Karaoke Forums

Just out of curiousity I was wondering what mic cables everyone is partial to. I found Monster cables aren't all that. I know they have a life time warantee, but I buy from Guitar Center. I can replace any cable for free with them. I find the ends of the cables are so bulky they don't fit in mic holders well and they for some reason don't hold up to the beatings my other cables do. I've used Mogami, Hot Wires and a few others. what do you guys use?

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I use LiveWire mic cables.  Lifetime warranty, replace approx every 6 months or so.  Haven't paid for a mic cable in over 6 years.  Have 6 cables, 2 on the mics, 2 for backup at the club & 2 at home.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Does Sam Ash or Guitar center sell these, or is this something you order online?

~Lazer

_________________
"Baby, Just Because I Rock, Doesn't Mean I'm Made Of Stone."

ILL bet Your using the 100 series...they are around $45 for a 30 foot ? The 100 series mic cable is the only monster product that I have ever known anyone to have a problem with. trade em in for the 500 series next time. not only are the ends smaller,the wire is thicker,and they sound better. Mogami is a top notch cable. I have never use them but know they are good. Im told they are suited better for studio use than the road use that we give things. Hot wires and the others just do not have the sound quality i insist on. Im ok with spending as much on a cable as I do on the sm58 on the end of it but I understand most are not.

_________________
the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I get mine at Guitar Center, i'm sure most major retailers in pro audio sell these as well.  They cost a little more initially, but are worth it in the long run!  When they go bad, just bring them to the store purchased from (in my case GC) & say I need to exchange for new.  They give you new, take the old, print new receipt & you are on your way!

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I use all wireless mics. But for my mic cables to the recievers I use Live Wire. I use Monster cables for a few applications such as between my crossover and amplifers.

Unless your system is of top notch components, the expensive cables are not going to make that much of a difference.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

its never even crossed my mind to use anything less than the best..and they do make a big difference..monster speaker cables made a difference too. cleaner tones and better bass.

_________________
the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I use all Horizon Cables for live stuff and I have some Mogami for my condenser mics in the studio at home.  The horizons are what the local music store I frequent has and they replace them no questions asked when they go bad.  They are really decent cables though, all switchcraft brand connectors on mine, and I have only had to replace two that I accidentally closed in a gear case lid and cut.  No questions, they replaced them just like Sears does with a craftsman wrench you have bent with a 4' peice of pipe for a breaker bar.  Nice stuff and not terribly expensive either.

BSR

just picked up 2 mic cables from Muscians Friend - nothing special
20ft for $11.99.  personally I don't see any audio differance between a $10 mic cable and a $40 cable for my applications.   --  2 cable that I have purchased in the past were great and I'm sorry I didn't buy them this time.

They were braided woven instead of a rubber -  Handled and stored bette than any other I've found and they were CHEAP
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=330076

Go figure !

We are having a rash of problems with mic cables. My next major project I'm going to get about 500' of Belden 8412 (not cheap, $1.50/ft/ I can still get it at dealer price) and canon plugs and make my own. This is the cable used in all tv, fm and am stations It is hard to work with as it is double shielded but it is the best audio cable there is. It is durable and handles stress and I will use it for the power speaker cables also.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

My main roadie (hubby) is meticulous about rolling the cords we use on our corded mics. Kind of irritates me sometimes but I think in 12 years I have replaced 2 cords. Main thing is don't let them get 'twisted' and, of course, you have to train singers NOT to pull on the cords when they sing. Swinging mic - automatic death sentences. Cord longevity is certainly predicated on the way the cords are handled.  So he says anyway....

At times we get lax and let the kids party.. When a bunch runs up to the stage and you have 4 or 5 singers grabbing for a mic, the cords get broke. Yup I gotta fix one this week. But this is what brings them back.

This is my first gig where the majority is college age but all respect the gear and don't abuse it.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I've tried the Monster cables on my speakers, there was not much if any difference in sound between them & the 10 guage ProCo cables I replaced them with, plus they were cheaper.  Monster cables are overated imo.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Yea I was thinking about 8412 for the speaker cables, but cancelled that thought. Most of my run now is through a 50 or 100 foot snake and dont notice any difference.

Years ago we installed many jukeboxes with that clear heavy stuff that looks like zip cord and run miles of it. The important thing is good connections on both ends.

On low levels like mic cords it is more critical though.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Monster cables are snake oil -- that is the considered opinion of rec.audio.pro, which includes some very top-level audio guys with 30 and more years of experience.

That being said, top-quality mic cables are important for a working KJ in my opinion. They are more flexible, don't get tangled as easy, and are more reliable requiring fewer spare cables for backup.

The LiveWire from Guitar Center are what I use too. I haven't had to replace a one yet, because I don't do that many gigs. But the mic I practice with daily has one too, and it gets a lot of use.

My favorite Mic cables are ProCo lifelines. I've never counted them but I must have somewhere between thirty and forty of them and they have performed very well, and most of them have been exposed to less than ideal living conditions. Some of them  I've had for pushing 20 years. I've had very few failures, and when I do I simply cut a few inches off the end and reinstall the XLR's. Even though they have a lifetime guarantee I am simply to lazy to go to the store to replace them. All of my speaker cables are also ProCo with either banana or Neutrik Speakon ends as well as the 100 foot snake I use sometimes. Keep in mind that almost all manufactures have different degree of quality in their product lines. Just because it says ProCo for example doesn't mean it is the best thing since sliced bread, I'm pretty sure the lessor quality ProCo cables are made in china now, but the ProCo Lifelines are still made in Kalamazoo Michigan.

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

FYI - Guitar Center has 20ft livewire microphone cables on sale for $14.99. I wanted to pick up a few more cables and came across it. I didn't see it listed on the Musicians Friend website though, odd.

What length mic cables work for you guys? I usually use 15ft or 20ft.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I have a mix of 10, 15, and 20-foot cables. Depends on the gig - I find the more mic cable there is on the floor, the greater the chance of someone catching it and pulling the mic and stand down. That has happened a few times. So I have 10-foot cords at some gigs, 15 and 20 at others...At times I've had to hold on to the connection at the board when someone wanted to wander but I just give it a tug and they move back.  

k

I have anything from 5's to 30's but I use more 20 footers than any other size. In order of usage i would guess 20's, 15's, 10's, 30's, 5's for me anyway.

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye