Cables / Connectors

Making your own pedals can be a lot cheaper than buying them — and with many of the self‑build kits now available, you won’t even need a deep knowledge of electronics.

Software‑controlled ‘patchbays’ are invaluable for recall and routing in hybrid studios. Is this the right one for you?

The XP‑Relay combines CB Electronics’ sophisticated patchbay control system with the purest possible signal path.

Many affordable patchbays come half‑normalled by default, and to change that you must flip the cards inside. It’s easy enough, but there’s a knack...

Despite being over 30 years old, ADAT Lightpipe remains the number one way to add more inputs and outputs to your DAW.

Cat cabling is cheap and readily available — and there’s no reason you can’t use it to run balanced analogue audio signals all over the place!

With software control, silent switching and a choice of input cards, this clever box is way more than a patchbay substitute.

Never has working with a hybrid analogue/in‑the‑box setup been so easy.

Even in today’s computer‑based studios, a patchbay can change your life. We help you choose the right one.

The SOS team help a reader track down the source of some mysterious hums and buzzes!

If you’re choosing a new audio interface or a new computer, what are the pros and cons of the many different connection protocols that are on offer?

Two very handy 'accessories' come under scrutiny: PJB's Bass Buddy, a Bass Guitar Recording DI Box, and from Little Labs their STD Instrument Cable Extender.

Where do you turn when you need a multicore that will handle two MIDI lines, a 9V DC power line and a voltage control line?

Suffering from signal degradation or mains hum on your audio lines? The chances are that you're having problems with impedance matching or earth loops. However, with a little understanding and some careful planning, these gremlins can be successfully eliminated.

Most SOS readers seem either to be setting up a studio or refining their existing setup, and could save money and hassle by doing much of the wiring and installation themselves. We explain how.

Paul White gives a new patchbay a shameless (jack) plug...

The spread of the ADAT 8-channel optical digital interface to studio equipment of all kinds has raised the prospect of a revolution in multitrack digital recording. Self-confessed digital evangelist (amd Korg UK product specialist) Paul Wiffen explains how the optical digital interface and several fibreglass cables made keyboard session player Wix Wickens' life easier at last year's prestigious Songs and Visions concert at Wembley.

Midiman are a company devoted to producing cost-effective problem solvers, and with the Digipatch they're aiming to solve the problem of affordable digital patching. Paul White finds out how well they've succeeded.

Now that digital equipment is arriving in project studios, a patchbay becomes a worthwhile purchase. Mike Collins goes back to his routes...

Low‑cost jack patchbays are available from a number of sources, but most tend to use the same type of budget jack socket...

As an exercise in lateral thinking, re-patching your studio is a delight. As an actual prospect, it's somewhat more daunting. Paul White plugs into a programmable patchbay and lets his fingers do the walking...