Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1277927
SOUND CARTS FOR MUSICALS: Building the Perfect Sound Cart (for West Side Story and Beyond) b y T o d M a i t l a n d C A S As I approached my 43rd year as a production sound mixer, I'd planned to fade off into the sunset pushing my good ol' Cooper 208, Zaxcom Deva, a combination of boom and other mics, Audio Ltd. and Lectrosonics wirelesses, Comteks, IFB's, and all my other trusty old equipment on the hand-built cart that supported everything for more than 30 productions. All that changed with a phone call. I've always marveled at how our lives pivot so radically with a single call. "We're doing screen tests for West Side Story with Steven Spielberg and want to check your availability." That was it. Little did I know the actors weren't the only ones being screen-tested that day. Steven watched everything. He scanned us baffling the piano to balance the volume to set, double booming and wiring everyone, me trotting on set after a rehearsal to adjust a wireless lav and just as quickly to my cart. I guess I passed the test. At the end of the day, he offered me the film. Right: Velcro name strips for the mixer channels showing all potential characters except for those in use on the mixer when this photo was taken. See them in use in the mixer photo at the end of the article.