Cables: what to get and where to get them?

[Dolemite]

I was about to order a buttload of 1/4" line/patch cables from Mars Music but I thought I better see what the consensus on cables is over here. I'm setting up my first basic home studio with a M Audio DMP2 mic pre and a Midiman DMAN 2044 sound card. I just need a few decent unbalanced 1/4" cables and a dual mono 1/4" to stereo mini plug adapter cable for headphone monitoring (may have to hit up Radio Shack for that one). Anyway, without breaking the bank (i.e., please don't recommend Monster) what brand of cables should I get and where's the best place to get them?

Thanks

 

[pratt]

Hosa

I like Hosa cables - they are good quality and not too expensive (about the same as RadioShack)...and you can get them at any decent music store...they make just about any cable/combination that you would need, as well...

 

[frederic]

I generally make my own cables because I tend to mount synths, outboards and recorders in racks away from the console table (and thus away from the fans many of these things have), but Hosa makes decent cables and aren't terribly expensive. They also make snakes, which may have eight or sixteen cables in one "bundle", which takes less room on the floor (and tangles much less!).

They make 1/4 to 1/4 balanced or unbalanced, 1/4 to RCA, RCA to RCA, Elco to RCA, Elco to 1/4, XLR to whatever, etc.

Good lucK!

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Doleof Dynamite:]

Well, man, you can scan the catalogs and find all kinds of cables.

I bought two good ones, at least I think so. They were Monster cables; one for my keyboard synth, and another for my vocal mic. They are good stuff.

But, as I look at the Sam Ash catalog, I see some cables that might be ok, the price is good.

But, I think the ProCo cables are good, but cost more than average.

Now, if you're in the studio, the cables don't take much abuse, unless your girl singer weighs 250 pounds.


So, if I were you, I check out Sam Ash, M. Friend, and Full Compass. [Full Compass usually has a good price on items but in today's market, it's "I've got the lowest price." So, it pays to call all the 800 numbers, especially if you're going to buy a BUNCH of cables.

Shop around,


[Captain and Tenille}


Green Hornet

 

[frederic]

But, as I look at the Sam Ash catalog, I see some cables that might be ok, the price is good.

I don't mind Hosa cables for embedded applications where the cables don't get knocked around a lot. I recently purchased these gold colored armored cables that look silly, but the guitar player rolled his half stack over it a few times and the mic cable seemed unscatched. So thats good. I believe Proco made it. The receipt is long gone

Now, if you're in the studio, the cables don't take much abuse, unless your girl singer weighs 250 pounds.

It shouldn't be a problem with a properly trained singer - one who doesn't yank the cord or kiss the microphone ::grin::