Complete newbie here, need help with cables for my church PA system

[sagentg]

Although I have no knowledge of live audio equipments whatsoever, I'm charged with buying a new PA system for my smallish, and growing church.. after reading some reviews and doing some research on the internet, these are the equipments I've bought so far.

A pair of Yamaha MSR400 speakers

Yamaha MG102C mixer

Three Samson Q6 microphones (xlr-to-xlr cables are included)

some mic/speaker stands, and I still need to buy a keyboard.

My church plans to use the PA system for sermon and praise with maybe three vocal mics, one or two acoustic guitars, and a keyboard plugged in.

So, my question is, what type of cables do I need to buy?
I need a pair of cables to run from each speaker to the mixer,
and cables for the keyboard/acoustic guitars to the mixer.

Please help me find the right type of cables (xlr, 1/4", etc) for above and also a good brand that are relatively affordable (I can spend maybe $50-70 on cables).

Thank you so much in advance for answering my questions.

p.s. if anyone has a cheap keyboard to recommend, that would be greatly appreciated as well. thanks!


links to the images of the mixer and the speakers:

img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/9/5/1/510951.jpg

images.guitarcenter.com/products/optionlarge/Yamaha/342046jpg.jpg

[pdc]

If you check the manual's and wiring guides, you will find what you need. Only you will be able to determine the length.

Just an FYI about cables. You get what you pay for. There are some manufacturers that offer lifetime and longtime warranties. Those can be a good deal. This is some good reading about what makes a good cable:

http://www.cardinalproaudio.com/main/cable.htm

[cmchamp]

I have used ProCo, Conquest and Horizon/Rapco/VTC cables in the past without any issues ever. I use Horizon/Rapco/VTC the majority of the time because that's what I sell.

[sagentg]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys.

Do you have any experiences with Monster cables and/or Whirlwind cables? They seem like popular options and readily available at big musical gear stores.

Also.. if you would take a look at the picture of the back of the Yamaha SMR400 speakers, it seems like these speakers take both XLR and 1/4 as inputs.. so which one should I go with?

[cmchamp]

I would stick with all XLR connectors, then you'll be using all one cable type and keep it simpler.
Next question is how many feet of multi-core (snake) do you need to get from the mix position to the stage position.

Monster, marketing ploy for the most part.
Whirlwind are on par with ProCo IMHO.

C.

[sagentg]

Thanks Cory! As you suggested, would I be able to go with XLR cables to connect the speakers to the mixer? The mixer seems to have XLRs for the microphones (you can see a better picture of the mixer here: www"dot"musiciansbuy.com/MMMBCom/images/Yamaha_mg102c.jpg)

So I should use the two stereo OUT (1/4" phone) for left and right for each speaker..? Is that my only option here?

I'm sorry, I'm just confused about this. Please confirm this for me. Thanks!

[pdc]

If you do use the 1/4", use TRS, not TS.

[sagentg]

Would you mind elaborate on what TRS and TS stand for?

And.. I noticed that stores also sell cables with XLR on one end and 1/4 phone at the other end. Would it make a difference which one I use--whether both 1/4 ends or XLR&1/4 ?

[waynehoskins]

TRS = Tip-Ring-Sleeve, a three-conductor phone plug (used commonly for your stereo headphones)
TS = Tip-Sleeve, a two-conductor phone plug (used commonly on guitar cable).

TRS connectors can be used to carry a balanced signal (and you want balanced; it offers significant noise immunity), while TS connectors are only used to carry an unbalanced signal in practice.

[audiomatic]

Check page 7 of your owner's manual for a description of balanced versus unbalanced signals. Check the bottom of page 14 for an illustration of a TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) 1/4-inch plug and TS (tip, sleeve) 1/4-inch plug.

Since you are new at this, you may want to consider getting a snake rather than buying and installing cables and soldering connectors at each end of each cable. This is an illustration of a 100-foot snake.


http://www.allprosound.com/catalog/p...zon%20S8X4-100


I am not recommending this particular snake for your specific circumstances, just providing an example in case you're unfamiliar with snakes. The box can be placed somewhere near the stage so that mics and instruments can be plugged into it. Plugs at the other end of the snake plug into the mixer.

The box of the snake shown has two XLR plugs that can feed your powered main speakers. The "Stereo Out" (left/right) jacks of your mixer are TRS (not XLR), so if you want to send these to the speakers using the XLR plugs at the box, you'll need an adaptor to go from mixer TRS to snake XLR. There is a simpler alternative. The box also has two TRS 1/4-inch jacks that can accept balanced (or unbalanced) signals from instruments. These can just as easily feed your speakers using balanced cables with TRS plugs on either end; the TRS plugs at the other end of the snake can then plug into the TRS Stereo Out jacks at the mixer.

The box of this snake also has eight XLR jacks for plugging in mics or XLR cables from instruments. You may not need 100 feet of snake, and in the immediate future you don't need this many XLR inputs. But this will give you an idea of what to shop around for to suit your specific circumstances.

We have a 100-foot snake stored in a closet that we'll probably never need. It's possible that there is a church in your area that has a snake in storage that they'll never need. It wouldn't hurt to ask around.

[sagentg]

I plan to have the mixer near the front, so I don't think I don't need a snake box. In that case, I can just connect one of of a cable (with TRS) on the mixer to the XLR or TRS input to the speaker end directly, right?


Next question I have is this; during our worship service, we will have basically the pastor's mic for sermon plugged into the mixer and also a digital piano. Once I have all the sounds tested before the service, would I need to re-adjust dials at the mixer constantly? By that, I mean, when the digital piano is not used, do I need to turn the volume off and back on when in use etc? Thanks!

[sagentg]

And.. can I get an opinion on Hosa cables?