Learn the proper technique to wrap all your cables to prevent knots and damage. The Roadie Wrap is the professional way to wrap all your cables. Check out makingmusicmag.com for more videos.
I've wrapped cables like this for more than 20 years; in studios, on video shoots, in remote trucks. I've even taught this to my Production 1 students. But I've never heard the "overworked, underpaid" mnemonic before. Brilliant!
Well done. I'm a professional mariner and try to spread this knowledge. I'm going to use your video. Works for all ropes/lines/cable except three strand.
I was taught that about 3 years ago and dealing with cables has become a lot less of a hassle. The guy who taught me it called it a fireman's loop - I guess they're overworked and underpaid, too!
Generally, I tell people they can do that with audio and video cables but if you're going to over/under the cables just stay away from the power distro cables. For that, just do over/over in a clockwise wrap. What's the difference? Skinny signal cables tangle easily and if you do an over/under wrap then they'll *unwrap* without tangling. That's the point of wrapping over/under. However, all cables are made on a machine and they all have a natural twist to the strands. The twist only goes one way and you'll notice when you buy a spool of cable it's not going over/under on the spool. When you wrap over/under you tend to reverse the original twist of the strands inside the insulation, and over the course of 5 or 10 years of heavy daily use the strands will start to break. That's a lot of use, btw. This is a problem for power distribution because you often max out the current capacity of cables and if they're breaking apart inside you reduce the capacity and sometimes even create hot spots. For power distro that's bad. (It's bad for audio too but it's not a fire or safety concern.) So, for power distro cables, just go over/over and don't fight what the cable wants to do. Another tip. Some of the biggest power cable is a pound/foot and at 100' runs it's heavy stuff to wrap. So instead of wrapping from the end and trying to drag all 100 lbs of cable, wrap from the middle. That way the most you have to drag 50 lbs of cable.
Learned this over 30 years ago, at my first studio internship; done it that way ever since. I was told at the time that it actually mimics the way that cable is wound on a spool, so that's why it will loop itself so nicely (if it hasn't already been abused!).
I don’t know why I’m watching this, I’ve been working on live video productions for the better part of a decade. But damn, the way this guy explains it. Like the Bob Ross of audio engineering.
Charming presentation, thanks for sharing! Been in the business a long time, but nobody ever explained the directional change (overworked > underpaid twist)... will try from now on.
Learned this from someone in your trade. Been using it on the job site and at home ever since. Works great with stiff air hoses, extension cords and hoses large and small. Thanks for sharing a great tip.
Todd, thanks - not only are my guitar cables neat, but I now apply your method out in the garage w/ extension cords and power washer lines and smaller gage garden hoses! Agree with many comments about your unique voice. A soothing combination of Bob Ross & Casey Kasem....THX for the tip!
I love showing off the variation of this I learned in the recording studio when I throw out my 25-foot HDMI cable at home. I don't get to do it too often but I love seeing their mouths drop when the cable sails oil effortlessly across my apartment.
The only thing I would change, Todd, is that Sailors wrap line by coiling and faking, not "flaking." Faking is the process of laying a line on the deck (or, as you say, belowdecks in the hold) in a figure-eight pattern, which is topographically similar to the Roadie Wrap.
Figure 8 wrap on your vacuum cleaner power cord keeps it from getting twisted, too. Especially important when I'm vacuuming the sanctuary at church, where the vacuum has a 25-foot cord.
Someone showed me how to do this years ago. When he did, he also told me that it works for Christmas lights as well. I was quite skeptical of it working for the lights, but I tried it the next Christmas and was amazed the following year at how easy it was to unravel the lights. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Thanks! Took a me a minute to conceptualise it but got it. Little tip: if you haven't been doing this with your leads, it initially won't loop as easily as shown in this clip. After a few times though, it falls right in place.
Really useful. Love how the wires open up and stay straight. I used it, shared it, and then came back to "thumbs up" and comment after using this tip a few times. Thanks! :-)
i remember my music teacher taught us this to wrap cables up and also said it was good for headphones. forgot how to do it but glad its all coming back.
Excellent example, thank you for sharing. At home for decades, I have used this technique with our water hoses, and numerous 100-foot electrical extension cords. They properly unfurl.
