Billy's Cart

[bigmaho]

Hi All,

I've received a few requests to 'show my stuff'.  But you're all a bunch of cheapskates.  Not one $5 bill in my g string!  (but I'll check the rest of my guitar when I get a chance). 

Anyway, here's the messy cart with my new Deva 16 and Mix 12.  Also includes 8 Zaxcom radios, 2 Audio Ltd receivers, rf splitter amp, Comtek transmitter, Zaxcom IFB, WinRadio Spectrum Analyzer, 2 monitors, Mac Mini, Power Supplies and Distro, Antenna Mast for UHF and 2.4 gHz, Comtek Antenna, Presonus Firebox, etc.  This cart covers just about all my recording and playback needs.  It weighs in at 210 lbs.  Now if I can only figure out how to get the pictures on here.... 

Hmmm, 'insert image' isnt working.  Might be Mozilla.  I'll try Internet Explorer.  Be right back...

[bigmaho]

sorry, I'll try again

[bigmaho]

now for a medium shot

[bigmaho]

And a close up of the middle - The RF amp for my IFB (boosts 100 mw to 1 watt), the Firebox and the Comtek BST xtr

[bigmaho]

last one

[Jeff Wexler]

Hi All,

I've received a few requests to 'show my stuff'.  But you're all a bunch of cheapskates.  Not one $5 bill in my g string!  (but I'll check the rest of my guitar when I get a chance). 

Anyway, here's the messy cart with my new Deva 16 and Mix 12.  Also includes 8 Zaxcom radios, 2 Audio Ltd receivers, rf splitter amp, Comtek transmitter, Zaxcom IFB, WinRadio Spectrum Analyzer, 2 monitors, Mac Mini, Power Supplies and Distro, Antenna Mast for UHF and 2.4 gHz, Comtek Antenna, Presonus Firebox, etc.  This cart covers just about all my recording and playback needs.  It weighs in at 210 lbs.   Now if I can only figure out how to get the pictures on here.... 

Hmmm, 'insert image' isnt working.  Might be Mozilla.  I'll try Internet Explorer.  Be right back...

Well, you figured it all out Billy...  I knew you could do it (posting pictures here, I mean) and we all really appreciate the effort. You have got more going on with your cart than I think I have ever seen; if you study the lineup of equipment you have a tremendous amount of recording "horsepower" available.

Thanks for posting here ... I have been reading all your Mix 12 comments on r.a.m.p.s. and it really interests me (not ready to take the plunge, yet, but I understand how you were somewhat forced into that decision quite abruptly).

Hope all is well with you.

Best regards,  Jeff Wexler

[Matthias Richter]

And a close up of the middle - The RF amp for my IFB (boosts 100 mw to 1 watt), the Firebox and the Comtek BST xtr

Hi Billy,

what is that Firebox doing? And have you got portable RX in addition to the RX4900? I will get at least two for the out of the porta jobs.

btw - I will get two of those Areitec phantom supplies made for the trx 900 by 2moro ...

Matthias

[bigmaho]

Hi Matthias,

The Firebox is the interface between my Mac Mini and the Deva.  I run all playback through the Mini.  The music people can deliver to me via CD, or USB dongle, or even email to my cell phone.  I load it into the Mini, do any editing, and use a simple Mac program called Sound Studio for playback.  The music outputs from the Mini fire wire into the Firebox and from the firebox I take a digital output and feed it back into the Deva where I have full control.  While the Mix 12 has 12 pots, you can still use the 8 pots on the Deva, so I route the playback through the Deva faders.  It's an incredibly flexible system.

And yes, I have 1 portable Zaxcom receiver AND I built a 'road rig' which is an Audio Ltd Quad box married to two Zaxcom studio receivers, so I can quickly run 6 radios in a small package for car rigs or in remote locations where I can't bring the cart.  I can also add the Zaxcom portable receiver to that rig for a total of 3 digital and 4 analog radios.  The Audio Ltd Quad box is nice because it has SMA antenna connections for 4 additional diversity receivers so I can run up to 8 radios through one pair of antennas.

With the Deva 16 and Mix 12 combo I still have 2 unused line leval analog inputs available, so I could easily add 2 additional radios.  If you notice the black 'home brew' looking rig above the 2 Zaxcom RX4900's, it was a prototype rig Zaxcom built for it's digital studio receivers.  It has a broadband rf amp with 12 inputs.  I saw it on the shelf at Zaxcom's factory and bought it.  I use it as the 'rack' for 2 Audio Ltd receivers, and I also feed my WinRadio from it (the WinRadio is hidden in the photos underneath the mix 12).  I still have 7 additional antenna outputs so it would be easy to add more radios if I was on a crazier than normal shoot.  If things get really out of hand I can even use the Mac Mini and Boom Recorder (and the Firebox) to record 4-6 additional tracks.  So without much effort I can squeeze 22 tracks out of this little cart.  (and god help us all if it ever comes to that!)

