Cables, Cables, Cables!!

[billythekid]

So I need to connect all my instruments/audio units to my audio interface with audio cables...

Id like to ask some advice when choosing cables to carry signal since there are a few types and a few considerations to take into account

length?
Must they be balanced or unbalanced?
Shielded not shielded?
brand name connectors?
brand name cables?
Type of cable (copper or nickel?)
could you just use premade 1/4" jack-jack patch cables?
could you just use RCA cables with 1/4" jack-jack adapter?
are 3-5meter 1/4" jack-jack copper instrument cables too long/thick/bulky?

your views would be very appreciated!! thanks! :D

[shaneynclan]

i think a balanced trs (tip ring sleeve would be the best choice)
trs cables are shielded, rca cablers are not.
i plan on getting mogami cables

[Timo]

Does your audio interface have balanced connections?

What instruments do you want to interface with it?

Most keyboards have unbalanced outputs (except the TI, incidently, which has fully balanced outputs).

For TI > audio interface, use up to six (balanced) cables on TRS jacks as needed.

For unbalanced gear, you can use unbalanced (mono) cables on TS (mono) jacks. Or, at a greater effort, you can eliminate another source of hum by manually making up pseudo-balanced cables.

[grs]

Make them all yourself, buy a cable tester because you will need to identify your shady connections once and a while. Saves money that way and you can make long ones short ones etc. I used the cheep silver type and good balanced microphone cables.

[Fogflip]

what ever you end up needing and you dont want to make your own or spend a fortune order them from monoprice.com.

[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

If price is not an issue for you then use Chord Cream Cable

http://www.hificables.co.uk/11500/Chord-Cream-Guitar-Cable.html

Will cost £40 per 3 meter run.

I use them on analog gear....and the warmth/richness/clarity is all you could wish for....

Makes the Virus sound fuller and more powerful aswell.

Definitely one of the best cables you can buy...

DS

[billythekid]

Hey guys I kinda forgot I posted this topic, remembered now....thanks for the replies!! :D

@Timo, Virus TI, Roland JP-8080 and Alpha Juno 2, with a MOTU ultralite,

I plan to use the cables for routing the synths into my audio interface for recording as well as setting up sidechain with the Virus TI so i can record audio processed through it

Basically I wanted to find out if there were any features of a cable which matter or makes a difference in the audio world or if i could just get some sort of "standard cable"

Thanks again

[boborulz]

anyone used Mogami cables?

[###OCT###]

Sorry to bring this back, but
boborulz, I recently upgraded all my cables. Bought mogami 2549 and neutrik NP3X-B (http://www.neutrik.com/fl/en/audio/210_414982786/NP3X-B_detail.aspx)
every piece of balanced gear that I plug into my interface is sounding better, including the ti2 desktop. Its cheap to build it yourself and killer quality. signal path is often overlooked, and even tho my interface is not the best, made all the difference in warmth, brilliance and presence from the TI2. Just wish my snow had balanced outs.
Probably the cheapest and most efective upgrade on my rig in years.

[boborulz]

yea im with you on this...i got a bunch of mogami cables when i got my new mackie hr624 monitors...whats the point of getting great speakers if the signal gets dirtied before getting to them!

[boborulz]

do you prefer using the audio outputs on your TI instead of usb??

[PaPi]

Hey guys I kinda forgot I posted this topic, remembered now....thanks for the replies!! :D

@Timo, Virus TI, Roland JP-8080 and Alpha Juno 2, with a MOTU ultralite,

I plan to use the cables for routing the synths into my audio interface for recording as well as setting up sidechain with the Virus TI so i can record audio processed through it

Basically I wanted to find out if there were any features of a cable which matter or makes a difference in the audio world or if i could just get some sort of "standard cable"

Thanks again

Since your interface is only 2x2, I believe you need a patch bay too. Unless you have a mixer.

[Choond]

So far the best info. I've come across regarding cables is try to use 110 ohm digital cable for patching in the studio. The capacitance is much lower than `analog' instrument cable which means it reveals a lot more detail. A popular cable for serious studio patching is Mogami 3080.

Mogami, Canare, Gotham & Monster seem to all offer decent patch cables, so I've ordered a few different ones to test them with the TI. I'm curious to see if I can really hear the difference, and also find out which reveals the `Virus sound' in the most pleasing way to my ear. I'll post more when my cables arrive.