Do I have OCD about patch cables?

[VinceL]

1/4" patch cables used on modulars are generally available in lengths of 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet and 6 feet (and, of course, even longer for those monster modulars).

I have found that I really like (need?) to have 6 inch cables and 1.5 foot cables. For example, if you have a Q109 EG next to a Q108 VCA, a 1 foot cable sticks way out. But, a 6 inch cable just fits so much more neatly. And, I often find that a 2 foot cable is just a bit more than I need; a 1.5 foot cable is "just right."

So, I've been buying 2 foot cables from Orange County Speaker Repair along with extra 1/4" plugs and cutting them to make 6" and 1.5 foot cables.

As my modular has grown along with my inventory of patch cables, I am finding that it is becoming increasingly difficult to trace cables. Most of my cables are Dotcom cables with the different colored shrink wrap at the ends. But, sometimes, I've got 3 or more cables of the same length (thus color) following a similar path. I've bought some electrical tape in various colors and put a winding of different colored electrical tape on the colored shrink wrap. This has made it easier to trace patch cables.

So, do I have patch cable OCD?

[decaying.sine]

I don't think you have OCD. You just want things organized, which makes good sense.

After reading your post, I couldn't help but think you should start making your own patch cables. You can make some awesome ones with a few bucks start up cost and they are easy to make.

Check out the cabling I got for my 1/4" cables. Rainbows! You'd have no trouble tracing those bad boys.

viewtopic.php?t=22547&highlight=rainbow

[cornutt]

Yeah, you're totally OCD. But that's beside the point. If you have difficulty sorting out which cord is which, you might want to think about getting a Pancode book and putting numbers on all of your cords.

[sduck]

What's wrong with being ocd about cables?

Just make your own. I do. I don't even measure them - just cut wires to whatever length I need the most at any given time, just by guessing.

Don't worry about being able to easily trace your cables via color coding. That way lies madness. Make them all black and just go nuts. You'll learn very quickly how to follow them around without little color helpers.

My particular form of ocd is trying to find the perfect length patch cord for every particular cord - I hate drooping cords!

[JohnLRice]

So, in my recent demo video I took some wire tie thingies to the cables to make them neater . . .and then as I look at the video I find myself wishing I would have hid the exess part of the ties better cuz it looks too sloppy!

And yeah, my big dumb hand is obscuring those poor little modules!

[video][/video]

[Synthbuilder]

I've bought some electrical tape in various colors and put a winding of different colored electrical tape on the colored shrink wrap.

You think you have cable OCD?

Electrical tape is untidy and has a sticky residue at its edges. The stickiness gets worse with age. No one with true cable OCD would use tape. They would use coloured heatshrink only. And they would only use cables from the same manufacturer. Indeed, any cable from another make would look out of place and would have to be removed for other duties.

These days I never use coloured cables. I found that I always wanted them to be arranged in a coordinated way. Yellow next to green was nice, but a single red next to a bunch of blue ones looked out of place. Mine are all the same colour now. It's harder to trace things but it looks more appealing to me.

Yeah, I know I need treatment.

Tony

[kindredlost]

I've long since given up on neatness (as far as cables that is). I still bathe daily.

I'll find myself using a long cable to go across the modular then re-route it later to a module closer to the source. I then have a 6 foot cable only two modules over.

There are times when finding the knob is more of a problem than snagging a wire. Sometimes reaching in there is akin to birthing a calf. You never know when you might loose a limb or something. Modulars are not for small children or the weak of mind.