Making TRS patch cables

  • Thread starter Thread starter frist44
  • Start date Start date
F

frist44

New member
I want to make about 100 TRS cables for my patch bay. i searched and found some good information, but i didn't quite understand which wire to buy.

http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/list.cfm?Idx=Audio+Bulk+Cable

that is the link for the bulk audio cable from markertek. If i wanted TRS cables, would the wire be different from TS cables. I figured i'd want a 3 conductor wire for the T-R-S. I can't seem to find one on the list. Please tell me which one would be the choice for TRS cables. Also..here is the link for 1/4" connectors. I figured this would be the cheap way to go. The TS connectors are only $1.69. But to me, the TRS connectors look like they're $2.53. Is this the right connector for a TRS cable. That would mean a little over $5 for each cable. Is this right? Please help.

brandon
 
It looks like all the microphone cables are 2-conductor. Am i correct to assume the other connection is the grounding wire covering within the cable. Does anyone have any good links about making your own cables?

Thanks,
Brandon
 
Making 100 TRS cables is _a lot_ of work, and you will only save a modest amount of money. Save your strength till the time your cables start to go bad and then repair them one by one.
 
Yes. Use the wire sheilding for the ground. You only need 2 conductor wire.
 
frist, are you going to be building them in 8 way snakes? 16 way? 24 way? or singles?

if you got the money, this one would be top choice http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=MG-2930

second would be http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=BL-1408R-500

third http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=BL-1902A-250

fourth http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=BL-1814R-500

for singles and patch cables these are GREAT and cheap http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=L-4E6S+BK

give us an idea on what exactly you are going to do with them and we'll have a better understanding.

I agree with basper in principle, if you can find cheap, used or just cheap GOOD snakes, you might want to buy them, HOWEVER

if you HAVENT made cables before, I really think you should. NOTHING will ever advance your audio quests faster or farther than knowing how to use a soldering iron. There isnt an audio device out there that can open more audio doors than a weller :)
 
If you have a mars nearby, you might be able to get a deal on the remaining Mogami cable. I recently got some for $.27 a ft.
 
"Mogami cable. I recently got some for $.27 a ft."

!!!! DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, how many pairs? was that single ? DAMN!!!
 
i do know how to solder, that's how this whole came about. I figured i might as well take advantage of that know-how and possibly get a better quality cable for the money.

These cables are going to be 1-2 ft patch cables to my patch bay. I recounted and figured the most important connections will be handmade for now. That count it about 30, so that means i will have to drop about $150.

Aside from the ground shielding, it doesn't matter which conductor goes to either the tip or the ring, as long as i'm consistent on both ends right?

I notice pipelineaudio posted a link for the canare quad cable. Canare also makes a 2-conductor microphone cable, which i was thinking of using. How would i go about using the quad cable for a 1/4" TRS cable, or is that not necessary?

Thanks,
Brandon
 
OK, i think i got it. The tip and the ring each get two of the 4 wires in a quad cable and the shielding goes to ground.

Is there an advantage to the quad cable. It seems like the connection would be more reliable, but why is the canare quad cable $0.01 less than the canare 2 conductor mic cable?
 
one question

Since you already had your question answered I have one for you. 100 patch cords is alot for a home studio. I am wondering if you are normalizing your patchbays? If not, new bays that will normal, half normal, and mult would be cheaper than making that many cables. If you already have bays capable of doing this wouldn't it make sense to just normal a standard setup and use patch cords to break the standard setup you created. Maybe I missed something in your post?

Kirk
 
50 is probably a more plausible number. I'm setting up a patch bay for the first time. I have never had my gear patched before, so with 8 ins/8 outs, 8 pres, a couple compressors and effects, and patching, it's come to about 50. Is that unreasonable? I'm normalling most everything.

Brandon
 
I am confused. Are you talking 8 tape ins and 8 tape outs? If so and you are normaling what you can 50 would be more resonable. I just couldn't see 100. 50 would allow for breaking the normals on 8 tape ins and 8 tape outs, thats 16 cables. 2 dual mono or stereo compressors will use 4 now we have 20 cables so far. 2 effects will usually take up to 8 less if you use mono effects. Thats now 28 cables. A couple pre's will set you back up to 4 more for a grand total of 32. You can also normal your effects to returns on your board or to open channels. I run my effects back into channel stips rather than back into aux returns. So in the end 50 would give room for growth and to replace bad cords in the middle of a session.

I am totally wrong if you are talking about cables to connect your bays to board and such not the short patch cables used in the frontside of the bays.

Kirk
 
I assumed he was talking about the cables to connect the various boxes to the back of the patchbay. If everything's in a rack, those could be pretty short, though 50 within 1-2 feet sounds a little screwy.

Maybe I assumed wrong.
 
Alright...since this sounds so weird. I'll elaborate.

8 - pres to patch back

8 - patch back to RME in

8 - RME out to patch back

2 - RNC in/out

4 - stero joemeek comp.

4 - stereo delay in/out

2 - master out to mixer and then to monitors

8 - max for patching the front


And the grand total is 44 that will be quality connections. Is there a better way to do it?

Brandon
 
is there a reason to use quad cable vs. 2-conductor cable for TRS patchbay? Would the sound quality change?
 
Im gonna get nailed by crazy audiophiles, but funcionally, theres no big difference between the two types audiowise.
For patch cables and for permanent mount situations, the quad are nice because they have a ridiculously hi reliability factor. Sometimes taking apart bays and installations I find quad cables where one of the wires broke but the chain was still functioning. Quad combined with shrinkwrap or even tape is a serious boost to peace of mind.
The other cables tho are much much more supple, and coilable, much more suited to temporay stuff and regular cables youd leave coiled when not in use
 
it's sounds like from what you're saying, needing the best quality i would go with the quad cable. So my next question is, why is the quad cable cheaper than the normal 2-conductor....doesn't make sense to me.
 
depends, but making a supple cable, compared to that hard ass quad is pretty expensive
 
Actually, according to Mogami's website, the reason for the Star Quad cable is NOT for reliability but for improved noise immunity. The wire has to be used correctly to achieve the improvement. You use the blue wires together, and the white wires together, to comprise a single connection. The end result, due to the way the wires are laid inside the cable, is more cancellation of noise signals. Mogami claims up to a 90% reduction of things like SCR dimmer pack noise. Although Star Quad is spec'd as a mic cable, Mogami also claims it is fine for line level use - duh...

If I were going to make patch cables (for the front of the patch bay) I would use braided shield cable for the flexibility. For rear, rarely disturbed cables, I would use a foil shielded cable with a drain wire, ESPECIALLY if I had 50 - 100 of them to do. Making cables with braided shield wire is an AKC-registered BITCH.

The only way I'd try and make bulk quantities of cables with braided shield, is if I could find cable that fits one of the set of four lead extractors I've had for years. Without them, give me Beldfoil any day of the week (except for stage and mic use, when I'd have no choice but to bite the bullet)

For TRS connectors where you have to make several cables that are NOT going to be used on stage or other high damage area, I prefer Neutrik connectors. They have easier strain reliefs, easier soldering, and quicker assembly than Switchcraft. For stage use, I've always used the heavy Switchcraft 170 series for their bulletproof construction. I don't remember seeing a TRS model in that line though... Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top