When you're outfitting your podcast recording setup, pay close attention to the cables you use. It's tempting to treat cables as an afterthought. I mean who spends time online researching cables when there's so much cool gear out there? That nifty new compressor or microphone will indeed need a cable to work. Make sure you buy the right one.
The first rule of good cable buying is simple. Don't go cheap. Good cables cost money. Spend it. You don't always have to buy the most expensive cable at the music store, but never buy the cheapest either.
Next, make sure you get the shortest cable you can find that will work for your setup. Cable inductance is something to consider. The shorter the cable, the less likely inductance is to be a problem.
Be sure your cables come with the proper connectors. When possible, use balanced signals with balanced connectors. This gives you the cleanest sound.
Remember that a cable's job is to move signal unchanged. So don't buy into marketing claims that certain brands improve performance. You also generally don't need to worry about gold connectors. Instead, pay attention to specifications relating to cable shielding.
Most podcasters can safely use cables with a braided shield, 90% + shield coverage. The best cables usually comes with 95% or better coverage and may have reinforced cores.
Cable durability shouldn't be an issue in the studio, but if you take your podcasting gear out on the road, consider buying beefier cables that are able to stand up to more abuse.
Finally, carefully consider cable placement. When you lay out the cables in your studio, don't cross power cables or leave your cables all bunched up.
For more on podcasting, visit my site PodcastingTricks.com
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