4x4 drop snake

[Rockin Mike]

Does anybody make a 4x4 drop snake?
I thought this would be a popular configuration, one monitor for each vocal, but I don't see it anywhere.

 

[RoadRanger]

I have a semi-custom CBI 5x1 - they'll make most any combination for you, they have 6, 8, and 12 channel drop snakes.
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[walterw]

6-way sub snakes are pretty dang small, probably no economics in going any smaller. (i.e., almost the same price for fewer snake channels)

 

[Rockin Mike]

I have a semi-custom CBI 5x1 - they'll make most any combination for you, they have 6, 8, and 12 channel drop snakes.
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I talked to CBI, they said they only work with dealers so I have to find a dealer in my area.

 

[Rockin Mike]

6-way sub snakes are pretty dang small, probably no economics in going any smaller. (i.e., almost the same price for fewer snake channels)

I'm sure that's right.

 

[RoadRanger]

I talked to CBI, they said they only work with dealers so I have to find a dealer in my area.

Yes, I should have mentioned that. They should be able to give you some dealer's contact info?

 

[jimfist]

4 Channel Snake Cable | XLR Send Sub Snake | 35 Feet

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Pro Co StageMASTER 4-ch Snake - 25' | Sweetwater.com

Whirlwind Mini 6 | Sweetwater.com

Hosa LITTLE BRO' SH 6X2 30 - 30' | Sweetwater.com

 

[Rockin Mike]

I'm about to thinking that with the mixing board onstage, it's easiest to just run single cords to everything. A box in front center stage to collect the vocal mics and monitors would just get in the front person's way. A stringer cable (connectors at various positions along the length of the snake) would likely be prone to tangle in storage, and nobody seems to be using such a thing anyway.

I do have and use an 8x8 drop cable (no box) for the drum mics when we record, but I am seeing the impracticality of trying to consolidate cables elsewhere.

 

[RoadRanger]

I'm about to thinking that with the mixing board onstage, it's easiest to just run single cords to everything.

True, I only use mine when doing sound sidestage. I run my 5x1x50 to the opposite side of the stage, the "1" is for the active top on that side and the other 5 are for whatever mics are over there. My monitors and subs are passive so no need for more than the "1". Even then I only use it on larger stages...

 

[walterw]

I'm about to thinking that with the mixing board onstage, it's easiest to just run single cords to everything. A box in front center stage to collect the vocal mics and monitors would just get in the front person's way.

no way, sub snakes are awesome!

one up front for the vocals, one by the drummer for drums and amps; (no law says the one up front has to be right in front, tucked behind SR vox wedge or whatever works too).

you avoid having to crawl in the dark behind the mixer rack to plug in 16 mic cables, all the mic cables can be shorter (less weight, space and wrapping hassle) and you avoid wear and tear on the mixer XLR jacks themselves.

also, for bands setting up their own PA, just label all the jacks on the sub boxes and everybody can plug themselves in without getting in each other's way.

 

[jad]

Maybe one of these with the ends switched on 4 channels?
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[Rockin Mike]

Maybe one of these with the ends switched on 4 channels?
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It would be good not to have to use 8 gender changers.

 

[Rockin Mike]

This is not far from what I had in mind; it's a little bit more than I had planned, but maybe that's just room to grow.

PSPX 8 Channel Send x 4 Channel Return XLR Snake

 

[walterw]

It would be good not to have to use 8 gender changers.

also, wrangling a medusa's head of a bunch of loose XLR ends at every gig is what we're trying to avoid, i think. aside from being a PITA you get a greater chance of something breaking in there.

so it's what, 4 vocals and 4 separate powered monitors for them? i didn't pick up on that before.

somebody handy with a soldering iron could change over 4 of the jacks in an 8 ch box, and i think many powered boxes will take the "wrong" XLR end and still work, but yeah, you might be looking at a stock 8ch box, 4 special M to M XLR cables up front and 4 F-to F turnarounds back by the board.

there's this:

Hosa LITTLE BRO' SH 6X2 30 - 30' | Sweetwater.com

convert two more of the channels to TRS or opposite-way XLR and it could work.

 

[Rockin Mike]

The board, a QSC Touch Mix 16, will be sitting atop my bass rig.
The big benefit of the drop snake is reducing the fountain of cords that would otherwise be coming off my rig. Also, as was said, it allows bandmates to plug in their own stuff.

I think the drop box would sit behind the sub on stage right and cords would just extend from it to the various devices. The front of the stage has,
2 dynamic vocal mics
1 wireless mic with a high-impedance TS plug (probably have to use a DI for that)
1 dynamic guitar mic
4 powered monitors
2 powered mains
1 powered sub
Some of the monitors and mains could daisy chain, we don't have to run stereo or separate mon mixes.
But if we wanted to break everything out that's 11 cables; it would fit the Audiopile 8x4 nicely. A little soldering work could turn it into a 4x8 (instead of an 8x4) which would give everything its own wire with only one unconnected at the board.
Maybe this is the way to go.

TouchMix Mixers - Products - Live Sound - QSC
PSPX 8 Channel Send x 4 Channel Return XLR Snake

 

[walterw]

Some of the monitors and mains could daisy chain, we don't have to run stereo or separate mon mixes.

mains sure, but separate monitor mixes are the whole point!

if you can, you very much should.

 

[Rockin Mike]

mains sure, but separate monitor mixes are the whole point!

if you can, you very much should.

Point taken, but I am trying to grow into this gradually starting with the simplest possible setup.
If we start doing individual mixes, I don't know how much it will add to setup and sound check time,
If we let people control their own mix, I don't know whether that will result in feedback or volume wars,
etc.
Drummer already has his own mix for his IEMs so that's my learning platform for the issues that come up.

 

[walterw]

If we let people control their own mix, I don't know whether that will result in feedback or volume wars,
etc.

just the opposite, sharing a mix leads to "more me" wars and a less fun gig.

apart from the idea of the players adjusting their own mixes, their having their own mixes makes all the difference in folks hearing themselves easily. no law says you have to give them control access if they're clueless about how to run them.

 

[4Mal]

More monitor mixes is better IMO. I am beginning to put less and less in the individual mixes though. I started with pretty much an FOH mix and emphasized the vocal or instrument or both at that position. People seemed to want that. It tends to drive the stage volume higher though. It also creates 'bubbles of me' which I think influences players to glory in their own thing and listen less... I'm migrating to simpler monitor mixes. Kick, bass guitar if someone wants it and after that just the bare necessities. Voices and acoustic instruments that are otherwise buried. Overall I'm thinking better sounding stage and not as much about the monitors themselves...

 

[walterw]

I started with pretty much an FOH mix and emphasized the vocal or instrument or both at that position.

yeah, screw that.

with wedges, they start with their own vocals period, anything else they have to ask for. (chances are in small clubs and bars that's all they'll need). everything you add into a wedge mix increases overall stage volume, so don't put it in unless it's really needed.

with IEMs they can have whatever they want, it doesn't matter out front; if they can tweak their own mixes via iphone and leave you alone all the better.