How do you keep your cables & plugs organized on the road?

[Remoteness]

And yet another cable strike picture...



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[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

The colored boot is a nice idea too.

The only potential hitch with this is that some folks use coloured boots to differentiate cables that have been wired in a non-standard fashion, ie red for reversed +/- or yellow for pseudo-balanced wires etc.

[Remoteness]

That may be true, but it should not stop anyone from using colored connector boots any way they please.

We normally use our own cables and adaptors, so we never run into the situation that you have described.

If we do need to borrow or use someone else's stuff, we always ask them first which kept us out of trouble in many ways.

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

The only potential hitch with this is that some folks use coloured boots to differentiate cables that have been wired in a non-standard fashion, ie red for reversed +/- or yellow for pseudo-balanced wires etc.

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

The only potential hitch with this is that some folks use coloured boots to differentiate cables that have been wired in a non-standard fashion, ie red for reversed +/- or yellow for pseudo-balanced wires etc.

Anything of mine that is wired that way gets a very clear label that even a non techie can understand. I also try to do most of that kind of stuff in an adapter. They're easier to find and tend to not get "lost" or misplaced in a pile of standard cables.

Originally Posted by David Rick

Does everyone here use Tupperware crates and similar? These things are murder if you're packing a space-limited vehicle. I have about a dozen canvas "over the shoulder" bags. These can be bought for a few dollars at places like Lands End, but I got most of mine as swag at vendor seminars and trade shows. Each bag gets a different kind of cable: there's a bag for 50' mic cables, one for 75 footers, two bags of shorter ones, a bag for XLR-TRS stuff, another for computer cables. They pack well in all the irregular nooks and crannies once my Subaru wagon is filled with racks and stands.

Here in Boulder county, we think coiling cables is a Zen thing.

Nothing beats a Subaru here in Boulder! I have a few canvas bags, including an LL Bean duffle bag that was a present from my uncle as left for my freshman year of college in 1980 that holds my splitter snake. It's finally reached its last legs, but I hear that LL Bean has a lifetime warranty on such things!

I go back on forth on these, though. When trying to move a lot of gear, I use one of those Rock and Roller carts and it gets pretty tricky trying to balance a bunch of soft bags on it. Boxes and crates tend to be more stable. However, none of my plastic boxes have outlasted the Bean bag!

Edwin

[Remoteness]

I'm with Edwin on this one...

Special adaptors or non standard wired cables get a clear label that explains what it actually is.
A color code will not help anyone that is not up to date with your system of operation.

Even seasoned professions can forget what a specific color may represent after some time away from the rig.

I also use adaptors to change phase and such, unless I need a special type of cable for a specific type of device.

[tsvisser]

There is simply not enough time for me to organize the cables to my standard on tear down. Therefore I do the bin method (actually use large duffle bags). What might help, is to get some sheets of plastic. after dumping cables in the bin / bag, lay a sheet of plastic down and create multiple layers of cables / plastic. This will help keep the cables from becoming bound when you go through them later to organize them the right way.

For your more expensive and delicate cables, I would recommend using something like this (you could make your own cheaper version with a drop cloth and duffle bag). I use this for my main recording snake and flying leads...

ARC'TERYX - Pali Rope Bag

It basically has a big flat rip stop sheet sewn to 1 side of the bag. When you open the bag, you roll out the sheet. At this point, you can just lay the cables flat, loosely organized on the sheet, and actually don't loop the cables tight - just big open loops. Then simply fold the sheet into the bag, which keeps the cables tidy so that you can unfold it the next time you need to use them, and they should be all set to go. The bag is not that big, but I use it now with a 75' 8 channel (Mogami) snake and has room to spare.

[Ozpeter]

The canvas bag I use for cables was originally for a Bickerton folding bicycle. The bike has long gone but the canvas bag appears indestructable!

[Big Ale]

hey guys this is something i don't even think about i normally take my time and pack up even if being rushed, but i do small gigs often not having to take much of my own stuff where could i get one of them reels as pictured above to reel up my XLR's i kinda like the idea of that

[Corran]

I've used reels on occasion but it always bugs me. You have to do each individual cable rather than two or three at a time. I often match my cables up in pairs or quads and wrap them together for quick access.

