Those #$%& worthless piece o' @#$! patch cables.

[Ptron]

I'm completely fed up with with the crappy patch cables from hosa or peavy or whoever. Those color-coded multipack ones don't work fresh out of the package sometimes and I've had problems with the send/return Y cables also. But I sure don't need to pay fifteen bucks a pop for 1ft cables form Monster either. Not to mention that the color coding is invaluable if your rack, board, and patch bay get as messy as mine do. Where's the happy medium?

[Dom Franco]

Lately Iv'e been experimenting with cables...I have found that the ones I solder together with metal shielded ends are quieter than most store bought (plastic ended snakes).

I made up my own snake by using some of that split conduit (Black plastic tubing). It keeps the bundle together and looks cool too.

You can get the stuff at Ace Hardware and auto parts stores.

Dom Franco

[Dom Franco]

Lately Iv'e been experimenting with cables...I have found that the ones I solder together with metal shielded ends are quieter than most store bought (plastic ended snakes).

I made up my own snake by using some of that split conduit (Black plastic tubing). It keeps the bundle together and looks cool too.

You can get the stuff at Ace Hardware and auto parts stores.

Dom Franco

[Dom Franco]

Lately Iv'e been experimenting with cables...I have found that the ones I solder together with metal shielded ends are quieter than most store bought (plastic ended snakes).

I made up my own snake by using some of that split conduit (Black plastic tubing). It keeps the bundle together and looks cool too.

You can get the stuff at Ace Hardware and auto parts stores.

Dom Franco

[gibs]

Dom's post count is UP!.....gibs

[monty]

And so is Gib's. And whoa...looks like mine just went up too!

[nay]

Ptron, buy you some Neutrik connectors and some Starquad wire and solder it together yourself. You'll find that you can make much more than you can buy and they'll be more durable (depending on how well you solder) and sound better. AND THEY'RE CUSTOM MADE FOR YOUR SETUP! I took advice posted here and made my own and am much happier.
www.fullcompass.com for the wire and connectors.

[Ptron]

I considered making my own cables but I think I need to find some reliable color coded ones. The nightmare of spaghettied identical looking patch cables would be too much. I know I could put tape on the ends but it wouldn't be the same as being able to visually trace the cable. Maybe I'm just lazy.

[cetla]

you could always use different color cable. just an option.

[hixmix]

My HOSA's work fine. Not bad for disposable patch cables. Maybe you got a defective batch. Demand your money back.

[drstawl]

If the color coding deal is that important to you you could get some color coded mini zip ties and place one near each end. Color coded electrical tape wrapped near each end would serve the same purpose.
Yeah I recently had a set of Hosa's 1/4" to RCA go crackly on me. Very annoying.

[CJWalker]

I'm not very fond of HOSA..All I get is cracking and humming and whatnot...Thats when the signal does go through.

[Ptron]

I've recently spotted "American Cable Company" cables that come in 1' and 6' lengths, and 7 colors. At the very least, they have to be more reliable than hosas or peaveys. $4.49 apeice from a catalog. Fender makes some in 6 different clear colors, but are $2 per cable more. Who knows if they're actually better? I once saw 3' cloth braided cables in lots of different patterns, but I don't know who made them or where to get them. I use the 10' braided cables for my guitars. I've haven't had one go bad yet. (I've lost a couple though)

It's just nice when the whole cable is colored, so you can see where it goes at a glance. When recording 8 trcks @once while patching in fx and everything else my board/patchbay can turn into a horrible mess.

[tdukex]

L-4E6S, the premier Star Quad cable, can be ordered standard stock in nine different colors from Canare, according to their catalog. I think this is the cable RE used when he made his snake.

[Recording Engineer]

Yerp! Love-it! Will work great for making your own line-level patch cables. I use it for mic-level cables. For line-level patch cables, I use Mogami Bantam Patch Cords (http://www.mars-cam.com/cable/mogami/mogamp23.html).

Or you can use that 2 conductor EZ ID Series (http://www.mars-cam.com/cable/mogami/mogamip4.html) cable to make your own patch cables with Mogami cable. That's what I use for my line-level cables behind my patchbay. It's quite a bit more expensive than that Canare. That's why I say it will work; if you don't want to spend more than that.