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| Tech's Corner
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Since my last column in Issue 14 I have been amazed (or should I say concerned?) at how little feedback I got from the article. I'm probably being paranoid but then I'm also probably underestimating the skills of those more technical entertainers out there! Do contact me on the email address up by my name if there are any subjects that you would like me to cover or if you have any questions that you would like answered for all to see.
I looked at wiring up speaker cables last time and promised to cover signal and power this month. XLR connectors are being phased out for speaker connections, but still remain the connector of choice for signal interconnection on mobile professional audio equipment. The good old trusty ¼" jack plug is still in use but has largely been relegated back to the more fixed studio-type of installations where patching and routing of signal processing equipment works better with jacks. ('Jackfields' can be configured to allow a jack plug to automatically break into a signal path when inserted and apply the processing or effect attached to the other end of the lead.)
Because of the very low power present in signal cables, you should always aim to use the best quality connector or cable you can afford, to avoid loss of quality. In the domestic markets quality cables and connectors usually come with hugely-inflated price tags and all too often an audiophile will pay it as well! Professional cables and connectors from the likes of Neutrik and Switchcraft are a little more reasonable and offer much better protection to harsh environments by using all-metal bodies, high impact plastic inserts and low temperature multi-shielded cables. At all costs avoid the cheap hard plastic-barreled connectors as the plastic will fracture over a short period of time and invariably cause you problems. Expect to pay between £2 - £5 per connector, or at least £10 per cable. You would expect these to last you for at least 5 years if handled well.
If you prefer to make your own cables then it is possible to save around 20% on the retail costs but care must be taken to ensure that the soldering work is good and the integrity of the made-up connector assembly strong and secure. The bonus here is that having these skills enables you to maintain your cable stock and make cables up to suit particular jobs or equipment. It also allows cables to be custom built to the desired length for your particular show, reducing messy coils all over the place.
Ultimately it is the handling and storage of the cables that will determine their eventual lifespan. Never be tempted to wrap the cable up around your forearm or 'end-to-end' it and tie it in a knot! This will lead to the cable cores being twisted internally and will almost immediately stress or break the signal cables within. It is an art, but the best way to treat the cable is like a hosepipe, neatly lashing the cable nicely into a round circle without any kinks or figure of '8's present. Use a Velcro cable tie or piece of electrical tape to keep it together in your leads box, this will stop them from becoming tangled during transportation and ensure that they are easy to access at your next gig.
Written By Paul Bouzan |
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The full article can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 15, Pages 38 - 40 |
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Copyright EJ Media 2003 - 2010
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