Calipso
Family Friend
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 155
Location: N.Ireland |
| Making own cables |
 |
|
I am expanding my little home studio, so I can do more, and as i add more microphones, I need more cables. So I was wanting to make my own, as buying cables seperatley is costly. I was looking in maplins, and their cables are not that cheap per metre. I was wondering if you knew any other websites that offer microphone cable at good prices?
Secondly on the topic, what tools would I need to make my own cables. And just to be sure what exact type of cable should I be looking for?
Cheers |
Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:11 am |
|
|
wailingalleycat
Forum Manager
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Posts: 694
Location: Jersey C.I (UK) |
| Making Cables |
|
|
Hi Calipso,
Soldering/Cable making is an important skill for every sound engineer to learn, you never know when u may desperately need an XLR to MIDI cable for example (lol).
I personally swear by Van Damme cable, you can buy it direct from the factory i believe, it works out about 80p a metre but if you are going to make your own cables, no point buying cheap tat. a good cable will last you 50 years, a bad one wont last a single session.
You will need at the very least:
A soldering iron (something like a 25w electric would be fine) you dont need to spend alot on one, i use a soldering station that was £40 but u can them for as little as 3.99.
A tube/roll/length of lead-free solder with flux (most solder u buy now will be lead free with flux)
A good pair of cutters and a clear worksurface obviously.
there are plenty of tutorials on the internet for soldering. a top tip is to use a large pair of blunt nose pliers with an elastic band around the handle, which makes a great clamp on a budget for holding connectors steady while you solder them.
also be sure to find a wiring diagram for each connector, its imperative u get the wires the right way round to avoid noise and phase issues etc.
thats enough for now but do ask questions.
-Paul
_________________
If In Doubt...Hit It With a Hammer, If Still In Doubt... Find a Bigger Hammer. |
|
Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:06 pm |
|
|
|
|
conquistadore
Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 514
|
| Umm |
|
|
Oh and an off hand tip - something I used to keep forgetting to do! Remember to put the platic end of the connector in place(the cover that screws in) first before soldering..it will definitely save you the pain of 're-soldering'.  |
|
Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:23 am |
|
|
 
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Fri May 16, 2008 12:56 pm
|
|
|
|
| |
