Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Hi everybody,

All this recent talk about cables has got me thinking about making some
again. I just have cheap Hosa cables in my modest studio now - no
"real" patch cables for my MOTM since it consists of a filter, PS, EG
and VCA at this point (ready to order some VCOs though, yay!). As much
as I'd like to support Stooge Industries, my top priority is getting
some more modules and any place I can save a little toward that end
helps (unless we're talking pennies per cable - even I'm not that cheap.
:) Larry's (the Stooge) prices are the cheapest I've seen for what he's
offering. I'm guessing that it would be cheaper to buy cable in bulk,
with connectors, and make your own. If that's the case I have some questions.

First, what kind of cable does one want for a modular? Ya gotcher
"guitar cables" that are basically coax cables - a single conductor with
a metal braided shield that is soldered to the sleeve of the connectors.
I use these all the time patching synths/fx together and don't notice
any adverse effects (through my junky "studio monitors" anyway.) I've
also seen two conductor, shileded cable, like Belden 8412 for example.
I know people have used this type of cable and I can only assume its
because they are better (since they are more $). I also assume you
solder one conductor to the tip and one to the sleeve. Then do you
leave the shield unconnected? Or do you solder it to the sleeve too? I
can guess that with two conductor wire you might get better EM shielding
and probably lower impedance (which I guess translates to better freq
response) - but how much better?

Thanks,
Larry (the preacher)