Philip Perkins Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Almost all the pix I've seen of sound carts in current use are set up for having the mixer sit. The old-style Skyline/PSC/ASC/3-G Welding style carts (which I used for 18 years) were originally designed to have the mixer either stand or sit on a tall chair or stool. I guess part of the reason for this was the gear in use at the time, and perhaps the lack of video assist meaning that the mixer needed to watch the set directly. I find I'm using my current cart (based on a Magliner) mostly standing up again, after sitting for awhile. I think this may be partly a personality issue--I'm kind of antsy in general, and often need to run around and fix or change things since my boom op (if I have one) might be busy or cabled in. There is also a difference in energy I guess, the "Walter Murch" effect of how your mind works when standing vs. sitting. I don't think I'd like to edit audio standing up (as Murch claims to do) but I guess I'm used to standing up for production sound work. It seems like if I do sit down I can't stay seated for long and do my job, so why bother? Philip Perkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry long Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 I prefer seated as much as possible. Playing music on the cart with the occasional visit to craft cervix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Burge Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I can sit on the job, really? OK, now I aspire to have the most comfortable rocking chair in the biz...and a can of pledge for the squeaks. A shovel to lean on and I'd be a happy camper...I envy those CalTrans guys. -EB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted May 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Yes--the 3G guys were great about customizing. A video engineer friend of mine wanted a cart like my 3G type, but wanted it to fit a Sony BVH500 on the lower shelf and have a WFM and Vectorscope on fold-up wing-shelves. 3G did a great job on a custom version, and my friend still uses that cart every time he works. Philip Perkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest repete86 Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I typically stand. Standing isn't as comfortable, so I pay more attention to the audio. I know that if I sit, I will get a very comfortable chair, and then I will doze and miss something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sound Intuition Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 I will always stand when I am rolling. I tend to sit during a blocking and lighting set ups. I just find that I pay more attention if I stand. I used to have a director syle chair but it became a pain to carry around. I don't like to get locations or props to carry my stuff, it's always better to save your favors until you really need them. Phillip your mention of the BVH 500 reminded me of when I worked for this production company back in the late 70's early 80's. We were shooting this travel series in Eruope. I went to a army surplus store and bought a back pack that had a metal frame. I took the back pack off, mounted the BVH 500 on the frame and carried it on my back while hooked up to a RCA tk 76 camera through an umbilical cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry long Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Rich, I have an amazing fabricator here in Wilmington. He has built 3 or four carts and has a sense of style. LL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundHound Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 I never felt quite right crouching down (like I was on the bathroom commode). I always had a tall (big) kart and so enjoyed a tall make up chair. For the "one pot you know what is happening again and again" scene I could sit and slump but when I really mixed I stood up so I could operate all the knobs and switches (see the pictue of "Old Mixer" elsewhere). By the way anybody that wants to stand up can buy my Matthews kart-cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthias Richter Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 It's an old thread but very up to date to me: I've been sitting on my cart for the last 12 years. My recent shoot had 5 weeks of studio instead of on location and I used this to try a higher version of my cart together with a high Director's chair. I really loved it!! It feels more agile, more powerful and focused. It just won't work for my typical German on location production. Cart wouldn't fit the van as is, rolling around is not easy because it's so top heavy. Still looking for the all in version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 That's what I've been saying all along! Take a look at the Cologne Cart thread again, and you'll see how it is possible to have you type of cart for sitting or standing and easy transport. My version is only very loud, that's unfortunate (just the lifting action)I'm sure that you would be able to build a much better version than me. Aaaand I could copy your ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthias Richter Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 I did look. When in down position - do you interlock both cases or will those lifters hold tight enough for wheelin around on the big wheels only (tilted)? I'm also worried that my upper case is just too heavy for your construction. It was sitting on an add case which felt secure but up in the air supported by 2 or 3 lifters only? Don't know ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 I did look. When in down position - do you interlock both cases or will those lifters hold tight enough for wheelin around on the big wheels only (tilted)? I'm also worried that my upper case is just too heavy for your construction. It was sitting on an add case which felt secure but up in the air supported by 2 or 3 lifters only? Don't know ... No it's basically being held by the lifters. But for moving I'll add a strap that provides additional safety. I have three lifters. I started with two, but the upper case wasn't stable. I can assure you these three lifters can lift 150kg each. They were designed to open/close windows or solar panels. They are very sturdy and waterproof to a degree. They are not the weak link, your mounting system will be. In my case, it felt strange at first, but after a few up and down trips of my upper case I feel confident that everything holds up. But the three motors are very noisy. They are controlled from the same unit, but are not really synchronized. I had another lifter before, which built to lower a special chair with a person on into a bathtub. That's sturdy, and very quiet, but I couldn't really mount anything to them. The ones I have now have two mounting points, which helped a lot. But I am still on the lookout for something quieter and faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthias Richter Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 Thanks Constantin. I've got a curved thumb just from googling after linear motors Project for the next downtime I guess. Normally winter that is but not this year. Day 87 today ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 This is the one I've got: https://www.ebay.de/itm/381697981592 Considered this as well, https://www.huberlab.ch/Sortiment/%EF%BB%BFQualitätssicherung/Probenvorbereitung/Glaswaren/Stativmaterial-%26-Bauelemente/Laborständer-Swiss-Boy/p/cat_8241 but the motorized version is very expensive, and I don't know how well it would work, so I am reluctant.... I know very well how your thumbs feel! Took me forever to finally find (and decide on) what I've got now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivanovich Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Off topic, but wanted to say that those linear actuators are sweet. I've been looking for something like this for a plate reverb I built, to control the dampner system. Back on topic, I go back and fro between sitting and standing. On some gigs its nice to have the option to sit on others not so much. Anyone have experience using the A4 Cart from france? The thing looks lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johngooch Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Started standing, then modified my PSC cart so that i can only see monitors clearly while sitting. My feet thank me. But i did like being able to see over the cart to see the set.. but i was probably too close to set already-- different problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Do people love to stand for 10/12/16 hours?? Varicose veins on the call sheet lol mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Do people love to stand for 10/12/16 hours?? Varicose veins on the call sheet lol mike No. I still have a chair with me which I pull out of the van if I feel like it. I also have a foldable "standing chair". But, ask any doctor, sitting is the new smoking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthias Richter Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Look at my pic: a very nice comfy Directors chair. But the hight of the cart allows for sitting AND standing and everything inbetween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpsanos Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 Depending on the complexity of the gig for me ... one or two talking heads, I'll quickly take a seat. Lot's of activity on set, I'll stand. When I'm mixing for live broadcast music production , I'll be standing . Thanks for asking Philip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S Harber Posted March 25, 2017 Report Share Posted March 25, 2017 I stand. Way better for it when I'm just south of 3,000 hrs/yr. It took a week to really feel comfortable after sitting but I now much prefer standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Andrews Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Interesting to see so many votes for standing. Which incidentally is exactly what I prefer to do. I was under the impression the majority sit down and I'm in the minority. Perhaps not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pindrop Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Gives a quite different impression on and around set, whether this feeds in to anything beneficial is quite difficult to tell, but it might? Interested to know if anyone else has got thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Another advantage to standup-mixing: there's the nipping in the bud of the old "how tall is a sound man" joke.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bash Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 On 02/04/2017 at 5:41 PM, Philip Perkins said: Another advantage to standup-mixing: there's the nipping in the bud of the old "how tall is a sound man" joke.... On the other hand, the doughnut falls from a greater height ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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