Patchbay cabling: will it compromise my signal?

magibatalla · 7th February 2009

I feel the need of a patchbay, mostly because I want to start using my outboard when mixing ITB (as hardware inserts or bouncing each track) and I don't want it to mess with my workflow.

I'm making my numbers and going the high end route (my hardware IS high end) makes me think I rather spend in more gear and keep doing those tedious connections without a patch.

I checked cheaper options I could afford without feeling bad (going mogami/neutrik is 4 times the price) but then I'm worried about signal integrity.

So the question is: Would you hook high end gear using these cables?

THE SSSNAKE MXP 8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español
THE SSSNAKE FXP 8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español
THE SSSNAKE SPP8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español
THE SSSNAKE SK369S-06 PATCH - Thomann Cyberstore Español

If your answer is "no, I wouldn't", what can you suggest? Thanx!

cavern · 7th February 2009

i don't like the looks of most of those.
you spent a ton of money on hi end boxes from what i can see there in your list.
don't stop now, at least get mogami.

roadsweeper · 7th February 2009

I would suggest knocking the cables up yourself. It can be time consuming but worthwhile in the end. I had to build over 100 cables for our patchbays, but in the end I know that if something goes wrong it is my fault. Don't know how many cables you have to make in total, but I'd suggest getting a reel of high quality cable (I use Van Damme) and some decent connectors and spend a few days soldering. It may overall cost a little more than you have planned but you will have top quality cables at a much cheaper cost than buying them new.

magibatalla · 7th February 2009

Thanx for your input, guys.
Those cables don't look nice to me either.
I had overlooked the DIY route, I'm going to check that.

ambiguity · 7th February 2009

I've actually used those snakes setting up a small patchbay once, and I wouldn't recommend them. They work, but there were a lot of questionable "ghost" issues. The only reason they were used was they were literally half or a third of price of anything I could find.

I'd recommend the DIY route as well. Redco and Canare have awesome stuff, cheaper than Mogami. It wouldn't be as cheap as 20 euros for a snake, but it wouldn't break the bank either.

Good luck.

huarez · 7th February 2009

I heard a significant difference using high quality or cheap cabling. Did sound like my speakers increased in Quality. You buy them once and they need no or only low maintenace.

JalenRawley · 7th February 2009

Another advocate of the DIY route here.

I bought a bunch of high quality cable, some mid-grade cabling, and enough various ends instead of going out and buying them from stores. I easily spent about 10% of what I would have paid and everything was custom to what I needed it for.

I didn't want to solder a damn thing for over a year afterwards, but it was worth it.

Oh, and if you do this, get a -GOOD- soldering gun. Early on in my little project my simple little cheapo soldering gun that always worked fine for what I needed it for just up and died one day. I found a good deal on a nice one with a digital temperature control and all these bells and whistles, and it made things much less frustrating and annoying. And you can easily justify the cost, because even if you spent up to $200 on a soldering gun/table, you are still saving -way- more than that by not buying cables from a store.

echoclerk · 2nd June 2009

I just bougth a bunch of very similar lookign cables. I'm sure they will be fine.

Personally I have better things to do than sit around soldering up patchbay cables. Like actually 'using the gear' i'm patching.

7th February 2009	#1
magibatalla Gear addict Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Barcelona, Spain Posts: 304 Thread Starter	Patchbay cabling: will it compromise my signal? I feel the need of a patchbay, mostly because I want to start using my outboard when mixing ITB (as hardware inserts or bouncing each track) and I don't want it to mess with my workflow. I'm making my numbers and going the high end route (my hardware IS high end) makes me think I rather spend in more gear and keep doing those tedious connections without a patch. I checked cheaper options I could afford without feeling bad (going mogami/neutrik is 4 times the price) but then I'm worried about signal integrity. So the question is: Would you hook high end gear using these cables? THE SSSNAKE MXP 8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español THE SSSNAKE FXP 8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español THE SSSNAKE SPP8030 - Thomann Cyberstore Español THE SSSNAKE SK369S-06 PATCH - Thomann Cyberstore Español If your answer is "no, I wouldn't", what can you suggest? Thanx! __________________ Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not after you

7th February 2009	#5
ambiguity Lives for noise Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,023	I've actually used those snakes setting up a small patchbay once, and I wouldn't recommend them. They work, but there were a lot of questionable "ghost" issues. The only reason they were used was they were literally half or a third of price of anything I could find. I'd recommend the DIY route as well. Redco and Canare have awesome stuff, cheaper than Mogami. It wouldn't be as cheap as 20 euros for a snake, but it wouldn't break the bank either. Good luck. __________________ A friend with weed is a friend indeed.

2nd June 2009	#8
echoclerk Gear addict Joined: Feb 2009 Location: London UK Posts: 404	Buy the Cheap stuff I just bougth a bunch of very similar lookign cables. I'm sure they will be fine. Personally I have better things to do than sit around soldering up patchbay cables. Like actually 'using the gear' i'm patching. __________________ Ech0o.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How does splitting a signal in a patchbay affect the signal?	heavi5ide	So much gear, so little time!	0	29th February 2008 09:17 PM
Stupid patchbay cabling question	exfakto	So much gear, so little time!	1	28th April 2006 02:33 PM

7th February 2009	#2
cavern Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Slightly northwest under of the big dipper in august Posts: 1,900	i don't like the looks of most of those. you spent a ton of money on hi end boxes from what i can see there in your list. don't stop now, at least get mogami.

7th February 2009	#3
roadsweeper Gear addict Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 421	I would suggest knocking the cables up yourself. It can be time consuming but worthwhile in the end. I had to build over 100 cables for our patchbays, but in the end I know that if something goes wrong it is my fault. Don't know how many cables you have to make in total, but I'd suggest getting a reel of high quality cable (I use Van Damme) and some decent connectors and spend a few days soldering. It may overall cost a little more than you have planned but you will have top quality cables at a much cheaper cost than buying them new.

7th February 2009	#6
huarez Gear addict Joined: Dec 2005 Location: EUROPE Posts: 358	I heard a significant difference using high quality or cheap cabling. Did sound like my speakers increased in Quality. You buy them once and they need no or only low maintenace.

7th February 2009	#7
JalenRawley Gear nut Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 94	Another advocate of the DIY route here. I bought a bunch of high quality cable, some mid-grade cabling, and enough various ends instead of going out and buying them from stores. I easily spent about 10% of what I would have paid and everything was custom to what I needed it for. I didn't want to solder a damn thing for over a year afterwards, but it was worth it. Oh, and if you do this, get a -GOOD- soldering gun. Early on in my little project my simple little cheapo soldering gun that always worked fine for what I needed it for just up and died one day. I found a good deal on a nice one with a digital temperature control and all these bells and whistles, and it made things much less frustrating and annoying. And you can easily justify the cost, because even if you spent up to $200 on a soldering gun/table, you are still saving -way- more than that by not buying cables from a store.