|
Avid Pro Audio CommunityHow to Join & Post • Community Terms of Use • Help Us Help YouKnowledge Base Search • Community Search • Learn & Support |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
OT Mic cable lengths
Ok so i am extremely lazy and do not have an ibook to move the studio so easily. now i have a piano in an upstairs room which i would like to record but i am concerned about mic cable lengths and signal degredation. anyone know of a general length limit before you have to boost the signal somehow? am i makeing sense? i am trying to quit coffee so i might not be.
thanks, ken;
__________________
What is Ken Hawkins up to? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
I think the general rule of thumb is: If you use a mic cable longer than 15feet you need to use a balanced cable. The bablanced cable will provide protection against RF interference. Hope that helps.
__________________
PowerMac G4/1.2ghzPowerLogix Panther OSx 10.3.4 Digi002/Protools 6.4/DVtoolkit Certified Protools6.x Post-Production Operator |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
It would depend on the quality of the cable (sheilding, wire ga., etc.) and the connectors. Obviously it should be a balanced cable. I have had runs up to 150' in the studio situation & over 300' live with no real loss of level or quality. Although live sound it kinda of hard to get as accurate a sonic picture than a studio situation.
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
If the mic pre's you are using are external put one next to the piano. The less cable between mic and mic pre is what is most important.
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
Quote:
thanks, ken;
__________________
What is Ken Hawkins up to? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
Mic cables, the reputable ones at least, are balanced. There are some funny ones by dubious makers that are not balanced. Part of the notion behind balanced cables is to run longer lengths BECAUSE the noise is all but eliminated by the balancing. Its the unbalanced cables that become more and more like antennas the longer they are. In general its not a bad idea to keep cable runs short, but don't let that lead you to believe that something terrible will happen after 20'. Even 50' isn't to be ashamed of. I think 200' is bound to be closer to the upper limit of the balanced cable's ability to reduce noise.
So don't fret. Get some Whirlwind, Horizon, Mogami or Monster types and you are fine, in whatever room you are in. I think that keeping AC power and audio lines from running together will do more to keep noise down anyway.
__________________
OS 10.3.9 1.25 mhz single G4, 1.25GB RAM, Firewire & Internal recording drives, Nomad Factory plugins PT 6.4, 001, Motormix |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
In theory you can run balanced cables up to 1000 feet.
With cables like Klotz, Monster etc you won't have any problems with 300 feet or so. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
In balanced signals two exact copies of the signal are used. While going into the cable, phase of one signal is reversed. Both of these signals (which are now completely out of phase with each other) pick up noise in the cable.
On the other side, going out of the cable, the phase of second signal is reversed again which means its phase is back to original, completely in-phase with the other signal. The trick here is that, when the phase of the second signal is reversed on the other end of the cable, the phase of the noise it picked up while running in the cable is reversed as well. Now the noise in the first signal is completely out-of-phase with the noise in second signal which means the noise is cancelled. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Two same signals, their phase 180 degrees apart, they cancel each other. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
And remember... One unbalanced device in the signal path will make whole path unbalanced.
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Re: OT Mic cable lengths
Quote:
Hope this is helpful. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
DigiLink cable lengths | Bambison | Pro Tools TDM Systems (Mac) | 3 | 06-21-2006 08:12 PM |
Cable lengths... | Lizardpoint | Pro Tools TDM Systems (Win) | 1 | 06-19-2006 08:20 AM |
Differing Balanced Cable Lengths? | mgriffin192 | Tips & Tricks | 1 | 11-18-2005 09:52 PM |
192 DigiLink cable lengths | RobMacki | Pro Tools TDM Systems (Mac) | 2 | 08-21-2005 05:20 PM |
Firewire cable lengths | TimP63 | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) | 3 | 02-18-2005 06:54 AM |