how important are cables?

[skaltpunk]

im carrying some decent gear on my rack but not inputing with a high-end mic (im using sp-b1), will lower-end (AP) cables be a bottleneck in my recording?

 

[Jblount]

I dont think you have to go buy a "cranberry" mic cable for it to be good, but yes inferior cables can cause a breakdown in signal. And remember that more expensive dosn't mean its better. I usually make my own, that way I know how good they are.

 

[SonicAlbert]

I also make most of my own cables. My studio is outfitted with Mogami, Canare and Horizon cables mostly. I also like Connectronics cables a lot, the Musi-Flex line.

My feeling about cables is that their effect is cumulative. If you only have a few cables, then you can get away with lower quality perhaps. But if you have a lot of cables, the quality has a bigger effect on the sound. It's subtle, but I certainly believe it's audible.

So the short answer is to get good cables, but don't go crazy buying ridiculously expensive audiophile stuff. Cables made with Canare or Mogami wire are going to be plenty good enough.

 

[tdukex]

I also make most of my own cables...So the short answer is to get good cables, but don't go crazy buying ridiculously expensive audiophile stuff. Cables made with Canare or Mogami wire are going to be plenty good enough.

As do I. It's not expensive, and it's not hard. To me, cables are one area where you can have the same quality as the pros without it costing very much. There's no reason not to have good cables.

 

[regebro]

im carrying some decent gear on my rack but not inputing with a high-end mic (im using sp-b1), will lower-end (AP) cables be a bottleneck in my recording?

I don't know what an "AP" cable is, but no, cables basicaly only make a difference if you have weak signals or high impedances (both common with mics and guitars) or very long lengths, like 50 feet or more (common in live situations and fixed studio installations).