Karaoke Forums

Either that or the cable quality is bad.

Marble, other than when they are new, they shouldn't have a tendancy to kink if they're wrapped properly. The problem with twisting them is that it can damage the cables. You can either end up over-twisting or untwisting the the conductors inside the cable or you can in the worst case scenario actually break the conductors.

Now that said, the longer you use a cable the more important this becomes and conversely the more you are loyal to proper cord wrapping, the longer they'll last. I've got some mid-range XLR's (not the cheapest but definitely no where near the high end of the price scale) that are over 15 years old and have never failed. I attribute that to treating them properly.

Now before you freak and think you're destroying your cables, there are times no matter how hard you try that you do have to give the cable a twist to get it to roll right. As long as you let that twist follow it's way out all the way to the end of the cable, doing that occasionally isn't really going to hurt anything. As much as we suggest you baby your cables, high quality cables are still pretty resilient. However, once they're twisted out of wack, they're generally going to stay that way.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

As someone who appreciates your input on this forum, tell me the best way to wrap up cords. I must be doing it wrong because unwrapping them is a PAIN!!

Not by just coiling or wrapping it up around your arm and thumb like many tend to do. Here is a little video clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j1Wdc-y ... re=related

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Phew! I was doing it right (slightly different method but same result). I also use velcro cable ties (colour coded cause I'm a nerd) which save on that final twist round the cable to secure it, that i've seen others do. Messy cables make me cry.

I got confused for a minute cause I don't think i've ever seen a cable kink.

_________________
'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

You're wrong Dionne Warwick, give it up.

Mr. diapers, I have been going over your posts.
Got to say the more I read them...
How about sticking round and helping us in more areas.
You do get some nice toys and certainly know more about karaoke than I do.
By the way this one was good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qj8PhxS ... re=related

. Jerry, see what happens when you listen to others?

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I know you guys hate those mics but last night we had in an influx of people who just happened to get let out early from work and weren't our regular karaoke singers. They were drunken screamers who wanted to play rock star. Our Nady's had finally bit the dust after over two years of abuse (the receiver actually quit working, not the mics). So we were using corded until more cheapos came in. Despite telling people they had to stay in a specific area, I was on constant cord patrol trying to avoid too much wandering and winding. One guy ignored the mic stand in front of him and threw the OM2 at the gear table when he was done. He missed the mixer by inches and the mic started cutting in and out on the next user. I thought, "20 drops on the Nadys and the $100 mic eats it at the first drop?" But luckily it turned out only the cord attachment had been damaged as the mic worked fine when we changed cords. I was ready to banish him but it was the last round of the evening and we probably would never have to deal with him again.

But I thought, after that, no more pearls before swine. We still have an AKG and the OM2 for the men and anyone who wants to sound good but the drunks are getting the Nadys. After experiencing a bit of it, I just can't see anyone who specializes in drunk shows using expensive mics or even anything with cords. It was terrifying. Luckily, this was just a rare visitation by this group. They usually are on shift during our show. We usually get--karaoke singers. But we'll see. Maybe we just got lucky with a "better" set. Who knows if both of the new ones will work coming out of the box. You's takes your chances on them. (But on sale for $39 and free shipping at the moment.)

Care to share where?

Musician's Friend, USA. Don't know if Customs would kill you in Canada. I have seen them for less, even. Once advertised at Target, of all places (US Box Store).

You have to know that sometimes you get a set with one that works and one that doesn't or one that is less sensitive than the other (at least according to reviews). Quality control is not their plus. So if you might have to deal with returning, stay local, if possible.

I don't claim that they are anything special--we have a few male voices that just won't work on them without being muffled or echo-y and we have to steer them to the AKG. But surprisingly, even some good singers choose them just for the cordless factor. I guess they have their place.

