Taperssection.com
Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: phil_er_up on January 12, 2014, 10:17:35 AM
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Hi all,
Remember reading on TS that there is a device you can buy to test your cables if they have a short or just to have confidence all your cables are working properly. Spent awhile searching today on TS and can not remember what the cable testers are called and if anyone has a link to one would even be better.
Thanks.
Have a great 2014.
-p
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This one is inexpensive and has served me well so far:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=245573&Q=&is=REG&A=details
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This one is inexpensive and has served me well so far:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=245573&Q=&is=REG&A=details
That's what I use.
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+1
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Thanks all. Will be buying one this week.
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That's what I use.
About as good as an endorsement can get! ;D
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How about this..
Every taper should have one of these.
And FWIW it has a bonus feature of functioning as a handy 440Hz & 1kHz test tone generator.
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How about this..
Every taper should have one of these.
Agree gutbucket.
Mine is arriving today...
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What a clever piece of kit. I'm going to get one of these too.
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Just got it today. Ordered it from G U I T A R C E N T E R due to they due not require signature for delivery and I ordered it Monday and it arrived today. They gave me a 10% percent discount too not really sure why. Plus free shipping so got it all for $26.03
It is heavier then I thought. Feels well built. You need 2 double A's and fired it up. 3 page manual and a short read. Plugged in one of my cables and was easy to use. Figure I can use this for my recording, Home stereo and instrument cables that I own. Never have to guess again if it is a short. This is a GREAT invention.
PS: Won't have to send as many packages to Ted to check for shorts though might have to receive more... :)
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This is one piece of Behringer gear worth buying.
I had some cables that appeared fine on visual inspection, but the cable checker indicated they were bad. Probably a problem somewhere in the cable run. Saved me from going out to record with a defective cable.
I'm going to look ignorant, but if anyone could please explain the usefulness of the tone test generator, it would be appreciated.
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I can think of a few uses for a tone generator.
1. Testing a cable run with transformers inline. (isolated splits for example) the transformer will block simple continuity testing, but pass an audio signal.
2. matching preamp levels. Since the tone generator outputs a consistent level you can use it to match preamp input gain.
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Scoob beat me to it..
The test tone generator is useful for adjusting gain levels though a signal chain. It outputs a sine wave at a constant level.
I've used that to figure out how much gain an outboard preamp is adding at a certain setting by plugging the tone generator directly into the recorder input and noting the level on it's meters, then doing the same with the preamp between the tone generator and the recorder and again noting the level on the recorder's meters. The difference between the two is the gain of the preamp. BTW, this thing doesn't mind plug-in-power across it's output. Same thing can be done to find the unity gain levels though a device.
A more arcane application- I use it when I record with the ambisonic Tetramic, which requires exact gain matching across all 4 channels for the software decoding that is done later on a computer to work properly. Before a recording session I set the gains on the R44 to where I think they'll need to be, then send a test tone through each channel and adjust the fine gain trim controls on the R-44 until I get identical AC voltage readings on each channel output RCA. That gets me 'close enough' to play around with decoding the files on the computer without having to match-adjust the signal level of the files first in an editor. I also record about 10 seconds of test tone on each channel after I get home, which allows closer matching in an editor than the voltmeter technique. Doing that is especially important if I didn't guess right on the gross gain setting beforehand and needed to change the gain settings at the gig.
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This is the probably the most useful mode of this thing-
It's good for checking for obviously bad cables, but the huge advantage of this thing over using a test light or ohmmeter is the continuity test function which can catch very short intermittencies in the cable itself, the solder joint to the connector, a dirty contact, or simply a loose and worn-out connector that can otherwise be aggravating to chase down.
Plug in the cable, reset the indicator lights on the box with the push button, then wiggle the cable around every-which-way while watching for any indicator lights switching on. The lights latch-on until reset again indicating even a very quick break.
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Most enlightening. Thank you.
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I feel I got enough info here, that I won't have to immediately read the directions when it gets here. +Ts
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So in the installed cable mode, could you check a cable with a mic on the other end for example?
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I have had mine for over 10 years and it functions as new. One of the only things this company makes that is not firewood.