Subject: Re: Patch Cords? Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 19:06:21 +0200 From: Magnus Danielson > I am building a DIY modular, and I am frugal, so I was thinking,What's the > cheapest way to obtain mondo patch cords of all different lengths? I don't > plan on any patch normalization. > > Type Characteristics > > 1/4" Shielded. Great Quality, $4.00 per cable, $0.70 per jack. > 1/8" Shielded. Wear out, break easily, $3.00 per cable, $0.50 per > jack. > PIN Unshielded,(I want shielded) $1.70 per cable, $0.60 per jack > BANANA Unshielded, ("), $1.70 per cable, $0.60 per jack > RCA Shielded, Unknown lifetime?, $0.75 per cable, $0.25 perjack > > Costs above are estimated in quantities of 50 pcs. each item, because you > might build your synth over a long time span. > > Based on the above estimates, for each modular patch system for 200 > connectors and 100 cables the cost is: > 1/4" $540 > 1/8" $400 > PIN $290 > BANANA $290 > RCA $100 From this price example I see the RCA attracts you :) > I got the low price on RCA because the cables are made by the billions and so > are really cheap, and the jacks are available from closeout houses in all > sorts of 8X8 and 9X9 type matricies, with all the Jacks mounted on one PC > board. > = > Here are my ideas for Using this RCA system: > = > I think the PCBA mounted jack plate would be no harder to install than the > same number of jacks....the PCBA feels pretty sturdy....If the matices are > too tight for your fingers, you could remove every other Jack in high traffic > areas. > You get stereo cable pairs from closeout houses in 3,4, and 6 foot lengths. > You gently "rip" the stereo pair apart (ask if this is possible before you > buy!) to get two cables cheap. You could put colored electrical tape ($20 for > 5 rolls?) on the area of the RCA Connector you grab, to ease grasping, and > allow identification. > I played with some of these items, and, by expanding the connector's outer > ring and/or contracting the jack's inner ring, you could actally tailor the > feel of the system to your comfort level. Also, you could "tighten" the > connections as they age. I think that quite a large surface area is present, > so I have trouble imagining problems right away, but what about long term? > (Note: I'm just a hobbyist, the synth "repatching" will only be used at > about 1/10 professional use level.) > > Stop Laughing!! I know what you're all thinking, but it is a big savings > which you can spend on the active elecronics! > = > So what do you think? Any RCA experiences? Anything wrong with my estimates? > I know many of you would be throwing rotten cabbage at me if you could! Well, I have seen really shitty RCA contacts that are virtually impossible to use, things like bad plastic, bad soldering properties, bad physicalstabillity. These bad RCAs are also very cheap (supprised ?). I for a long time hated RCAs... but a few years back I saw (and got) some really good RCA contacts which had metallic houseing, good meachinc etc. But they (of course) was more expensive... This by the way also apply to all the other contacts that you mentions. I think that you should consider things like physical stabillity, soldering properties etc. In my experience picking to low quality connectors will eventually get annoying since they fall appart, soldering may start glitching etc... I certainly advice you to get something at least from the middle of the scale. When building things like synths, FX boxes etc. haveing physically stable contacts, caseing etc certainly bring the effective value of the device u p. A cable or box which disintegrate and/or start act unpredictable as you u se it does eventually make you get a bad feeling about the cabel or device. Cheap isn't allways best (nor is necessarly Expensive either... :) so a real study of such things could actually save you money in the long run. For cables I could also mention that the way they support the incomming cabel is of great importance for how the cabel will survive (there may be no exess physical stress applied to solderings if you want them to surivive). If you get good contacts together with good cables you will get a long term stability that you can live with. Also, recall that if you are going to make a modular synth, then you will make manny connect/unconnect cycles during the lifetime of the synth (and the cables going with it) so you want something which will last. Personnally I try to use XLR mainly in my private little studio, I of course have 1/4", 1/8" and RCAs in there too... The XLR contacts I have (Neutrik) are showing good over all properties. Neutrik also makes a good 1/4" contact that you migth use.... Neutrik isn't the most expensive you can get (with help of those HIFI people .. :). I think the good RCA was from Lemo (can't find them rigth now), or at least they where looking similar. This is certainly one of those things that should be put in a DIY web page. Magnus