Best,

Billy

[bigmaho]

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your comments (and for running this site!!!!!)  And yes, there's quite a bit of horsepower on a small cart.  It's a New York thing.  I'm always carrying it up and down stairs so it can't be a Hummer. 

I've been eyeing the Mix 12 for a while, but was in no rush to make the change.  Even after I bought the Deva 16 I wired it into the cart making optimal use of the Cameo AND the 16, using all the I/O's on the Cameo and many more on the Deva.  Unfortunately, as soon as I had it all rigged the Cameo died, so I had to re-rig faster than Patton got to Bastogne.  Even if my Cameo is revived I'll stick with the Mix 12.  It makes my cart and wiring MUCH simpler, and as I mentioned on RAMPS, one of the benefits I didn't expect is that the cart is MUCH quieter.  I had ground loops all over the place and by eliminating the Mixer I eliminated most of the loops.  That alone makes the change over worthwhile for me.  Also, if anything should happen to the Mix 12 or the Deva, it's a very fast and easy swap out.  If my Mix 12 dropped dead I could quickly reconfigure without changing one cable, to mix through the Deva until a new Mix 12 arrived (and the Mix 12 has only one connection to the Deva).

Hope you are well.  It had been slow here in NY movie-wise, so I'm starting an episodic on Monday. 

Still can't believe last night!!!!

All the best,

Billy

Well, you figured it all out Billy...  I knew you could do it (posting pictures here, I mean) and we all really appreciate the effort. You have got more going on with your cart than I think I have ever seen; if you study the lineup of equipment you have a tremendous amount of recording "horsepower" available.

Thanks for posting here ... I have been reading all your Mix 12 comments on r.a.m.p.s. and it really interests me (not ready to take the plunge, yet, but I understand how you were somewhat forced into that decision quite abruptly).

Hope all is well with you.

Best regards,  Jeff Wexler

[Noah Timan]

One thing that might not be immediately apparent from the photos is (despite carrying so much stuff) how very small Billy's cart actually is -- I remember being really knocked out when seeing it in person at the compact size.

[Jeff Wexler]

Still can't believe last night!!!!

All the best,

Billy

I am in shock as well, the good kind. I knew exactly how I would feel if things had gone the other way but I wasn't prepared for how good I feel, for myself, for the country and the world, now that Obama will be our President.

-  JW

[Matthias Richter]

I am in shock as well, the good kind. I knew exactly how I would feel if things had gone the other way but I wasn't prepared for how good I feel, for myself, for the country and the world, now that Obama will be our President.

-  JW

even I as a non American was deeply impressed and even touched by his Thank-You speech! Good luck to America and the world!!

Matt

[bigmaho]

This will age me, but I remember waking up one morning in 1968 to hear that Robert Kennedy was shot.  I've been waiting for this election ever since then.  As Al Gore said last week in West Palm Beach Florida, "Now where were we...."

Best!

Billy

[Jeff Wexler]

This will age me, but I remember waking up one morning in 1968 to hear that Robert Kennedy was shot.

Best!

Billy

Probably just me, and of course Eric, remember it well in 1963 --- I was in high school, Eric probably already hard at work, when my 10th grade English teacher came into class and said that President Kennedy had been shot. On a lighter note, and a little earlier, how about watching Queen Elizabeth's coronation on TV in 1953.

-  JW

[Eric Toline]

Probably just me, and of course Eric, remember it well in 1963 --- I was in high school, Eric probably already hard at work, when my 10th grade English teacher came into class and said that President Kennedy had been shot. On a lighter note, and a little earlier, how about watching Queen Elizabeth's coronation on TV in 1953.

-  JW

JW, thanks for making me feel ancient. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that fateful day. I was cutting v.o. tracks on a 1/4" Presto recorder for a music show at WNCN in NYC when the news from Dallas came over the AP/UP/INS teletypes. Yes I do recall seeing the coronation in B&W on my parents tv.

Eric

[bigmaho]

I was in 3rd grade for JFK and in-vitro for Queen E.  Funny, I was doing a film recently where Helen Mirren and Joe Pecsi played a married couple who own a brothel in Reno.  During one argument scene she ad-libbed, 'who do you think you are, Clint Eastwood?' and Joe responded, 'And who do you think you are, the Queen of England?'.  I hope that makes it into the film :-)

btw, last year I did a little freebie for a friend of mine, Campbell Scott.  He was always kidding me about my cart.  He was positive that I was using my 'low budget freebie cart'.  I couldn't convince him that I used the same one on American Gangster.

[David Waelder]

Jeff, I too can clearly recall where I was when I first heard the news about JFK. I was feeling a bit old until you went on to mention the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. OK, I don't remember that. You win. (Then again, maybe we just didn't yet have a TV) Uh, oh, I remember a time before TV. Maybe I conceded too soon.

David Waelder

[soundtrane]

Uh, oh, I remember a time before TV.

