Where do you buy your cables from? Ebay stores?

angopop · 8th June 2005, 02:47 AM

There are a couple of guys selling patch cables on ebay -- JJ patch cables (JustinJoni), HotWired (ProAudioCables), CIA 4AV, etc...some of them make their cables as well.

Has anyone used these guys? They all seem to have good feedback, and they all have ebay stores.

I'm buying my first nice mic pre, so I want to upgrade my cables as well (XLR, TRS), so any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Arthur

seawell · 8th June 2005, 03:10 AM

I get all of my cables from Redco. www.redco.com

Jonathan Starr · 8th June 2005, 11:35 AM

I've bought froom Hotwired and their Mogami XLR cables are excellent.

I'm about to order custom snakes from Redco for my new vocal & drum rooms. They were recommended to me by the guy who makes fantastic custom instrument cables (also speaker & XLR & whatever) Pete Brunelli. Even my worst onstage bass antics have not been able to harm any of Pete's cables, and they are reasonable.

bradb · 8th June 2005, 01:47 PM

i buy all the MATERIALS to make cables from Markertek. no complaints.

you'll save a GREAT deal of money if you make your own cables. If you need a recommendation.. Canare for mics (braided shield is tougher), Mogami for patch and Neutrik on everything. Switchcraft is difficult to work with compared to neutrik.

angopop · 8th June 2005, 05:37 PM

Thanks, I'll check those out.

I need to go into balanced 1/4" for some connections, would you recommend I get an adaptor to put at the end of an XLR cable or get an XLR to TRS cable?

Anyone notice any difference between Hotwired's (or anyone else's) gold and silver XLR cables?

Are XLR mic cables any different than XLR patch cables?

-A

max cooper · 8th June 2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradb

i buy all the MATERIALS to make cables from Markertek. no complaints.

you'll save a GREAT deal of money if you make your own cables. If you need a recommendation.. Canare for mics (braided shield is tougher), Mogami for patch and Neutrik on everything. Switchcraft is difficult to work with compared to neutrik.

The other bonus about making one's own cables is that if you stock a reasonable array of connectors and enough cable, you'll never be without that specific cable you might need at any time (this goes for MIDI cables too!)

bradb · 8th June 2005, 06:21 PM

I'd avoid the adaptors as you loose the protection of the shield in that transition.

electrically mic cables aren't different than patch cables, its just application.

Mic cables need to be tougher, because they're out and about, being stepped on. And they need to be electrically more robust, because they are transmitting smaller signals, you want preserve a high SNR here. I think Canare is good for mic cables, because the braided shield gives strength and if the cable is pinched, the shield won't open up and ruin your faraday cage (the shield) allowing EMI in. Canare also comes in different colors (all my mic cables are grey now) which helps stop loss/theft.

Patch cables can be less robust because they're transmitting higher level signals and aren't being stepped on. I go with Mogami for this, why.. i don't really know...industry standard and it doesn't matter so much??

did i already mention staying away from switchcraft?

I'd STRONGLY suggest making your own cables.... you really save.

Looking back at my markertek purchases, I think I've spent about $300.

I've made:

11 20' mic cables
1 40' mic cable
1 20' guitar cable (canare)
6 3' patch cables XLR
6 4' patch cables

and I have a bunch of wire and plugs left over for little projects, etc. its all mogami, canare and neutrik..

rbaker · 8th June 2005, 07:59 PM

I just received some cables I ordered from hotwired. They are VERY nice quality cables and in the short time I have used them they sound like they should. The company itself was very helpful and easy to deal with. They have many colors, not just the black ones on their ebay auctions which I was stoked on because I have two lines from my vocal booth and I picked different colors so that I can tell which is which.

absolutkj · 8th June 2005, 08:37 PM

do you mean the canare L-2T2S 2-Conductor mic cable, or another model? I need to start making my own cables because I don't want to spead about $50 on 25' of cable anymore.

angopop · 8th June 2005, 08:38 PM

I have a Digi 002, which has XLR and 1/4" TRS on inputs 1-4, and 1/4" TRS only on 5 -8.

Channels 1 - 4 are set up as Mic Pres with the XLR inputs.

Does this mean that with an external Mic Pre right before the Digi 002 in the chain, should I plug in to the 1/4" TRS inputs? If I go into the Digi XLR inputs, aren't I going from my external mic pre into a second (and possibly inferior) mic pre?

