Microphone Cables in Bulk?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hello:

I'm looking at buying some microphone cable in bulk to make my own but
I have some questions.

I can get some Mogami 22 AWG non-shielded at 0.51 a foot
or 25 AWG shielded at 0.39 a foot or a 24 AWG Quad Cable
at 0.39 a foot.

So my question is, what should I go with?
Shielded, not shielded or Quad?
Based on resistance I would guess either the 24 Quad or the 22 but does
it pay to have the shielded cable?

Thanks!
Edward Medina

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On 26 Feb 2005 13:23:20 -0800, Dracon <medina4me@netscape.net> wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I'm looking at buying some microphone cable in bulk to make my own but
> I have some questions.
>
> I can get some Mogami 22 AWG non-shielded at 0.51 a foot
> or 25 AWG shielded at 0.39 a foot or a 24 AWG Quad Cable
> at 0.39 a foot.
>

For stage use or for studio use?

Anything that's going to be handled by a performer needs to have a
Neophrene jacket. Or "rubber" but nearly all of that is Neophrene these
days. Holds up better.

For stuff that you pull around the studio, same song, only this time
the reason is "lies flat."

For permenant wiring, look to minimize capacatance. Neophrene isn't
that great, PVC is better, but Polypropylene is usually the best.

You want "Shielded two conductor" or "Shielded single pair." Paired
cables have specific characteristics . . like the twist in multipair
cable is different for each pair . . that aren't that important in the
audio range except in noisy applications.

You might want to call Belden an ask to speak to an applications
engineer. He (nearly always) will ask about your application and get
you the best product match from their line. Their competitors all
cross-reference the Belden catalog, so you'd be good to go.

Given the choices you mention, I'd choose the 25AWG shielded (you do NOT
want unshielded microphone cables EVER) assuming you mean single pair.

But I'd look for 22AWG rather than 25, just 'cuz I prefer something
beefier.

YMMV, Not valid in Vermont, and all that good stuf.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Dracon wrote:
> If all the Mic Cables are shielded then why are there Balanced 22 awg
> Mic Cable from Mogami sold at Redco.com??

Don't know why for sure, but they probably make money selling it .
Balanced and Shielded are not mutually exclusive.


> I figured I wanted the 22 awg, but I also figured I wanted the
> shielded. So, I was confused about the Quad mic Cable and the 22 awg
> which didn't seem to be shielded. Unless the Mogami 22 awg (MOG
> W2549) is shielded and Redco just decided not to put on there that
> they are shielded.

It is shielded:

ftp://ftp.mogami-wire.co.jp/pub/mit/catalog.pdf


> However the 24 & 25 awg are Braided Shield, and perhaps that's the
> difference? Guess, I'll have to go to Mogami's website and find out
> what really is the 22 awg cable.


Look here, also:

http://www.mogami.com/e/puzzle/index.html

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Dracon" <medina4me@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:1109460907.286511.57120@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Yeah! I just went to the Mogami website and found out that all of the
> mic cables are shielded. My confusion came in when I read that there
> were some that were Braided shield. Well, I guess Redco believes
> that's important enough to list, but I'm to assume that all the other
> cables are already shielded. Anyway, thanks for the response.
>

The reason they mentioned it is that some cables use an aluminum coated
Mylar shield. It works, but it is not as robust. Mic cable gets handled a
lot. Braided shield is a good feature.

Steve King

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Dracon <medina4me@netscape.net> wrote:
>Yeah! I just went to the Mogami website and found out that all of the
>mic cables are shielded. My confusion came in when I read that there
>were some that were Braided shield. Well, I guess Redco believes
>that's important enough to list, but I'm to assume that all the other
>cables are already shielded. Anyway, thanks for the response.

Most of the Mogami cables use served or wrapped shields. Only a couple
use braided shields.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On 26 Feb 2005 15:35:07 -0800, Dracon <medina4me@netscape.net> wrote:
> Yeah! I just went to the Mogami website and found out that all of the
> mic cables are shielded. My confusion came in when I read that there
> were some that were Braided shield. Well, I guess Redco believes
> that's important enough to list, but I'm to assume that all the other
> cables are already shielded. Anyway, thanks for the response.
>

There are, broadly speaking, two types of shield (note: If you're in
the business of RF transmission, you need to know MUCH more about your
shield than we're discussing here): Foil, and braided.

Braided shield provides less coverage, but greater flexibility. In
permenant installations, full coverage is more important. But that
assumes the cables won't be moving much. Braid shield provides greater
flexibility and will hold up better with tracking room or stage
handling.