David Waelder

What a world that was! Lovely!! TV came in to India when I was 15 years old. B&W, few programs, just a few hours. And we did not have one when they came out, but my grandfather and maternal uncle had one in their house - next door. The regular route for me was to climb the stone wall boundary and jump in and knock the backdoor of the house to get in.

Later, I watched Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and Star Trek (Shatner, Nimoy) on Sunday mornings. Cosmos and History of the World on two weekday evenings, a foreign feature film every Wednesday night.

TV was aired only by the government broadcast body at that time. Things began to change in 1989 onwards after private players entered the foray. Quality was sacrificed for quantity and it still remains the same. This is the ONE thing that is still prevalent in TV.

-vin

[patrickveigel]

Hey Billy,

what du use as an antenna for the IFB 100? I looked at a couple of ordinary WI-FI antennas but the plug/cable is wrong and adapters seem to be extremely hard to find in Germany.

Also with boosting your IFB from 100mW to 1W I assume your talking about the Comtek, not the IFB 100?

Thanks

Patrick

[bigmaho]

Hi Patrick,

I've tried a few 2.4 gig antennas and ended up with a small patch antenna that has about 8 db gain.  This isn't it, but it's similar,

http://www.wlanantennas.com/product_info.php?products_id=31

And no, I did mean the ifb.  My Comtek is the BST transmitter that has great range (when used with the large Comtek antenna).  The IFB transmitter puts out 100 mw, but in order to equal the range of my UHF wireless mics I have to boost the power of the 2.4 gig IFB signal.  So the little amp in the picture boosts the ifb form 100 mw to 1 watt.  At a watt, the ifb range is about the same as the rf mic range, so if an actor is near the end of their radio range I still have ifb range so I can adjust the transmitter gain from my cart. 

Billy

Hey Billy,

what du use as an antenna for the IFB 100? I looked at a couple of ordinary WI-FI antennas but the plug/cable is wrong and adapters seem to be extremely hard to find in Germany.

Also with boosting your IFB from 100mW to 1W I assume your talking about the Comtek, not the IFB 100?

Thanks

Patrick

[Kevin Sorensen]

Hello Billy,

Can I just ask, how are you powering up all of your gear ? Also it looks like you are not using a second recording machine.

If that's the case, what are your thoughts about using a back up recorder? And what typically ends up being the media of choice for

dallies/post etc.? Any archiving for sound editors, Raid etc. ?

KKS

 

 

[bigmaho]

Hello Billy,

Can I just ask, how are you powering up all of your gear ? Also it looks like you are not using a second recording machine.

If that's the case, what are your thoughts about using a back up recorder? And what typically ends up being the media of choice for

dallies/post etc.? Any archiving for sound editors, Raid etc. ?

KKS

Hi Kevin,

No backup machine on the cart, except I consider the Deva itself its own backup.  I write to either DVD/RAM or CF card for distribution to post and use 160 gig hard drives that stay with me.  Each drive lasts for about 8-12 weeks of shooting.  Also, since I'm using Zaxcom recording radios I guess I'm running 10 backups (though I have them set to loop record, so they overwrite themselves every 12 hours or so.  So it's only a short term backup like if I forget to hit record or I lose power during a take).

Powering is all AC into the cart.  I have a 10 amp 120 - 12v power supply with 4, 4 pin xlr outputs, a DC supply rail with 12 mounting posts so I can route 12v all over the place (it's made for Ham radio shacks by MFJ -

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1116

and a Mac Mini AC power supply.  My Aux cart (ok, I'll get a photo of that ugly beast someday) has all my Zeppelins, Comtex Receivers, expendibles, cables and adapters, basic tools, AND an AGM Marine battery and Inverter/Charger.  I can power off the Aux cart alone for 8 hours (probably a good bit more now that the Cameo is retired), or, when there is house or genny power, I power through it, and if power is inadvertantly pulled, the inverter takes over instantly.

Best,

Billy

  

[Kevin Sorensen]

Hey Billy, Thanks so much , but beware, you just might get your own "Main Board " Column on the jwsound discussion forum.

Something like " Just ask Billy ? " or " Back at Billy's cart " or ,...................

Take Care,

KKS

[bigmaho]

Hey Billy, Thanks so much , but beware, you just might get your own "Main Board " Column on the jwsound discussion forum.

Something like " Just ask Billy ? " or " Back at Billy's cart " or ,...................

Take Care,

KKS

lol, I think 'Kill Bill' is more likely :-)

[Joe Finlan]

On a lighter note, and a little earlier, how about watching Queen Elizabeth's coronation on TV in 1953.

-  JW

According to my mother they didn't have a tv in the delivery room of the hospital so I didn't get to see it myself. Besides, I was probably too busy looking for a nipple to suck on to watch tv. However, I do have a silver spoon that was sent to all the children born in Canada that day to commemorate the coronation.

I can honestly say "I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth".