Cable Length

ektia · 22nd May 2008

I've never run a microphone cable more than 20 feet, and I'm curious whether running one up to 50 feet from a high-quality condenser microphone (tube or non-tube) into a high-quality preamp will be a problem. The cable will be a balanced Mogami with Neutrik XLR connectors. After what length does the signal start to degrade?

(For me, it's a choice between using a 20' cable length in a mediocre room or running a 40' cable into a much better room. Is this a no-brainer in favor of the better room?)

Nu-tra · 22nd May 2008

nah you can go way further without signal loss.

Led · 22nd May 2008

If you can, have a short cable to the mic pre then run the long cable from the micpre output to the recorder. It's better to 'push' the signal over a long distance.

tINY · 22nd May 2008

For a condenser mic, 500 feet isn't too far. Some dynamics start sounding a little different at more than 300', but it's usually pretty subtle and nothing that a bit of HF shelving won't fix.

-tINY

22nd May 2008	#1
ektia Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 198 Thread Starter	Cable Length I've never run a microphone cable more than 20 feet, and I'm curious whether running one up to 50 feet from a high-quality condenser microphone (tube or non-tube) into a high-quality preamp will be a problem. The cable will be a balanced Mogami with Neutrik XLR connectors. After what length does the signal start to degrade? (For me, it's a choice between using a 20' cable length in a mediocre room or running a 40' cable into a much better room. Is this a no-brainer in favor of the better room?)

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22nd May 2008	#2
Nu-tra Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,305	nah you can go way further without signal loss.

22nd May 2008	#3
Led Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,728	If you can, have a short cable to the mic pre then run the long cable from the micpre output to the recorder. It's better to 'push' the signal over a long distance.

22nd May 2008	#4
tINY Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 10,234	For a condenser mic, 500 feet isn't too far. Some dynamics start sounding a little different at more than 300', but it's usually pretty subtle and nothing that a bit of HF shelving won't fix. -tINY