Need To Build a Mobile Truck

[SLS]

Hello,

First time post here. First off let me say...Great Forum! I am an engineer and need to design and build a mobile audio truck. The majority of my work at the moment is live recording of anything from orchestras to small jazz ensembles, etc. This truck, however, is going to be designed with a specific purpose...to travel full time documenting cultural and historic information, music, and events. I figure I will outfit it with 24 track capability, but in reality probably will only need 8 at a time max. It also will not need to incorporate into stage productions, so I figure it is pretty simple and straight forward.

I have been reading several of the other posts on this topic, however, being my first endeavor into this, I am hoping to get some ideas. Right now I am in the planning stages, and need to be getting a budget proposal together. Let me also say that at this point, money is not really a concearn because it will be for a corporate client, and they want everything new and nice.

Given my situation, I have A couple initial questions.
1. Vehicle Selection: Size, Box Size, etc.
2. Would it be wise to try to build it myself (with help), or would it be better to have a company custom build it for me?

There are obviously more details to be considered, but a little at a time ;-) Also, feel free to chime in additional ideas/considerations.

Thanks in advance!

[Remoteness]

I have to tell you...

I wish there was a remote forum like this one when I was 19 years old, building my first remote recording truck. A Remote Forum with a lot of great information and no fee. Freakin' awesome, I tell you.

Thanks for your first post. Keep in mind we only give correct answers on your ninth post.

Your needs sound pretty straight forward. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and go for it. Come up with some ideas, even a few stumbling blocks and we'll try to help you solve them and take you to the next level.

Just a thought, since you want this vehicle to be designed for the specific purpose of traveling full time, maybe your studio shouldn't be built in a "truck"? Motorcoach, RV, an extended van or a shuttle buss could be the correct choice.

What did you mean when you said, "Will not need to incorporate into stage productions..."?
Also, did you have any questions about the other posts you read on this topic? There's buckets of information there.

If you want to get some ideas, scan the Net. They're a ton of sites from truck body manufactures. Check them out. Give them a ring or email them your needs and/or concerns. They are there to help you. Not sure if you're gonna get any free ideas. I'm not sure that matters to you, since money is not really a concern to your corporate client.

You could build it yourself if you keep it nice and new looking. If building it yourself doesn't work out, try contacting some of the links I left for you below...

Links to some of the TV Truck & Mobile Manufacturers


frontline communications
bickford broadcast
e-n-g
harris
gerling group
msi
mobile technologies
pk vans
tv engineering
wolf coach

Some more food for thought.

I hope this helped.

[SLS]

Thanks a lot for the info! I would have to agree about the forums. Having the collective knowledge of various experienced people is a great tool. I think that user discussions and forums are probably one of the best advents of the internet age, especially in support related areas.

Anyway, by not incorporating with stage productions, i meant that this would not be incorporated in live shows where splits were necessary for a pa, etc. It will be for much smaller purposes. I also will not be running the truck myself. The truck will be sending the material back to a studio and mixed there.

Thanks again for the links and advice. I'll look them over thoroughly and let you know as I get inspirations

[Remoteness]

Great! Looking forward to your discoveries.

[JayCrouch]

yeah bro, keep us up to date on your truck venture. Take pictures along the way as you go, the first time you do it seems to rarely be better than the second build - so plan it out for growth and compatibility. If you wire some of your stuff up in ways Steve goes, you can really keep costs down and setup times down to the minimal.


For example, how many inputs is the truck going to have total, and what are you using for your recording medium. Do you want to be set up to handle everything from 2" to PT and MDMs inbetween?

let us know what the dilly is

[SLS]

Thanks man. I think that I want to have the truck capable of 24 tracks, in case the purpose of the truck expands as time goes on. Also, we are planning at this point to have it record to hard disk recorders, maybe MX2424 and ship medium to studio with pro-tools or whatever.

I am now considering doing this with a truck and trailer. Is there any reason why it may be better to build in a truck, motorcoach, etc. rather than a trailer? I am thinking that this would allow more flexibility, in that if there is a situation where only a small field setup is required, or where there is a particularly remote location, that the truck could go without the trailer bringing a separate configuration of gear.

