Cable organizing question — The Watering Hole

CraigB #1 · Feb 11, 2009 02:54 UTC

For those of you that work in studios (e.g., Charger) or have to deal with rediculous numbers and lengths of gear cabling (like patch cords, guitar and keyboard inputs, mics, speakers, power, etc.):

Do you have any tips on how to keep them organized? Is there a preferred method of coiling them up that's better than the lame "around the hand and elbow then add a tie-wrap?"

In other words, a method where you can grab a cable later and not get about three-dozen others to come along with the one you want?

I'm guessing this is something that has been an issue and that someone has already come up with a clever solution (I usually double the length over and over then tie-wrap to keep the cable from getting a twist in it - no idea if that's really a better method or not - hence my question).

cgtrox #2 · Feb 11, 2009 03:59 UTC

CraigBert — Feb 11, 2009Is there a preferred method of coiling them up that's better than the lame "around the hand and elbow then add a tie-wrap?"

I HATE when people wrap cords like that! >:(

I have ALL of my cords with ties and I roll them and twist them until they lay down on their own. Even the 1ft cables!! It's one of my pet peeves. I have been using the same cords for almost five years now!

cgtrox 8-)

CraigB #3 · Feb 11, 2009 04:59 UTC

Just found this - kind of what I was looking for (I think).

http://www.viewdo.com/now_viewing.php?id=266

And another - this one seems to be exactly it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqbYyaUY5Sk

Finally - the best demo so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpMp_3gg-YI&NR=1

Fenderbender #4 · Feb 11, 2009 14:43 UTC

cgtrox — Feb 11, 2009[quote author=CraigBert link=1234320874/0#0 date=1234320874]Is there a preferred method of coiling them up that's better than the lame "around the hand and elbow then add a tie-wrap?"

I HATE when people wrap cords like that! >:(

I have ALL of my cords with ties and I roll them and twist them until they lay down on their own. Even the 1ft cables!! It's one of my pet peeves. I have been using the same cords for almost five years now!

cgtrox 8-)
Preach!!!

CraigB #5 · Feb 11, 2009 17:13 UTC

Well, mine are all nicely wrapped and sorted now. I just need to figure out the best way to store all of 'em so I can get to the ones I want whenever I DO get around to wiring up my gear... If you count all of the little TRS/TRS, TRS/XLR, MIDI and TS/TS patch cables, I've got over 300 cables (35 different types). Holy crap! :o

cgtrox #6 · Feb 11, 2009 19:24 UTC

:o :-?

cgtrox 8-)

fingers #7 · Feb 11, 2009 23:11 UTC

Are you planning on getting a load of people in to play kit when you set it all up ?
Or is it your studio ?

CraigB #8 · Feb 11, 2009 23:41 UTC

I used to have a lot of people over and originally was trying to design a home studio that I could maybe do projects for others on (probably just my rational to buy so much duplication!), now I don't know many players up here and not sure if I'll go that route this time anyway (maybe AFTER my Mom has moved out again?). Right now I won't even have the ability to play somewhere else, just here, and I'm good with that for now.

So that means I'm hoping to be able to sell some cables once I figure out which ones to keep. Since I use patchbays to give the most flexibility after wiring, that adds a lot of cables (and all of those synth modules use a lot of MIDI cables as well)! Plus I kept all of my TS cables when I went to an all-balanced system several years back. Maybe I can get rid of those first.