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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: dlh on May 03, 2010, 10:55:06 AM

Title: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: dlh on May 03, 2010, 10:55:06 AM

I'm planning to make some mic cables for location recording using a stereo mic (5 pin xlr).  I'm considering cable listed below.
I'd like to keep size and weight down, which attracts me to the mr202, but the "quality" part of my brain says Star-Quad.
My longest run will probably be 50'.  Longest cable probably 30'.

So my two biggest concerns/questions would be:

Has anyone had noise/interference issues with the mr202 cable that might be avoided using Star-Quad?
And, can you "cram" a cable larger than 8mm (like the Mogami siamese or the Canare L-4E3-2P) into a Neutrik X?

Thanks


Canare MR202-2AT      (od .264)   http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=60

Canare L-4E3-2P      (od .350)   http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=55

Canare L-4E4-AT      (od .413)   http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=56

Mogami W3106      (od each .189)   http://www.mogamicable.com/Bulk/micr_cables/stereo_miccab/stermicc.html
(siamese)               (width .378)

Mogami W2930      (od .295)   http://www.mogamicable.com/Bulk/snake_cables/standard.html

Neutrik xlr max cable diam 8mm (.31")

Title: Re: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: ghellquist on May 03, 2010, 02:24:37 PM

For stereo cables I have since long time been using single star quad cables (not a stereo star quad). This has four wires inside and a single common screen. No problems at all with this setup.  5 pin XLR-s at each end. When needed, breakouts from 5 pin to double 3 pins. I have several of these cables, ranging from about about 10 to about 50 meters.

The microphone signals in the stereo pair will not influence each other at all. ( Crosstalk might just possibly be measureable, but will have no real effect ).

// Gunnar

Title: Re: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: theslygoose on May 04, 2010, 02:09:50 PM

Quote from: dlh on May 03, 2010, 10:55:06 AM

My longest run will probably be 50'.  Longest cable probably 30'.

So my two biggest concerns/questions would be:

Has anyone had noise/interference issues with the mr202 cable that might be avoided using Star-Quad?
And, can you "cram" a cable larger than 8mm (like the Mogami siamese or the Canare L-4E3-2P) into a Neutrik X?

1)Longest run I've done was 30' on MR202 and the customer was happy with it. 
2)The cable cramming question gets asked a lot and Neutrik came up with a solution:

http://www.neutrik.com/fl/en/audio/204_1996102910/XX-14_Series_productlist.aspx (http://www.neutrik.com/fl/en/audio/204_1996102910/XX-14_Series_productlist.aspx)

Title: Re: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: illconditioned on May 04, 2010, 09:36:11 PM

Go with the siamese.  These cables are great!  Very compact, and much less lilkely to tangle.

  Richard

Title: Re: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: dlh on May 05, 2010, 08:55:58 AM

Thanks for all replies.  I've pretty much decided on star-quad (not stereo) for the main runs.
Now to decide on a relatively thin cable for the breakouts.
Considering this; supposed to be rugged:

http://www.aquarianaudio.com/product.php?productid=24&cat=32&page=1

or Mogami 2697 or 3031:

http://www.mogamicable.com/Bulk/micr_cables/lavalier/lavalier.htm
I doubt that with the short lengths of breakouts, it will make much difference.

Thanks again, and to Mike Wall of naturerecordists.

Title: Re: Opinions/Advice on stereo mic cable
Post by: DigiGal on May 05, 2010, 11:57:47 AM

For short run 25' I use a single standard Canare Starquad cable (L-4E6S) wired 5 pin to 5 pin and break it out at the recorder. 

For longer runs I use a break out at the mic and then run 2 separate Canare Starquad (L-4E6S) cables to the recorder.

Using smaller Starquad Canare (L-4E5AT) for the breakout, two of these cables will fit into a Neutrik NC*FX connector.