Another tip: Grab the velcro strap, and spin it around the cable. It loosens the loop one way and tightens the other way. Makes it easy to put on and take off.
I believe what he's saying is that wants the velcro is attached to the cable using this method, that spinning the velcro at the attachment point on the cable one direction and other allows it to tighten its grip or loosen its grip on the cable
@@DaveRat Yes, exactly. Its also useful while attaching it to the cable. After you thread the connector though the loop as you've shown in method one, you just grab the velcro strap by its end and start spinning it around the cable until the strap is tight around the cable. Same works for loosening it and taking it off. You just need to spin it in the other direction.
I've always preferred the VELCRO Brand ONE-WRAP Cable Ties since then the entire cable tie sticks to itself (instead of just a strip at the end) and cinches down quite tight, that way you can cut to length and use on cables small to medium size, but I can see how this could be useful for larger/longer cables. I prefer to have the prickly side inward and the other side outward. This has a two-fold effect of having more friction on the cable so it is less likely to slide and less fuzzies get on the prickly side when its wrapped entirely around itself as no prickly side is exposed. It is fun to see others other than myself with obsessiveness about small details like cable ties 😀
Totally Agree @dronenb the VELCORO Rolls of ties are the way to go and have plenty of grip and the VELCORO Lasts really well. Im normaly on board with Dave but this time i thi nk he has missed it
I like the velcro that has hook and loops all the way on both sides as well. That said, I hate it when it slides on the cable, And also on big cables when it rips and comes off. As long as you don't use the wrong length velcro on the cable you don't need hook and loops the whole way. These are super strong and don't slide and the printed ones have a place to write a length on or a note in little white box which is cool too. But yes use what you love use what works for you and also, this is the proper way to get these things attached
@@DaveRat That's the thing though. When it's all velcro, you can just press the end part to the tie part, and it will stay there firmly. It won't slide. At least the ones I buy doesn't.
So when yo grap the cable and grab the Velcro you have a tough time sliding it on the cable? Or if the Velcro gets caught or hooks another Velcro in the pile of cables and ya grab the end and pull, the Velcro rips away from whatever catches it before it slides on the cable? Very cool. Yeah, that's not been my experience.
I love this method and use it all the time! Bonus tip: find yourself velcro straps with a writable "label" on the end. I use it to put my initials on it, or the length of the cable.
Thanks! Always struggled to put those on correctly. On the other hand I like it when it slips better because sometimes i use the tie to make the cable fall nicely parallel to a mic stand, for example. Instead of using tape.
Here in Germany (and most of Europe as well as far as I know) this kind of cable tie has been standard for over a decade (if not even longer. I'm blown away that these are somewhat of a new discovery on the other side of the pond
Interesting and yes, it's so cool to see something so common for some and yet not known to most or many. Perhaps like the spread of actual delicious espresso and coffee from Spain France Italy to the rest of the world in the 80s or 90s I remember when perculated coffee was all you ever get here
Hey Germany, have you heard of the metric system? Sounds easy and simple and sensible and learnable by kids in just one hour of school. Maybe we Americans will adopt it...
@@briangray4640 imperial is needed also. For thousands of years. 😀 Minutes and seconds also, 60, 360, besides the Metric system based in ten (10). There are more systems now computer based. There are as many systems as you need them. Go with the flow. Ask them to make a STANDARD CONTAINER for shopping and roads. 🩷
Back in the olden days (70s), at the shoe repair shop, they had leather boot laces which were cut from a piece of leather. You would ask for say 10 laces which were about 450mm (18") long. Then tie one lace in the middle around the cable (and pull it tight). The leather would grip and not slip. Then coil the cable and tie the lace round the with a bow knot. They lasted a few years and were cheap.
Cool share! We've given up on that style,mostly -- and use the rubber covered wire "gumby" wraparounds. Different sizes w matching colors helps,too Plus,they don't randomly stick on anything. Enjoy this channel,thanks
I like velcro ties for smaller cables, short patch etc, the kind of cables that don't get dragged across the floor. Velcro is really fast for those applications. But anything 25' and over gets tie line at my shop. The velcro is great when it's new but on longer cables it tends to pick up debris and become less effective over time, which is especially apparent on the longer cables the are heavier, (NL4, NL8, AC, Twistlock) the velcro ties tend to come apart in transit. Not to mention, when you've got like a dozen or more XLRs terminating at a snake box if you don't dress those velcros on set-up they have a tendency to stick together on the strike. Instead of coiling up one cable at a time you get one with 11 others stuck to the end. I was just discussing this with the current shop manager at the production company I used to work for, they're going back to tie line. Of course, it's a matter of preference but for me, it's really tough to beat tie line. Clove hitch forever!
Agreed! I like velcro for the Cat5e Cat 6A cables and stuff in my R&D area at the rat shop. For our touring and rental side of the company, we actually use E-Tape as velcro and tie lines tend to confuse local state hands and out of thousands of cables were sending out that will always be missing Velcro and missing tie lines. eTape is always there to do the job and speed up load out
Very true but it can be reduced if you use 3m electrical tape instead of the cheaper stuff. But yes the sticky residue is a bummer and a small price to pay for having her loadouts fast enough to not get replaced by other vendors on big tours
@@DaveRat It's incredible that some of these "hands" get on a call can somehow tie up their boots but not tie up a cable. Apparently I had at least one of them on the out last night :(
Agreed. It's amazing to see what some hands consider a good idea to do while realizing that also they somehow are able to navigate basic survival. Never underestimate the ability of a human to come up with a bad idea and run with it
Been making my own up for ages, but not got 1000's of cables to deal with. Great for the back of racks as well. Networking guys have been using it over cable ties as doesn't damage the jackets and easily removable to allow changes.
Best investment I ever made was getting a whole spool of precut 9" ties with a slot and screw slit already cut into them. Need longer? Just slip two together and they'll never pull apart. Need more? Just rip some more off the roll - since they're so reusable, after a while you're not ripping many off the roll and it goes in the cabinet until you need to add a few more into the mix again. No metal parts so they never bend, break, or corrode/rust and you'll have to work real hard to damage your cabling with them. Cannot express just how much zipties give me pause now; ever since I crushed a bunch of fiber optic cables as a younger lad (and was appropriately stuck with the rework) I've been preferential to velcro...thanks for making the video and taking the time to demonstrate as well as putting it up for us. I'm not an affiliate so I won't pimp any companies I've used but a quick web search will turn up a couple companies that will precut a spool for you at a competitive price; you might have to call them, sometimes it's an "off menu" item (bulk prices generally are "ask for quote", just call them and chat).
Always found these ones with metal rings at the end to be a pain, and relatively expensive for what it is and amount of cables I need it for. So I bought a 100-pack of those super simple all-velcro ties with a hole at the end instead of a metal ring. Because the hole itself is velcro hook/loop, when you loop the end of it through the hole and stretch it out, you can just press the tie down on the velcro part right after the hole and it will stay there and keep a very tight grip on the cable. They cost a fraction of the price of the metal ring ones and are easily scalable, so never buying anything else ever again
Very cool, yes, those are cool for applications where the Velcro sliding in the cable is not annoying. They don't tear off overly easy but still the Velcro hole weakens the hold and they rip off easier than the metal ring design. The hole in the Velcro means that either side of the Velcro is edge torn when stressed. Unlike the metal ring that is double wrapped and the full Velcro literally has to be torn in two or the metal ring bent apart to fail. But mostly, the fun of attaching what seems so simple in a complex way that makes it crazy strong and useful is what makes the metal ring setup interesting.
Honestly I find those annoying. Because they have sticky velcro throughout their entire length, they get caught on themselves super easily. They also take a little longer to undo every time you use the cable if they're long enough to wrap around the cable multiple times.
@@charlotteice5704 I cut them to appropriate lengths. Usually the standard length for power cables, 3/4th for XLRs and half for shorter data cables. And how on earth do you manage to get them to stick together when the entire outside surface is the same on all wraps? Those surfaces can't stick together at all. Never happened to me. Or did I misread what you meant?
@@charlotteice5704 Still can't see what scenario that would be. If the cable is wrapped, it lays perfectly still, if it's not wrapped, it doesn't matter, it's just laying on the floor or wherever and is super easy to straighten out when it's time to wrap. In what scenario do you find this frustration, because it's never happened to me, nor can I imagine how it would happen
Right! Same. Once I knew the way, they went from worst to best. Who had figured it out was there was one on a cable that I got and I went to take it off and couldn't figure out how to take it off, I'll removing it I figured out how it was put on and was like whoa!!! This is cool
The motivation to use velcro instead of conventional cable ties was that the width of the velcro tie and the way velcro attaches to itself would not put undue pressure on twisted pair cables to avoid interference with the electrical characteristics of the twisted pairs. Such pressure concentrated to the surface area of conventional cable ties could cause cross-talk, reflections and so-on. They were not affixed that tight on the cables but are to affix building installed cable onto cable tray and on patch leads in patch panels. When it comes to doing trunk cable runs, using cable combs to keep the multiple cables in a run neat and tidy is great.
