monster cables worth it??

[smellyfuzz]

Sjoko2,

As you know, I am of the opinion of the value of cabling.

Could you explain in laymen terms, how cable improves sound ?

Sean

 

[sjoko2]

in laymans terms, good cabling provides the correct conductivity for the kind of signal the cable in question is designed for, with the wave form of the signal retaining its real shape.
Bad cable doesn't, it modifies the signal.

For a more technical description of cable go to http://www.zaolla.com and under the specs chapter you'll find some good info "of what makes a cable tick"

 

[Richard Monroe]

Monster cables worth it? No. Good cables worth it? Yes. I also use B.L.U.E. for the signal chain, and haven't regretted it a bit. I actually have a few HOSA cables for non-critical functions, but nothing that's going to the hard drive is going to touch those puppies.-Richie

 

[jmorris]

Richard,what would a non critical function be? Even if its in a patchbay the signal will loop threw it and back. I have a ton of Hosa cables. I'm going to switch to maybe magomi(or what ever its called,ya know the good stuff) I think I'll make my own...I solder very well. I mean what use could crappy cables have in any part of the chain? I'm just trying to see where I can use my leftovers after upgrading.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, J, I don't have quite enough gear yet to require a dedicated patch bay, And I do have some HOSA cables I use for headphone extensions (tracking, not monitoring) and for the headphone distribution amp. I've seen no evidence that removing the distribution amp and the crappy cables makes any difference in the recorded signal. My monitor chain is not a particularly critical function here, because I'm not doing the mixing in house. My mic cables are B.L.U.E., and the S/PDIF cables are monster (I got them cheap, and they're perfectly good cables, just overpriced, IMHO.) I also use some HOSA cables in remote settings, to patch up a (really cheap) Behrenger mixer, where I think Mogami would be overkill, like a tiara on a pig. Non-critical? talkback mics. I agree with you that if I was running some of this through patchbays, I'd probably need a separate patch bay for non-critical functions.-Richie

 

[jmorris]

Great Richard!! I'm with ya! I understand now and I agree with your use of lessor cables in the monitor chain, headphone amps etc. And, the pig analogy was great! I'm going to do some testing with hosa and Mogami or Monster. Kind of an a/b with same mic,settings on the console and so-forth and see if there is a difference. I wonder, will there be a difference to the human ear or only to a computer wave form?? You have all been a great help. This seems to be a hot topic,I had no idea!! Jim

 

[drstawl]

>Richard,what would a non critical function be?

Headphone distribution for sound-on-sound.

Anything that ends up on the recording is critical.

A decent chain for your mixdown can help.

Talkback? hahaha- in most of the amateur setups around here that's just waving your hands and shouting.

Avoid Monster just because of their slimey corporate practices. I have a pile of the shit and I'm not very proud of that fact!

Quality-wise it beats the tar out of Hosa but not out of a homebrew done up with Mogami and Neutrik.

>I'm just trying to see where I can use my leftovers after upgrading.

They're very useful for hanging yourself when you get very depressed. Beyond that: not much!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Just let me add that while the monitor chain for overdubs may not be too critical, when the monitor chain is used for mixing or
diagnostics/troubleshooting, that's different, and I would support the use of the best cables you can lay your hands on for those applications. Personally, all I'm doing here is sound on sound and basic tracking, but there are times when I need to use cans or monitors for evaluation of the signal chain, and for that, I'll re-patch a little and delete items from the chain selectively.-Richie

 

[Light]

As for cable longevity, there is only one trick to it. Coil them properly. You NEED to over under your cables, every time. They will last for ever. I used to work in a college theater. Every single hand who came to work in our room was taught how to over under coil the cables, and we all did it every time. We had 20 year old mic cables, which were used on a regular basis, which still had there factory solder joints. Don't get me wrong, we still had bad cables from time to time. I would be very glad if I never had to resolder another 64 pair Socapex snake connector in my life. Why is it ALWAYS the solder joints in the middle of the hub which fail, forcing me to unsolder a dozen joints just to get at the one which needs to be repaired? Unfortunately, I can not think of a way to describe over under cable raping in words. I could teach anyone, but they would need to be right next to me for so I could show them. The best thing to do is to find a video guy, because they are more anal about over undering their cable than anyone. You try coiling 300 feet of video five wire some time without over undering it. It does not work so well.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[darrin_h2000]

I live 2 blocks away from a place where I can buy mogami for .79 a ft for 2 conductor and .89 cents for 3 conductor. and the neutrick connectors are reasonable at 1.59 each so It was worth it to me to do mine.

But my monster is the vocal mics cable.

 

[microchip]

Well, I just bought some Monster Cable the other day, and I feel it an improvement over my Radio Shack stuff

But as compared to some of the others, sounds like I should keep my eyes out for something else next time. But I didn't buy that much cable this time around, so it's OK.

Micro

 

[drstawl]

>Unfortunately, I can not think of a way to describe over under cable raping in words.

That's a visual image I could live without, thank you!

 

[c9-2001]

i usually use hosa cables but i have Planet waves cables now.. they're great cables

 

[Light]

>Unfortunately, I can not think of a way to describe over under cable raping in words.

That's a visual image I could live without, thank you!

oops. I ment wraping. And it really is a good idea to learn how to do it. You will save yourself a fortune in cable replacement, or in time spent repairing cables. Find a video guy, he'll show you how.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[littledog]

The idea is to create a perfectly flat coil of cable, much like it looked when it came out of the package. The over/under method (I'm guessing) is to add each loop alternately to the front and then the back of the coil. What also works is simply to roll the cable 1/2 reverse twist between your thumb and forefinger on each loop.

Whatever method you use, you'll know if it's right if the cable coil lies completely flat when you're done.

And never ever wrap the cables around your forearm (around the palm and elbow). That will give you the antithesis of a flat coil - it will look like a cross between a figure eight and a mobious strip! Which means the internal wiring is getting twisted and stressed.

 

[jmorris]

On ebay it seems you can buy Mogami cables really rather cheap...a lot cheaper than Monster. Has anyone else noticed this??? Mogami is one of the best correct? Record Plant and place of there caliber use 'em!!

 

[Light]

The idea is to create a perfectly flat coil of cable, much like it looked when it came out of the package. The over/under method (I'm guessing) is to add each loop alternately to the front and then the back of the coil. What also works is simply to roll the cable 1/2 reverse twist between your thumb and forefinger on each loop.

Whatever method you use, you'll know if it's right if the cable coil lies completely flat when you're done.

Over/under is the 1/2 reverse twist idea, but it just doesn’t explain the idea very well if you don't already know what your doing. And by the way, you can get a perfectly flat coil while still twisting the crap out of the wires inside the cable, which is what breaks the solder joints.

Find a video guy, they all know how to do it. So do most experienced stage hands. Of course, it sounds like you already know how, littledog.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[frank_1]

and a bump for the kiddies...

 

[Modus]

Thanks frank

Where can I learn how to make my own cables? Where did you you guys learn?

 

[Chibi Nappa]

Dang it, now I need to track down a video guy.