I've been making my own leads for years and have gone through various makes and types of connector and cable. I know where I am with connectors, I can see and feel and solder my way to an understanding of what qualities I want, but in terms of the cable it's been pretty haphazard and I just buy what there is in stock that I can afford at the time.

I've been looking at the Studiospares catalogue and to be honest all the mic cable looks a bit samey to my amateur brain. Ignoring any sales spiel and avoiding snake-oil babble, are there any general guidelines to offer to a home studio chap like myself?

What are the elements worth considering? I suppose flexibility and width are obvious, but what about shielding, various capacitances, and core make-up? Does any of that matter? Is there any worthwhile difference between Mic and (balanced) Line use?

I've read this thread and this one as well and from what I gather, pretty much anything is OK for short domestic-use leads. Please feel free to disillusion/educate/ridicule at leisure.

It’s mostly about shielding and what sort of environment you’re going to be using the cables in. This SOS article entitled ‘Choosing Studio Cable’ may help you decide what’s most appropriate to you:

www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/feb96/cables.html

Hope it helps!


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

Length is quite important.

Now don't confuse matters EW


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

Quote Martin Walker:

---

This SOS article entitled ‘Choosing Studio Cable’ may help

---

Ah, cheers for that - oddly I did search the site for 'choose cable' but it didn't come up, unless I just missed it.

Anyway, it looks like it's worth making a cuppa to read with.

Just for info, I found this old article earlier today: AUDIO CABLES AND WIRING

Covers pretty much what I needed to know. Hope it's a useful link for others.