Color Coding Cables

[henryrobinett]

I used to have a standard for color coding, as in a snake 1-8, red, black, etc.. But I stopped doing that and I can't remember what I used. It turned out I discovered that it seemed to be pretty standardized in that I met a lot of other people who used the same system, but I don't recall where I got it from. I there a set standard order of color coding for cables 1-8?

I'm making snakes for a couple of remote rigs and want it to be instantly understandable at a glance.

[Sigma]

not that i know of but i used to gank all the diff colored cables from the equipment closet when i was an assitant setting up drums..it was easier to track stuff down that way..

smooth move dude..anyting that makes stuff idiot proff is great in my book..i gotta deal with my brain dead self

if you write the names of the cables on the channel strip in the same color scheme you can call out that to an assitant ans say check the blue cable on the drum kit and make sure it's on snare bottom etc etc

[DSD_Mastering]

I think about the only smart thing that Digi does is write in LARGE letters the Channel # and IN/OUT on it's cables. I wish that more would follow their lead.
I just got some Mogami Gold with a small gold #. Can't tell if it's a 5, 6 or 8 geezzz....

Regards,
Bruce

[henryrobinett]

Maybe it's just something around these parts. I think it was, from channels 1-8, red, white, black, yellow, grey, orange, green and blue.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Maybe it's just something around these parts. I think it was, from channels 1-8, red, white, black, yellow, grey, orange, green and blue.

A tech round these parts uses the resistor color code for sequencing snakes. I'm guessing that's more than a Minnesota thing. I think 1 mfg does something different than most. Can't remember if it's Hosa or Pro Co

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

.
I just got some Mogami Gold with a small gold #. Can't tell if it's a 5, 6 or 8 geezzz....

Regards,
Bruce

Yeah. Aren't those great for when you are digging behind a back rack, halfway down a trough, searching for that run of 8 XLRs that some intern forgot to label a few years ago? those number just SHINE by themselves </sarcasm>

[BLP]

Typically snakes follow the resistor color code. It is as follows:

1 - brown
2 - red
3 - orange
4 - yellow
5 - green
6 - blue
7 - purple
8 - grey
9 - white
10 - black
(after 10 things vary a bit more by manufacturer)
11 - grey/brown stripe
12 - grey/pink stripe
13 - grey/orange stripe
14 - grey/yellow stripe
15 - grey/green stripe
16 - grey/blue stripe

That's the basic code that I encounter typically...

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Maybe it's just something around these parts. I think it was, from channels 1-8, red, white, black, yellow, grey, orange, green and blue.

There's a few Hosa snakes floating around here. The guys do them 1-8, alphabitically. black, blue, green, grey, orange, red, white, & yeller. Of course, there's always an argument over how to spell grey/gray..

[vespiz]

I got a really great "memory-code" for the colours that I got while interning at a studio. It follows the resistor colour-code.
But it only makes sense to finns...

(For you finns out there: RuPu-OrKesteri ViSioi LiHaVan Mummon)

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by drmmrboy

There's a few Hosa snakes floating around here. The guys do them 1-8, alphabitically. black, blue, green, grey, orange, red, white, & yeller. Of course, there's always an argument over how to spell grey/gray..

Yeah! Then I realized it's probably a HOSA thing -- those colors came from those Hosa cables.

Interesting. I don't know who decided to do them in "my" order. I don't know what sense it makes. The two studios I partnered with used the scheme I mentioned. I like the alphabetical version, in that it makes sense. But I'm remembering my version, so I'll probably stick with the less logical sequence -- unless there's a universal order for those colors.

Thanks guys! I'm learning something!

[ahjteam]

I usually sort them out dark -> light. black, blue, green, red, orange, yellow, gray, white

[dannygold]

My snakes are color coded like the Hosa. Hell some might even BE hosas. Is that bad to admit on gear slutz?

I do it like this:

RED WHITE BLUE (god bless america)

ORANGE (like red) GRAY (like white) GREEN (like blue) GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Then yellow/black (GOD BLESS WHATEVER COUNTRY USES THOSE COLORS?)

[Dan]

Bad Black
Boys Brown
Rape Red
Our Orange
Young Yellow
Girls Green
But Blue
Violent Violet
Give Gray/Grey
Willingly White


It's terrible, I know. but for some weird reason it stuck.

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by dannygold

My snakes are color coded like the Hosa. Hell some might even BE hosas. Is that bad to admit on gear slutz?

I do it like this:

RED WHITE BLUE (god bless america)

ORANGE (like red) GRAY (like white) GREEN (like blue) GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Then yellow/black (GOD BLESS WHATEVER COUNTRY USES THOSE COLORS?)

LOL!

