Cable management - Bundle Firewire & USB & Power cables?

[CreamWare4Ever]

Hello,

Finally I found some time to create some order in my cable jungle. I have created 2 different groups. The first one is only for audio cables and the second is for the rest: power cords, USB, Z-link firewire cables that connects Scope to A16 Ultra.

Is that good solution? Not sure if I should bundle together firewire and USB cables with power cord cables!?

Any suggestion?

Cheers.

[erminardi]

The USB cable that links my DAW to Plugiator (midi signal) was a receptacle of noise when was close (parallel) to power cables!
So pay attention to this if U obtain new unwanted noises.

[CreamWare4Ever]

The USB cable that links my DAW to Plugiator (midi signal) was a receptacle of noise when was close (parallel) to power cables!
So pay attention to this if U obtain new unwanted noises.

Interesting! It is maybe better to place USB cable in the same group as audio cables?

What kind of noise did you got then? How can midi cable make noise!? You mean in Plugiator?

?

[siriusbliss]

optical cables have no problems.
Badly shielded/cheap cables for USB, etc. should be kept away from power.

Otherwise, with good quality cables it should be less of a concern.

At least that's how I do it

Greg

[erminardi]

digital noise, something like little ticks, in particular when U rotate some knobs.
obviously I tried to replace it with a better shielded USB cable, but never changed.
better if U leave away from audio (if U have problems)

[CreamWare4Ever]

optical cables have no problems.
Badly shielded/cheap cables for USB, etc. should be kept away from power.

[/quote]
...and away from audio cables? So what is your suggestion, where shall I put Z-link firewire cables? In the same group as audio cables?

[t_tangent]

Yes. Put them with the audio cables. You could also have 3 seperate bundles, Power cables bundled seperate from all other cables and if they do have to cross other cables at any time try to make sure it is at right angles to the other cables. Then you could have all the thick type Audio cables with jacks etc in one bundle, and finally put USB Firewire ADAT etc in another as they are a little more delicate. Just another idea, not so important though as keeping all audio cables away from power cables.

[CreamWare4Ever]

Yes. Put them with the audio cables. You could also have 3 seperate bundles, Power cables bundled seperate from all other cables and if they do have to cross other cables at any time try to make sure it is at right angles to the other cables. Then you could have all the thick type Audio cables with jacks etc in one bundle, and finally put USB Firewire ADAT etc in another as they are a little more delicate. Just another idea, not so important though as keeping all audio cables away from power cables.

I have done 3 groups now. One for audio cables, one for power cables and one for midi cables. I will follow your advice and bundle Z-Link firewire cables with audio cables. As I have very good shielded audio cables (Planet Waves) I assume I have done the most I can do to prevent interference.

Shall I bundle midi cables with USB, Firewire, ADAT etc cables?

Cheers!

[astroman]

I don't want to spoil your party and it's nice to keep that stuff sorted for easier service and access...
but (imho) there is no such thing as an interference between cables.
What seems like that is the transmission of HF (audio range) noise via shielding lines due to no common ground.
Sources are switching PSU and interrupt processing on the PC, USB, mouse and keyboard were already mentioned...
Proper grounding (difficult !) and transformer balanced IO will have a much greater effect.
Fwiw I'd always keep audio cables on their own.

cheers, Tom

[CreamWare4Ever]

I don't want to spoil your party and it's nice to keep that stuff sorted for easier service and access...
but (imho) there is no such thing as an interference between cables.
What seems like that is the transmission of HF (audio range) noise via shielding lines due to no common ground.
Sources are switching PSU and interrupt processing on the PC, USB, mouse and keyboard were already mentioned...
Proper grounding (difficult !) and transformer balanced IO will have a much greater effect.
Fwiw I'd always keep audio cables on their own.

cheers, Tom

Thanks for this input. Yes I agree with your statement. I know that it's a bit overkill to do as I did - but I want to satisfy my inner which is telling me to do that I already have a proper grounding through a special dedicated power supply unit with balanced IOs. And yes, audio cables shall always be kept in separate group.

Thanks.