XLR, powercon have lock system. IEC, jack do not have.
⚠️ If someone is tripping over the cables on stage, which are the best connectors ?
⚠️ If someone is tripping over the cables on stage, which are the best connectors ?
Then somebody needs to do a better job with cable management.😉 Ideally you want to minimize trip hazards, on a stage you may never get it totally clear but if an player can only trip over his own instrument cable then he has nobody else to blame if he doesn't feel the need to "fix that problem".
Longer cables so you can take a clearer less traveled path from point A to B.
Where at all possible I try to leave extra slack in the cable at each end for the just in case.
I also have some cable ramps like these as well as a few larger and some low profile models.so up to date, no fixed rule but some tricks and gaffer tape
https://www.discountramps.com/heavy-duty-cable-guard/p/DH-PCP-5-HD/
There are all kinds of things you can do to minimize cables on stage.
-Get a couple small stage snakes, put one upstage and one down and run them around the perimiter. Do the same with power drops where necessary and don't be afraid to substitute longer IEC cables for a piece of equipment instead of using extension cords. Then everything in the backline is connected towards backstage, everything at the front is connected down there and you have a mostly empty midstage area... maybe only a few instrument cables running across it.
-Rack or case everything that always gets used together. You have a bunch of pedals... build a pedal board, connect everything together and mount power distribution so it only takes 1 cord to power everything. That not only looks better on stage but is much quicker to setup n strike.
-I don't know about using cable ramps onstage but I have some heavy rubber mats that serve the same purpose and are much more low profile.
-Get a couple small stage snakes, put one upstage and one down and run them around the perimiter. Do the same with power drops where necessary and don't be afraid to substitute longer IEC cables for a piece of equipment instead of using extension cords. Then everything in the backline is connected towards backstage, everything at the front is connected down there and you have a mostly empty midstage area... maybe only a few instrument cables running across it.
-Rack or case everything that always gets used together. You have a bunch of pedals... build a pedal board, connect everything together and mount power distribution so it only takes 1 cord to power everything. That not only looks better on stage but is much quicker to setup n strike.
-I don't know about using cable ramps onstage but I have some heavy rubber mats that serve the same purpose and are much more low profile.
Locking 1/4" jack socket - Neutrik.so up to date, no fixed rule but some tricks and gaffer tape
Locking IEC system - Scahaffner.
Give me a difficult one. 🤣
Ok, I know it's not quite this simple with every piece of equipment but with cable ties, tethering points, and - yes - sticky tape it can be done. Most folks don't bother, but tripping over unrestrained/untaped cables on stage is never a good look...
I use to play with amplifiers embedding heavy transformers. When I received new amplifiers with SMPS, I fear they will fly all around 🙃
Thanks for tips.
Thanks for tips.
Sub snakes/ stage snakes go a long ways in cleaning up a stage, I have various lengths and channel count.
I also have made up a couple of stringer snakes with a box at the mid way in the snake, and have power drop
stringers as well.
The cable ramps in the link go more in high traffic areas.
Attachments
sub snake ? good idea ! I switched to Dante but for two or four links, cost is heavy. It may answer easily some cases...
Call me old fashioned but for on stage snake and cable runs I like good ole copper multipair with xlr connectors for a robust connection. I use heavy duty ethernet cable with ethercon connectors to the remote stage box.
I understand your point of view : It's easy to resolve problems !
My future config will take sources from FOH mixer using a multiconverter and route them to a Wing. Dante will allow another mixing set. Neutrick offer NE8MX-B or NE8MX-6 but I didn't choose connector actually.
My future config will take sources from FOH mixer using a multiconverter and route them to a Wing. Dante will allow another mixing set. Neutrick offer NE8MX-B or NE8MX-6 but I didn't choose connector actually.
Those are the Ethercons I use at the mixer and stage box, they offer protection and a sold locking but inside
it's still a plastic crimped on RJ45
A couple years ago Neutrik introduced a truly heavy duty ethernet connector but so far I have never seen it used on any equipment.
https://www.neutrik.com/en/products/data/8-2-pole-xlr
It's a professional stage - connectors need to be locked!
And it's your responsibility that nobody is falling over your cables ... Gaffa and rubber mats if it needs to be quick (and it always needs to 😀 ).
And it's your responsibility that nobody is falling over your cables ... Gaffa and rubber mats if it needs to be quick (and it always needs to 😀 ).
Those Neutrik connectors would something to use in a fully custom system.....and then your would still need
to make up adapters to connect to the outside world!!
Neutrik is the real world in Pro audio and video and lightning systems...