Guide to Cable Usage in Music Production

Cables are an often under appreciated aspect of music production. The amateur will often shrug off the importance of a cable, but music production is much like a car engine. Every component can effect the end result. So it's important to respect the potential of choosing the correct cable and applying it to the situation tactfully. Below, I'll give you my tried and true experience as far as cable usage goes in music production.

Length is the most important part of choosing the correct cable. Many people focus on the quality, price, and durability. But by far the least analyzed and yet most important aspect of choosing the correct cable is length. The longer your signal has to travel, the worse it will sound. But having a short cable can be extremely annoying if you require mobility. So basically, it boils down to this: Use the absolute smallest cable you can. It may seem like a good idea to get those 20'' cables and just use it for everything, but your tone will significantly improve if you use shorter cables for shorter needs.

Durability is still important, though. There's no need to have great sounding cable if the thing will be totally wrecked the second you step on it. Many cable companies toss out terms like ''construction grade wiring'' and ''oxygen free copper''. As important as all that may be, it's still not as good as having a lifetime guarantee or an extended warranty. Always assume that your cables will eventually die and prepare accordingly.

Price. Now, there are some great cables out there but the stuff that people tout as high end quality are often far overpriced. Unless you're confident in your purchase, always look for cheaper alternatives that offer the same quality. When looking at opinions and ratings of products, you're better off listening to studio engineers and live sound technicians. Audiophiles, people who specialize in listening to pre-recorded music at home, have no real experience on the subject so be wary of their opinions.

And now we come to quality. Chances are, the sound difference won't be so obvious that you smack yourself in the forehead and wish you'd used cables correctly sooner. But it's still there, and over time your ears will learn to pick up these minute differences between a rusty, long cable and a pristine quality short cable. So if you made your purchase and don't hear the difference, don't feel bad. You will one day be able to hear it, I promise.