Need help choosing cables

K

Keyz316

New member
I know I could save money making my own... but I have a feeling I'd mess it up and waste time and money in the end (both of which I lack haha)... I have a project that needs to be done soon, and want to be "wired up" as quick as possible, though not breaking the bank.

So can you guys help me choose the appropriate cables for my small home studio setup?

My gear consists at the moment of:
- PC with an Echo Mia soundcard (balanced in/outs)
- Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro compact mixer
- Yorkville YSM1p active nearfield monitors
- Yamaha Motif 8 keyboard
- Furman PL-Plus line conditioner
- 1 pair of 1/4-to-1/4 6.6 ft Monster Studiolink 500 interconnect cables
- Will be adding a Mic (considering SM58, Studio Projects B1/C1, etc)

The rest of my cables are between "ok" and "lousy"... and I need to replace them with high quality but affordable cables. I've heard good things about Mogami, but I have no clue which specific cables to choose for the specific applications, or where best to buy them (premade). I know I will need balanced, because my mixer/gear is pretty far from my computer to minimize excess noise from the fans and whatnot (about 20 ft).

I'll need:
- Four balanced 20' (to/from soundcard)
- One XLR Mic cable (10-15')
- Two 6' (either for keyboard or monitors - the other would get the 6' Monster cables I have)
(all are 1/4" to 1/4" except the mic)

I'm hoping to keep those cable purchases within or around a budget of $200 if possible.

Thanks... your help is greatly appreciated! :)

-- Dave
 
Yo 316 Keyz:

Go for the Mogami cables -- good quality and are not out of sight price wise.

I also have and use ProCo cables; I must admit I splurged and bought one high-end cable for my synth and another for a mic.

But, to tell you the truth, the Mogami guys do just as well.

Green Hornet :D :p :D
 
Hi Green Hornet... thanks a ton for the reply! :D

Could you by chance help me pick the correct Mogami cables and suggest where to buy them? I searched in vain for over and hour last night with no luck (only a few sellers, and they don't seem to carry all of mogami's cables)... I even wrote to the sales address on mogami's site the other day, but got no reply.

Unless my thinking on how I'm supposed to wire this is all wrong, I believe I need those four 20-25' cables, and they need to be balanced and have 1/4" neutrik connectors on both ends... I see a picture of that on mogami's site but its next to what seems to be the wrong description....

So - hoping you can help with that if at all possible :)
Thanks a ton!

-- Dave
 
Check the online retailers like 8th Street and MF for the B.L.U.E. cables at about $25.00 for the lower end ones. I hear they're pretty good.
 
markertek.com

make them

markertek.com


you will save a hundred or so bucks.

mogami is like 26 cents a foot. maybe 33. i get the canare cables. also good.

neutrik connectors are $2.50 each...

or so...
 
ok my prices were off

just checked..

canare mic cable (the not quad version) is 33, 36 cents a foot

the neutrik connectors go from 1.80 or so each to 3.00 or so..

therefore a 20' cable could cost as low as $10 for a world class cable.
 
hi eeldip...

If I were to go that route, what is the exact type of cable to choose? i.e. when I search, I see many listed ... is it Mogami 2697 Console Audio Cable, or something else?

My little brother tells me our neighbor has a soldering iron we can probably borrow, but I've never personally touched one in my life, much less know how to use it hehe.... is there a "definitive guide" you can link me to that explains exactly how to do it? Also does one need to buy some special "solder" metal that's of better quality, or will whatever the neighbor has be fine?

BTW thanks green hornet - I got your message as well and will check that out too.

-- Dave
 
you will need a couple different cables

soldering cables is not too hard, you can get some ok solder from radio shack. you will need more than one type of cable.

anyway, i would give markertek a call, and tell them what you need, and they should help you out. that info you provided in your first post should be enough for them to go by.

the markertek website is a little confusing, i would avoid it. example: on the neutrik cable end page they have pictures of surface mount plugs.... confusing....

if you go to the neutrik website they have info on how to wire your cable up to their connectors...

anyway, this is going to take a bit of work, but it is completely worth it! you will save $100s of dollars, and can put that money to something more interesting than cable! i wish i started making cable earlier. i cant believe that i wasted all that money!
 
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