shoulder strap lugs) already available.
For those concerned about security on stage, we are working on brackets with locking mounts or incorporating anti-theft screws to discourage mischief.
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Again the PD4 is secured without any destructive attachment. A bracket hooks over the feet of the recorder.
Since the platform is effectively shock protected by the rubber shock mounts (one of the Lord mounts is visible in the red frame in the foreground), the recorder can safely stay mounted on the shelf. At the end of the day one simply loads the cart into a car or straps it into the camera truck with equipment still mounted and connected.
And, during the work day, any operating heat can easily dissipate through the ventilated aluminum.
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Chinhda fitted the wheels with brakes. This is a drum brake design used on scooters. It offers some advantages over bicycle brakes in this application.
Note the extra holes drilled in the yoke visible in this picture. Different size wheels - up to 20" diameter - can be fitted anytime without the necessity to "rebalance" the cart. Since the brake is fitted to the axle rather than the wheel, it continues to function regardless of the size of the mounted wheel.
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mouse over to actuate brake levers (lever can be pin-locked in the clamped position)
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The handbrake levers are mounted on the handle. (The connecting cables are not fitted in this photo.) When clamped, a pin-lock can hold the lever in the closed position to lock off the brakes.
One of the skateboard wheels is visible on the right side of the handle. This makes it easy to roll the cart into a vehicle in a recumbent position.
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The perforated aluminum of the trays and shelves makes installation of tie-downs easy. Handles like these can be mounted anywhere without drilling any additional holes.
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mouse over
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In this installation, a couple of handles form boundaries for a six-pack of radios. Then a simple screw and washer lock the pack in place. By positioning the tray above the radios snug against the top of the pack, everything is held securely for travel in any position. And no equipment needed to be modified in any way. |
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Chinhda found some great, lightweight clamps useful for attachment to poles. To enhance their utility, he made a separator bracket to link two clamps. |
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The clamps can be used to hold antenna masts (like the red pole, here) or umbrellas or anything else. Chinhda has modified this particular clamp to also incorporate a cable hook.
Note the skateboard wheel at the lower right. And the black pole is a fishpole safely mounted inside the cart's handle.
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The lower part of the frame is fitted with rack mounts for drawers or other gear. The chrome handle attached to the frame serves to protect drawer handles or equipment knobs. The cart can safely be strapped, face-in, to a truck bulwark without risking damage to any rack-mounted gear. In most production carts these handles will not be necessary. This example is fitted with the larger mixer tray to accommodate a Yamaha 01V panel and it protrudes slightly from the frame even when retracted. Most production carts will have the standard mixer tray and the rack mounts will be slightly recessed into the frame.
A basket, not seen here, mounts between the wheels to hold a battery.
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mouse over to see the computer in working position.
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Laptops are increasingly common on sound carts, either for Metadata entry or as recording and playback devices. We are developing a swing-out laptop tray that will bring the computer into a comfortable working position. This version is a prototype; the production model will feature the same perforated aluminum as the regular trays and may differ slightly in its attachment.
(Worked out over a nice glass of Merlot. It's not all business in Chinhda's shop.)
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mouse over to see the batteries loaded in.
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The amount of equipment being carried on carts seems to go up and up and power requirements increase along with it. Chinhda made the battery tray from diamond plate to easily accommodate multiple battery packs if necessary. Drain holes in the tray prevent any water from accumulating if you are caught in a cloudburst. Mouse over the picture to see two 32 amp/hour packs loaded into the battery tray.
By the way, these are Chinhda battery packs and they can be configured to supply 12 volts or 12/24 volt switchable.
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mouse over to see the batteries loaded in.
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Note the drain slots cut in the tray before you mouse over to see the batteries. There is easily enough space to handle two batteries plus a Power Max distribution system (or any similar device). The diamond plate tray is quite strong and easily up to the task. For most applications, the side walls of the tray are enough to securely hold the batteries without the necessity of strapping everything down. Of course, for transport lying down in a car, you may wish to run a bungee or ratchet strap to secure everything. |
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Click on the drawing to see frame specifications.
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Several people have asked for precise dimensions so they may fit existing elements to the cart. Click on the drawing to go to a page with frame specifications.
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Use this link to jump to other articles about the sound cart project:
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© 2005 by Production Recording |
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