For me, the only thing necessary is a good assortment of velcro cable ties and a few extra minutes to ensure proper wraps. I used to chuck everything in the bag and deal with it later, but got tired of it.

[Big Ale]

where can i buy the reel device from ? anyone ?

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by Big Ale

where can i buy the reel device from ? anyone ?

They are available from Markertek and similar places. However, I would like to point out that the consensus here seems to be largely against these things. I don't like them because I don't think they treat the cables all that well compared to being well wrapped and velcro'ed.

Edwin

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Corran

I've used reels on occasion but it always bugs me. You have to do each individual cable rather than two or three at a time. I often match my cables up in pairs or quads and wrap them together for quick access.

For me, the only thing necessary is a good assortment of velcro cable ties and a few extra minutes to ensure proper wraps. I used to chuck everything in the bag and deal with it later, but got tired of it.

I'm with you on this one. except for the Velcro ties...

If anything, friction tape or a nice soft loop does us just fine at Aura-Sonic.

[Corran]

I will say that I regret the velcro when I'm setting up and the ensemble is rehearsing.

Nothing like half the ensemble turning to look when they hear "rrrrrrrip!"

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by Corran

...
Nothing like half the ensemble turning to look when they hear "rrrrrrrip!" ...

I get self conscious the same way with the gaffer tape, taping down wires... no matter how slow you go... and the way it will echo through the hall... *shudders at the memories*

[Remoteness]

I feel the same way when I hear a musician tweaking their instrument when I'm trying to set-up.

[Remoteness]

Here's a couple of pictures of our XLR work box and a close up of the new laser engraved XLR cables.

I used the original 1977 Aura-Sonic logo for this batch of cables.

Hey, like I said before, if these cables walk at least the folks that took them will know where they came from.

[Corran]

That's awesome! How much extra was it to do that, if you don't mind me asking??

[Remoteness]

It depends on how many you're getting at one time and how good of a mood the sales rep is...

Worst case scenario is one dollar USD per connector.

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

It depends on how many you're getting at one time and how good of a mood the sales rep is...

Worst case scenario is one dollar USD per connector.

Whirlwind, right? I wonder if you can send them a bunch of Neutriks for roll-your-owners like me. I like to terminate bulk Mogami cable myself to length.

[David Rick]

Originally Posted by BobSchwenkler

Hey David, what is that microphone configuration in your avatar?

It's a Trinnov SRP "horseshoe" bracket, populated with DPA 4006's. It's used for single-point surround recording. The decoding processor synthesizes a 5.0 panning law with much higher angular resolution than can be done using first-order cardioids.

Shameless plug: I'm not totally certain that mine is the only Trinnov/DPA rig in the US, but I do know it's pretty rare. I invite inquiries from interested remotesters.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording

[nathanvacha]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Here's a couple of pictures of our XLR work box and a close up of the new laser engraved XLR cables.

I used the original 1977 Aura-Sonic logo for this batch of cables.

Hey, like I said before, if these cables walk at least the folks that took them will know where they came from.

Okay, so where did you get those bins? They look like they fit exactly in a rack case.

Secondly, do you have a link for the engraved xlr's?

[Sonic Lush]

Originally Posted by David Rick

It's a Trinnov SRP "horseshoe" bracket, populated with DPA 4006's. It's used for single-point surround recording. The decoding processor synthesizes a 5.0 panning law with much higher angular resolution than can be done using first-order cardioids.

Shameless plug: I'm not totally certain that mine is the only Trinnov/DPA rig in the US, but I do know it's pretty rare. I invite inquiries from interested remotesters.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording

Hello David, I find that fascinating!
(and I still find surround recording and decoding up there with compression for the dark arts and dairy lore)


perhaps you'd start another thread where we could talk openly on topic about it?

happy new year.