[BudgetMC]

I color-code my cables with colored electrical tape.

I've been giving thought to labeling them with names as an alternative. One could be Bob, one Cletus, one Sally. Then, when one crapped out I could say. "Oh, MAN... Bob just died.

Or, when hooking things up, I could say to my assistant:

"You take Sally, and I'll take Sue... there ain't no difference between the two."

Not that he would get the reference. But I'd still think it was funny.

[henryrobinett]

I guess I thought ethnically - Red, because there were the first Americans, white, black and asian, the grey (for the aliens) , then I just remembered orange, green and Blue.

I know. Makes no sense.

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

I color-code my cables with colored electrical tape.

I've been giving thought to labeling them with names as an alternative. One could be Bob, one Cletus, one Sally. Then, when one crapped out I could say. "Oh, MAN... Bob just died.

Or, when hooking things up, I could say to my assistant:

"You take Sally, and I'll take Sue... there ain't no difference between the two."

Not that he would get the reference. But I'd still think it was funny.

I started doing that. But stopped halfway.

I have all my cables, on my snakes, numbered and named for what they most commonly are used for -- 1-Kick, 2-Snare, etc. But I think I'll also throw strips of color coding on them as well. Doing remotes sometimes it's a pain trying to read those P-Touch Labels.

[manthe]

Once I started buying ProCo snakes, I had to stop. Great quality, but all white cable and gold connectors

Luckily, some of them are numbered, but I like being able to see from a distance what is what. Turns out my own 'personal' code was not that far off from the resistor match method...preeety cool! I guess we native Floridians aren't that stupid after all

How ya been, Henry?

[colinmiller]

I go in alphabetical order of color name simply because I am not required to memorize anything. If I ever forget, I just have to alphabetize. However I know some people like to use the Military color coding. I don't use it simply because I would keep forgetting. But there is a military color coding order/standard for cabling.

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Yeah! Then I realized it's probably a HOSA thing -- those colors came from those Hosa cables.

I noticed the colors you mentioned were the standard hosa type thing. You didn't mention purple, silver, etc.. So, I thopught I'd throw it out there.

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Maybe it's just something around these parts. I think it was, from channels 1-8, red, white, black, yellow, grey, orange, green and blue.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by Dan

Bad Black
Boys Brown
Rape Red
Our Orange
Young Yellow
Girls Green
But Blue
Violent Violet
Give Gray/Grey
Willingly White


It's terrible, I know. but for some weird reason it stuck.

OMFG! Flashback to my rock n roll school days. I think my teacher used virgins instead of violent.

[DSD_Mastering]

Originally Posted by daryllh

OMFG! Flashback to my rock n roll school days. I think my teacher used virgins instead of violent.

Yeah, now that's going to be studk in my head the rest of my life. I think it just replaced the Gilligan's Island Theme Song that was archived back there!

[WTMNMF]

Originally Posted by Dan

Bad Black
Boys Brown
Rape Red
Our Orange
Young Yellow
Girls Green
But Blue
Violent Violet
Give Gray/Grey
Willingly White


It's terrible, I know. but for some weird reason it stuck.

Violet Gives Willingly!

[Robobo1]

Why not start the sequence with ROY G BIV? Indigo would be hard...

[Fishmed]

Originally Posted by drmmrboy

My Method of Madness for these cables are:
1 = Black
2 = Gray
3 = White
4 = Red
5 = Orange
6 = Yellow
7 = Green
8 = Blue

I start with the non-colors dark to light; then the colors. I start with red to pair it up with the white since they are usually together in other cables. Then I go around the color wheel.

Sick way to do it, but it keeps me consistant.

[henryrobinett]

I like that one. I might change.

[daryllh]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

I like that one. I might change.

Don't fear change Henry...come with us.

[Gravity]

Originally Posted by daryllh

OMFG! Flashback to my rock n roll school days. I think my teacher used virgins instead of violent.

Resistor colour code is how I've always seen it done.

We used to mark all our AC cables for length in the theatres I worked in back in the day. Striped colour for each number.

Worked wonderfully.


LOVE the rhyme!

j

[blondmix]

I do it by the colors of the rainbow, followed by the primaries dark to light, so on the Hosa snake, it goes
1. Red
2. Orange
3. Yellow
4. Green
5. Blue
6. Black
7. Grey
8. White

[Dan]

Originally Posted by WTMNMF

Violet Gives Willingly!

You know, that makes more sense, but I swear that's what the old Navy guy taught me. I found it kind of striking, because it didn't make any sense, but still seemed perverse. Maybe I mis-heard him.

When working with those Hosa cables, I sometimes fell into using RGBYC(Orange)WGB; some sort of bastardized video formula.