can/ should I build a snake?

  • Thread starter Thread starter junkyardearl
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junkyardearl

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Here's the deal.

I have finally put all my equipment together in a way that sort of works as a control room here in my bedroom. I have my trusty (and free) TEAC 80-8, my TASCAM M-30 and my really really primative monitoring system all hooked up. Now I've become really really sure of the fact that I should not record the instruments, other than direct stuff like bass and all. First off the 80-8 isn't silent by any means, and I have a fish tank in here with a rather loud pump.

So I live in a little suburban house. At the end of the hall is my room and two other bedrooms. The distance between my board and the place in the hall between the three rooms is very close to exactly 20 feet (morel like 18). I would like to record my drums in the bedroom that they are already in, the center of this room is probably ten feet from the place that the inputs on the snake would be. So we're looking at 30 feet of cable.

Here are the real questions. Is this too much cable? I'm hoping to have 6 xlr inputs, and two 1/4" inputs along with a line from the headphone out on the board. Also, is it worth it for me to build this thing myself? I think I can get every piece for it in my area, but if any of you have a suggestion about a cheap place to find the sort of stuff I'll need, please tell me. I honetly think I can save a lot of money, and it can even be fun.

I'd love to hear from all of you on this one.

~james
 
:D I've built several. It's not hard, just time consuming. You can run the low Z XLRs a lot longer than 30' but conventional wisdom in recording dictates the shortest,cleanest path to tape is best. You'll definatly be ok on that. Un-balanced, high Z, 1/4" stuff is another story. I wouldn't want anything longer than 15' and around 20' you'll probably start hearing problems. Get some Beldon or mogami, a soldering iron and get busy.:D
 
If you're good with a soldering-iron, and have time on your hands, go for it - but I would suggest that if you think you need 8 channels, make it for 12 or 16 (you KNOW you'll eventually need them! - you'll be glad you did!). I buy my snakes pre-made as it's jut not worth my time to make them. There are many sources for the components you might need - here's one for starters:

http://www.fullcompass.com

Good Luck!

- Wil
 
Just shop around on the connectors. Possibly try to buy them online. I was going to build one but when I did the math, the connectors alone made it cheaper to just buy one on ebay (of course don't buy one thats "as is") and save some time. BUT if you find good deals on the connectors and on wire, you can save a lot of money and have some fun too!

DEFINITELY listen to what wil davis said. If you need 8 channels and have 8 channels, one will go down in the middle of a session with clients waiting (if you're recording other people) You'll spend an hour chasing down the problem and then an hour fixing it.

and yes...the glass is half empty. :D
 
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