Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: hogan20a on June 23, 2003, 11:06:45 PM

Title: XLR Recommendation?
Post by: hogan20a on June 23, 2003, 11:06:45 PM: Looking for a recommendation for a pair of xlr cables. I am using oktava mk012's and running them into a edirol ua5. Would like to spend about 25-30 for each or less if possible. Setting up my first rig, so i'm looking for something that is good, but doesn't have to be the best.

Thanks,
Adam
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Swampy on June 23, 2003, 11:11:25 PM: Building your own would be the cheapest, and probably the best way to do it. I'll go find some links for you.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Swampy on June 23, 2003, 11:11:49 PM: BTW, WELCOME to ts.com!
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Swampy on June 23, 2003, 11:13:17 PM: http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=2473
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: hogan20a on June 23, 2003, 11:20:38 PM: Thanks for the tip, I think I'd like to buy a pair for now...I'm really not too good with these sorts of things. Maybe over time I'd be able to do it.

Thanks,
Adam
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: MattD on June 23, 2003, 11:23:41 PM: Canare Star Quad terminated with Neutriks. As a personal recommendation, I'd get your two cables as different colors. I have mine black and gray, but they come in many others.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: hogan20a on June 23, 2003, 11:28:11 PM: Any suggestions on what store I can get these from?

Adam
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 23, 2003, 11:31:46 PM: masterpieceav.com can get you some canares with neutrik black/gold connectors
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Swampy on June 23, 2003, 11:32:02 PM: Quote from: MattD on June 23, 2003, 11:23:41 PM
Canare Star Quad terminated with Neutriks. As a personal recommendation, I'd get your two cables as different colors. I have mine black and gray, but they come in many others.

I think thoes are a little too expensive for you if you don't build them yourself http://www.micsupply.com/canarexlr.htm . You might want to look around at musiciansfriend.com or 8thstreet.com
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: hogan20a on June 23, 2003, 11:46:37 PM: Yeah, those are about double I'd like to pay. I couldnt find them on masterpieceav.com or 8th street. Is "Canare" what I should be searching for?

Thanks,
Adam
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: nickgregory on June 24, 2003, 12:07:43 AM: www.kindkables.com Ed is more than fair for his prices and he has made all of my cables.

Nick
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: MattD on June 24, 2003, 12:59:03 AM: Wow, I must have gotten a great deal on mine. I picked up my pair on ebay. They're new and definitely done well. I got a pair of 25-footers for $40ish + shipping. Same part numbers as mentioned. Sometimes you just get lucky.

Actually, I got them because I was unlucky. One of my old "generic" cables shorted out, and I didn't want to risk damaging the phantom power supply or my mics, so I got rid of them ASAP and went on ebay the next day.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Brian Skalinder on June 24, 2003, 09:42:45 AM: Markertek and Masterpiece AV both carry Canare/Neutrik cables:

Masterpiece AV 10' = $35/each
Markertek 10' = $18/each

These are for identical cables, mind you.

They both offer other lengths. Here're Markertek's:

http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=SC3XXJ (http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=SC3XXJ)

To find the Canare/Neutrik cables at Masterpiece AV, go to the Browse Our Catalog section, Cables & Connectors | Cables - Microphone. The ones you want are listed as "Masterpiece - SCNNXXJ', where NN = the cable length.

BUT, for what it's worth, these cables are identical to the lower priced ones at Markertek - Masterpiece AV even uses the same part number!

Only real difference - Markertek jumps in length from 10' to 25', with no 15' available, but I bet they'd make 'em for you if you just ask nicely.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Nick in Edinboro on June 24, 2003, 10:04:11 AM: I can't believe how much they want for 15' cables! :o Now I can brag that I have $120 cables and that I paid less then $30 for them.. ::)

I just ordered some, in fact they should be here today (along with my UA-5) :coolguy:

Here the e-mail with what I paid @ Markertek:

Qty Part # Description Price Ext $
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 L-4E6S GN Star Quad 4-Conductor 0.34 10.20
Microphone Cable, Green by
Canare
2 NC3FX-B 3-Pin XLR Connectors For Cable 2.64 5.28
Ends, Female XLR, Black with
Gold Contacts by Neutrik
2 NC3MX-B 3-Pin XLR Connectors For Cable 2.39 4.78
Ends, Male XLR, Black with Gold
Contacts by Neutrik
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Not including our shipping 20.26
charges and applicable sales tax

Handling charge for all orders 4.95

Ext'd Subtotal (including handling charge) 25.21
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: geoff piper on June 24, 2003, 10:15:43 AM: Quote from: nickgregory on June 24, 2003, 12:07:43 AM
www.kindkables.com Ed is more than fair for his prices and he has made all of my cables.

