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Cables
Started by Michael on 8 October 2008 - 11:25pm
| 8 October 2008 - 11:25pm | |
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Yes, I'm showing my true copmlete geeky nature by starting a topic about cables. Mic cables to be precise. OK so they're not exactly the most wonderfully interesting bits of kit in the world but they are fairly essential wherever mics are involved... Question being - what sort of quality do people go for? On one hand there's the argument that cables in churches aren't usually abused too much and in a lot of places they're just left in the same place for week in, week out so they don't need to stand up to tour grade abuse. So said argument inevitably leads to lots of cheap mic cables being bought. Personally I'm not too fussed about cable, but I do like decent connectors (Neutrik) because they don't come unsoldered by themselves and they stand up to being tripped over / trodden on / yanked etc. Any other preferences? |
I'm a big fan of Kelsey Accoustics cable - available from Fuzion PLC. Again all Neutrik connections and I have toured this stuff into the ground - and it's pretty reasonably priced, although you do have to buy it in multiples of 100m.
I used to use Van Damme cables back when I free-lanced with larger PA companies, but it seems most of these companies have a "replace it every other year" policy when it comes to cables, which isn't likely to be in most church's financial planning. I've noticed that Van Damme cables in my personal stock do seem to not tolerate being abused too much. They can become incredibly difficult to coil and seem to have a habbit of getting kinks in them over time - which is not something I've had any issue with with the Kelsey cables.
Guess this makes me a real audio nerd, I even have a preference for Mic Stands - Beyer Dynamic GST series all the way...
If you mic the kick drum, God will come.
I have a preference about stands too, though I have to say mine is K&M! All our mic cables at uni are van damme, they're a few years old now and they're not the nicest things to coil anymore but they still work very nicely and are kink free. I've just ordered / made up some mic cables with dirt cheap generic stuff, so I'll see how they go - all Neutrik connectors of course, and I do try to be nice to my cables so hopefully they'll survive at least a while!
Having spent the last 15 years trying to get by with cheap cables I'd say get the best you can afford.
Buying poor quality cables (or any gear for that matter, except maybe plectrums!) is a false economy. Good cables will last for many years and sound better.
Having tried a lot of brands I think Planet Waves are good value - you even get a cable tie and changeable colour-coded ends to avoid the all-too-common 'where's that cable coming from?' conundrum.
Neutrick and Van Damme - they just seem to last and coil nicely.
At least buy Livewire cables if they are available. They have good Neutrik connectors as well they are lifetime guarenteed. make sure whatever cable besides connector has good shielding. you dont want to step on it and hear your thump through the system. for most stage use i use the livewire cables.
I broke a neutick jack once. The sound guys didn't believe me! Nuff said!
Neutrik connectors and Klotz cable are my choice.
Van Damme with Neutrik connectors. Unbeatable and you dont have to go all out and get the armoured Black Tour Grade. Van Damme do all sorts of grades and to be honest If you register and purchase on their website, the prices are very competitive.
God Bless,
Steve