[Steve Smith]

You are now touching on the crux of why this is a bit of a tricky field.. the hardest thing to solve is " what do I need/want to do"?, and it sounds like you are on your way there..

Definately go with at least 24 track capability, and don't forget returns.. ( headphone mixes, etc) Take a good hard look at the type of places you will need to get the rig, if we are talking backwoods barns and stuff, your chassis requirements will be very diffrent than doing mostly urban work..

does it need to be surround capable? and video requirements? Storage needs? Climate controls? Sleeper?

It can get a bit tricky to get actual design advise, but there are very reasonable options out there who do great work. PM me if you want a lead ( and no, it is not me )

[SLS]

Yeah, I think this is what is the trickiest at this point is finding a good medium ground for the different types of functions.

It won't be backwoods barns necessarily, but I'll want to keep options open, which is why the trailer idea appeals to me. Like I said earlier, it will be for documenting culture on many different levels, so it will probably be some urban and also more remote locations.

It won't need video incorporation or anything. I am now considering maybe a way to have a small booth area where there could be an interviewer and interviewee for a controlled atmosphere. I don't know how feasible this is, but its an interesting thought.

It would DEFINATELY need some kind of climate control ;-)
Probably no sleeper or anything.

Thanks!

[Remoteness]

Yeah, tricky is an understatement. A mobile facility that does it all is a difficult task to accomplish, but completely doable.

Did you mean "trailer" as is an RV style trailer that's pulled by a dually or a tractor / trailer set up, like the big rigs have? IMO, I don't think you need a tractor / trailer for documenting cultural events at any level.

Whether or not you're interfacing with video, you should at least consider a CCTV situation. It's nice to see what you're trying to capture. It's a very helpful tool for on location recording sessions.

A small isolated room can be a very nice touch. It has been done in varying degrees of sophistication.

Climate control is essential, not only for the humans on board the rig, but for the equipment.

[SLS]

I definately would not want a tractor trailer size setup. I'm thinking more of a Ford F series size or something pulling a moderate sized trailer, big enough to fit what I've mentioned. Seems to me that it would be more efficient....?

[cajonezzz]

What we've done (there's no pic to post as yet) Is to shock mount the gear in rolling cases.

We use a stock 14 ft box built on a van body. Added anchor points to the walls for securing the gear.

Built removeable wall treatment (703 rigid fibreglass panels wraped with nice material)

150 ft of snake to seperate split rack. 5 mixes. video feed to stage.

Rack one: Mic pre's
Rack two: Da 98's (4)
Rack three: compressors and various other stuff (balanced power, UPS,masterlink, )
Rack four (optional) My mobile PT rig for doing edits in the field ( if we're doing a location "album" and not just documenting a live show for later mix.
Yamaha 02r for monitoring.
Mackie 824's

This congiguration can easily be rolled into a venue if needed.
Next step is to build doors for cable pass through and some storage boxes for cable /stands etc.

We've done it this way 'cause the truck is also used to haul PA gear more often than not.


BTW, My partner in the truck venture is back up and (so far) cancer free...It's been 6 months, yanked a kidney, and tons of chemo. But thank god he's still with us. We start taking remote gigs again next month.

[cajonezzz]

Oh yeah...if the biz takes off, we've got our eye on a tractor/built in rv/toy box rig. 100k +


climate control is a huge issue right now even though we're in So.Cal


A guys gotta dream right?

[Remoteness]

Craig,

It's great to hear your partner is doing well.

All the best to you and yours!

[Steve Smith]

Great news about your partner, give him our best..

AdamOne,

Are you still thinking remote truck, or studio? I saw the other thread and was wondering.. if it is both, sounds like a great client to have!

[SLS]

Yep, its both. And yes, it is a great client to have .If all this goes through, we will be doing some very cool projects (not just the cultural documentary stuff)!

My fingers are crossed that all this is seen through to its fullest potential. If it is, you will probably see me a lot more on this forum