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Current recording engineers - what cables used?

Two sets of questions for currently active recording engineers participating on this forum:

1) what cables are you using for power supply and low level signals in your recording studio? What is the overriding factor in this decision - cost, durability/reliability or performance? If higher quality is desired in certain applications, where and why? If these are trade secrets, tell us anyway :-)

2) what cables are you using in your home system, if you have one, and do you consider yourself an “audiophile”? What is the overriding factor in this decision - cost, durability/reliability or performance?

Some aftermarket suppliers of audiophile cables boast that their products are used in pro studios.  Others posting here have suggested that use has more to do with durability than exotic design and performance.  This makes no sense to me because I have build bullet proof power cables with hardware store parts at low cost that could be dragged through hell and work for years, but did not come close to more exotic design in terms of audio performance in my systems.

I would assume this forum focused on audiophile home gear might select for recording professionals that are more informed on the audiophile cable “market” and have more developed opinions on this, and so do not represent a general crossection of the pro industry.  But had to ask anyway.
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shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
With 60 meters of cable and every half meter making a difference it is wonder you ever get to listen to any music at all. 

Imagine you have 3 cable manufacturers and 3 possible lengths of each and 3 spots for each cable and EVERY cable, position and length makes a difference.

27 different possibilities to test...

Now considering break-in of 200 hours for each change

5400 hours testing.

This above is not the same as choosing a well engineered cable from van den hul and ordering 23 Km to outfit your entire setup. 

One is paranoia. One is just taking a cost effective practical approach.




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knownothing OP
1,298 posts
 
Uh, @shadorne the studio tested 20 different cable types before settling on Van Den Hul, then they bought 23km.  Is that paranoia, or just being thorough?  Is testing the directionality of the earth ground paranoia or just being thorough?  I guess it depends on your perspective.

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Funny how we can all read the same thing and come up with, whatever that was. Back then they discovered that wire is directional and they just happen to be highly respected musicians that practically everyone loves. I guess some distraction was in order. 

Look at these numbers over hear and forget what you just read.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
@nonoise

Wire itself is NOT directional. Wires are designed to be non-directional. However, the choice of which end of a shield is grounded can make a difference in some cases. Recall that audio is using alternating current - so any directionality in wire would be totally detrimental to the sound and that detriment would apply equally whichever way round the wire is installed.

Phil Taylor is a guitar tech - the interviewer works for a rag that advertises cables - so dont believe every detail you read..


nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
The disclaimer that one shouldn't believe every detail in an article because of some loose and inevitable connection that would occur in any music or stereo article is quite a reach. To single out the mention of cables since they are advertised in that rag would beg the question: what about acoustics, speakers, mixing boards, reel to reel machines, etc. Should they all be discounted as well, or just the one you prefer?

All the best,
Nonoise
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