Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1152338
37 1986, it took over production of the SC-4 sound cart. Since that time, there have been several new features added, these include rack mount rails and various other options such as sun umbrellas, boom pole mounts, and rack mount drawers. Ron says, "Since I became the owner of PSC in 1996, Professional Sound Corporation has worked hard to make sure any new option we offered over the years is backward-compatible with all existing SC-4 sound carts. I never want to leave an existing customer behind." As equipment manufacturers began further miniaturization of the sound equipment, in 2014, PSC designed its EuroCart for this new, smaller world. The PSC EuroCart was not only a smaller, more convenient-sized sound cart, but also fit into smaller vehicles now commonly used by sound mixers worldwide. The PSC EuroCart can be assembled without the use of tools as it uses only "thumb" screws for all of its assembly. The EuroCart can also be split in half from top to bottom. This allows for easy storage and travel in the trunk of a car. The top half can also be used by itself for a small insert car sound package. AUDIO DEPARTMENT, LLC At the Audio Department, Gene and Drew Martin started designing and building carts from the ground up in 2016. Before that, they mostly did customization and modifications on Magliners. Gene says, "Drew and I collaborate on every project. We wanted a vertical design for our main cart that was modular, allowing for different options based on the equipment being used. The majority of our carts have a 16-rack-space bottom unit that allows for a variety of different size (or custom) top sections to be bolted on. This gives the customer the opportunity to change the use of the cart if ever needed." They strive for the carts to be as light as possible, but still have strength so the majority of their projects are made from one-eighth-inch aluminum, small steel tubing, or Devendra built two more versions until he arrived at the DC-TRM. Enlisting the collaboration of Sig Guzman at Backstage Equipment "I gave Sig my pencil drawings of the cart with the idea that the base supported the rear axles with Trionic wheels and six-inch front casters, designed around a new extended size 'Nagra Shelf.' Simple 1x1 steel posts served as the spines and have baby pins on top. This design includes many Backstage accessories like handles and a crossbar with a baby pin in the center." Devendra field-tested the prototype loaded to the max on eighty days of production of the Mayans M.C., a very heavy location episodic. Devendra concludes, "I'm someone who is a sound cart user and enthusiast and contributing my design to the market. In the end, the customer base wins with DC carts and many other choices." BACKSTAGE EQUIPMENT Sig Guzman has assisted many sound mixers in finding accessory parts, as well as the fabrication of sound carts. Backstage is a family-owned business run by Cary Griffith. In the '70s, Mr. Griffith designed a grip truck, as well as grip, electric, and 4x4 carts. Backstage now manufactures more than one hundred and fifty specialized carts for virtually every craft, including lighting, grip, camera, video, sound, photography, Steadicam, DIT, basecamp, and props. Sig explains, "We continuously work on new products that we hope will become useful, and this is the best part of the job. You think of an idea, you draw it on a napkin, design it on a computer CAD system. Then you build a prototype, and have technicians test it and give you feedback. When you finish the product and see it being used around the world, that's job satisfaction. We build everything in house with a few exceptions such as laser cutting, water jet, CNC, and finishing (paint, chrome, nickel plating), the most common materials we use for manufacturing are steel, as well as aluminum, depending on the product we are dealing with. All products are assembled, packed, and shipped from our location in North Hollywood." PROFESSIONAL SOUND CORPORATION Professional Sound Corporation and Ron Meyer have been building sound carts for more than three decades. When the owners of ASC formed Professional Sound Corp. in Magliner junior sound cart PSC EuroCart