Hmmm....this makes a difference in what kind and how many cables I will need.

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8th June 2005, 02:47 AM	#1
angopop Gear interested Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 24	Where do you buy your cables from? Ebay stores? There are a couple of guys selling patch cables on ebay -- JJ patch cables (JustinJoni), HotWired (ProAudioCables), CIA 4AV, etc...some of them make their cables as well. Has anyone used these guys? They all seem to have good feedback, and they all have ebay stores. I'm buying my first nice mic pre, so I want to upgrade my cables as well (XLR, TRS), so any suggestions are welcome. Thanks, Arthur

8th June 2005, 11:35 AM	#3
Jonathan Starr Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wailuku, Maui, Hi Posts: 755	I've bought froom Hotwired and their Mogami XLR cables are excellent. I'm about to order custom snakes from Redco for my new vocal & drum rooms. They were recommended to me by the guy who makes fantastic custom instrument cables (also speaker & XLR & whatever) Pete Brunelli. Even my worst onstage bass antics have not been able to harm any of Pete's cables, and they are reasonable. __________________ Aloha, Jonathan Starr Big Gorilla Sound Twixt reef & jungle Wailuku, Maui

8th June 2005, 08:37 PM	#9
absolutkj Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 82	canare cable do you mean the canare L-2T2S 2-Conductor mic cable, or another model? I need to start making my own cables because I don't want to spead about $50 on 25' of cable anymore.

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8th June 2005, 03:10 AM	#2
seawell Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brown Summit, NC, USA Posts: 334	I get all of my cables from Redco. www.redco.com

8th June 2005, 01:47 PM	#4
bradb Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 229	i buy all the MATERIALS to make cables from Markertek. no complaints. you'll save a GREAT deal of money if you make your own cables. If you need a recommendation.. Canare for mics (braided shield is tougher), Mogami for patch and Neutrik on everything. Switchcraft is difficult to work with compared to neutrik.

8th June 2005, 05:37 PM	#5
angopop Gear interested Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 24	Thanks, I'll check those out. I need to go into balanced 1/4" for some connections, would you recommend I get an adaptor to put at the end of an XLR cable or get an XLR to TRS cable? Anyone notice any difference between Hotwired's (or anyone else's) gold and silver XLR cables? Are XLR mic cables any different than XLR patch cables? -A

8th June 2005, 06:21 PM	#7
bradb Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 229	I'd avoid the adaptors as you loose the protection of the shield in that transition. electrically mic cables aren't different than patch cables, its just application. Mic cables need to be tougher, because they're out and about, being stepped on. And they need to be electrically more robust, because they are transmitting smaller signals, you want preserve a high SNR here. I think Canare is good for mic cables, because the braided shield gives strength and if the cable is pinched, the shield won't open up and ruin your faraday cage (the shield) allowing EMI in. Canare also comes in different colors (all my mic cables are grey now) which helps stop loss/theft. Patch cables can be less robust because they're transmitting higher level signals and aren't being stepped on. I go with Mogami for this, why.. i don't really know...industry standard and it doesn't matter so much?? did i already mention staying away from switchcraft? I'd STRONGLY suggest making your own cables.... you really save. Looking back at my markertek purchases, I think I've spent about $300. I've made: 11 20' mic cables 1 40' mic cable 1 20' guitar cable (canare) 6 3' patch cables XLR 6 4' patch cables and I have a bunch of wire and plugs left over for little projects, etc. its all mogami, canare and neutrik..

8th June 2005, 07:59 PM	#8
rbaker Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pasadena, Ca Posts: 23	I just received some cables I ordered from hotwired. They are VERY nice quality cables and in the short time I have used them they sound like they should. The company itself was very helpful and easy to deal with. They have many colors, not just the black ones on their ebay auctions which I was stoked on because I have two lines from my vocal booth and I picked different colors so that I can tell which is which.

8th June 2005, 08:38 PM	#10
angopop Gear interested Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 24	I have a Digi 002, which has XLR and 1/4" TRS on inputs 1-4, and 1/4" TRS only on 5 -8. Channels 1 - 4 are set up as Mic Pres with the XLR inputs. Does this mean that with an external Mic Pre right before the Digi 002 in the chain, should I plug in to the 1/4" TRS inputs? If I go into the Digi XLR inputs, aren't I going from my external mic pre into a second (and possibly inferior) mic pre? Hmmm....this makes a difference in what kind and how many cables I will need.