That looks like a great method. Sadly, I don't need to buy any right now as I've been using Rip-Tie CableWraps on all of my cables for about twenty years. They've worked well for me despite the fact that you need to cut the little ziptie in order to remove them. I'll definitely look into your suggestion if I ever need to purchase more cable ties.
I use Velcro strap that I cut to length then cut a slot lengthwise about an inch from the and an inch long. This makes a hole to slip the male connector through. I’ve never had an issue with them sliding around enough to bother me. I have also used the precut straps with an eye in the strap. They’re fine, too.
i do the same, looped velcro method with velcro male plug side on all cables i bring in service. just make sure it is long enough. to loosen, you can also grap the velcro tight and twist it open. sometimes i like to loosen the velcro a bit to move it on the cable. cheers yaall
I use D’addario elastic cable ties. They attach well to standard mic cable and don’t stick together like Velcro. But, they only come in one size which fits 15’ - 50’ cables. I worked for a band that just cranked all of their mic cables onto a spool, connecting the cables together end to end. Worked great if all of the cables were about the same size. I will try Dave’s advice as I have some of these Velcro ties with the metal loop and I could never figure out a good way to use them.
The bongo ties are ok as well. But they slide on the cable. All good. And if you want a strong cable tie that won't slide on the cable, these Velcro ones work well. There is no right way, just showing how to properly attach and show one of the better ways
"I worked for a band that just cranked all of their mic cables onto a spool, connecting the cables together end to end" This is psychotic, if I'm understanding correctly
The crank on the reel method is cool if you have like one person doing them and you got plenty of time. The cables get held really straight. That said, someone good at winding Mike cables can get things done three or four times faster. There's no one solution, Velcro is a bummer at stage boxes with all bunches together and can be unsightly and messy in the back of racks. But if you are going to use Velcro, and you want it strong and not the slide, then this is a cool method.
Dunno... I've been using the standard One-Wrap pass-through ties for decades and they work just fine. I mean, sometimes they slide a bit but I just slide 'em back. Once they're cinched around a wrapped cable they stay put.
Cool and yeah for minne applications that may be good enough. And also the fact that so simply you can attach that same tie wrap in a way that doesn't slide is an option as well
This Method is around at least for 10 Years, at least that was the time I learned it here in Bremen/Germany. Would be really corious where it comes from and always wonders me when people don't know of it. But I guess thats mostly because learned it so early. New for me is your first Method of putting them on I always did the second method ... First one feels way easier
Yeah I don't know how long it's been around probably much much longer for other applications and straps and such. It is so fun to find something so obvious and judging from the comments here and my experience, not very widely known.
There are velcros that don't have the metal hoop. Instead they have a cutout in the end of the velcro tie. On the cable the velcro grips to itself thus making it hard to move when tight but still easy to remove when needed.
Yes, and those are cool and fall into the realm of functional but they can't be super tightened not to slip and slide on the cable and rip off the cable fairly easily as the Velcro with the hole is a weak point. For lighter duty applications like for a usb-c cable,, all good. For more pro applications like 50 ft and longer Cat6a stage cables and such, a more robust and less annoying solution may be of value
Yes and very cool. And when deciding what velcro straps to put on professional audio cables that cost upward to $500 or more a cable, using something a little nicer than the Lowe's version maybe desirable. The slipping on the cable factor is interesting. For home use and other non-professional applications or using small inexpensive cables, having a tie that is reluctant to slide but if you grab it you can slip it down the cable, maybe okay. Conversely for applications where you're running longer cables for professional applications, having a cable tie where it is extremely difficult to slide on the cable and will actually stay where you put it is desirable
I just made a cable hanger, just a bar like the ones ya get from Ikea for hanging pots and pans , I just drape the cables over it. But I don’t got a giant studio or giant’s cables like this fella 😱
Very cool and yes we use cable hangers for our cables at the shop. We also need a way to hold the cables intact when they go into cases and out to tours and festivals. We actually use eTape as our standard cable wrap method. Where is Velcro on the soundtools products that we manufacture, And I use it in my engineering department and stuff at home. I'm not really promoting velcro as a solution as much as showing how to attach Velcro should it be the solution you desire
As always an interesting product featured and video. However I will stick with a piece of trick line close to the male end of a mic wire, secured with a clove knot and a half hitch. Perhaps it’s just me but the Velcro ties seem to attach to themselves at the sub snake box when used as single wires and not in a loom. The larger ones you should I believe would be great for AC, and other heavier wire. Thank you.
Very cool and yes the ones without metal rings are wonderful to save money and for applications where you don't care if they get torn off when thrown around on bigger cables. If you want something that'll stay on the cable much stronger and also is really hard to slide then the metal loops of the way to go.
I made cable loops by velcro both sides together allowing me to put multiple cables together but I'm local giging so ergonomics goes a long way I gotta find where they sell those style 🤘💀🔥🍻
Tie line is great and lasts forever. A bit slow too and occasionally comes untied in the cases. Proper tool for the task and preference. Sound tools is going to put velcro on all etherCon cables we sell 50 ft and longer as well as on the cable reels to hold the ends. Unfortunately and even though I don't like it, eTape seems to be the only thing that stage hands don't screw up and can do on a regular basis. So that's what we use for our rental systems But I'm not promoting one method over another, I'm just showing what I found to be a really cool way to attach Velcro I don't think tie line would be as clean or pro for that application
@@DaveRat I'm old enough to remember when stage hands actually knew their craft. But that has changed. I was running FOH for a benefit show several years ago and was shocked at the crew that showed up to set and op lights. Their cable skills were horrific. Not only did the setup look like a complete rat's nest but during strike they just wadded up the all the cables and through them in a case. When I asked why they didn't coil everything up they said that there was someone in the warehouse that did that. I guess they don't teach cable management at Full Sail. A couple of them asked if I needed any help wrapping my gear and they seemed baffled when I declined.
Very cool. There are two different types with the metal ring. One has the hooks and loops on the same side of the Velcro And the other has the hooks on the opposite side of the Velcro as the loops. The 2nd will work with this method, the first will need a twist in the cable which is awkward but can be done in the loop that mounts the velcro
My default vendor actually has a small instructional pic describing this technique with their ties, so I've started doing this from day one. But I personally dislike the super tight grip, so I've switched between different styles. Whatever fits one best I guess.
Dave, love this stuff! Hey, question: (mixing question, mixing tips for live band) How do you keep the drummers vocal mic from bleeding drums like crazy into the mix? I'm using a super cardioid sennheiser e945 dynamic. if I set the gate just high enough to keep out the drums then only around 1/2 the words get through. as soon as I lower the gate to get all the vocals, it stays open and the drums pour in. I have a mute pedal rigged up for the drummer, which is cool, but there has to be something better than switching to electronic drums. heheh. thanks! 🤍 (my gate has threshold, attack, hold, release and gate depth in DBs - it's seems to be that the drums are just too loud for the gate to work. and the drummer sings pretty loud right up against the mic - he can't get closer or sing louder.)
Try and optogate and set it so it only turns on when the drummer's mouth is near the mic. Then get a very fast compressor like a distressor set to very fast attack and release times such that it doesn't limit when he sings or she sings but all the loud drums get compressed or limited to astically This will stop the super loud drums from getting through and turn off the mic when they're not singing.. Ideally an opticate that has a 60b or 10 DB of attenuation which I believe you can order or buy. They're made in Germany I believe and have a sensor that detects when something is in front of the mic and a set screw to determine sensitivity
@@DaveRatawesome man! Thank you. IR sensor can be set to unmute between 4 feet and 2 inches. That should work. I’m seeing some for around $200. Not horrible. ❤️
Hello dave, i have some issues with velcro tape, I with my friends coil the cable up and up, works fine with shoes tie, but use velcro with up up coil when i loose the Cable always becone messed up,...are you have aome tip , Thanks Dave....
I've been using the MonoPrice hook and loop Velcro straps, but now I'm intrigued on those kind with a metal ring. Was wondering if they were going to be in the store. I've seen a lot of Velcro ties that get really expensive and why oh it's got a logo on it. I prefer Male end of all XLR cables unless they're going to be used for monitors/speakers. oh And to solve the problem of them bunching up at the stage box which I've never had.... It's simple when you undo the Velcro strap on the cable and then redo the strap so it can't stick to anything. I was wondering why I was not having any issues with this and everybody was like never use Velcro never use Velcro! Apparently I have always redone the Velcro strap after I've undone it so it can't stick to anything else. Edited: for clarity and typos.
Just in case you wanted another controversy: Slack/coiled cable should always be placed near the performer, in case they move around after the set. Maybe the bands you work with have a very careful stage plan and never move, but I always prepare for people to change their minds. IME it's easier to move the coiled end than the free end.
Maybe it’s because I started working in musical theatre early in my career, but I prefer black nylon tie line. A roll of Tie line is more cost effective and versatile. Leave the Velcro to the astronauts. And yes I konw that in some parts of the country the expectation of a stagehand knowing how to tie his on shoes is setting the bar a bit high, but I still think the benifits of tie line outweigh those of Velcro.
