Using dmx cables for pre-amp use?

[DJ Higgumz]

I have a choice between my 30 foot Xlr to Xlr cable, or a 10 ft dmx cable. I need to splice one of them to get to 1/4''. Since dmx is data cable, would it make the sound cleaner than sound cable, or am I just being silly. Or is there no audible difference? I know if you use Xlr for dmx, it makes scanners all jittery, I wonder if it has an effect the other way around

[bassmonster]

Why would you use Dmx cable as speaker cable? Any speaker cable is fine, don't waste money on expensive cable. (I'm not saying I'm not guilty of this- I quite like the connectors on my Monster cables) But no matter what you do to it, copper is still copper. If you're feeling lucky you can make your own, look at some recent DIY cable threads.

[Rune Bivrin]

Why would you use Dmx cable as speaker cable? Any speaker cable is fine, don't waste money on expensive cable. (I'm not saying I'm not guilty of this- I quite like the connectors on my Monster cables) But no matter what you do to it, copper is still copper. If you're feeling lucky you can make your own, look at some recent DIY cable threads.

Since the question is about XLR connectors and pre-amps, I'm assuming this is for line level signals. I see no particular reason why that shouldn't work well enough.

[bassmonster]

Since the question is about XLR connectors and pre-amps, I'm assuming this is for line level signals. I see no particular reason why that shouldn't work well enough.

Right. I didn't read as well as I should have.

[Dave Non-Zero]

the only difference between mic cable and DMX is better screening on the DMX to minimise interference. use the dmx if you want basically.

[DJ Higgumz]

Im not doing it with a preamp, I just meant it would be before any high power was introduced. I just have dmx layin around, I don't want to cut up my nice long mic cable if I don't have to. I have used dmx for a mic when I needed more cable, but it's hard to tell with my cheap mic I used if I made the sound foggy or not.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Copper is copper. Poly jacketed foil shielded DMX cable isn't as flexible as rubber jacketed braided shield mic cable, but that's of no concern to electrons.

[DJ Higgumz]

Would I need it sheilded? Or is it too short of a length to be shielded. How can I tell if it's shielded?

[Dave Non-Zero]

If it's a mic lead or a DMX led then it is shielded.

[Gregory East]

I'm guessing your 1/4" isn't a TRS balanced connection? Afaik that makes the sheilding moot so the unbalanced connection would prefer a shorter length of cable to minimise it's aerial properties.

[Tom Smit]

I'm guessing your 1/4" isn't a TRS balanced connection? Afaik that makes the sheilding moot so the unbalanced connection would prefer a shorter length of cable to minimise it's aerial properties.

As I understand it, the shield is soldered to the cold terminal on one end only, and that end is inserted where there is a TRS jack, or XLR(only for TS jack)

[DJ Higgumz]

I'm guessing your 1/4" isn't a TRS balanced connection? Afaik that makes the sheilding moot so the unbalanced connection would prefer a shorter length of cable to minimise it's aerial properties.

As I understand it, the shield is soldered to the cold terminal on one end only, and that end is inserted where there is a TRS jack, or XLR(only for TS jack)

Yep that's how I have it, but the short length of the cords are alright I think. I hooked up the low pass to my tops (don't have an amp for my t39) to see how it works and that there are no connection problems. There is some slight white noise though, and I'm sure it won't be heard out of the horn. But is It a problem with shielding? There's a ground lift switch on my crossover, what does that do? Would it have anything to do with shielding?

[subharmonic]

not that this is the leading expert however:

[ontime1269]

I'm glad I ran across this thread. I came across a few DMX cables the other day that I was wondering what to do with since I don't run larger light shows that I have in the past. My DMX cables are only 3ft long so I will probably use them as loop thru's between my amps.

[Robin_Larsson]

For whats its worth, as far as I´ve understood it, DMX cables have better shielding than your typical Mic cable, just as Dave wrote, and should work just as good for analog audio signals as well as digital signals.
Everyone says that it doesnt work to run DMX on mic cables also, and you probably shouldnt, but I´ve done it, it works, but it probably doesnt work as good if you run a lot of cable, and somewhere with a lot of interference.

I soldered a bunch of DMX cables the other week, the cable I bought is specified as a AES/EBU and DMX cable, and according to the manufacturer, Sommercable, it works as a high quality cable for analog audio as well. But like Bill said, it aint as flexible as some of the mic cables I have.
My plan is to use that DMX cable, with neutriks XX series connector for everything, but DMX and Audio, less chanche of mixing stuff up wrong then, so minimizing the risk of someone putting a mic cable in a loong DMX line.

And since i dont run live sound, I dont really need flexible mic cables right now
But when that need arises, I will get more mic cables:P I guess its really only for mics and such that the flexible cable is better? I really like the feel of our new DMX cables for everything else.

Rant over