Speaker cable vs. guitar cable

[sarsipius]

I am recording my drums via 8 mics into a Mackie mixer then running the L/R output of the mixer into the L/R input of my sound card. (wish I had an 8 channel digital interface for the PC but I don't so this was my next best option)

I didn't have any speaker cables to run from the mixer to the sound card so I used 2 guitar cables. Is there anything special about speaker cable that would justify buying 2 of them as opposed to using guitar cables?

Second, is there an advantage of using the XLR output jack of the mixer as opposed to the 1/4 output jack when running the speaker cables?

Lastly, I tried a MIC XLR-1/4in cable on one output and noticed the level was siginificantly lower than when I used the guitar cable so I've seen that using a mic cable as an output line to the sound card is a bad idea. Not sure why, but it didn't work as well.

 

[Massive Master]

Yes, there is "something special" about speaker cable. But you're not doing any speaker runs -- It sounds like you're working with line level signals here.

An output that goes to an amplifier (whether it be a concert system or a set of PC speakers) is NOT a speaker-level signal.

The other issue sounds like you're mixing balanced and unbalanced signals somewhere...

Manuals, manuals, manuals...

 

[sarsipius]

So what your saying then is guitar cables will work just fine for this application?

I understand what you are saying. you are correct, these are not signals that are running though any pre-amp out side the mixer. Directly from the mixer to the sound board so they line level signals ( I guess).

As I understand it, the guitar cables are unballanced where as if I used balanced XLR-1/4 cables for the output there would be less potential for noise. Since noise hasn't been an issue on a short run like this, I believe you are saying the guitar cables are fine for what I'm doing and I wouldn't see much difference if I used balanced cables or speaker cables.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

As I understand it, the guitar cables are unballanced where as if I used balanced XLR-1/4 cables for the output there would be less potential for noise.

True only if the devices on each end of the cable are set up for balanced I/O. If your soundcard is only set up for unbalanced, then the advantage is lost.

Since noise hasn't been an issue on a short run like this, I believe you are saying the guitar cables are fine for what I'm doing and I wouldn't see much difference if I used balanced cables or speaker cables.

You have the idea right in that if noise is not a problem for you now, then balanced will not provide any really appreciable advantage. But your nomenclature is still off and can get very confusing if not corrected.

There are many different kinds of cable and connector that can be used to connect speakers to amplifiers; the use of the generic term "speaker cable" means nothing outside of a specific context.

Best to just identify every cable by it's connector and connection type. A "guitar cable" is nothing more than a 1/4" unbalanced cable, which has any number of uses outside of connecting a guitar, including connecting line level equipment in short runs, and even in some cases connecting speakers. Does that make it a guitar cable, an equipment cable or a speaker cable? The answer is that in all three is that it's a 1/4" unbalanced.

Balanced is better for noise rejection, whether XLR or 1/4", but that only works if the thing you're plugging it into is set up to expect unbalanced.

G.

 

[sarsipius]

Perfect. That answers my question exactly.

thanks for the help.

 

[DigitMus]

Please don't confuse a 1/4" unbalanced line/instrument cable with a 1/4" speaker cable - they are NOT interchangeable. The line/inst. cable is coaxial, with a center(signal) conductor and a shield/ground - the resistance/impedance of the 2 conductors is not the same. A 1/4" speaker cable contains 2 identical conductors with matching resistance/impedance and no shield. A speaker cable used for line level signals will (usually) introduce a lot of noise - a line cable substituted for a speaker cable can damage your amplifier and even melt or burn.


Scott

 

[Dani Pace]

There is a difference in the size (guage) wire between speaker cables and guitar (instrument) cables. Instrument cables only need to carry very small loads while speaker cables have to carry a power load (enough to opperate the speaker.) Speaker cables will work as instrument cables (maybe a bit noisy) but instrument cables should not be used for speaker cables, the tiny wires can burn through under the higher loads than they are designed to handle.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Instrument cables only need to carry very small loads while speaker cables have to carry a power load (enough to opperate the speaker.)

This is why I referred to there being many different definitions of "speaker cable"; you're assuming separate amplifier and speaker. But a standard line level cable, both balanced and unbalanced, 1/4" or XLR can be and are often used to connect mixers or computer interfaces to powered monitors. There's everything from 16 gauge zip cord to unbalanced, heavy insulation Speakon cables, to standard balanced XLR cables that qualify as "speaker cables" in one situation or another. "Speaker cable" is a far too generic of a term.

You were right that I shouldn't have grouped guitar cables in with line level cables, a mistake in my fingers not typing exactly what my brain should have told them to, but "speaker cable" remains a meaningless term unless previously defined in cointext as a specific type.

G.