PLAN B analog blog

I use those cables with my 200e system, and I love them, although I  
don't think they're for everyone. Markertek makes them themselves to  
order, and I've never had a problem with the build quality (bad jacks,  
loose solder joints, etc.), and I've purchased over 50 of them. I'd  
purchased many cables from them in the past for my former job, and  
found the Switchcraft jacks and double-shield, double-lead format to  
be really reliable and clean. I got them for my system primarily for  
the color variety, because I've found that it makes it easier to trace  
the signal paths in complex patches, but I do appreciate the quality  
standards Markertek adheres to. Do those standards really make a  
difference in the signal quality in a modular synth? I don't know; I'm  
not sure I could hear the difference between these and other decent- 
quality cables, but I'm happy with them.

There is one drawback with these, though, and that's the size of the  
jacks and the thickness of the cables. Both are much greater than the  
original cables that shipped with the 200e, and as a result, the front  
panel tends to get more obscured in a complex patch. Here's the state  
of my current master performance patch:

http://www.otownmedia.com/Current_Master_Patch.jpg

It's gotten pretty dense over time, and you'll notice that in some  
places, particularly the lower left, the cable density is such that  
it's getting hard to get at the knobs. Thinner cables and smaller  
jacks would make that easier. But for me at least, the build quality  
and color selection make them worth it.



> > http://www.markertek.com/Product.asp?baseItem=SC100MM&cat=CABLESCONN&subcat=AUDIOCAB&prodClass=AMINMIN&mfg=&search=0&off=
>
> Anyone know if these Markertek cables are really worth the price? I'm
> primarily interested in signal quality and reliable connections with
> Plan B modules (as well as Doepfer, Harvestman and Livewire). The
> cool thing is they're available in 10 colors! I'm considering buying
> 5 to try out, but I'm hoping someone here can provide feedback from
> experience or suggest something better. I've already tried the
> AllElectronics cables, but (in my experience) the connection with Plan
> B modules is pretty spotty.




Richard Lainhart
http://www.otownmedia.com
http://www.downloadplatform.com/richard_lainhart
http://www.vimeo.com/rlainhart
http://www.youtube.com/rlainhart