In a music recording studio, cables matter a lot! Get the wrong ones, and you pick up interference, they generate basckground noise, and the connections break too easily.

Almost nothing else has higher impact on recording studio operations than the humble cable.

So how come cables are so often forgotten until the last minute (or until they break!), taking a back seat to the latest piece of cool gear?

You've probably noticed the wide price range? Ever wondered what makes a $50 cable better than a $5 cable? Is there a noticeable improvement in the sound to justify extra cost?

I'll let others write entire articles on cable considerations, but the major differences come down to:

• materials
• construction
• connectors

And sure, expensive cables sound much better than cheap ones. Why?

• better shielding
• use premium conductors
• use all-metal connectors instead of metalized plastic

But don't go overboard…

If its for use with a $99 four-track recorder, don't buy a $500 cable!

However, linking $5,000 studio monitors using 22-gauge lamp cord should be a criminal offense!

Buy the best cable you can afford. If you budget somewhere around 25% of your overall gear budget, you'll be in the right ball-park.

Here's my rough guide:

For line-level gear, use Hosa - great value

For balanced-output gear use Pro Co cables and snakes

For high-end work, use Monster Cables

Tags: Recording Studio, Music Recording