Article

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Church Sound System Tune Up: Cable Wrapping 101

Protect your cabling, give more durability, avoid tripping... A look at the over-under wrap.

One of the most important things a church sound operator/technician learn is how to properly wrap cables for the sound system.

A properly shop-wrapped cable will not only lay flat without any loops to trip your musicians, but the wire itself will last longer since there’s less stress on the conductors.

And that means fewer sound failures during a worship service, something we can all aspire to.

Wrapping and laying cables for a worship service may seem to be a lowly job, unappreciated by most of your congregation.

But know that in the professional world, the A1 (lead engineer) expects and appreciates when a stage crew rigs the stage properly.

Perhaps the most common method is called an over-under shop wrap. This procedure pre-twists the wire clockwise and counterclockwise with each loop, so the cable will lay out without any twists.

More about testing on the next page…

Testing
As a final test, hold onto the male XLR end and throw out the female end.

The cable should extend to its full length and lay on the floor without any twists, loops or humps.

Note that proper cable wrapping and laying is one of the basic job interview skills needed if you’re going to work as a stage hand at any serious audio gig.

You’ll be asked to wrap and lay out a mic cable before you get to work on the stage. If you wrap it over your elbow (you guilty ones know who you are) you’ll be fired and asked to leave the gig.

If you show real skill at it, then you’re hired and may be asked to work more shows. It’s that simple.

Do it right!

Just like the proverb, “For want of a horse… the kingdom was lost,” so it is with cables.

One improperly wrapped or laid cable can bring down an entire audio system for a worship service.

Always wrap and lay your cables as neatly as possible. It will pay off in the long run. 

Mike Sokol is the chief instructor of the HOW-TO Church Sound Workshops. He has 40 years of experience as a sound engineer, musician and author. Mike works with HOW-TO Sound Workshop Managing Partner Hector La Torre on the national, 36-city, annual HOW-TO Church Sound Workshop tour. Find out more here. 

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