I like it too! I like Velcro for my R and D, home and office cable and for cable reel ends. Tie line is great for hefty power cables. My company switched to eTape as a universal way for all cables. I don't like it but stage hands understand eTape, Velcro and tie lines not so much I don't recommend what to use, but rather, if you use Velcro, here is a cool way to attach.
@@DaveRat Some of the big shops that serve the Broadway industry have a small diameter nylon rope for the TL4 & TL5 power cable. Also the tie line or rope is easy to use as a strain relief. Yes that does look like a much better way to attach the Velcro than I have seen the big shops in Vegas that serve the corporate/industrial events use. The other thing that I would find frustrating about the Velcro was that shops like VER in Vegas would hire warehouse staff to work in the shop because they could pay them low wages, but often they would attach the Velcro at the female end of the XLR. 😖
The ones without the metal ring tear off too easy and slide on the cable. Those are lackluster and boooring! Using nylon cable ties to attach makes them stronger and not slide but makes them sharp and ugly. It it the self contained, self cinching, strong design that makes this method interesting and desirable.
@@DaveRat Youre right, the all velcros slide a bit, but not too bad, if you get them tight. This double loopy thing you have going could work for those, too, I'll have to try it! But, the Velcro brand ones are pretty tough to tear. Boooring, hahaha! Thanks for all the vids, bro!
Hey Dave, bought a pack of these after watching this video. Do you have to twist the end of the cable strap to get the hook side to make contact with loop side? I might be missing something. In product images I see online you feed the end through the metal ring then back around, but with your method that’s not possible. Thanks!
I show two methods in the video, try the other method to see if that works easier for ya. Then you can see how the wrap goes and the first method may click for ya
I'm having the same problem. On one side it is completely smooth, the other side has both the fuzzy loop velcro near the buckle then the hook velcro near the end. As mentioned both on the same side so when wrapping it will never stick to itself and work. Did you find a solution?
@dmaifred hmmm, yeah for this type of wrap ya need Velcro with hooks on the opposite side as the loops. I had seen them out in the field a few times and we needed velcro for Soundtools products that we make. Once I realized how cool that wrap worked, we had the velcro custom made tht way. I didn't realize how tricky it can be to find it from other sources though until after I made this video
take any strip of velcro. make a slit vertically about 1/2 inch from the top. feed the tip through the slit. then feed the connector through the loop. tighten down on the cable. voila. a tight permanent strap using less velcro. you can buy 25 foot rolls of 1 inch wide velcro for $10.
Ha! Yes, I was doing a video and had a cable with a Velcro on it attached that way and I ended up bending the ring off. I then set out to figure out how the heck it was mounted and was so impressed I had to share!
Dave, mate. The bit you didnt explain is why on earth you are using the ties with the portable short circuit on the outside in 2024? The all velcro type with the eye cut out are SO much better ime, i despise those metal things.
@@DaveRat i havent but that certainly explains still using metal. But, webbing is WAY stronger, have you seen the RipRac? A mate was involved in its development and having seen it i can immediately see how to reinforce that double sided hook&loop stuff with a webbing loop 'buttonhole' to be way stronger than steel. The tightness thing - its a knack, not as bad as the knack of tying those tho XD. Again rubberising the back of that loop with a bit odf silicone would be WAY better. And youre one of few people who could make a product like that happen, tbh
To think i didn't do it this way , have em all with no metal loop but they move, but yet now it's done. i do put em to the male end mostly tho thats a big deal!!!!!
I must be doing something wrong because I keep getting the hook and loop velcro unable to attach to each other. It's like they're on the wrong side of each other
Yes, depending on how the velcro is made this may or may not work I am realizing. The Velcro needs to have the hook and loops on opposite sides of the strap
Does anyone have any good Amazon links or other sites (the rat sound small option is out of stock) of cable ties like these that have the hook side and loop side on opposite sides of the cable tie? I bought a bunch from Amazon and they’re all cable ties with both the hook and loop all on the same side. The opposite side is entirely flat. I’m looking for some with a metal or plastic hoop.
How many do ya need? I see a few here maybe 10 or 20 or so over at SoundTools. We are getting a new batch in soon with a new print. They will all have a large ish white area to write info on them now. We are also adding a 3rd size, Xtra large, which will wrap 60 and 100 meter cat cables. If you want any of the small ones we currently have here, email sales@ratound.com or call and talk to JC Also I mentioned someone may call or email for small Velcro, we'll sort ya with some extras or a discount.
@@DaveRat I need maybe 20 or 30 just to have on site. I work in house AV for a hotel so we’re always buying more cables because we have to set and reset every day so the cables or cables will give out. I’ll probably give you guys a call to see if anyone get me sorted out.
I'm having the same problem. On one side it is completely smooth, the other side has both the fuzzy loop velcro near the buckle then the hook velcro near the end. As mentioned both on the same side so when wrapping it will never stick to itself and work. Did you find a solution?
Tie line or trick cord is really good and I associate it with quality. My first experience with it was doing sound for some movie shoots and all of their stingers had wonderfully friction tape wrapped tie lines in the center of each cable. We even tried that on several occasions for deployment of our cables. For a pile of Edison power cords trick line is cool and useful. Putting trick line on a thousand mic cables, or even Velcro, just create a mess somewhere. Either in the middle of the cables or a nightmare at the stage box. I'm not promoting Velcro as a solution, I'm showing away to attach Velcro should it be the proper tool for the application at hand. I like velcro for my R&D department as well as my personal cables at home as well as for cable reels and other soundtools products that we manufacture.
I would never use anything metal near interconnect. My cables are too expensive to be potentially damaged by the metal rings, either by cinching or trying to loosen it. I use the velcro strips with the hole at the end of the velcro and this holds my cables, both guitar and stereo cables just fine.
... trick-tie works fine. Velcro tangles with each other at snake head, pulling cable with velcro straps can be a hassle, unless velcro is applied properly it can be much slower. Velcro is a solution to a non-existent problem IMHO. .02
Agreed and we don't use hook and loop for our touring sound systems as it deteriorates as well as gets torn off and takes too much time. We actually use e-tape. But for my R&D department and stuff at home, Hook and loop is awesome as it's neat and clean.
Oh e-tape sucks. You just whined a wrap or two of electrical tape around the cable. It feels crappy cuz it's wasteful but it's the only real way to load out big stages and festivals quickly and not have the crew spending forever trying to tie strings or untangle Velcro or tying a knot in the cable which destroys the cable over time
Ok, neato…but what about all the Velcro at the stage box? Does it not stick together, and if not, please show how? I can’t imagine not just untangling spaghetti’d cabling but unsticking it as well at the end of a show when striking a stage.
Whenever possibly use the proper tool for the job and the proper tool for a bunch of mic cables that are going to go to a stage box is probably not Velcro. That said I do like velcro for 25 ft and longer Cat5e cables and power cords and such. On the other hand, All the tours we send out eTape is pretty much the standard for us though I don't love it because of the waste of plastic, it's the fastest way to get a loadout done. But if you're going to use Velcro or hook and loop, they seem to be the best of the bunch
@gregorykusiak5424 : For that i find that having a velcro that can slide is useful, so that all the velcro from all the cables is not too close to the stagebox and/or to close to each other, so that they don't stick to each other.
Ya don't need to search for and untangle the Velcro. Tape anywhere. Rip rather than unwrap to open. Same method for all cables, no stage box Velcro clusters, I'm not a big fan of eTape and waste and personally don't use it. But for the rental side of Rat, we have reluctantly settled on eTape as the best of all the options. For R and D and cables in the office and such, am switching to these
@@DaveRat Interesting. To me it's as fast or even faster (especially if you use colored velcro) finding the velcro than finding the tape. And unwrapping the velcro is as fast if not faster than ripping the etape for me as well.
@Herfinnur 0 seconds ago How the hell did this just pop up in my feed?! I honest to God just - as in just 4 seconds ago - finished writing up a plan for a pedalboard and the very last thing I wrote was: "Idea: velcro strips instead of cable ties?"
Yes, I am not a fan of eTape but yes, for big tours and shows it's the only way to go. Guaranteed to work every time never missing strap. No pile of Velcro at the stage box. No strings in the middle of your cable runs that are supposed to look pretty. Not ideal but yes that's the only thing we found that works for the big inventory. For things like cable reels and my personal stuff and the R&D department where it's not going out in mass, I like the velcro straps
@@someguy9778 Why when you often have to cut tape off, or pull too hard and you're damaging the cable. Also how long do you spend trying to find the end? How often do you go home with it stuck to your feet?