Nice method - another way is get one end in your left hand and find the other end while getting the twists out of the calbe. put both ends together in your left hand and find the middle of the cable with your right hand. Once you have the middleput it just above the two ends in your left hand and find the middle again with your right hand. Do this until you have around 6 feet left. Then make a loop with left under right and you have a perfectly stored cable. This is how the guys at NOS studios did it - learned it in back in the eighties. This is especially useful for very long cables > 50 yards.
Your directions don't make sense, e.g. you'd have a section to your left and right, so you can't repeat as you say without picking a side ... ... seems a giant mess even if you tried to alternate between left and right.
OhHH that's the way you wrap cables I've been doing it totally wrong for 35 years,, I'm glad I got to see this demo...well done.now I must go and practice..i I realized it's gonna take a long while .but I'm a fast learner...
I wish have hair as awesome as yours...also I used to do over all the time when I used to do shows thinking that it was fine. though I do like the way the cable looks over and under. thanks.
I love Velcro ties... I get the 3M rolls and I use them on practically EVERY CABLE if for no other reason than easy storage of the cables when not in use, even if it something as simple as a laptop charging PC cord coiled like a bowtie or something... As long as it's Velcro tied, it's 99.999% impossible to jumble them together in anything other than a neat and (usually) orderly pile
Thank u my earphones started to have some scratches due to bad storage though it's actually of very high quality, it may be due bad storage or misuse but this way of storing helps a lot
This should be subtitled "here's the wrong way to wrap a cable". Always start with the connector in your left hand facing away from you. The method shown requires you to take your hand off of the cable every other loop. You don't have to remove your hand from the cable if you start with the connector facing away from you. Source: I've wrapped approximately 12 miles of cable this year.
Easier way to remember this is to have your thumb pointed one way for one wrap and pointed the other way for the next wrap continue to do this until the cord is fully wrapped.
This is very nice, but the biggest problem for me is getting both tips wrangled up. Basically what you just skimmed over at the end of the video. That's my biggest problem when wrapping cables. What I do, and this is pretty bad, is I tie the whole cable in a lace, and they'll never get wrangled up. It's bad for the cable, but it's good for my sanity and they absolutely never get tangled. For bigger cables, it's not even that bad at all. But I'm just an amateur, of course.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 76 | คู่เอก "ผึ้งหลวง vs สมิงดำ"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9SBshmGQOIM/mqdefault.jpg)
I've wrapped cables like this for more than 20 years; in studios, on video shoots, in remote trucks. I've even taught this to my Production 1 students. But I've never heard the "overworked, underpaid" mnemonic before. Brilliant!
Velvety voice. Like the Bob Ross of cable tying.
Love it!
Overworked, underpaid, overworked, underpaid.....
Brilliant!!
i am 100% using this at work.
You got that Bob Ross voice bro!
For reals!!!
Happy little cables
Yes, keep explaining stuff.....anything really.
Yes!!
Haha, that's exactly what I was just about to comment.
There's something very soothing about this person.
Well done. I'm a professional mariner and try to spread this knowledge. I'm going to use your video. Works for all ropes/lines/cable except three strand.
I just realized why my loops have not been coming together. They are forced together overworked hands. just boOm.
this man has some beautiful hair
I was taught that about 3 years ago and dealing with cables has become a lot less of a hassle. The guy who taught me it called it a fireman's loop - I guess they're overworked and underpaid, too!
Generally, I tell people they can do that with audio and video cables but if you're going to over/under the cables just stay away from the power distro cables. For that, just do over/over in a clockwise wrap.
What's the difference? Skinny signal cables tangle easily and if you do an over/under wrap then they'll *unwrap* without tangling. That's the point of wrapping over/under. However, all cables are made on a machine and they all have a natural twist to the strands. The twist only goes one way and you'll notice when you buy a spool of cable it's not going over/under on the spool. When you wrap over/under you tend to reverse the original twist of the strands inside the insulation, and over the course of 5 or 10 years of heavy daily use the strands will start to break. That's a lot of use, btw.
This is a problem for power distribution because you often max out the current capacity of cables and if they're breaking apart inside you reduce the capacity and sometimes even create hot spots. For power distro that's bad. (It's bad for audio too but it's not a fire or safety concern.) So, for power distro cables, just go over/over and don't fight what the cable wants to do.
Another tip. Some of the biggest power cable is a pound/foot and at 100' runs it's heavy stuff to wrap. So instead of wrapping from the end and trying to drag all 100 lbs of cable, wrap from the middle. That way the most you have to drag 50 lbs of cable.