Walter

[freestyle tromb]

Originally Posted by nathanvacha

Okay, so where did you get those bins? They look like they fit exactly in a rack case.

the bins and the case actually are both from a case company with a few different names... hybrid cases is the name we knew them by, but I guess they also go by long island cases, or something, and a few others. anyway, they were a good idea for cable storage, but the craftsmanship is definitely not top-notch...

the tubs themselves were just rubbermaids, though, so I suppose you could probably find them at target or wal mart or whatever.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

Whirlwind, right? I wonder if you can send them a bunch of Neutriks for roll-your-owners like me. I like to terminate bulk Mogami cable myself to length.

Originally Posted by nathanvacha

...Secondly, do you have a link for the engraved xlr's?

I sent you folks a PM about the laser engraving situation.

Originally Posted by freestyle tromb

the bins and the case actually are both from a case company with a few different names... hybrid cases is the name we knew them by, but I guess they also go by long island cases, or something, and a few others. anyway, they were a good idea for cable storage, but the craftsmanship is definitely not top-notch...

the tubs themselves were just rubbermaids, though, so I suppose you could probably find them at target or wal mart or whatever.

Yeah, Eric popped the rivet right on the head.

I really liked the plastic tub draw in a work box idea.
It's exactly what I was looking to use for TBM.
The Bread Mobile standard mic cable pack is 64 - 25', 12 - 50' and 6 - 100' XLRs.
We also have 4 - 12 channel sub snakes and 1 - 12 channel DrumDrop on board.
These 4 tub work boxes are perfect for what we're doing.
Many times we only need a few cables, so carrying in a couple of tubs works out perfectly.

I did business with a case company out of Holbrook, NY called Hybrid Cases aka Island Cases aka Roadie Cases and who knows what other names they're doing business under. You see them a lot on eBay.

Buy beware -- I was not very happy with their service or communication and the build quality was not what I was expecting for ATA approved cases.

I purchased four Tub Drawer Work Box cases, but two of them looked like they rushed the fabrication.
The rivets that held the cases together were not aligned properly.
One side had four rivets holding the metal angle; the other side had three.
Yet another angle had some rivets and holes for where the rivets should have gone.
The rivets left uninstalled because they didn't fit right.
IMO, a professional case builder would have replaced the poorly built piece rather than install the badly measured piece.

Everything about my transaction with that company was flawed from the order to the pick-up.

The cases that had the superficial problems are living on TBM since they will never be seen by the public for the most part.

The other clean cases are part of out portable rig and in use for gigs we are handling the transport on - I would not trust these puppies on the road on their own. ATA they are not, or I should say they are not the highest approved level of the ATA rules.

Don't get me started on the two additional mini work boxes I purchased as an adaptor boxes!!!
All I can say is I will never do business with those people again.
It's too bad I didn't ask around about them because every pro sound company I called on Long Island told me to avoid them.

In any event, the "tub drawer" concept is very cool - standard Rubbermaid tubs used as removable drawers in a work box road case is the way to go for us.

I want to build more of these style cases. Next time, I'm going to avoid Hybrid/Island/Roadie/eBayer deluxe and get them build via folks that I trust.

[djdunamis]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

An alternative emergency technique is to fold the cable in half (not of course with a tight fold) then in half again, etc, till the length is reasonable, then whip a cable tie or other securing device round the middle. It may take a little sorting out back at base but at least the cable will not have been twisted.

that's one way I do it, half the time. When I pull the ends together each time, I make sure I don't kink the middle. Then when its less than arms length, I tie a loose knot. One of the best ways to transport a cable without hurting it or using other holding devices.

Other half I wind them up and velcro them together.

I use over/under for like extension cords and sometimes use reels for those.

I put everything in rubbermaid tubs or carrying cases.

Connectors, Spare cable ends, adapters, etc.... have tackle boxes and those clear screw organizer boxes to put all those in.

Originally Posted by Remoteness

It's amazing how cables (and such) can grow legs and walk -- all in one day mind you.

I just replaced all my XLR cables for all my rigs with laser etched Aura-Sonic logos on all the XLR connectors.

That's about 328 cables in 25', 50', and 100' lengths.

At least now when someone steals my cables they will know where they got them from!!!

yep, experienced that too. We just used a label printer and put labels on the connector.