Have you done much work on major rock shows or large tours or festivals? As I mentioned I'm not a big fan of eTape and on the other hand we have tried Velcro and tie line for deploying the hundreds and hundreds of cables or perhaps thousands of cables that we have in the shop and made this attempt on several different occasions over the years and we keep returning to eTape as the only viable solution for large scale deployments. Never underestimate the ability of a human to come up with a bad idea and run with it. Tie lines will inevitably come untied or be tied in knots that are time-consuming to undo. Velcro can be unsightly and so can tie lines when running many cables. And when the velcro or tie lines fail or fall off e-tape is the fallback so you have to carry that anyways. But I don't have the answers for everything and I know there is no right or wrong, I'm just sharing the experiences that I have running sound company that does large events over the past 40 years
@@DaveRat I'm pretty well experienced, not done huge shows but worked for professional companies that use tape as well as my own busy little company and as a velcro man, I find it hard to understand. I've see a few problems of ties mating with others in the pile that takes a bit of sorting out, but not the every time problems of using up tape, having to dispose of it, finding the end or giving up and cutting it off. I'd never go back!
u ve been talking in mm….I Hope u will not get expelled from the us.. i got to know this methot some 20 years ago as a scetch on a wall of a workshop in a PA company, it was a copy of a copy of an article in a PA or musicians- Magazin…😂 but I like the Dadario rubber band with clip a bit more for mic-cables…
Actually, these have been arround for years, possibly decades (at least here in germany) But I'm wondering, why are you making this so difficult? This will be hard to follow, but I'll try my best to explain: Imagine the plug at the top, the cable at the bottom. 1. Put the strap underneath the cable, eye to the left, velcro down/away from the cable. Move the eye up. 2. Take the tip and pull it through the eye from the outside. You should have a loop with the tip put inside. 3. Pull the tip arounde the cable, creating a second loop with oposite direction, and out of the eye. You should have a similar construct like shown in the video, but already on the cable. The soft side should be touching the cable. This is important, because you want to wrap your bundle with the strap away from the eye, not across it. (When starting to wrap, the cable will be visible through the eye) If you followed the directions above and are right handed, the cable coiled with the plug away from you, the strap should counter clockwise. You wont be able to reliably exert pressure when your strap goes "across" the eye before wrapping.
I'll never understand why people gripe about trick line. Super cheap, reusable and it wont stick to other cable ties. Could you imagine having a stage box full of these velcro straps?
Like everything there's a proper tool for the job. I use Velcro for ethercon cables and single runs. We use electrical tape for mic lines that we send out on tours. I like the trick line but also it takes two hands to tie that and when doing hundreds of cables at the end of a loadout it does slow things down. Someone good with electrical tape can be mighty quick
I'm in Germany and (not only) here this type of Velcro is pretty much the standard. A stage box full of these Velcro straps is not a problem at all - it hasn't been for decades and won't be in the future. If they ever get stuck together (which rarely happens), just pull them apart. You are much stronger than them and they are very tough. On the other hand, I've always hated the approach of using e-tape to secure cables. The cables become sticky and uncomfortable over time, you have to deal with those annoying spools of tape, and that tape produces a lot of waste. Attach Velcro straps to all your cables and your're good forever.
What I hate about tape is the the plasticizer in rubber jackets attacks and dissolves the tape adhesive, leaving a sticky mess all over the cable. @@DaveRat
Here's a gotcha - make sure to get buckle cable straps with hook on the reverse side to the loop, like the one's in this video. Many buckle cable ties have hook and loop on the same side - no good for this method
Why you are not using velcros from home depot? those are crazy cheap and bounds themselfs onto cable naturally as well. They dont have metal ring, just double sided velcro. IMHO that is greatest velcro tie on the planet. There are several lenghts available in home depot. When Im visiting americas, I always carry 4 packs with me to eu ;)
My channel is mainly pro audio professionals. This vid is a method to attach Velcro for those that already have an application. It's not to tell you that Velcro ties are good or bad or why, but rather, to show a how for those that already know or have a why.
Hmmm, let's see. New soundtools cat6a cable I designed about to be released (with these new Velcro), soundtools wallcat5, mixed gender catbox and tails and finishing up the design of the new mic switcher and swapper are all releasing over the next several months, on the consulting side I've got one city, one venue and 3 festivals I am working on while also, ramping up some pretty significant expenditures and deployment stuff for Coachella 2024 I've got a trip to visit soundtools manufacturer in Mexico and a 2 week surf trip to Indonesia and really need to sort a visit to Italy and Germany. Just back from 3 days snowboarding this week so far while getting a new deck built over the garage which means my entire garage workshop is now in our living room and packed around the area I record TH-cam videos. My biggest challenge is finding time and space to do videos but I am trying. The biggest difference between touring and my worked now is that I no longer have anyone telling me what to do and instead I spend my days twice as busy and having way more fun!
No sir. I don’t like it. The slip is super important to me for tying cables off. And people who don’t care (GAV) will yank on the Velcro and give all your cables bad memory in that last foot or so. Not to mention spin the ends around the coil so you don’t know which side it starts on. I’m lazy af. I don’t like the find the side game. I also don’t like having to use two hands to unravel the Velcro. If it doesn’t slip, you have to circle it around the cable to open the Velcro or you twist the cable.
A good point about the slip is that you can put the velcro in a position where it can grab both ends (or near) of the cables at once, so that you don't have one side that is dangling.
I'm not one to tell you what to use. Velcro, tie line, eTape or twist and connect are all useful and have their advantages and issues. Just showing a cool way to attach that allows you to have slip or no slip depending on how tight you attach
You really want a bucket full of that, getting all sticky across the trunk? Nah! nah nah nah nah! Shoelaces just like the truss dress for the borders and SOCA looms!
Tie lines are good, a bit slow and often come untied. But I like them, It's all about selecting the best method for your application. My company is standardized on eTape cor cables which I don't like but stage hands seem to understand it better and load ours move faster than with other methods. Trying to push a single method for all applications is a fills errand. And if using Velcro, this is a cool attachment method.
Another tip: Grab the velcro strap, and spin it around the cable. It loosens the loop one way and tightens the other way. Makes it easy to put on and take off.
Very cool
I don't understand what you mean...
Would you mean showing a video of it ?
I believe what he's saying is that wants the velcro is attached to the cable using this method, that spinning the velcro at the attachment point on the cable one direction and other allows it to tighten its grip or loosen its grip on the cable
exactly@@DaveRat
@@DaveRat Yes, exactly. Its also useful while attaching it to the cable. After you thread the connector though the loop as you've shown in method one, you just grab the velcro strap by its end and start spinning it around the cable until the strap is tight around the cable. Same works for loosening it and taking it off. You just need to spin it in the other direction.
I've always preferred the VELCRO Brand ONE-WRAP Cable Ties since then the entire cable tie sticks to itself (instead of just a strip at the end) and cinches down quite tight, that way you can cut to length and use on cables small to medium size, but I can see how this could be useful for larger/longer cables. I prefer to have the prickly side inward and the other side outward. This has a two-fold effect of having more friction on the cable so it is less likely to slide and less fuzzies get on the prickly side when its wrapped entirely around itself as no prickly side is exposed. It is fun to see others other than myself with obsessiveness about small details like cable ties 😀
Totally Agree @dronenb the VELCORO Rolls of ties are the way to go and have plenty of grip and the VELCORO Lasts really well. Im normaly on board with Dave but this time i thi nk he has missed it
I agree having hook-loop side and fuzz side be the full-legnth of the tie is very important
I like the velcro that has hook and loops all the way on both sides as well. That said, I hate it when it slides on the cable, And also on big cables when it rips and comes off.
As long as you don't use the wrong length velcro on the cable you don't need hook and loops the whole way.
These are super strong and don't slide and the printed ones have a place to write a length on or a note in little white box which is cool too.
But yes use what you love use what works for you and also, this is the proper way to get these things attached
@@DaveRat That's the thing though. When it's all velcro, you can just press the end part to the tie part, and it will stay there firmly. It won't slide. At least the ones I buy doesn't.
So when yo grap the cable and grab the Velcro you have a tough time sliding it on the cable? Or if the Velcro gets caught or hooks another Velcro in the pile of cables and ya grab the end and pull, the Velcro rips away from whatever catches it before it slides on the cable? Very cool. Yeah, that's not been my experience.
I love this method and use it all the time!
Bonus tip: find yourself velcro straps with a writable "label" on the end. I use it to put my initials on it, or the length of the cable.
Yes! For the sound tools branded ones we put a little white box that you can write in
We have those exact Velcros color coded for different lengths of Cable. Love this Method
I've seen white marker being used on black velcro for exactly that purpose
Or both
Thanks! Always struggled to put those on correctly. On the other hand I like it when it slips better because sometimes i use the tie to make the cable fall nicely parallel to a mic stand, for example. Instead of using tape.
🤙🎛️🤙
I've literally been studying cables with this kind of tie. Like, for real looking at it like 'HOW?!'. THANKS!
🤙👍🤙
Here in Germany (and most of Europe as well as far as I know) this kind of cable tie has been standard for over a decade (if not even longer. I'm blown away that these are somewhat of a new discovery on the other side of the pond
Interesting and yes, it's so cool to see something so common for some and yet not known to most or many.
Perhaps like the spread of actual delicious espresso and coffee from Spain France Italy to the rest of the world in the 80s or 90s
I remember when perculated coffee was all you ever get here
Hey Germany, have you heard of the metric system? Sounds easy and simple and sensible and learnable by kids in just one hour of school. Maybe we Americans will adopt it...
@@briangray4640 DIN is metric (Germany).
