Best instrument cables for recording purposes?

[Elijah]

I've been looking a a few different options and really can't decide which one is best. I've been looking at Mogami platinums, Monster SP1000s and Analysis Plus yellow ovals. What should I go for?????

[Scar Symmetry]

Planet Waves gold plated are good enough for me.

I used to swear by Monster Cables but the damn things kept breaking all the time.

[MaxOfMetal]

Cables are cables. Unless you're running a couple hundred feet (which a buffer would easily fix) it really doesn't matter.

About 99% of "premium" cables are just BS.

Find some solid, affordable cables to use. They'll sound just as good as the big buck Monster and Mogami ones.

[Elijah]

Well the reason I ask is because I can get easily hooked up with the big bucks cables, so money isn't the issue

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by Elijah

Well the reason I ask is because I can get easily hooked up with the big bucks cables, so money isn't the issue

Then it doesn't matter which you go with.

[Elijah]

Ha, fair enough :P

[tr0n]

Make the cables yourself, you can save hundreds on pounds/dollars. For instance, XLR cables can cost ~£4 per foot (DCS Pro for example), OR, you can pay ~£35 for a 100m reel of Vandamme cable, plus the Neutrik connectors and solder it together yourself. Will take maybe an afternoon to do the work depending on how much you need but the more cable you need the more cost-effective it is to make them yourself. I don't know what the savings might be in the US but maybe it's something to think about.

[Deadnightshade]

I've compared cables only once in my life..it was a john doe one,and the other was a pricey fender vintage one.My brother played with his japanese (!) fender jazz bass through a crappy stagg practice bass amp..There was a difference in the sound..the fender sounded a bit more crap XD Really even then the difference was minimal just use a normal sturdy one,not the short ones that come with the allen wrenches of the guitar you just purchased,nor the ones that are..like the cables of older telephones and you'll be fine

[rfahey86]

Monster cables are good if you have an In/Out jack that is stretched and loose. But if you use them in a good jack it will stretch it slightly, and make it so that regular cable fit a little loose. I usually just use the Livewire cables from guitar center. They are descent quality and have a lifetime warrenty. If they stop working just bring them back.

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by tr0n

Make the cables yourself, you can save hundreds on pounds/dollars. For instance, XLR cables can cost ~£4 per foot (DCS Pro for example), OR, you can pay ~£35 for a 100m reel of Vandamme cable, plus the Neutrik connectors and solder it together yourself. Will take maybe an afternoon to do the work depending on how much you need but the more cable you need the more cost-effective it is to make them yourself. I don't know what the savings might be in the US but maybe it's something to think about.

Best "investment" I ever made for my rig was getting a 200" spool of cable and a bucket of connectors.

[Wookieslayer]

Originally Posted by rfahey86

Monster cables are good if you have an In/Out jack that is stretched and loose. But if you use them in a good jack it will stretch it slightly, and make it so that regular cable fit a little loose. I usually just use the Livewire cables from guitar center. They are descent quality and have a lifetime warrenty. If they stop working just bring them back.

Yes I heard and have experienced this. Apparently monster cables and the gold plated ones are wider so they stretch out your jack over time! Prob not the best for recording devices such as pods unless u always use the same cable

[YellowMustard]

Originally Posted by MaxOfMetal

Cables are cables. Unless you're running a couple hundred feet (which a buffer would easily fix) it really doesn't matter

Absolute bullshit!

I strictly use Mogami Gold cables for recording and when compared to Monster Cables and some random cheaper cables there is a big difference. Are you sure you've tried Mogami cables? They are hands down the best cable made today.

Cables are not Cables. Thats flat out bullshit.

[Andii]

In my experience cables do make a big difference. The expensive ones aren't the best though. I've had random inexpensive ones that beat expensive brand named ones by miles. It's just a combination of some random factors that I can't seem to predict.

I use a shorter length for recording, Some short cables sound so bad that a good 18 or 19 foot will sound better though. Use your ears.

The prediction that can be made:
One brand to avoid is fender. They are consistently bad. Every single one of them is unusable. I don't know how they manage to botch something so simple every time without fail.

[joelozzy]

Anyone have experience and/or opinions on DiMarzio Instrument cables?