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Where to go for mic cable?
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Where to go for mic cable?
Where are you guys buying your mic cable? Looking for some nice balanced cable in bulk - durable and coils well.
And while I'm at it - where are you buying your 3-pin XLR's from? Not fussed about staying with Neutrik etc, as long as they're good quality.
Thanks!
And while I'm at it - where are you buying your 3-pin XLR's from? Not fussed about staying with Neutrik etc, as long as they're good quality.
Thanks!
Simon Maisch
http://www.simonmaisch.com.au
http://www.simonmaisch.com.au
- simoncastic
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Swamp has been my preferred option in outfitting my place. They import a lot of cheap stuff, but they also do great prices on name brands like Canare and Neutrik. If you email them and tell them you are in the industry, they will probably also give you a "trade" discount (they did for me)
(http://swamp.net.au)
(http://swamp.net.au)
Manning Bartlett, Studio Laughing Duck, Glenorie NSW
http://www.studiolaughingduck.com
http://www.studiolaughingduck.com
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Manning - Valued Contributor
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Belden and Neutrick from Madison Technologies.
Buy a roll , plug in the fire stick and get soldering.
Canare or Mogami if you prefer.
Buy quality and you'll only have to buy it once.
Buy a roll , plug in the fire stick and get soldering.
Canare or Mogami if you prefer.
Buy quality and you'll only have to buy it once.
Alastair Reynolds
Broadcast Radio Engineer
Master of the Dark Arts (Broadcast)
Broadcast Radio Engineer
Master of the Dark Arts (Broadcast)
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Alastair Reynolds - TRM Endorsed
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Go to WES for good prices on Neutrik.
With Swamp, be careful: friend bought a multicore with 'Neutrik' connectors, but they turned out to be the 'Nginko Neutrik' made in China (can't remember if I got that name right): many intermittency problems.I don't think Lichtenstein affiliate or endorse this 'offshoot'
Milo
With Swamp, be careful: friend bought a multicore with 'Neutrik' connectors, but they turned out to be the 'Nginko Neutrik' made in China (can't remember if I got that name right): many intermittency problems.I don't think Lichtenstein affiliate or endorse this 'offshoot'
Milo
John Summers
- Milo
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
I got a roll of Canare LT2S and 100 Neutrik male/female connectors from Markertek in the US.
Very quick and (unfortunately) cheaper than local even with express air shipping.
I prefer canare cable as it doesn't tangle easily and is nice and strong. only downside is that it's got a braided shield so it takes a bit longer to prepare for soldering. That said, I think it's the braid that makes it so flexible.
Chris
Very quick and (unfortunately) cheaper than local even with express air shipping.
I prefer canare cable as it doesn't tangle easily and is nice and strong. only downside is that it's got a braided shield so it takes a bit longer to prepare for soldering. That said, I think it's the braid that makes it so flexible.
Chris
- Linear
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Ningbo Neutrik is part of the Neutrik group. Chinese made, but still Neutrik. I've had issues with the soldering on cheap pre-made cable but the connectors themselves seem fine to me.
http://www.neutrik.com/en/neutrik-group
http://www.neutrik.com/en/neutrik-group
Milo wrote:Go to WES for good prices on Neutrik.
With Swamp, be careful: friend bought a multicore with 'Neutrik' connectors, but they turned out to be the 'Nginko Neutrik' made in China (can't remember if I got that name right): many intermittency problems.I don't think Lichtenstein affiliate or endorse this 'offshoot'
Milo
Kurt Neist
Chief cook and bottle washer - Metalworx
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Kurt - Valued Contributor
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Thanks guys!
Unfortunately when I'm in the checkout on Markertek it seems like they don't export Neutrik XLR connectors to Australia (anymore?)... hmm. Very good price though.
Will look into Wes also.
Cheers!
Unfortunately when I'm in the checkout on Markertek it seems like they don't export Neutrik XLR connectors to Australia (anymore?)... hmm. Very good price though.
Will look into Wes also.
Cheers!
Simon Maisch
http://www.simonmaisch.com.au
http://www.simonmaisch.com.au
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
ah great. old-fashioned australian protectionism at it's very finest. thank you, local neutrik importer for stifling competition and creating your own pathetic little mini monopoly.
- Linear
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
WES also does Amphenol, which are far from shabby, apart from Neutrik
Milo
Milo
John Summers
- Milo
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Have always been happy with Neutrik and Mogami from Redco. Shipping is a little expensive but if you're buying in bulk it more than makes up for it.
I prefer Mogami over Canare by a long shot, but that is more to do with old prejudices from their guitar cables, not balanced mic cables!