Edit: I worked with both systems imperial and metric (international) in the US as an architect.
@@franciscorompana2985 ha ha, yes, I was just making fun of us Americans and our ridiculous measurement system. Thx!
@@briangray4640 imperial is needed also. For thousands of years. 😀
Minutes and seconds also, 60, 360, besides the Metric system based in ten (10). There are more systems now computer based. There are as many systems as you need them. Go with the flow. Ask them to make a STANDARD CONTAINER for shopping and roads. 🩷
You are a nerd, Dave. And I watched the entire 6 minutes. Thank you for teaching me something new.
Nerd yes!!
@DaveRat Would you be so kind as to demonstrate the magic cable coiling technique? I can't seem to figure it out, but you tend to be a good teacher. 🙂
Love the bass sweeps in your outro. Awesome tips on the straps!
🔧👍🔧
Back in the olden days (70s), at the shoe repair shop, they had leather boot laces which were cut from a piece of leather. You would ask for say 10 laces which were about 450mm (18") long. Then tie one lace in the middle around the cable (and pull it tight). The leather would grip and not slip. Then coil the cable and tie the lace round the with a bow knot. They lasted a few years and were cheap.
That's cool. Similar to tie line except to tie line is attached often with friction tape.
Good stuff!!
In a TH-cam world of endless videos about the same thing, I’m gonna guess this is the ONLY video about Velcro cable straps.
🔧👍🔧
Cool share! We've given up on that style,mostly -- and use the rubber covered wire "gumby" wraparounds. Different sizes w matching colors helps,too Plus,they don't randomly stick on anything. Enjoy this channel,thanks
How do you keep them attached to the cable when it is unrolled? Is there a particular brand and length that works best?
🤙👍🤙
I like velcro ties for smaller cables, short patch etc, the kind of cables that don't get dragged across the floor. Velcro is really fast for those applications. But anything 25' and over gets tie line at my shop. The velcro is great when it's new but on longer cables it tends to pick up debris and become less effective over time, which is especially apparent on the longer cables the are heavier, (NL4, NL8, AC, Twistlock) the velcro ties tend to come apart in transit. Not to mention, when you've got like a dozen or more XLRs terminating at a snake box if you don't dress those velcros on set-up they have a tendency to stick together on the strike. Instead of coiling up one cable at a time you get one with 11 others stuck to the end. I was just discussing this with the current shop manager at the production company I used to work for, they're going back to tie line. Of course, it's a matter of preference but for me, it's really tough to beat tie line. Clove hitch forever!
Agreed! I like velcro for the Cat5e Cat 6A cables and stuff in my R&D area at the rat shop. For our touring and rental side of the company, we actually use E-Tape as velcro and tie lines tend to confuse local state hands and out of thousands of cables were sending out that will always be missing Velcro and missing tie lines. eTape is always there to do the job and speed up load out
Electrical tape leaves sticky residue, for me...
Very true but it can be reduced if you use 3m electrical tape instead of the cheaper stuff.
But yes the sticky residue is a bummer and a small price to pay for having her loadouts fast enough to not get replaced by other vendors on big tours
@@DaveRat It's incredible that some of these "hands" get on a call can somehow tie up their boots but not tie up a cable. Apparently I had at least one of them on the out last night :(
Agreed. It's amazing to see what some hands consider a good idea to do while realizing that also they somehow are able to navigate basic survival.
Never underestimate the ability of a human to come up with a bad idea and run with it
I absolutely love this kind of little tricks for organizing!! Thanks Dave!!
🤙👍🤙
Been making my own up for ages, but not got 1000's of cables to deal with. Great for the back of racks as well.
Networking guys have been using it over cable ties as doesn't damage the jackets and easily removable to allow changes.
🤙👍🤙
It’s the simple things that make life so much better. Thanx Dave , your a genius 🥁🥁🥁
🎛️👍🎛️
Best investment I ever made was getting a whole spool of precut 9" ties with a slot and screw slit already cut into them. Need longer? Just slip two together and they'll never pull apart. Need more? Just rip some more off the roll - since they're so reusable, after a while you're not ripping many off the roll and it goes in the cabinet until you need to add a few more into the mix again. No metal parts so they never bend, break, or corrode/rust and you'll have to work real hard to damage your cabling with them.
Cannot express just how much zipties give me pause now; ever since I crushed a bunch of fiber optic cables as a younger lad (and was appropriately stuck with the rework) I've been preferential to velcro...thanks for making the video and taking the time to demonstrate as well as putting it up for us.
I'm not an affiliate so I won't pimp any companies I've used but a quick web search will turn up a couple companies that will precut a spool for you at a competitive price; you might have to call them, sometimes it's an "off menu" item (bulk prices generally are "ask for quote", just call them and chat).
Always found these ones with metal rings at the end to be a pain, and relatively expensive for what it is and amount of cables I need it for. So I bought a 100-pack of those super simple all-velcro ties with a hole at the end instead of a metal ring. Because the hole itself is velcro hook/loop, when you loop the end of it through the hole and stretch it out, you can just press the tie down on the velcro part right after the hole and it will stay there and keep a very tight grip on the cable. They cost a fraction of the price of the metal ring ones and are easily scalable, so never buying anything else ever again
Very cool, yes, those are cool for applications where the Velcro sliding in the cable is not annoying. They don't tear off overly easy but still the Velcro hole weakens the hold and they rip off easier than the metal ring design. The hole in the Velcro means that either side of the Velcro is edge torn when stressed. Unlike the metal ring that is double wrapped and the full Velcro literally has to be torn in two or the metal ring bent apart to fail.
But mostly, the fun of attaching what seems so simple in a complex way that makes it crazy strong and useful is what makes the metal ring setup interesting.
Honestly I find those annoying. Because they have sticky velcro throughout their entire length, they get caught on themselves super easily. They also take a little longer to undo every time you use the cable if they're long enough to wrap around the cable multiple times.
@@charlotteice5704 I cut them to appropriate lengths. Usually the standard length for power cables, 3/4th for XLRs and half for shorter data cables.
And how on earth do you manage to get them to stick together when the entire outside surface is the same on all wraps? Those surfaces can't stick together at all. Never happened to me. Or did I misread what you meant?
@@petterrong1590 I meant that one velcro strap twists and bends and sticks to itself like a hot mess.
@@charlotteice5704 Still can't see what scenario that would be. If the cable is wrapped, it lays perfectly still, if it's not wrapped, it doesn't matter, it's just laying on the floor or wherever and is super easy to straighten out when it's time to wrap. In what scenario do you find this frustration, because it's never happened to me, nor can I imagine how it would happen
I've had these forever and always hated them. Thank you for showing me the way!
Right! Same. Once I knew the way, they went from worst to best.
Who had figured it out was there was one on a cable that I got and I went to take it off and couldn't figure out how to take it off, I'll removing it I figured out how it was put on and was like whoa!!!
This is cool
Wow! never saw this technique before!!!! I love it!
🔧👍🔧
So simple but so a value tip!
Thank you for all the great tips and info you have been sharing with we all!!🙏❤
👍🤙👍
The motivation to use velcro instead of conventional cable ties was that the width of the velcro tie and the way velcro attaches to itself would not put undue pressure on twisted pair cables to avoid interference with the electrical characteristics of the twisted pairs. Such pressure concentrated to the surface area of conventional cable ties could cause cross-talk, reflections and so-on.
They were not affixed that tight on the cables but are to affix building installed cable onto cable tray and on patch leads in patch panels.
When it comes to doing trunk cable runs, using cable combs to keep the multiple cables in a run neat and tidy is great.
Love it, I must have every cable I own with straps, typically the cheap 50 for 5$ home depot versions, but this is a game changer. Thank you.
👍🔧👍
That looks like a great method. Sadly, I don't need to buy any right now as I've been using Rip-Tie CableWraps on all of my cables for about twenty years. They've worked well for me despite the fact that you need to cut the little ziptie in order to remove them. I'll definitely look into your suggestion if I ever need to purchase more cable ties.
🤙👍🎛️🔧
I use Velcro strap that I cut to length then cut a slot lengthwise about an inch from the and an inch long. This makes a hole to slip the male connector through. I’ve never had an issue with them sliding around enough to bother me.
I have also used the precut straps with an eye in the strap. They’re fine, too.
Yeah, that works and is ok. They slide and they break on bigger cables but also work for many people and applications that way
i do the same, looped velcro method with velcro male plug side on all cables i bring in service. just make sure it is long enough. to loosen, you can also grap the velcro tight and twist it open. sometimes i like to loosen the velcro a bit to move it on the cable. cheers yaall
Cool on the twist!
I use D’addario elastic cable ties. They attach well to standard mic cable and don’t stick together like Velcro. But, they only come in one size which fits 15’ - 50’ cables. I worked for a band that just cranked all of their mic cables onto a spool, connecting the cables together end to end. Worked great if all of the cables were about the same size. I will try Dave’s advice as I have some of these Velcro ties with the metal loop and I could never figure out a good way to use them.
+1 for elastic cable ties
The bongo ties are ok as well. But they slide on the cable. All good.
