“Look after your cables, and they’ll look after you.”
I’ve mentioned it before, but this nugget of wisdom has probably been the most impactful on my life as a DJ. Since then, I’ve always taken time to wrap my cables and wires, and stored them carefully. I also regularly check or any damage or if anything is getting tangled or caught.
My own method for wrapping seems controversial, apparently. I keep folding the wire in halves, until it’s short enough, then tie the bundle in a knot, which keeps it together and space efficient. And, as is enshrined in the laws of the universe, I gleefully maintain my required Random Drawer Of Cables I Probably Won’t Ever Need Again.
Similarly for my equipment. Anything I know I won’t be using gets stacked up out-of-the-way safely, and stuff that gets switched out is leaned up against the wall on my DJ desk. One recent change I made is that I started keeping some of the original boxes, which get stored in the loft. I ended up with a Decksaver along with the Ableton Push I gratefully inherited from Ray Arkaei and got hold of a set for my 1210s, my mixer, and the Volcas, which made me a convert to their usefulness. I do still feel a little bit uncomfortable with their cost, though.
Your take
How do you store your cables and equipment? Show us your beautiful cable management and storage. Do religiously keep all your gear boxes? Swear by Decksavers? Give us your pictures and stories!
Here’s my method for most cables — fold in half, coil lightly around my hand, feed the end through once or twice, and feed the connectors through the loop.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/64980f7c487ce577d5584d550e5e6d6b2d617042d891b6f3cb03fbb98d0c2caa.jpg
For cables under 2 meters, I am okay with this. Anything longer, really needs to be coiled in a circle (spiral) – the over/under method is preferred. The place where the wire is folded in a tight 180 will untwist the inner twisted strands of the cable and eventually break the strands internally. This really multiplies your trouble if you have a longer cable – you might have those 180-degree turns several times down the length of the cable.
Honestly IF I had as few cables as this thinking invites I may have some insight. I have rooms of cables though. I will say one thing though. Color coded velcro strapping. This can become more expensive than the cables you are trying to protect/organize though but being a union guy I have access to union electricians (state employed in some cases) this provides me with BOTH all the velcro I could EVER use as well as all the new USB/HDMI/ethernet cables I could EVER need…………… and once again I remind these are state employed so trust they are cables of a caliber I would never be buying if it were on my dime :)
I’m not particularly precious about cable storage. The spare ones I have are kept inside a record box.
I have decksavers for all my gear though. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f38ca18a98cf800c4500c8488191633806dbcc3289aa0d69e13ab7f4277ff47f.jpg
Over-under coil with red cable ties to distinguish from house cables on a quick roll up. I keep them on a peg board in my electronic/computer tech studio, when not in use.
I wrap each cable loose (same movement you use to roll up a lasso). Then they are velcroed on two sides. This eliminates cable breaks and keeps the cables neat for storage. I keep my equipment set up at home.
ok, i’ll bite. …..but i’m amazed i’m the first to say this! :)
Dan, Mark …..you’re doing it wrong.
I used to coil my cables like you, & thought nothing of it. Then a professional sound guy, explained the proper way to do this to me ….& why.
You know how you get funny kinks in cables, & sometimes they just don’t lie flat? It’s because all the inner cores get damaged & twisted. Please learn to coil cables properly, your cables will last longer & thank you for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2SUoAvGxVs
The internet can be a wonderful place. Thanks for sharing the video!
I’m off to my cable box, cleaning the mess :D
Over-under is the only correct way.
Left box for data, video and network cables. Right box for various audio cables. Every single cable is coiled and held in place with a clip or velcro. A bit OCD yes, but I got fed up looking for that one cable for the umpteenth time in the middle of a tangled mess that could be described as cub scout’s worst nightmare.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c4027ca03a0dc700a68d34aaafeedbf6d9d3b371a2fe8e635d24d6ee2513b97d.jpg
+1 for Really Useful Boxes and velcro straps. Same here. Small boxes for home (network, video, RCA, USB, jacks, computer etc), big box for gigs, with all cables required for whatever setup I take out.