You know I don't want to get back into the whole debate of the Nady's yet again, that horse has been beating, butchered and beaten again. However, I do have to say that for any wireless mic to only last 2 years is pretty pathetic so I'm not sure why you would tout that as a positive. I mean I guess if your only paying $50 for them you could buy 10 of those for what I paid for one of my Shure dual kits but then I could go through all of what is gained with those kits including longevity.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks. Customs on those would be next to nothing if they bothered to do the paper work at all.
I was just curious. I've thought of going cordless, but there are definite pluses to having the singers "tethered" to the stage, not the least of which is having to go chase after them for the mics when they're done.
I know, you eventually do train the regs to bring them back when they're done, but the newbies or people that don't care would get under my skin after awhile. I'm not exactly very mobile with my bad knee and the idea of hunting in a busy bar and risking further injury to my knee from a stumbling drunk isn't inviting to me.
The other possibility is having them walk off or perhaps get tossed down a toilet by someone who either has a beef with me or thinks something like that would be funny isn't appealing, either.
Obviously, I'm still "researching" it.
I'm going to start another thread on cordless horror stories so as not to hijack this one.

I've had wireless since I started in this business and have never had an issue with people not returning the mics to me or walking off with them all together. The worst I've had is the occasional drop which in most cases are just complete accidents (an occasional idiot just not treating them with respect has occurred but is rare). I love the ease of setup, lack of cords, additional "fun" aspect they add and I can't imagine going back at this point.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I'm with the others on this, and I don't really think flaming was originally intended. letitrip has been a very knowledgable and helpful member here for a very long time, and he does tell it straight out with out any extra frills. Sorry you didn't like his answer, but it IS the truth.
The fact that you don't already have the mindset that gaffer tape is not only a necessary expense in the business but the fact that you don't use it and rugs in the first place tells me that you have zero PROFESSIONAL live sound experience.
The FIRST thing I learned when helping my hubby with live sound is that gaff tape is ESSENTIAL and a NECESSARY expense and that EVERYTHING gets taped down, with high traffic areas getting carpets thrown over them, if available. This was drilled into me from the very beginning.
A good family friend is in the pro audio business and provides audio equipment and setup for the big names like Nickelback, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top, etc when they come to the area. He's no different when it comes to gaffer.
You claim to have a venue where gaffer tape won't work and the drunks will rip it up. I can't imagine such a venue for the life of me.
Are you setting up inside a filled swimming pool?
And are you too shy to tell the drunks to stop ripping the tape up?
Because If ever saw it (I never have, though), that would be the first thing I would tell them.
I've NEVER seen drunks ripping up gaffer tape at ANY show I've done or even attended. It simply doesn't happen. EVER! Drunks are too busy drinking. Trust me on this.

my venue

You know the rubber gromits at the end of the XLR connector? Weekly I find those torn apart, even when there's tape over it. Once that gromit goes, the entire cable assembly is compromised

Another singer last night was bunching some cord up in one hand, and bending a loop so tight that the cable did break inside. I could hear it going "CRSSSSKSSKKS"

SM58 is a tank though. People have even twisted the XLR cable so hard, it dislodged the female connector on the mic. This one jerk twisted it 720', completely severing the wires inside.

We're not dealing with professionals here...

I hate when the drunks pick up my Mic stand and chew off the little rubber feet,,, this happens weekly....

Tell me about it.
I bought 10 from peaveyuk ( 736) on ebay.
I only use Neutrik but these from peavey fell apart.
Will never deal with peavey again.
Hard to believe what they did.

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/peaveyuk

Cash flow. Couldn't afford to upgrade right now but for $20/year we can avoid the drunk/cord rodeo and protect our better equipment from the rare bad apple. It may not add up in the long run but it was what we could do now to keep things going. I am just less tense when the rare screamer/stumbler grabs something we can afford to replace. As long as we have the AKG or OM2 set up right next to them and people can choose, I just am tired of feeling guilty about it. The Nadys are for fun.

Wasn't touting the 2 years as a plus. Was expressing amazement that they lasted that long.