Topic: Stepping on cables

[Joe w.]

I am making a set of 25' xlr's with the mini starquad. I am doing this so at seated shows, I can run my cables under the seats to someone that maybe in a better, more centered position, then i can just clamp to them. My concern is for people that my be dancing and stepping on the cables (which i will tape down). what are the dangers from such a situation? thanks for the replys.

Joe

[Joe w.]

this is a legitimate concern, no?

[Tim]

it is. you don't want heavy traffic on your mic cables, but I don't think average show conditions would cause me much concern.

Eventually the cables will exhibit some wear and tear but it will take years

[Joe w.]

HA HA!. nice avi

[Joe w.]

you don't want heavy traffic on your mic cables, but I don't think average show conditions would cause me much concern.

yeah, i just didn't know if some heavy strikes to the cable would be audible

[timP]

watch out for fat dudes

[thegreatgumbino]

watch out for fat dudes

or chicks for that matter!

[jpschust]

if someone wants to try this, i have a pair of mogamis that have been in and out of the studio so many times its not even funny.  they work fine, but not a cable im too concerned about.

[nickgregory]

so I can tell you for the Dave and Tim show in Winston last year, my cables (canare starquads) were on the metal bleachers, and they picked up some vibration from the floor when people walked.  It was definitely slight, but I could hear it in the quiet parts.  May be more of a problem with acoustic music than anything else though.

[jk labs]

here is a link to _one_ article touching on the subject on audible effects due to mechanical
stress on the cable itself:
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/Cable-Distortion.html

The author makes a few other interesting remarks as well but that will have to be for another posting .. :-)

Enjoy!

[hexyjones]

I had a musician tapping his foot on a 50' unbalanced cable during a classical performance, and you can hear it as a tapping noise.

Exactly - unbalanced...I think these are far more prone to the effects mentioned...balanced runs should be fine...I remember my old Realistic Stereo Mic would pick up cable handling noise if I used an extension on it...

Most good stage mic cables are made for pretty rugged use...if you have them taped down...you should be fine...

[goose]

Handholding 480s with relatively nice mogami 15' mic cables resulted in *many* audible handling noises for DGQ - most sounded like deep bass, almost similar to wind noise.  This was indoor with no AC circulation, so it was actually handling noise.  In listening after the fact, I recall points when I was shifting mics (that setup gets heavy after a while), and the noise is obvious.  I learned to be much more careful after that outing.  Food for thought.

[Brian Skalinder]

Handholding 480s with relatively nice mogami 15' mic cables resulted in *many* audible handling noises for DGQ - most sounded like deep bass, almost similar to wind noise.

Were the 480s shockmounted?

[nickgregory]

Handholding 480s with relatively nice mogami 15' mic cables resulted in *many* audible handling noises for DGQ - most sounded like deep bass, almost similar to wind noise.  This was indoor with no AC circulation, so it was actually handling noise.  In listening after the fact, I recall points when I was shifting mics (that setup gets heavy after a while), and the noise is obvious.  I learned to be much more careful after that outing.  Food for thought.

wind noise is exactly what it sounded like for me too, and they were shock mounted

[hexyjones]

Yep I would have sworn that windstorm came into Eisenhower Auditorium and blew alll over my Betty Carter masters...

I couldn't figure it out...tap the cable...ahaa..!