ampfixer
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DAW cabling
Just curious. Do any of you invest in extra special cables for your recording systems?
In my work I have 2 specials. 1 is an evidence audio guitar cable and the other is a 3 ft speaker cable made by solid. Both cables are about $150 each. It may sound absurd, and for many years I used to think so but I've found that if there's some sound science behind them, they actually do make a difference.
I'm looking at my audio equipment and realize that the cables are mostly junk. I was wondering if there were any cables that you insist on using when doing recording.
Regards, John I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps. WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig, Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6
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John T
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:02:55
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I use cables that don't crackle. Broadly speaking, all cables that don't crackle are as good as all other cables that don't crackle. I don't mean that in a "for my purposes, it doesn't matter to me" way. I mean literally exactly as good.
http://johntatlockaudio.com/Self-build PC // 16GB RAM // i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz // Nofan 0dB cooler // ASUS P8-Z77 V Pro motherboard // Intel x-25m SSD System Drive // Seagate RAID Array Audio Drive // Windows 10 64 bit // Sonar Platinum (64 bit) // Sonar VS-700 // M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 // KRK RP-6 Monitors // and a bunch of other stuff
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:04:28
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I used a lot of Canare Star Quad for mic and line cables.
I use Gepco console cable for some rack stuff.
Nothing fancy but backed with good solid engineering.
I think Mogami publishes the lowest capacitance but the Canare seems real close.
best regards,
mike
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ampfixer
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:17:55
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John T
I use cables that don't crackle. Broadly speaking, all cables that don't crackle are as good as all other cables that don't crackle. I don't mean that in a "for my purposes, it doesn't matter to me" way. I mean literally exactly as good.
@ JT, That crackle is generally caused by the shield getting loose inside the cable. Guitar patch cords do this to the point of getting microphonic. For testing and recording I use the Evidence Audio cable on my guitars because they don't use the shield as a conductor. Two solid conductors with a proper RF shield. It would be horrible on stage, but in a control situation it's great. Thanks for your opinion. @McQ, Ja, I use Mogami mic cables and have used the Canare. Both are excellent quality IMO. What about interfacing the audio interface with powered monitors? Right now I run TRS to XLR from my mixer to the interface and then TRS to TRS from the interface to monitors. Are TRS and XLR considered equal for interconnects?
Regards, John I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps. WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig, Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:33:46
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My Motu 896HD is connected to my JBL system, it patches through the subwoofer. So I use 4 Canare Star Quads. 2 longer and 2 shorter with XLRs on both ends.
best,
mike
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John T
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:37:43
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Well, what do you mean by make a difference? Obviously you want durable stuff, that's a given.
http://johntatlockaudio.com/Self-build PC // 16GB RAM // i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz // Nofan 0dB cooler // ASUS P8-Z77 V Pro motherboard // Intel x-25m SSD System Drive // Seagate RAID Array Audio Drive // Windows 10 64 bit // Sonar Platinum (64 bit) // Sonar VS-700 // M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 // KRK RP-6 Monitors // and a bunch of other stuff
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:38:11
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Whoops I didn't see your actual question.
I guess you might consider that one particular connector has better shielding than some other but I don't think it's specific to XLR or TRS.
I also think that a good cable and a line level signal will have very few SNR issues caused by a good connector.
With some of the SDI digital video we transfer the cable and the connectors are very important choices.
As you know, line level audio is fairly stout and robust, just keep the lines off of some other power supply or cell phone or stuff like that. :-)
best regards,
mike
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daryl1968
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 19:56:37
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I replaced every pretty generic cable in my set-up with Whirlwind cables (Belden and Neutrik) all hand soldered in USA. The difference was night and day.
I am not sure if going to the 'next level' of cables ($150 each) would make the same amount of difference again.
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Guitarhacker
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 20:29:05
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I have some pretty crappy wires in this system.
Some of my XLR mic cables are 35 years old and did many years of duty in club after club. Many of the connecting cables between the interface and the monitors, and the sub and the headphone amp are all really old and decrepit cables that I have had laying around for decades in my spare wire box.
The newest and best cables are on the guitar to the amp/POD. They are inexpensive but new (within the last 5 years) cables that I bought new.
I also have a pair of decent 1/4" cables form the POD outputs to the interface audio inputs.
I don't obsess or worry about the cables as long as they don't crackle, pop, or hum.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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drumstixkev
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 21:03:19
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Mogami user here on all micpre's/rack gear to interface. Why. . . because every time I go to GC they shove them in my face and like a dummy I buy them. Ohhh and I use Magami/Monster XLR cable from the mic to the pre's.
Kev
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Just Another Bloke
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Re:DAW cabling
2012/04/19 21:21:53
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mike_mccue
I used a lot of Canare Star Quad for mic and line cables.
I use it for every hardwired cable in my studio and have all the non-hardwired mic cables made of that too. All pacthbay cables are Canare too. My guitar cables are all Planet Waves.
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