And if you want a strong cable tie that won't slide on the cable, these Velcro ones work well.
There is no right way, just showing how to properly attach and show one of the better ways
"I worked for a band that just cranked all of their mic cables onto a spool, connecting the cables together end to end"
This is psychotic, if I'm understanding correctly
The crank on the reel method is cool if you have like one person doing them and you got plenty of time.
The cables get held really straight.
That said, someone good at winding Mike cables can get things done three or four times faster.
There's no one solution, Velcro is a bummer at stage boxes with all bunches together and can be unsightly and messy in the back of racks.
But if you are going to use Velcro, and you want it strong and not the slide, then this is a cool method.
Dunno... I've been using the standard One-Wrap pass-through ties for decades and they work just fine. I mean, sometimes they slide a bit but I just slide 'em back. Once they're cinched around a wrapped cable they stay put.
Cool and yeah for minne applications that may be good enough.
And also the fact that so simply you can attach that same tie wrap in a way that doesn't slide is an option as well
This Method is around at least for 10 Years, at least that was the time I learned it here in Bremen/Germany. Would be really corious where it comes from and always wonders me when people don't know of it. But I guess thats mostly because learned it so early.
New for me is your first Method of putting them on I always did the second method ... First one feels way easier
Yeah I don't know how long it's been around probably much much longer for other applications and straps and such.
It is so fun to find something so obvious and judging from the comments here and my experience, not very widely known.
There are velcros that don't have the metal hoop. Instead they have a cutout in the end of the velcro tie. On the cable the velcro grips to itself thus making it hard to move when tight but still easy to remove when needed.
Yes, and those are cool and fall into the realm of functional but they can't be super tightened not to slip and slide on the cable and rip off the cable fairly easily as the Velcro with the hole is a weak point.
For lighter duty applications like for a usb-c cable,, all good.
For more pro applications like 50 ft and longer Cat6a stage cables and such, a more robust and less annoying solution may be of value
I buy Velcro straps from Lowes and they work great. They don’t slip and are easy to take off.
Yes and very cool. And when deciding what velcro straps to put on professional audio cables that cost upward to $500 or more a cable, using something a little nicer than the Lowe's version maybe desirable.
The slipping on the cable factor is interesting. For home use and other non-professional applications or using small inexpensive cables, having a tie that is reluctant to slide but if you grab it you can slip it down the cable, maybe okay.
Conversely for applications where you're running longer cables for professional applications, having a cable tie where it is extremely difficult to slide on the cable and will actually stay where you put it is desirable
I’ve been in the pro audio field for 25 years and they work great. Different strokes for different folks. Love your videos.
Very cool and agreed and thank you Kevin!
Thanks for another very helpful tip.
🤙👍🤙
I just made a cable hanger, just a bar like the ones ya get from Ikea for hanging pots and pans , I just drape the cables over it. But I don’t got a giant studio or giant’s cables like this fella 😱
Very cool and yes we use cable hangers for our cables at the shop. We also need a way to hold the cables intact when they go into cases and out to tours and festivals. We actually use eTape as our standard cable wrap method.
Where is Velcro on the soundtools products that we manufacture, And I use it in my engineering department and stuff at home.
I'm not really promoting velcro as a solution as much as showing how to attach Velcro should it be the solution you desire
As always an interesting product featured and video.
However I will stick with a piece of trick line close to the male end of a mic wire, secured with a clove knot and a half hitch. Perhaps it’s just me but the Velcro ties seem to attach to themselves at the sub snake box when used as single wires and not in a loom.
The larger ones you should I believe would be great for AC, and other heavier wire. Thank you.
The Monoprice straps are way cleaner looking (no metal ring), and stay in place just fine. And you can release them by hand if you need to.
Very cool and yes the ones without metal rings are wonderful to save money and for applications where you don't care if they get torn off when thrown around on bigger cables.
If you want something that'll stay on the cable much stronger and also is really hard to slide then the metal loops of the way to go.
So do not ever say, you can't teach old dog neutriks. :D Welcome to Velcro world mr David :)
🤙👍🤙
I made cable loops by velcro both sides together allowing me to put multiple cables together but I'm local giging so ergonomics goes a long way I gotta find where they sell those style 🤘💀🔥🍻
👍🤙👍
Tie line gang checking in
Tie line is great and lasts forever. A bit slow too and occasionally comes untied in the cases.
Proper tool for the task and preference.
Sound tools is going to put velcro on all etherCon cables we sell 50 ft and longer as well as on the cable reels to hold the ends.
Unfortunately and even though I don't like it, eTape seems to be the only thing that stage hands don't screw up and can do on a regular basis. So that's what we use for our rental systems
But I'm not promoting one method over another, I'm just showing what I found to be a really cool way to attach Velcro
I don't think tie line would be as clean or pro for that application
@@DaveRat I'm old enough to remember when stage hands actually knew their craft. But that has changed.
I was running FOH for a benefit show several years ago and was shocked at the crew that showed up to set and op lights. Their cable skills were horrific. Not only did the setup look like a complete rat's nest but during strike they just wadded up the all the cables and through them in a case. When I asked why they didn't coil everything up they said that there was someone in the warehouse that did that. I guess they don't teach cable management at Full Sail.
A couple of them asked if I needed any help wrapping my gear and they seemed baffled when I declined.
Thanks Dave, great video! 🙂
👍🎛️👍
I've tried using those ties with the metal loop, and wasn't satisfied with them. I'm going to try this method the next chance I get!
Very cool. There are two different types with the metal ring. One has the hooks and loops on the same side of the Velcro And the other has the hooks on the opposite side of the Velcro as the loops.
The 2nd will work with this method, the first will need a twist in the cable which is awkward but can be done in the loop that mounts the velcro
My default vendor actually has a small instructional pic describing this technique with their ties, so I've started doing this from day one. But I personally dislike the super tight grip, so I've switched between different styles. Whatever fits one best I guess.
👍🎛️🤙
Dave, love this stuff! Hey, question: (mixing question, mixing tips for live band)
How do you keep the drummers vocal mic from bleeding drums like crazy into the mix? I'm using a super cardioid sennheiser e945 dynamic. if I set the gate just high enough to keep out the drums then only around 1/2 the words get through. as soon as I lower the gate to get all the vocals, it stays open and the drums pour in. I have a mute pedal rigged up for the drummer, which is cool, but there has to be something better than switching to electronic drums. heheh. thanks! 🤍
(my gate has threshold, attack, hold, release and gate depth in DBs - it's seems to be that the drums are just too loud for the gate to work. and the drummer sings pretty loud right up against the mic - he can't get closer or sing louder.)
Try and optogate and set it so it only turns on when the drummer's mouth is near the mic.
Then get a very fast compressor like a distressor set to very fast attack and release times such that it doesn't limit when he sings or she sings but all the loud drums get compressed or limited to astically
This will stop the super loud drums from getting through and turn off the mic when they're not singing..
Ideally an opticate that has a 60b or 10 DB of attenuation which I believe you can order or buy.
They're made in Germany I believe and have a sensor that detects when something is in front of the mic and a set screw to determine sensitivity
@@DaveRatawesome man! Thank you. IR sensor can be set to unmute between 4 feet and 2 inches. That should work. I’m seeing some for around $200. Not horrible. ❤️
Maybe a video on how to do the over Under Method and how to Rap cable Properly power cables xlr,rca, jack etc
Nice one Dave!
👍🤙👍
Nice! I’ve been using tie line for ages now. Maybe I’ll switch over
Let me know if it works for ya
Hello dave, i have some issues with velcro tape, I with my friends coil the cable up and up, works fine with shoes tie, but use velcro with up up coil when i loose the Cable always becone messed up,...are you have aome tip , Thanks Dave....
Today I learned.... Thankyou!
🔧🤙🔧
I've been using the MonoPrice hook and loop Velcro straps, but now I'm intrigued on those kind with a metal ring.
Was wondering if they were going to be in the store. I've seen a lot of Velcro ties that get really expensive and why oh it's got a logo on it.
I prefer Male end of all XLR cables unless they're going to be used for monitors/speakers.
oh And to solve the problem of them bunching up at the stage box which I've never had.... It's simple when you undo the Velcro strap on the cable and then redo the strap so it can't stick to anything.
I was wondering why I was not having any issues with this and everybody was like never use Velcro never use Velcro!
Apparently I have always redone the Velcro strap after I've undone it so it can't stick to anything else.
Edited: for clarity and typos.
Cool man. Thanks for the tip.
👍👍👍
Just in case you wanted another controversy:
Slack/coiled cable should always be placed near the performer, in case they move around after the set.
Maybe the bands you work with have a very careful stage plan and never move, but I always prepare for people to change their minds. IME it's easier to move the coiled end than the free end.
I love you Dave!
Waddayu got against tie line?
Seriously, great tips!
Love tie lines! And if ya use of prefer Velcro, this is the best mounting method I have seen
This needs to be curriculum in every major school, college and university
🤙👍🤙
😆🙏🏻
What would you guys recommend? Metal or plastic buckle?