I prefer Mogami over Canare by a long shot, but that is more to do with old prejudices from their guitar cables, not balanced mic cables!
Alistair McLean
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
If you want Mogami cable, contact Steve at Innovative Music - the importer (innovativemusic.com.au). He's in Melbourne and one of the friendliest most upstanding individuals in the audio business.
Andy Stewart
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
I tend to like the Mogami cable for studio use... it's very supple... easy to roll up.
For live I'd go Canare... it's tougher
Ideally you want a low capacitance cable... the Mogami is lower than the Canare but for short studio runs it won't make much difference.
What is important is good quality XLR's and attention to detail when soldering. A bad solder joint will cause more problems than a cheap cable.
A few tips for begiiners:
Once you've cut the cable to length, put the backshells and cable clamps of the XLR's onto the cable and tie a loop in it so they don't fall off. There's nothing worse than soldering up a mic cable then realizing you forgot the back shells.
Strip the cable, leaving enough length in the signal conductors so that you can slide on about 10mm of heatshrink.
I always lightly file the inside of XLR pins to ensure a good solder flow.
Twist and tin the wires and tin the XLR pins before soldering them together.
Make sure the solder flows onto the XLR pins. To do this, heat the pin and let the solder flow on to it. The solder should follow the concave shape of the pin. If you end up with a ball of solder on the XLR pin then you won't get a good connection.
Once soldered, inspect the solder connection. Slide the heatshrink on and shrink it down
Finally slide the cable clamps into position and screw on the backshells.
Hope this helps.
For live I'd go Canare... it's tougher
Ideally you want a low capacitance cable... the Mogami is lower than the Canare but for short studio runs it won't make much difference.
What is important is good quality XLR's and attention to detail when soldering. A bad solder joint will cause more problems than a cheap cable.
A few tips for begiiners:
Once you've cut the cable to length, put the backshells and cable clamps of the XLR's onto the cable and tie a loop in it so they don't fall off. There's nothing worse than soldering up a mic cable then realizing you forgot the back shells.
Strip the cable, leaving enough length in the signal conductors so that you can slide on about 10mm of heatshrink.
I always lightly file the inside of XLR pins to ensure a good solder flow.
Twist and tin the wires and tin the XLR pins before soldering them together.
Make sure the solder flows onto the XLR pins. To do this, heat the pin and let the solder flow on to it. The solder should follow the concave shape of the pin. If you end up with a ball of solder on the XLR pin then you won't get a good connection.
Once soldered, inspect the solder connection. Slide the heatshrink on and shrink it down
Finally slide the cable clamps into position and screw on the backshells.
Hope this helps.
Greg Hooke
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
I used Klotz cable in my last studio build and bought it from Soundcorp in Melbourne. The deal on larger quantity was fantastic. Since then, they stopped selling Klotz but went over to Eurocable. Eurocable is very nice stuff and more affordable too. Not sure if they still sell it, but it's great value for sure.
Senad Mu ja gic
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
I use Swamp's ready made cables and never had a problem. Not a heavy user or anything but out of the 15 or so leads overall I've bought I've never had any fail. They sell rolls as well if that's your thing.
J-u-s-t-i-n M-u-l-l-i-n-s
https://justinmullins.com.au/
https://justinmullins.com.au/
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
Senad wrote:I used Klotz cable in my last studio build and bought it from Soundcorp in Melbourne. The deal on larger quantity was fantastic. Since then, they stopped selling Klotz but went over to Eurocable. Eurocable is very nice stuff and more affordable too. Not sure if they still sell it, but it's great value for sure.
Eurocable's "extraflex"?
That's one of my nemeses. The shield is not braided which might be great for the guy who has to terminate a few thousand XLRs but it also means the cable lacks structure and is way too floppy.
If I get given a packer of it on a gig I spend the majority of my untangling them. Hours of "fun".
Ben Milne
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Re: Where to go for mic cable?
If you can get this cable in Australia I would highly recommend:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sommer_cable_s ... lex_sw.htm
Also built some EDAC looms for my Neotek console with this mulitcore:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sommer_cable_q ... d87ffdab30
It's super dreamy - doesn't tangle at all and can be rolled any way you like (it doesn't retain any shape). Also extremely easy to work with and specs out well. Don't know if it sounds better than Mogami but definitely doesn't sound worse!
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sommer_cable_s ... lex_sw.htm
Also built some EDAC looms for my Neotek console with this mulitcore:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sommer_cable_q ... d87ffdab30
It's super dreamy - doesn't tangle at all and can be rolled any way you like (it doesn't retain any shape). Also extremely easy to work with and specs out well. Don't know if it sounds better than Mogami but definitely doesn't sound worse!
Simon R. Berckelman
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