How to properly roll a cable
| Site: | QSC |
| Course: | House of Worship Audio Training |
| Book: | How to properly roll a cable |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Thursday, 21 November 2024, 6:10 AM |
Description
Lesson Description
Step 1: Learn how to properly roll an audio cable so you can preserve the life of the cable and promote better cable management.
Video Transcript
00:14
In this video I’ll show you how to properly roll an audio cable
00:19
so you can preserve the life of the cable and promote better cable management. This is the first thing I teach my volunteer sound people.
00:26
For most of our lives we have been taught how to handle cables incorrectly.
00:31
We grow up learning how to take extension cords or rope and wrap them around our arm and tie them off.
00:37
Probably not a big deal for a rope.
00:40
However, for audio cables like XLR cables, instrument cables and even extension cords,
00:46
this is super important for preserving the life of the cable and making cable management easy.
00:53
You see, cables all have memory, which relates to how they have been wrapped and stored.
00:58
The sheathing will respond to how it has been bent and wrapped previously.
01:02
If you don’t maintain that memory
01:04
these cables will want to find new memory, causing them to become wrapped, have kinks, and get knots.
01:11
It causes the wiring inside to break as well. You want your cables to have consistent memories.
01:17
This comes from using the over/under method of rolling cables and here’s how you do it.
01:23
Start by holding the end of the cable away from your body with your left hand, thumb point out.
01:30
If you’re left handed, you can just mirror this procedure on the other side.
01:35
Line up your right hand with your thumb going the same direction.
01:39
Pull back with your right hand and grab some cable length.
01:43
Rotate your right thumb towards your body to create the over roll twist
01:48
and then bring your thumbs together for the over loop. You’ll feel the cable fall naturally into place.
01:54
Now for the under loop. Take your right hand and grab the cable just under the first loop
02:00
with your thumb facing the opposite direction. Pull down to grab some length
02:05
and then rotate your wrist away from your body to create the under roll. Your thumbs will end up in the opposite direction.
02:11
Now for another over roll. Grab the cable again with your thumbs facing the same direction, pull,
02:18
twist towards your body, finish the over roll.
02:22
Grab the cable, thumbs facing the opposite direction, pull, rotate your wrist away from your body
02:28
and finish the under roll.
02:31
Over roll, under roll….
02:37
When you’re done tie it off nice and snug with a cable tie.
02:41
If your cables are all kinked up from previously being rolled incorrectly,
02:46
take them outside, pull them straight and lay them out under a warm sun for a few hours. Then try rolling them again.
02:54
Over time you may develop your own method for accomplishing the over/under cable roll.
02:59
You’ll be hanging out with friends having a conversation,
03:02
rolling cables and you won’t even be thinking about it anymore.
03:06
It takes a bit of practice though, so don’t become discouraged if it doesn’t happen for you right away.
03:11
Practice, Practice, Practice, and soon you’ll become a cable rolling pro.