Maybe it’s because I started working in musical theatre early in my career, but I prefer black nylon tie line. A roll of Tie line is more cost effective and versatile. Leave the Velcro to the astronauts. And yes I konw that in some parts of the country the expectation of a stagehand knowing how to tie his on shoes is setting the bar a bit high, but I still think the benifits of tie line outweigh those of Velcro.
I like it too! I like Velcro for my R and D, home and office cable and for cable reel ends.
Tie line is great for hefty power cables.
My company switched to eTape as a universal way for all cables. I don't like it but stage hands understand eTape, Velcro and tie lines not so much
I don't recommend what to use, but rather, if you use Velcro, here is a cool way to attach.
@@DaveRat Some of the big shops that serve the Broadway industry have a small diameter nylon rope for the TL4 & TL5 power cable.
Also the tie line or rope is easy to use as a strain relief.
Yes that does look like a much better way to attach the Velcro than I have seen the big shops in Vegas that serve the corporate/industrial events use.
The other thing that I would find frustrating about the Velcro was that shops like VER in Vegas would hire warehouse staff to work in the shop because they could pay them low wages, but often they would attach the Velcro at the female end of the XLR. 😖
Wait till he finds the all velcro type, without the metal ring. He'll be so excited!
The ones without the metal ring tear off too easy and slide on the cable. Those are lackluster and boooring!
Using nylon cable ties to attach makes them stronger and not slide but makes them sharp and ugly.
It it the self contained, self cinching, strong design that makes this method interesting and desirable.
@@DaveRat Youre right, the all velcros slide a bit, but not too bad, if you get them tight. This double loopy thing you have going could work for those, too, I'll have to try it! But, the Velcro brand ones are pretty tough to tear. Boooring, hahaha! Thanks for all the vids, bro!
Hey Dave, bought a pack of these after watching this video. Do you have to twist the end of the cable strap to get the hook side to make contact with loop side? I might be missing something. In product images I see online you feed the end through the metal ring then back around, but with your method that’s not possible. Thanks!
I show two methods in the video, try the other method to see if that works easier for ya.
Then you can see how the wrap goes and the first method may click for ya
I'm having the same problem. On one side it is completely smooth, the other side has both the fuzzy loop velcro near the buckle then the hook velcro near the end. As mentioned both on the same side so when wrapping it will never stick to itself and work. Did you find a solution?
@dmaifred hmmm, yeah for this type of wrap ya need Velcro with hooks on the opposite side as the loops. I had seen them out in the field a few times and we needed velcro for Soundtools products that we make. Once I realized how cool that wrap worked, we had the velcro custom made tht way.
I didn't realize how tricky it can be to find it from other sources though until after I made this video
Holy Moly THANK YOU!!!
🔧🤙🔧
take any strip of velcro. make a slit vertically about 1/2 inch from the top. feed the tip through the slit. then feed the connector through the loop. tighten down on the cable. voila. a tight permanent strap using less velcro. you can buy 25 foot rolls of 1 inch wide velcro for $10.
you weren't kidding with the part about it being almost impossible to take off, holy hell
Ha! Yes, I was doing a video and had a cable with a Velcro on it attached that way and I ended up bending the ring off. I then set out to figure out how the heck it was mounted and was so impressed I had to share!
hats off to you, you're great!
When Dave’s mind is boggled you LISTEN UP. Ahh yes the ohm loop I call it.
🤙🎛️🤙
Man's a genius!
Dave, mate. The bit you didnt explain is why on earth you are using the ties with the portable short circuit on the outside in 2024? The all velcro type with the eye cut out are SO much better ime, i despise those metal things.
And you don't have an issue with the tie ripping off on big cables or the cable tie sliding on the cable and not staying exactly where ya put it on?
@@DaveRat i havent but that certainly explains still using metal.
But, webbing is WAY stronger, have you seen the RipRac?
A mate was involved in its development and having seen it i can immediately see how to reinforce that double sided hook&loop stuff with a webbing loop 'buttonhole' to be way stronger than steel.
The tightness thing - its a knack, not as bad as the knack of tying those tho XD. Again rubberising the back of that loop with a bit odf silicone would be WAY better.
And youre one of few people who could make a product like that happen, tbh
To think i didn't do it this way , have em all with no metal loop but they move, but yet now it's done. i do put em to the male end mostly tho thats a big deal!!!!!
👍🤙👍
nice one. mercii
👍🤙👍
Changing peoples lives
if you grip the velcro on the cable and simply turn it around the cable, it will loose itself so you can move it very easy and without any tools
Interesting, thank you!!
I must be doing something wrong because I keep getting the hook and loop velcro unable to attach to each other. It's like they're on the wrong side of each other
Yes, depending on how the velcro is made this may or may not work I am realizing. The Velcro needs to have the hook and loops on opposite sides of the strap
@@DaveRat AH! so I'm not crazy. Thank you Dave
Does anyone have any good Amazon links or other sites (the rat sound small option is out of stock) of cable ties like these that have the hook side and loop side on opposite sides of the cable tie? I bought a bunch from Amazon and they’re all cable ties with both the hook and loop all on the same side. The opposite side is entirely flat. I’m looking for some with a metal or plastic hoop.
How many do ya need? I see a few here maybe 10 or 20 or so over at SoundTools. We are getting a new batch in soon with a new print. They will all have a large ish white area to write info on them now.
We are also adding a 3rd size, Xtra large, which will wrap 60 and 100 meter cat cables.
If you want any of the small ones we currently have here, email sales@ratound.com or call and talk to JC
Also I mentioned someone may call or email for small Velcro, we'll sort ya with some extras or a discount.
@@DaveRat I need maybe 20 or 30 just to have on site. I work in house AV for a hotel so we’re always buying more cables because we have to set and reset every day so the cables or cables will give out. I’ll probably give you guys a call to see if anyone get me sorted out.
I'm having the same problem. On one side it is completely smooth, the other side has both the fuzzy loop velcro near the buckle then the hook velcro near the end. As mentioned both on the same side so when wrapping it will never stick to itself and work. Did you find a solution?
Thankyou... 🙏🙏🙏
Pretty neat but still a fan of trick cord
Big fingers?
Tie line or trick cord is really good and I associate it with quality. My first experience with it was doing sound for some movie shoots and all of their stingers had wonderfully friction tape wrapped tie lines in the center of each cable.
We even tried that on several occasions for deployment of our cables. For a pile of Edison power cords trick line is cool and useful. Putting trick line on a thousand mic cables, or even Velcro, just create a mess somewhere. Either in the middle of the cables or a nightmare at the stage box.
I'm not promoting Velcro as a solution, I'm showing away to attach Velcro should it be the proper tool for the application at hand.
I like velcro for my R&D department as well as my personal cables at home as well as for cable reels and other soundtools products that we manufacture.
Thank you!!!
I would never use anything metal near interconnect. My cables are too expensive to be potentially damaged by the metal rings, either by cinching or trying to loosen it. I use the velcro strips with the hole at the end of the velcro and this holds my cables, both guitar and stereo cables just fine.
Interesting !
👍🎛️👍
That's my favorite method too. But always on male side
🤙🤙
... trick-tie works fine. Velcro tangles with each other at snake head, pulling cable with velcro straps can be a hassle, unless velcro is applied properly it can be much slower. Velcro is a solution to a non-existent problem IMHO. .02
The problem I have with hook and loop is that over time the ends gather fluff and debris and stop sticking.
Agreed and we don't use hook and loop for our touring sound systems as it deteriorates as well as gets torn off and takes too much time. We actually use e-tape. But for my R&D department and stuff at home, Hook and loop is awesome as it's neat and clean.
@@DaveRat I'd love to see a demo of how you use e-tape.
Yeah 3 second video of someone during loadout should do it
@@DaveRat Sorry. I've just never heard of it and I'm always looking for better cable management techniques.
Oh e-tape sucks. You just whined a wrap or two of electrical tape around the cable. It feels crappy cuz it's wasteful but it's the only real way to load out big stages and festivals quickly and not have the crew spending forever trying to tie strings or untangle Velcro or tying a knot in the cable which destroys the cable over time
If I was going to get married, I would marry Dave Rat. I feel love.
Big smile
Ok, neato…but what about all the Velcro at the stage box? Does it not stick together, and if not, please show how? I can’t imagine not just untangling spaghetti’d cabling but unsticking it as well at the end of a show when striking a stage.
Whenever possibly use the proper tool for the job and the proper tool for a bunch of mic cables that are going to go to a stage box is probably not Velcro.
That said I do like velcro for 25 ft and longer Cat5e cables and power cords and such.
On the other hand, All the tours we send out eTape is pretty much the standard for us though I don't love it because of the waste of plastic, it's the fastest way to get a loadout done.
But if you're going to use Velcro or hook and loop, they seem to be the best of the bunch
@@DaveRat How using e tape is faster than using velcro ? Puzzles me.
@gregorykusiak5424 : For that i find that having a velcro that can slide is useful, so that all the velcro from all the cables is not too close to the stagebox and/or to close to each other, so that they don't stick to each other.
Ya don't need to search for and untangle the Velcro. Tape anywhere. Rip rather than unwrap to open.
