Installation Cable for Long Mic Cables?

[gareth.h.rees]

I'm sure I've read about this before but searches didn't bring much up...

What do you guys think of this cable for long runs? Its a 100 meter roll that I'd cut in to either 2*50 meter or 4*25 meter.

Cheers!
Gareth

[bishopthomas]

With a name like that it's gotta kick ass!

[gareth.h.rees]

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

With a name like that it's gotta kick ass!

Heh indeed!

Don't know if you have Van Damme in the states? Its one of the more expensive brands here, along with Sommer and Klotz.

I'm just concerned that its a bit thin? Can't be too bad though. I don't expect I'll be using it all that much in places with hundreds of strobe lights and whatnot.

Cheers guys
Gareth

[Jim vanBergen]

Not familiar with this brand, do you have specs for it, like most Gepco installation specific cables do? It's all about diameter, loss over distance, capacitance, impedance, and frequency response. Barring that, solder a connector on each end and listen to the cable- does it just sound good, compared to others? I've been surprised at what you hear from an A/B cable comparison, both in electronic and acoustic comparisons.

Hope this helps.

[mixedupsteve]

It just says 1 pair. Is it shielded??

[LX3]

Hey there Gareth

I'm not that familiar with the Van Damme range (it's really common here in the UK, but I tend to find it overpriced... unless you know somewhere that you can get it cheap?) but usually, when something is termed "installation" cable, that says to me that it's not very flexible or easy to coil, or get on and off a drum. i.e. you "install" it - route it around a venue, then never take it up again.

Often has some variety of foil screen, and occasionally is designed to actually keep a bend so that you can run it around corners and it stays vaguely in place.

It's easy to catch yourself buying 100m of a seemingly cheap cable and then find that you never use it because it either tangles too easily (e.g. "patch cable" for bantam plugs) or is difficult to coil up. You will then end up buying the more expensive cable afterwards! So the whole exercise ends up more, not less expensive.

Can you tell I've done that a few times?

For long cables I like Sommer Syntax - small diameter, tough jacket, easy to haul back onto a reel without catching on things.... but it's also really expensive.

Other than that, just your favourite 6.35mm mic cable on a reel will do (and it's half the price). Preferably one with a decent cotton filler so it has a good degree of bounce-back.

Or that particular Van Damme stuff might be great. I always try to get some in my hands before deciding.

[LX3]

Is this the stuff?

http://www.vdctrading.com/docs/14.pdf

If so, I doubt that's it's really suitable for mic cables. It'll probably drive you nuts.

Great for point-to-point wiring within racks though.

[gareth.h.rees]

I'm not sure if thats the one Paul, I do know its this though:

VAN DAMME|268-001C|VANDAMME 1 PAIR BLACK | CPC

I know someone who's selling a 100 meter roll off for reasonably cheap.

Hmm yeah may be more hassle than its worth?

Cheers!
Gareth

[LX3]

No, as I suspected, that stuff isn't appropriate for use as a mic cable. It'll work, but you won't be able to coil it up or keep it flat on the floor.

(All this info is on the Van Damme website of course...)

Maybe your friend made the same mistake and is trying to off-load it? tutt