Truppenzwei
From Martin's Memorial
Thought I'd share this as I have just had to go through it again with some of the folks at our church - it's amazing the way some people coil cable.
http://stagecraft.theprices.net/gallery/cablewrap/
I will forward this useful instructional material to my roadie/wife straight away. She will learn.
I never thought I'd actually click on (let alone read) an online forum thread called "Cable coiling". And yet here I am. I must have nothing in my diary for today. ;)
I know that it sounds daft and isn't as cool as playing up front, but the tech side of things is as necessary and requires as much discipline, if not more than being up-front.
And incorrectly coiling cables costs a fair whack of both time and money.
I would like to go on record, for the world to see, that I officially hate cable mess! Cable mess is, in my opinion, at the core of everything evil and hateful in the world today.
Awards should be given for this forum topic!
And, Chris Babbie (video presenter) deserves a medal too... A: For keeping 70's rock hairstyles alive B: For trying to bring world peace by destroying cable mess.
I remember when I first learned this. I was told by the head sound guy to practice on my garden hose. Apparently, it's supposed to help you...
Little trick: When you connect the two xlr ends together, and if you did it correctly, you can hold the ends and toss the cable out. It should unravel all the way without any issues.
I wouldn't recommend connecting the two ends together!
I would.
Practicing on a garden hose?! I see the connection, but.... once you do it on a couple 30' cables you'll get it.
Never heard of the end to end trick... makes sense, I'm going to try it!
What a hero.
The guys at our church have learned to not touch a cable unless they've been shown how to do it properly. If they don't do it properly, they get shouted at very fast by me until they either (a) do it properly, or (b) don't touch the cables.
Proper cable coiling extends cable life, and reduces those awkward moments where you get elusive crackles, popping, or no sound in the PA system, and everyone in the band glares accusingly at the desk, not having realised that they themselves probably caused the problem by coiling a cable round their elbow the other week, killing the core.
Kevin... there is one method where you can do that, by forming a loop each side as you go around. The other way - probably more widely used - is where you just loop on the one side. You can't throw the cable out with the latter, as it will look like a stretched curly phone wire as it extends, if that makes sense. Both methods are fine though. I very rarely toss cables to uncoil them, so no bother.
Anyway... yes... learn how to do it properly. It'll save you time, money, and hopefully future problems.
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Ahh this brings back memories - I was shown that video years ago when I first learned that method. Definitely worth using especially with cheap cables, it really does make them last a lot longer than if they're tied round the elbow then in a tight knot then stamped on...