Same method for all cables, no stage box Velcro clusters,
I'm not a big fan of eTape and waste and personally don't use it. But for the rental side of Rat, we have reluctantly settled on eTape as the best of all the options.
For R and D and cables in the office and such, am switching to these
@@DaveRat Interesting.
To me it's as fast or even faster (especially if you use colored velcro) finding the velcro than finding the tape.
And unwrapping the velcro is as fast if not faster than ripping the etape for me as well.
I’m not a fan of Velcro on cables, it is hard for me due to arthritis. I prefer tie line with a clove hitch knot.
It’s a good thing we have choices.
When you tie them doesn't bother you?
Winter 😁
@Herfinnur
0 seconds ago
How the hell did this just pop up in my feed?! I honest to God just - as in just 4 seconds ago - finished writing up a plan for a pedalboard and the very last thing I wrote was: "Idea: velcro strips instead of cable ties?"
Well that's a fun coincidence!
Why does anyone use PVC tape?
I will never understand that!
Probably because loading out a 60 truck tour in 3 hours it's faster than tying.
Yes, I am not a fan of eTape but yes, for big tours and shows it's the only way to go. Guaranteed to work every time never missing strap. No pile of Velcro at the stage box. No strings in the middle of your cable runs that are supposed to look pretty.
Not ideal but yes that's the only thing we found that works for the big inventory.
For things like cable reels and my personal stuff and the R&D department where it's not going out in mass, I like the velcro straps
@@someguy9778
Why when you often have to cut tape off, or pull too hard and you're damaging the cable.
Also how long do you spend trying to find the end?
How often do you go home with it stuck to your feet?
Have you done much work on major rock shows or large tours or festivals?
As I mentioned I'm not a big fan of eTape and on the other hand we have tried Velcro and tie line for deploying the hundreds and hundreds of cables or perhaps thousands of cables that we have in the shop and made this attempt on several different occasions over the years and we keep returning to eTape as the only viable solution for large scale deployments.
Never underestimate the ability of a human to come up with a bad idea and run with it.
Tie lines will inevitably come untied or be tied in knots that are time-consuming to undo. Velcro can be unsightly and so can tie lines when running many cables.
And when the velcro or tie lines fail or fall off e-tape is the fallback so you have to carry that anyways.
But I don't have the answers for everything and I know there is no right or wrong, I'm just sharing the experiences that I have running sound company that does large events over the past 40 years
@@DaveRat
I'm pretty well experienced, not done huge shows but worked for professional companies that use tape as well as my own busy little company and as a velcro man, I find it hard to understand.
I've see a few problems of ties mating with others in the pile that takes a bit of sorting out, but not the every time problems of using up tape, having to dispose of it, finding the end or giving up and cutting it off.
I'd never go back!
u ve been talking in mm….I Hope u will not get expelled from the us.. i got to know this methot some 20 years ago as a scetch on a wall of a workshop in a PA company, it was a copy of a copy of an article in a PA or musicians- Magazin…😂 but I like the Dadario rubber band with clip a bit more for mic-cables…
👍🤙👍
Actually, these have been arround for years, possibly decades (at least here in germany)
But I'm wondering, why are you making this so difficult?
This will be hard to follow, but I'll try my best to explain:
Imagine the plug at the top, the cable at the bottom.
1. Put the strap underneath the cable, eye to the left, velcro down/away from the cable. Move the eye up.
2. Take the tip and pull it through the eye from the outside. You should have a loop with the tip put inside.
3. Pull the tip arounde the cable, creating a second loop with oposite direction, and out of the eye.
You should have a similar construct like shown in the video, but already on the cable.
The soft side should be touching the cable. This is important, because you want to wrap your bundle with the strap away from the eye, not across it.
(When starting to wrap, the cable will be visible through the eye)
If you followed the directions above and are right handed, the cable coiled with the plug away from you, the strap should counter clockwise.
You wont be able to reliably exert pressure when your strap goes "across" the eye before wrapping.
Should have watched to the end...
🔧🎛️🔧
I'll never understand why people gripe about trick line. Super cheap, reusable and it wont stick to other cable ties. Could you imagine having a stage box full of these velcro straps?
Like everything there's a proper tool for the job. I use Velcro for ethercon cables and single runs. We use electrical tape for mic lines that we send out on tours.
I like the trick line but also it takes two hands to tie that and when doing hundreds of cables at the end of a loadout it does slow things down.
Someone good with electrical tape can be mighty quick
@@DaveRat Why electrical tape instead of velcro for the tour stuff ?
I'm in Germany and (not only) here this type of Velcro is pretty much the standard. A stage box full of these Velcro straps is not a problem at all - it hasn't been for decades and won't be in the future. If they ever get stuck together (which rarely happens), just pull them apart. You are much stronger than them and they are very tough. On the other hand, I've always hated the approach of using e-tape to secure cables. The cables become sticky and uncomfortable over time, you have to deal with those annoying spools of tape, and that tape produces a lot of waste. Attach Velcro straps to all your cables and your're good forever.
What I hate about tape is the the plasticizer in rubber jackets attacks and dissolves the tape adhesive, leaving a sticky mess all over the cable. @@DaveRat
Here's a gotcha - make sure to get buckle cable straps with hook on the reverse side to the loop, like the one's in this video. Many buckle cable ties have hook and loop on the same side - no good for this method
Great point. Yeah that would be a bummer
What kind of Sorcery is this?!
🔊🔊🔊🔥🔥🔥🔥🎤
Oh i just wind my cables up around my arm and then tie them in a knot in the middle.
Who woulda thunk. 😅
I prefer tie line
Why you are not using velcros from home depot? those are crazy cheap and bounds themselfs onto cable naturally as well. They dont have metal ring, just double sided velcro. IMHO that is greatest velcro tie on the planet. There are several lenghts available in home depot. When Im visiting americas, I always carry 4 packs with me to eu ;)
Pretty sure that cheap Velcro slides on the cable and rips off if you lift the cable while someone is standing in the velcro
I did not see a discernible explanation. Is this a test to see how dumb I am?
My channel is mainly pro audio professionals.
This vid is a method to attach Velcro for those that already have an application.
It's not to tell you that Velcro ties are good or bad or why, but rather, to show a how for those that already know or have a why.
Только стяжку надо крепить со стороны папы, т.к. со стороны мамы обычно микрофон, и эта стяжка будет некрасиво болтаться
Agreed
I'll stick with tie-line.
I'm disappointed. I'm in this business since the mid 90's and can't remember that anyone doesn't did it that way ... here in europe
Are you getting bored in retirement Dave? Just wondering?
Hmmm, let's see. New soundtools cat6a cable I designed about to be released (with these new Velcro), soundtools wallcat5, mixed gender catbox and tails and finishing up the design of the new mic switcher and swapper are all releasing over the next several months, on the consulting side I've got one city, one venue and 3 festivals I am working on while also, ramping up some pretty significant expenditures and deployment stuff for Coachella 2024
I've got a trip to visit soundtools manufacturer in Mexico and a 2 week surf trip to Indonesia and really need to sort a visit to Italy and Germany.
Just back from 3 days snowboarding this week so far while getting a new deck built over the garage which means my entire garage workshop is now in our living room and packed around the area I record TH-cam videos.
My biggest challenge is finding time and space to do videos but I am trying.
The biggest difference between touring and my worked now is that I no longer have anyone telling me what to do and instead I spend my days twice as busy and having way more fun!
@@DaveRat That’s a good thing! I was basically being sarcastic. Love your content sir! Always good to watch!
No sir. I don’t like it. The slip is super important to me for tying cables off. And people who don’t care (GAV) will yank on the Velcro and give all your cables bad memory in that last foot or so. Not to mention spin the ends around the coil so you don’t know which side it starts on. I’m lazy af. I don’t like the find the side game. I also don’t like having to use two hands to unravel the Velcro. If it doesn’t slip, you have to circle it around the cable to open the Velcro or you twist the cable.
A good point about the slip is that you can put the velcro in a position where it can grab both ends (or near) of the cables at once, so that you don't have one side that is dangling.
I'm not one to tell you what to use. Velcro, tie line, eTape or twist and connect are all useful and have their advantages and issues.
Just showing a cool way to attach that allows you to have slip or no slip depending on how tight you attach
The guy at my church ignores my cable ties and just uses that old half hitch thing, which ruins that last foot or so like you say. Arrgh.
You really want a bucket full of that, getting all sticky across the trunk? Nah! nah nah nah nah! Shoelaces just like the truss dress for the borders and SOCA looms!
So you have to tie a knot for each shoelace/cable ?
Tie lines are good, a bit slow and often come untied. But I like them,
It's all about selecting the best method for your application.
My company is standardized on eTape cor cables which I don't like but stage hands seem to understand it better and load ours move faster than with other methods.
Trying to push a single method for all applications is a fills errand.
And if using Velcro, this is a cool attachment method.
E tape
not sustainable though
Yeah, we use eTape for the tours and systems we send out. I don't like it but it's the one method that all the stage hands understand and it's fast,
= waste, waste, more waste