Man I love how gentle he talks
This got posted to Fark's video section with the headline "The Bob Ross of wrapping cables"
Fark is still around??
Yep, still just as healthy as ever. I'm not as active as I used to be, but I do keep up with Caturday and the video section
I was JUST ABOUT to make this same comment and I saw this LOL. Those happy little cables...
Excellent video, clear and so calmly explained - you're a natural teacher, many thanks!
Learned this over 30 years ago, at my first studio internship; done it that way ever since. I was told at the time that it actually mimics the way that cable is wound on a spool, so that's why it will loop itself so nicely (if it hasn't already been abused!).
Seems like such a nice guy
I don’t know why I’m watching this, I’ve been working on live video productions for the better part of a decade.
But damn, the way this guy explains it. Like the Bob Ross of audio engineering.
Charming presentation, thanks for sharing! Been in the business a long time, but nobody ever explained the directional change (overworked > underpaid twist)... will try from now on.
Learned this from someone in your trade. Been using it on the job site and at home ever since. Works great with stiff air hoses, extension cords and hoses large and small. Thanks for sharing a great tip.
Todd, thanks - not only are my guitar cables neat, but I now apply your method out in the garage w/ extension cords and power washer lines and smaller gage garden hoses! Agree with many comments about your unique voice. A soothing combination of Bob Ross & Casey Kasem....THX for the tip!
I love showing off the variation of this I learned in the recording studio when I throw out my 25-foot HDMI cable at home. I don't get to do it too often but I love seeing their mouths drop when the cable sails oil effortlessly across my apartment.
You sound like Bob Ross and that makes me happy.
The only thing I would change, Todd, is that Sailors wrap line by coiling and faking, not "flaking." Faking is the process of laying a line on the deck (or, as you say, belowdecks in the hold) in a figure-eight pattern, which is topographically similar to the Roadie Wrap.
Figure 8 wrap on your vacuum cleaner power cord keeps it from getting twisted, too. Especially important when I'm vacuuming the sanctuary at church, where the vacuum has a 25-foot cord.
don’t know why, but overworked/underpaid was the idea that finally got me to understand this
thank you
how has this not been watched 10000000000 times. this was the most clear, best explanation of this.
I must be a moron bc I've watched it like 6 times and I cant get it. :(
Someone showed me how to do this years ago. When he did, he also told me that it works for Christmas lights as well. I was quite skeptical of it working for the lights, but I tried it the next Christmas and was amazed the following year at how easy it was to unravel the lights. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Thanks! Took a me a minute to conceptualise it but got it. Little tip: if you haven't been doing this with your leads, it initially won't loop as easily as shown in this clip. After a few times though, it falls right in place.
Really useful. Love how the wires open up and stay straight. I used it, shared it, and then came back to "thumbs up" and comment after using this tip a few times. Thanks! :-)
I've watched several videos that tried to explain this technique. This is the first one that made it clear what's going on. Thanks!
my life begins to make sense
i remember my music teacher taught us this to wrap cables up and also said it was good for headphones. forgot how to do it but glad its all coming back.
i'm a truck driver and i want a version for folding maps
Its called "Google Maps"
Sygic Truck navigation for sure.
What kind of monster folds maps? You roll the maps, you don't want big creases through important areas.
This is the most relaxing and informative video I have ever watched.
Excellent example, thank you for sharing. At home for decades, I have used this technique with our water hoses, and numerous 100-foot electrical extension cords. They properly unfurl.
This guy wraps cables like Bob Ross paints!... beautiful!
Another Music Tip Monday! Learn how to properly wrap your cables! th-cam.com/video/kda4DPAn3C4/w-d-xo.html
Nice method - another way is get one end in your left hand and find the other end while getting the twists out of the calbe. put both ends together in your left hand and find the middle of the cable with your right hand. Once you have the middleput it just above the two ends in your left hand and find the middle again with your right hand. Do this until you have around 6 feet left. Then make a loop with left under right and you have a perfectly stored cable. This is how the guys at NOS studios did it - learned it in back in the eighties. This is especially useful for very long cables > 50 yards.
Your directions don't make sense, e.g. you'd have a section to your left and right, so you can't repeat as you say without picking a side ... ... seems a giant mess even if you tried to alternate between left and right.
OhHH that's the way you wrap cables I've been doing it totally wrong for 35 years,, I'm glad I got to see this demo...well done.now I must go and practice..i
I realized it's gonna take a long while .but I'm a fast learner...
