I use white 'Gaff tape', and write what type of cable (mic/speaker etc) it is, with a permanent marker. Don't use red, 'cos it disappears on stage.
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Any ideas on how to mark cables?
- Thread starter slap-a-da-bass
- Start date
Something I did once - only once - was to write out my set list with a red sharpie on yellow note paper. When the house lights went down my set list disappeared and I was looking at a blank sheet of paper.
+1
Tape color(s) ID members in the band(mine have green electrical tape right at each connector on the cable), paint pen marked on connectors ID's the band. Paint pen letter of the alphabet for first letter of the band name and number for cable number. Helps with keeping track of them all also.
Both items will require maintenance(redone) depending on how much you play.
I make a label with a Brother label maker and then tape it to the cord (length wise) with clear vinyl (electrical-like) tape.
A lot of pro audio and lighting companies print small labels and put clear heat shrink tubing over it. That's the slickest way.
I went to Harbor Freight and bought a tube of cable ties in assorted colors. You can use singles or mix and match colors for specific applications. Works out well and can modify colors as needed on-the-fly with almost no effort.
Exactly. The colored tape is found at all Home Depot stores...easy to mark cables so they are unmistakably yours. If you have different lengths, you can code the colors to easily tell them apart...and if you have both speaker and guitar cables with similar insulation, as noted above you can code them by type so you don't mix them up.
In my band we each use a different color of the Live Wire Soundhose cables that they sell at Guitarget (I'm red, lead guitar is green, rhythm is blue), and our respective speaker cables each get packed in our own gig bags as the first order of business after our set. It makes keeping everything straight super simple since the colors are easily recognizable at any point on the cord rather than having to trace each cord to the end.
I originally suggested this and the band thought it was a dumb idea until I just went out and bought red cords and they saw how much easier it was making my set up and tear down. By our next show they had both fully color coordinated.
of course, that's not much help for larger PA applications.
I originally suggested this and the band thought it was a dumb idea until I just went out and bought red cords and they saw how much easier it was making my set up and tear down. By our next show they had both fully color coordinated.
of course, that's not much help for larger PA applications.
I use mu brother P Touch. I print out a 3" strip with my name (you could add the cable length too) then wrap it around the cable (diameter wise) and stick the 2 sides to itself. This creates a "tag". the lable is a durable plastic that wont fade or tear.
+1
I worked for years as an audio engineer, and the roadies & A/V technicians on gigs were always walking off with my cables or adapters or DIs. I started marking all my stuff with a swath of burgundy metal-flake nail polish. Bingo! nobody wants to steal my stuff anymore
...presumably because no manly roadie would be caught dead with nail polish anywhere near them?
But these days my preferred method of marking cables is with Stranco WMBS-2500 write-on self-laminating wire & cable marking labels.
I recall seeing, but now cannot find, electrical ties that came with a faux "luggage tag" attached. They were perfect as you could identify the cable type (i.e. signal, speaker, etc.) and appropriate function (i.e. AUX #1 Out). You could hand a cable to any lunkhead and he / she would eventually figure out where it goes. The initial cable marking is a little tedious but, if done properly, you can delegate an underling to cable-up an entire PA rig while you're having a beer & sandwich in the dining room.
I've resorted to using those little round cardboard key tags available at Office Max. Still works but the cables all appear as if they're wearing charm bracelets.
Riis
I've resorted to using those little round cardboard key tags available at Office Max. Still works but the cables all appear as if they're wearing charm bracelets.
Riis
Zip ties like these.
Then just use a Sharpie to write whatever you want on them.
That's it! Where did you find them?
Edit: Nevermind.....cableorganizer.com
Riis
Another option if you don't have too many to sort is to buy velcro cable wraps in colors. Makes it easy to tell whose cables have the green wrap, the red wrap, etc.
I won't own cables without coiling them properly and using velcro cable wraps on them. Too many years of experience with tangled cables when the problem is completely preventable.
I won't own cables without coiling them properly and using velcro cable wraps on them. Too many years of experience with tangled cables when the problem is completely preventable.
I bought a handful of orange plastic spools from Lowes for just that purpose. Thought I was being clever until a lineman (seriously) showed me how to do a "hand-over-hand" wrap which eliminates any coiling, kinking, etc. When needed, you just unwrap the outer loop and throw it across the floor.
Riis
Also known as "over/under" coiling. Have you discovered what happens when you pull the end of the cable through the middle? Not pretty. Like a lot of techs (not all though) I prefer a clockwise straight coil. That's the way the wire comes off the spool and doesn't require any fighting as that's the way the wire is trained to go.
