how do you keep all your wires organized?

[A DJ]

i dont even have that much gear, just a mbox, turntables, laptop. But still there's just so many cables they always get messy when I'm setting them up. I try to pull them and hide them away as much as possible, but they still get tangled and everything. I have velcro straps and plastic ties but they dont help, I havent figured out how to use them.

[tsvisser]

Originally Posted by A DJ

i dont even have that much gear, just a mbox, turntables, laptop. But still there's just so many cables they always get messy when I'm setting them up. I try to pull them and hide them away as much as possible, but they still get tangled and everything. I have velcro straps and plastic ties but they dont help, I havent figured out how to use them.

First thing to do is consider getting multi-channel snakes where it is feasible. Even if it is for stereo interconnects, having a single overall jacket versus a pair of cables will help as your cable count accumulates. For storage, it helps to get some heavy duty transparent vinyl bags to store cables... it is much easier to stow and pull out when they are individually bagged. The Apogee cables I typically buy happen to come with such a bag (and are purple, so it is easy for me to identify which cables are mine when working with others). Consider going onto the Redco.com site to design some snake cables with exactly the connectors you need on each side. They are a pretty great value and will surely tidy things up nicely.

[tonydelite]

I don't focus too much on wire management because i'm always moving things around... but have you considered wire loom?

[samwinston123]

Zip ties...

...and more zip ties.

[Dean Roddey]

I do it by recognizing that within chaos lies order.

[BudgetMC]

I name and label my cables. "Bob" gets plugged into the Pre here and the Mic there... "Lester" is connecting the board to the pre. Makes having somebody trace a wire more fun, too? "Where's the other end of Cletus?"

It does make it seem a bit more tragic when one goes bad, though... "Oh no... Shirley has a short!"

[JoeyM]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

I name and label my cables. "Bob" gets plugged into the Pre here and the Mic there... "Lester" is connecting the board to the pre. Makes having somebody trace a wire more fun, too? "Where's the other end of Cletus?"

It does make it seem a bit more tragic when one goes bad, though... "Oh no... Shirley has a short!"

That's great!

Someone here told me about these but I haven't gotten around to try them: Hair Ball - 1/4inch diameter twin ball - elastic band - # 3x series

[drastic]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

I name and label my cables. "Bob" gets plugged into the Pre here and the Mic there... "Lester" is connecting the board to the pre. Makes having somebody trace a wire more fun, too? "Where's the other end of Cletus?"

It does make it seem a bit more tragic when one goes bad, though... "Oh no... Shirley has a short!"

Hilarious.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by samwinston123

Zip ties...

...and more zip ties.

Git to have zip ties.....

[sahiaman]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

I name and label my cables. "Bob" gets plugged into the Pre here and the Mic there... "Lester" is connecting the board to the pre. Makes having somebody trace a wire more fun, too? "Where's the other end of Cletus?"

It does make it seem a bit more tragic when one goes bad, though... "Oh no... Shirley has a short!"

LOL. This is going in my sig....

[studiotime]

If you had an effects rack or PA equipment I would say snakes hands down. But from your post like you said, you don't have much gear so.....Zip ties. Just remember to group things logically so you don't find yourself cutting everything when you get to a gig.

[studiotime]

I forgot about these...we have some at work. It will cover them up too.

AudioSkin Cable Organizer - BananasMusic.com - new

[Lance Lawson]

I gave up on organized wires decades ago! I find that an organized mind can keep track of unorganized wires better than organized wires can keep track of an unorganized mind.

[jude]

Originally Posted by Lance Lawson

I gave up on organized wires decades ago! I find that an organized mind can keep track of unorganized wires better than organized wires can keep track of an unorganized mind.

perfect, i love it!

[Kyle S]

Originally Posted by JoeyM

That's great!

Someone here told me about these but I haven't gotten around to try them: Hair Ball - 1/4inch diameter twin ball - elastic band - # 3x series

i used to be a rep for delphi-packard and they had these cool rubber bands that resembled a sperm. Thus i named them 'sperm-bands' and though we used that term here at the MBUSI plant, i doubt youll hear anyone else call them by that name. They do look like a sperm though, they have a mushroom shape in the middle and the band hangs over that thing. They are made for big bunches of wires.

[rcb4t2]

I recently added DB25-TRS snakes and a patch bay to my rig - HUGE difference. Love it. The more permanent your cabling can be the more you can organize it. I still have a huge barrel of snakes behind my desk, though, despite my best efforts.

[Kapybara]

A rep from Cable Clamps gave me a free sample at a NAMM show a few years back. I was skeptical. Started using it and ended up buying a whole bunch and use them often. I keep a few clipped behind all my racks so they are always handy. They are useful for tons of different things (not just holding cables) and come in many different sizes. Great for quick temp setups, I'm always moving stuff around. I keep a few with my Sound Devices mobile rig as well. They are made pretty well and are reasonably strong.

I reach for wire cutters way less often now. Do yourself a favor and get one of their small assortment packs to try them out. No I don't work for them, just a happy customer.

Cable Tie Wraps Replaced by Patented New Clamp!

[Sk106]

ITB

[drBill]

#1 - use snakes whenever possible
#2 - impliment a well thought out patchbay
#3 - label all cables
#4 - lay out your gear logically
#5 - don't worry about it after doing 1-4

thumbsupthumbsup

[Left to starve]

I don't...
definitely should though

[Mr.HOLMES]

I gave up organizing my cables......