VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Adam Verner · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:59 am Post subject: Which mic cable would you use?

So I'm upgrading some of my cables, and it's come to the mic....which of these would you use? I'm not quite sure how to tell the difference between them...other than price, of course, and I don't want to just buy the most expensive and assume it's the best.

Blueberry cable:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BlueberryCab/
$30

Pro-co LifeLine LMCN:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LMic20/
$70

Monster P500M20:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P500M20/
$60

Thanks!
Adam

Mic -> Grace Design m101 -> RME Fireface 400 -> WinXP Adobe Audition
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Mogami - you will hear a difference over a cheap cable.
Get the shortest one you can work with.
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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:34 am Post subject:

another vote for mogami.
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David Swinehart · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

+1 for Mogami. I also like Whirlwind.
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jrkaiser · Guest

You need the cable that has a gold conductor and nitrogen filled core. They run about $1800/ft. Wink

I still have the Blueberry cable that came with my first Blue mic... they are very heavy duty and will work well for you. Mogami is good as well. Pro-co's are fine... Just make sure you get a cable that has solid connectors and is well built.

Your sound is only as good as your weakest link, so great cables are a must! In my opinion, the rest is subjective.

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:43 am Post subject:

Monster = RIP OFF
Mogami is great.
Can't speak for Blue, I am sure they are fine.
Pro-Co makes fine, well made stuff.
I deal Rapco-Horizon, similar, high value/quality cable.

George
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Ed Gambill · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:09 am Post subject:

My personal favorite is Canare - www.canare.com . Mogami is good quality.

I know of three companies that make Quad Cable. Belden, Canare, and Mogami. All three are good vendors.

Belden has been in business from 1902. Companies like AT&T(my former employer), US Navy, RCA, and many more companies have relied on Belden.

What I like about Canare is that their microphone cables are available in eight colors. That way if you have multiple cable in use you can trace back any cable easily.

The best thing to look for is Quad Cable from the above companies. Quad defends from noise and is less microphonic.

Monster NO
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

So what's the concensus on Pro-link Performer cables by Monster?

Are Monster cables a rip-off because they're overpriced, or are they just not good quality?

Regarding length, is 20 feet a length that would detract from clarity and signal strength?

Adam Verner · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

Rellis -

I just got off the phone with a rep from SweetWater and his take was that the Monster and Pro-co cables were much the same....he said I wouldn't notice "an appreciable difference," at least for the voice-only work I need it for.

I've heard Monster disparaged in the industry quite a bit as well, though it seems to be mainly for over-pricing.

He said most pros try to stay at lengths 20 feet or under, preferably as short as possible. Then again, he said, he's strung a 300 footer with no problems. Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

I ended up getting a 20 ft Pro-co, we'll see how it works out!
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject:

Ed Gambill · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject:

Monster has been known to be very aggressive in charging patent or trademark infringement.

They jumped the wrong guy

Read this http://www.bluejeanscable.com/legal/mcp/index.htm
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

If you can find them, Audio Technica cables are made in the same factory as Mogami, and are comparable in construction and sound quality. They are also more robust and flexible if you need to use them on the road.

I use Mogami and AT, and I recommend Belden and Canare too.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Okay,
I have pulled out all my wiring from my booth to separate power wires from mic cables, and am thinking about maybe going ahead and getting Mogami cables.

I'm currently using Pro-Link Performer 500 by Monster, and Blueberry mic cables, both 20 ft.

My signal chain is sounding pretty good, with the one possible exception being my RE 20 into the Avalon 737. I won't say it's noisy, but you can hear more background noise than with my other mics (all condensers)

The RE 20 directly into the Apogee Duet is very clean.

Would an upgrade to Mogami be worth it?

I'm also having trouble finding Mogami in 20 ft length. They have 15 and 25 but not 20! ARghhh! 20 ft. is just long enough. I'm thinking at 25 the extra 5 feet might compromise sound quality (or would it?)

Thanks for your input.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Okay, looks like it will be Audio-Technica cables!

roger · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:39 am Post subject:

I use Canare Quad-cable in our TV audio department. It has five total conductors...one shield (or ground) and two conductors each for the hi and low side audio. This does an incredible job of warding off RF and EMI interference.
You can do a demonstration yourself by connecting a mic thru a cable to an amp/speaker and lay the mic cable across a live AC cable and hear the rejection difference between quad cable and standard two conductor cable. Also because we use the cable in all kinds of temperatures and situations and we need it to roll-up easily and neatly, we choose the Canare for its jacket (insulation) which is very pliable, even at very low temps. I've used the cable in Russia in January.
Of course, we buy the bulk cable by the spool and make our own mic cables. Oh, and I like the Nuetrik XLR connectors, because they can be field stripped without a screwdriver.
And when speaking of cable lengths, it is not as critical when you're using balanced cables (2 conductors and a shield or drain wire). Unbalanced cables should definitely be limited to under 20 feet, but my guess is none of us is dealing with unbalanced equipment or shouldn't be.
Anyway, there's my free advice and darn well worth what you paid for it.
-roger
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