This man's voice gives me life.
This guys should read audiobooks.
I will never forget this
Voice? Gorgeous.
Hair? Iconic.
Overworked? Underpaid.
Love this. Teaching my 9 year old student to roll his guitar cable like pro. Sending him this vid.
Best description of how to do this that I've seen. Good tip!
"JUST WRAP THE DAMN CABLEEEEE"
Haha, nah, nice video. It's great for people to know how to wrap cables this way. In my opinion it's the best method.
Absolutely brilliant! this should be required viewing!
Thanks a bunch! Great expert trick for us mere mortals. Loved it. ;)
I wish have hair as awesome as yours...also I used to do over all the time when I used to do shows thinking that it was fine. though I do like the way the cable looks over and under. thanks.
The best one I've seen so far. Thanks I've got it now.
Thanks for your kind words Adela. So glad you found this helpful!
Love it. Does he also give hair styling tips!?
I love Velcro ties... I get the 3M rolls and I use them on practically EVERY CABLE if for no other reason than easy storage of the cables when not in use, even if it something as simple as a laptop charging PC cord coiled like a bowtie or something... As long as it's Velcro tied, it's 99.999% impossible to jumble them together in anything other than a neat and (usually) orderly pile
Gonna try this on a corded vacuum at work, and the best part is, the pnemonic "overworked, underpaid" still applies.
Thank u my earphones started to have some scratches due to bad storage though it's actually of very high quality, it may be due bad storage or misuse but this way of storing helps a lot
Thanks! Overworked and Underpaid - I can remember that. Until now I always have to look it up.
This guy is very fun to listen to. Approved.
You are the best teacher!!! Thank you!!!
You have changed my life! How can I repay you!?!?
Fantastic video, very well done, easy to follow. Thank you!
Yes Bob Ross
Learning every day! Thanks for the clear instruction!
You would be an amazing teacher!
This should be subtitled "here's the wrong way to wrap a cable". Always start with the connector in your left hand facing away from you. The method shown requires you to take your hand off of the cable every other loop. You don't have to remove your hand from the cable if you start with the connector facing away from you.
Source: I've wrapped approximately 12 miles of cable this year.
Yeaaah, if you could just explain *all* the things, that'd be greeeat.
Great example! Thank you.
Effective use of video for presentation, great technique, good mnemonic.
I spin the cord around my arm and hand to loop it fast. Usually with hoses and larger stuff.
Now I wish I had cables to wrap.
I'll remember this! Thanks!
Easier way to remember this is to have your thumb pointed one way for one wrap and pointed the other way for the next wrap continue to do this until the cord is fully wrapped.
Glad I'm not the only one who thought of Bob Ross.
Cool beans. Have been doing it correct all this time yay :-)
Thank you Todd
I'ma need you to narrate all the audiobooks of every store from now on. Maybe then you'll be underworked and overpaid! :D
Dont forget to mess around with the LD asking him for his only 3 to 5 pin converter.
Thank you calmer Kurt Russell
I looked to subscribe but I was already subscribed
This is awesome. Thank you.
Legit today I learned.
This video is spot on, awesome!
Sos un genio gracias !!! explicás muuuyyy bien ¡¡Bravo!!
This is the way!
Dude thanks. I hate my iem cable tangles inside my pocket. This could be handy
This is very nice, but the biggest problem for me is getting both tips wrangled up. Basically what you just skimmed over at the end of the video. That's my biggest problem when wrapping cables.
What I do, and this is pretty bad, is I tie the whole cable in a lace, and they'll never get wrangled up. It's bad for the cable, but it's good for my sanity and they absolutely never get tangled. For bigger cables, it's not even that bad at all.
But I'm just an amateur, of course.
Ok, Bob Ross. Thanks for the demonstration.
I heard it called a "Showco roll", but I've rolled my cables like this for years.
Love! Thank you
Just make sure you unwrap the cable from the correct side, or you'll tie knots in your cable every 8 inches or so.
You need to release this to the IATSE.
1:58 lol even he messes up sometimes
Wow, thanks a lot!
I could listen to this man read the phonebook
excellent, well done
Be a lot easier to see if you were wearing a white shirt.
Bonus if you mumble "overworked, underpaid" under your breath while they’re herding the drunks out the door.
BRILLIANT
🤯 - amazing.
Verry Cool thank you
Thanks!
Nice! Thx.
YES!
that hair goes hard as hell, i want it :(
brrilliant!