Nick
i went in for a look and for xlr's i have a question, is it 28 base price plus whatever depending on the length?
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: nickgregory on June 24, 2003, 10:24:53 AM: Quote from: geoff piper on June 24, 2003, 10:15:43 AM
Quote from: nickgregory on June 24, 2003, 12:07:43 AM
www.kindkables.com Ed is more than fair for his prices and he has made all of my cables.

Nick
i went in for a look and for xlr's i have a question, is it 28 base price plus whatever depending on the length?

Yes, but give the phone number a call...tell him exactly what you are looking for and he will give you a quote. I have gotten a fair amount of custom stuff done through him as well.

Nick
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: jessedscott on June 24, 2003, 10:48:48 AM: Don't buy them, just PAY someone to make you some, would be a lot less $$..... jon?
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 24, 2003, 11:37:56 AM: i would, but right now is a tough time, i am about to get back on the road, if you arent in any hurry, maybe, otherwise maybe dan can make em for ya.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: jessedscott on June 24, 2003, 12:07:17 PM: got to love that gettin back on the road pheelin! I'm jonesin'!
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 24, 2003, 12:20:38 PM: no, it is for work, dont love it, : (
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: jessedscott on June 24, 2003, 12:29:39 PM: well that blows, sorry dude! Atleast your getting paid ;D

JDS
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 24, 2003, 01:11:47 PM: well, it isnt too bad i guess, going to up to detriot for 2wks, weather should be nice and i get to see panic if i can get off of work early enough!
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Nick in Edinboro on June 25, 2003, 10:00:59 AM: Just made some 15' last night.. I'm so technically uninclined that it's silly but after two hours (probably much longer then average) I have some kickass "$120" cables for less then $21 in materials!

A little recommendation, look *really hard* for small strands of the sheath/ground wrapping themselves around the blue or white wires. Mine wouldn't past the "continuity test" and it turned out to be in both cases that one (yes one) strand of ground had touched the other wires!

Also curious, I couldn't find my 60/40 solder (electronic grade) so I used some other rosin core stuff. Is this terribly bad? The posts I've seen didn't mention electronic grade (just rosin core) and both cables passed signal just fine so I'm thinking I'm in the clear.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 25, 2003, 01:00:46 PM: I use .032 dia 2.5oz 60/40 light duty rosin core solder from RS
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: geoff piper on June 25, 2003, 01:03:14 PM: I need to make me some cables and a battery pack, much cheaper to do so... However I seriously suck at anything hands on, so thats what my dad's for... He's going to think im crazy ;D
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Chuck on June 27, 2003, 02:42:25 PM: I noticed that Neutrik connectors don't work well with the Oktava's. They are too tight. Switchcraft connectors seem to work fine though.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: mterry on June 27, 2003, 05:51:14 PM: i just feel like a tool for having x-streams now
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: Brian Skalinder on June 27, 2003, 05:53:10 PM: Quote from: mterry on June 27, 2003, 05:51:14 PM
i just feel like a tool for having x-streams now

Why?!?

Do you like 'em?

If yes, keep them.
If no, sell them and get/make cables that will make you happy.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: mterry on June 27, 2003, 05:54:35 PM: I could get the same same sound quality(i imagine) from cables that cost half the price. I'm going to try and build me some.

But you know what I'm saying.....
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 28, 2003, 02:45:05 AM: Quote from: calico on June 27, 2003, 02:42:25 PM
I noticed that Neutrik connectors don't work well with the Oktava's. They are too tight. Switchcraft connectors seem to work fine though.

they (neutrik) are pretty damn tight with my km100s, i gotta put some "umpff" into them to get them to click.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: danmorgan on June 28, 2003, 10:00:29 AM: Quote from: rabhan on June 28, 2003, 02:45:05 AM
they (neutrik) are pretty damn tight with my km100s, i gotta put some "umpff" into them to get them to click.

Jon, I noticed that too. They don't lock into place with the 140's quite as easily as they did withe the 480's.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 28, 2003, 10:11:49 AM: yeah,,,,but once they click, they aint coming off, heh.

what i dont like is how they float in the back of the v3, i dont get any major issues like level spikes or dropouts, but they do float a little bit.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: danmorgan on June 28, 2003, 10:18:56 AM: I take it the V3 doesn't "lock-in" using a release button? the mme only snaps, no manual release button...that's why I got the right-angles, little piece of mind they stay in place.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: rabhan on June 28, 2003, 10:50:09 AM: no, the V3, has the retainer clips, but there is some float. maybe only a few mm's, but still, i would feel more comfortable if they were as tight as the km100s.
Title: Re:XLR Recommendation?
Post by: cheshirecat on July 09, 2003, 12:56:29 AM: Quote
As a personal recommendation, I'd get your two cables as different colors. I have mine black and gray, but they come in many others.

I also use colored boots. They are handy to tell L and R apart. I also use them on my 4 pin battery systems to quickly identify 6v(I used green) and 12v(yellow). They fit both the 3 and 4 pin XLR connectors and come in lots of colors check em out:

http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=NT%2DBSX%2DBK

Mike