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Re: What XLR cables would you choose as your best cables and why?

Subject: Re: What XLR cables would you choose as your best cables and why?
From: "Walter Knapp" waltknapp
Date: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:09 am ((PDT))
Posted by: "Paul Jacobson"
>
> Walt,
>
> Thanks for such great description of how you fabricate a stereo run.
> I've been puzzling over how best handle making cables like these, and =

> this information helps a great deal.

As I noted, it works fine for me in nature recording. Studio folks might
find problems as there are more interference sources in their
environment. In nature recording it's important to avoid extra kit to
handle. So a single light cable carrying both channels is highly desirable.

You can see the mic end of some Y adapters on my M/S page:
http://frogrecordist.home.mindspring.com/docs/ms_setups.html
The recorder end is only about 4" long and I don't use the fabric cover
on that end. Even if it's handheld there is only a single cable between
those ends. Nearly all my cable lengths are 5pin. The few mono lengths I
have are in different color from the stereo ones, and in pairs of two
colors. I have standardized my color coding. Of course I can make a mono
run using the stereo cables too.

I was originally not sure about compromising star quad, but Lang Elliott
does it with long runs of the smallest Canare star quad, so I tried it
and it's just fine. As I noted I'm carting enough cable to go out 450'
if I connect it all together. I have done that a couple times, though
most of the time I'm using the short length for handheld or 25-50'. My
longest lengths occur when I set the mic up overnight with a run back to
the truck so I can record as needed from bed.

Note don't lay a long length across a wetland containing beaver. Or you
may end up with a bunch of short cut off pieces. Lang has had that
problem. Someone mentioned the cable being walked on, that's not a big
problem in nature recording. In general I'm careful not to abuse my cables.

Walt




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