The Proper Cable

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sir_Matthew
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Sir_Matthew

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I keep finding elements of recording that I thought I knew, but apparently didn't.

This latest: I'm using an ART Tube MP with an Alesis Nanocompressor before going to my VS-880. I bought a Monster patch cable to connect the two, and it worked for a couple of months. Then I started getting a really crappy signal.

I tried changing cables, and found that the connection worked just fine with my regular instrument cables. So I take the Monster patch cable to Guitar Center to have it tested. Right before my eyes, the machine says it works. We gave it the wiggle & whatnot, but it still worked.

So here's the stupid question: Is a patch cable the right cable for the job here, or am I missing something? My impression was that it was largely the same as an instrument cable. But I'm just a dumb guitarist, so someone help me out.
 
Singers are dumb!, not guitarists! :)

If it works with another patch cord, than I would say there is something wrong with the monster cable, regardless of what 'the machine' said(or the problem is intermittent((Not just the cable.. maybe a connector on one of the devices?)). Does the Monster work now?). Instrument cable refers - usually - to cords for instruments.. bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards. 'Patch' gets a bit more general, it could include guitar cable, balanced cable, video cables, optic cables, anything that you use to 'connect/patch'. 'Patch Cord' maybe goes back to the early days of telephone swithing or maybe even the first world war.. I don't know. Etymology ain't my thing.

I'm assuming your using a standard 1/4" - 1/4" unbalanced connector? If so, I wouldn't bother replacing it with another monster cable. I'm also assuming your using a pretty short cable, 6ft? 3ft? Check out Canare if you decide to replace it. I think you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a good quality cable, whirlwind etc and the more expensive Monster, Canare, Mogami in this situation. Many disagree though. I've used a short canare from an MP to soundcard, and a short rodam and I can't tell the difference. Maybe I'm deaf.
 
Well, scratch that. I did a bit more methodical testing and found it was the preamp, after all. I'm sending it to ART for repair. Thanks for the attempted help, mateys. (and the pepto rec.)
 
Sorry to hear about the bad art. The pepto was for badgas' gas
 
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