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[Debbie Dunkley]

Having used the U/O method for so long now, I even tie my shoelaces that way !!

[John Ferreira]

On short cables, the benefit is less apparent.
On cables over 50’ , the benefits are huge.
In that case, it’s not the speed but the long term health of the cables.
I will take on anyone in speed wrapping (not rapping...) long cables.

Of course, without twisting the cables.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Steve Loewenthal]

As far as the amount of time it takes for me to wrap up a cable, IMO there is no contest. Over-under will always be faster than over-over because I don't have to stop to untangle a twisted mess part way through.

When I do get help, I ask people to: find a cable, separate it from the rest, and just toss it somewhere on the floor where it is not touching any other cables. Do not attempt to make it into a neat pile. Do not coil it. (Do not fold, staple or mutilate )

As to a contest with the "reel" users, by the time they get all set up to do the 1st cable, I have already completed several cables and doubt they can catch up on anything shorter than a batch of 50 foot and longer cables.

[Tim McCulloch]

As far as the amount of time it takes for me to wrap up a cable, IMO there is no contest. Over-under will always be faster than over-over because I don't have to stop to untangle a twisted mess part way through.

When I do get help, I ask people to: find a cable, separate it from the rest, and just toss it somewhere on the floor where it is not touching any other cables. Do not attempt to make it into a neat pile. Do not coil it. (Do not fold, staple or mutilate )

As to a contest with the "reel" users, by the time they get all set up to do the 1st cable, I have already completed several cables and doubt they can catch up on anything shorter than a batch of 50 foot and longer cables.

We use fire hose reels (they were on sale at a local industrial surplus shop) we modified with a base and crank handle.  It's about storage density.  We get about 80(ish) 25' cables on a reel that's about 25" x 10".  It slides into a space in the bottom of the work boxes.  We've yet to find anything else that puts so many cables in such a small space.

An experienced over-under person can fly through cables if they're laid out, I agree.  Even reeling in the mic cables requires a bit of intuition for tension and distribution across the drum as you wind it in, which is something that 40% of helpers that cannot over-under, also fail at.  There is no fool-resistant way. 

[Ivan Beaver]

We use fire hose reels (they were on sale at a local industrial surplus shop) we modified with a base and crank handle.  It's about storage density.  We get about 80(ish) 25' cables on a reel that's about 25" x 10".  It slides into a space in the bottom of the work boxes.  We've yet to find anything else that puts so many cables in such a small space.

An experienced over-under person can fly through cables if they're laid out, I agree.  Even reeling in the mic cables requires a bit of intuition for tension and distribution across the drum as you wind it in, which is something that 40% of helpers that cannot over-under, also fail at.  There is no fool-resistant way. 

Back when I was in the rental business, I used large hose reels.

I would clear the stage of backline, mic stands etc, and leave all the mic cables till last.

Then you can "plop down" at the snake head and reel them all in.

It is also handy to have a damp cloth with you.  That way you can run the cables through the cloth and clean them as you put tension on the cable.

It is a double win.

When setting up, put the reel near the snake head and simply pull off what you need, then plug it in.  Much faster than if you have to connect a couple together to get to the far side of the stage.

Another easy thing to do is to run a cable checker either before or after the gig.

Just hook it to each end of the spool and you can test all the cables at once.

If they are good, then great.  You feel better about using them.

But if you have a break, you have no idea which one it is, but you can leave the tester hooked up to the inside cable and pull them off one at a time and just have to plug in 1 end to test.

[Mac Kerr]

Another easy thing to do is to run a cable checker either before or after the gig.

Just hook it to each end of the spool and you can test all the cables at once.

If they are good, then great.  You feel better about using them.

But if you have a break, you have no idea which one it is, but you can leave the tester hooked up to the inside cable and pull them off one at a time and just have to plug in 1 end to test.

Of course, if you have an even number of out of polarity cables they all read as good. 

Mac

[Ivan Beaver]

Of course, if you have an even number of out of polarity cables they all read as good. 

Mac

True.  But I would hope that breakage would be a bigger issue than out of polarity cables.

Those should have been noticed ahead of time.

That doesn't normally change with use

But then again, as long as a single strand of copper is connected, it will pass a continuity test.

[Will Knight]

I was an O/O person for the longest time, well over 40 years.  I couldn't seem to wrap my mind - or my cables - around the idea of O/U.  I've moved from the "dark side"  but only recently so still getting used to this "new" O/U way.  So far, it's working.   

[brian maddox]

I was an O/O person for the longest time, well over 40 years.  I couldn't seem to wrap my mind - or my cables - around the idea of O/U.  I've moved from the "dark side"  but only recently so still getting used to this "new" O/U way.  So far, it's working.

Welcome to the dark/right side.

we have cake.

and proper employment.

enjoy both at your own risk...

[Lyle Williams]

On short cables, the benefit is less apparent.
On cables over 50’ , the benefits are huge.
In that case, it’s not the speed but the long term health of the cables.
I will take on anyone in speed wrapping (not rapping...) long cables.😄

Ok.  The rules are the cable starts uncoiled on the floor.  The cable must then be coiled and tied.  Then uncoiled and pulled straight (untangled) onto the floor.

Post your times, techniques and cable lengths.

[ProSoundWeb Community]