SQ800 Series: How To Use For A Studio

Introduction:

This article explains how to set up and use your Rockville SQ800 Series snake cables in a professional or home studio environment. Whether you're routing signals between rooms, connecting microphones to a mixer, or patching outboard gear like compressors and EQs, this guide will show you how to make clean and organized connections using the SQ800 series.

No special tools or technical background required—just plug, label, and play.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Understanding the Studio Layout

Let’s assume your studio has:

• A live room where your instruments and microphones are set up.
• A mixing/control room where your mixer and outboard gear are located.

Your goal is to connect microphones or gear from the live room into the mixer in the control room.

2. Connecting Microphones via Wall Jacks and Snake Cables

Scenario: Recording drums using 8 microphones

1. Install input wall jacks in the live room.
2. Plug each microphone into the corresponding input on the wall jack.
3. Use Rockville SQ800 snake cables to connect the outputs of the wall jacks to the inputs of your mixer.

How to match cables:

• Each snake cable is numbered and color-coded on both ends.
• Connect cable 1 from output 1 of the wall jack to input 1 on your mixer.
• Repeat the process: cable 2 to input 2, cable 3 to input 3, and so on.

This 1-to-1 labeling ensures an organized and error-free setup.

3. Choosing the Right Cable Length

• 3-foot snake cable: Best for short connections (e.g., patch bay to compressor).
• 6-foot snake cable: Great for mid-range connections.
• 12-foot snake cable: Ideal for longer distances (e.g., wall jack to mixer across separate rooms).

Choose the appropriate cable length based on the distance between your gear.

4. Connecting Outboard Gear (Compressor to EQ, etc.)

You can also use the SQ800 snake cables to patch between gear like compressors and equalizers.

Example: Connecting a compressor to an EQ

1. Take quarter-inch cable 1 from one end of the snake and plug it into the output of the compressor.
2. Take the other end labeled quarter-inch 1 and plug it into the input of the EQ.
3. Use shorter snake cables if the gear is placed close together (3-foot or 6-foot options work well).

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: What if I plug into the wrong input?
A: Check the color-coded and numbered labels on both ends of the cable to match correctly.

Q: My cable doesn’t reach the mixer—what should I do?
A: Measure the distance and consider using the 12-foot version of the SQ800 series for extended runs.

Q: Can I use these cables with XLR jacks?
A: The SQ800 series features 1/4" TRS connections. If your setup uses XLR, you may need adapters or a different snake model.

Conclusion

The Rockville SQ800 Series snake cables are a reliable and easy way to manage signal routing in any studio environment. Whether you’re miking drums, connecting patch bays, or linking outboard gear, these cables help keep your setup organized and efficient.