How To Over Under XLR Cable The RIGHT Way

Back in high school do you remember taking multiple choice tests and selecting the right answer only to have it graded as wrong because it wasn't the "best" answer? Similarly content creators on KZbin teach "the right way" of over under XLR cable wrapping but sadly, these ways aren't the best way. In this video I'm going to show you why their ways are wrong and at the same time how to cleanly wrap a 100 foot XLR cable in less than 20 seconds!
The music in the wrapping montage was licensed for use by Fesliyan Studios. I claim no ownership to the song used, "Let's Go" by David Renda. For more info: www.fesliyanstudios.com or / fesliyanstudios
Here are the gloves I use:
geni.us/MechanixGloves
Here are the Rip Ties I use for cable management:
geni.us/RipTie
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @soundspeeds
Gear Commonly Used In My Videos:
Sony ZV-1: geni.us/Sony_ZV1
DJI Pocket 2: geni.us/DJI_Pocket2
Panasonic Lumix FZ-80: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixFZ80
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixDMCG7
Aputure Amaran AL-MX LED Video Light: geni.us/AputureLight
Tascam DR-40: geni.us/TascamDR40
Sound Devices MixPre-6: geni.us/SoundDevicesMP6
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and if you purchase something using one of these links, you'll pay the same price that you'd find on Amazon if you looked it up yourself but Amazon will pay me a small referral fee for sending you there to make a purchase.
Make sure to subscribe for more content!
Want some Sound Speeds swag? teespring.com/stores/sound-sp...
Have a question? Write it in the comments below or email [e-mail]
Join us on Facebook: / soundspeeds
Follow us on Twitter: / soundspeedsyt
Interested in becoming a patron? / soundspeeds
To make a donation: www.paypal.me/SoundSpeeds
Join my Discord: / discord
All donations received will go directly back into this channel.
If there's something specific you'd like the donation funds to be spent on, please specify in the donation notes or send me an email.

[@stephenmolloy4244]

Great video. Thank you! Quick question, does it matter what end of the XLR you start from? I remember someone telling me to alway start at the male end. Does it make any difference?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It doesn't matter because the coils are even and the ends are managed. It's just a spiral all the way down. As for cable ties, those should always go on the male end.

[@mar7838]

@@SoundSpeeds The two questions I had after watching this video answered in one comment. Thanks so much.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing! Glad to help! Thanks for watching.

[@Xtreemdrummer]

While it doesn’t matter what end you start with, I suggest the female end, so if the rip tie is somewhere in the middle for one reason or another you can send it to the end as you coil.

[@seanp2k617]

This is amazing. My wife is making fun of me for watching a 13 minute video about wrapping up cables but your demo is the first one that really made sense to me and works in real life :)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. I've taught this method for years and it is proven to be fast and consistent. Thanks for watching.

[@Sophiaa-666]

I work on the studio facilities team at a digital media uni - this video NEEDS to be compulsory for students to watch, I waste so much time fixing badly wrapped cables, this is amazing

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Feel free to share it around. 😀

[@BandrewScott]

I’m so glad that I never made a video about wrapping cables. Haha! Happy to learn how to properly wrap a cable. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I wish you had. You'd have yet another cameo in one of my videos.

[@ChrisKluepfel]

I just tried it out 😅 it's so rewarding to not have "knots" in the cable anymore and preventing cable breaks. Thx for sharing!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Glad to help.

[@tombuck]

So you're looking for...a wrap battle?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing! But if you don't burn your hands when you wrap, it's not fast enough.

[@luisa9628]

I watch a lot of gaffers' channels and I just realized none of them really cover this subject. This is amazing and useful info. Thanks!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching.

[@luisa9628]

@@SoundSpeeds I tried practicing with leather gloves, also suede. Could not pull smoothly. Any glove recommendations? My harbor freight gear is no longer cutting it.

[@SoundSpeeds]

My favorite gives are the ones I link to in the description of this video.

[@luisa9628]

@@SoundSpeeds I'm a bit worried touching hot lights with mechanics gloves, since I'm doing most of the jobs, but I'll give it a shot. Is that an affiliate link? If not you should set them up. Your word is pretty much gold. Instant sale.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It is an affiliate link but if you're using it for touching lights, don't buy those. But something thicker. Ask an electrician. Sorry, I'm a sound guy and can recommend great room temp cable wrapping gloves but not electrician gloves.

[@Xtreemdrummer]

This method becomes even more important when you’re managing 300’+ of triax behind a handheld camera.

[@SoundSpeeds]

And in that case speed and technique are necessary for organization.

[@JulieRainyPDX]

I'm weirdly obsessed with learning this method (mostly for garden hoses and extension cords). I like your video and that the reason for coiling correctly is explained in detail. I watch videos on my small phone so the demonstration would be easier to see against a solid background.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@d-sx560]

Sound students everywhere will thank you for this one.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I hope so. :-) I'm tired of bad cable wrapping

[@fieldpictures1306]

Have worked in the film industry for over 20 years and still amazed at the level of technical skill I walk past every day that makes the whole machine work flawlessly (most of the time). I also work behind the camera, but in the creative side. Thanks for a great channel.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It is totally amazing. Not just how we can go from a location packed with gear everywhere to a destroyed lot in 15 minutes but also in that there's so much expertise below the line and incompetence in decisions above.

[@fieldpictures1306]

@@SoundSpeeds Exactly. Like exec producers flying their female entourage of 5 first class to shoot in Europe charged to the production, and at the same time ask you to cut 10% out of your budget because they have no money.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Our Producers started asking us in February who in our department was expendable. My mixer said "none of them". We have nearly a dozen EPs, Producers and other such adults. Amazingly, none of them were expendable.

[@donnelson8524]

Best explanation I've found; thank you so much.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. A bit longer than others but people come to my channel for the details. Thanks for watching.

[@brianmclendon1647]

Great video man, when I started doing audio work no one taught me how to do over under or to wrap cables period, I had one nice guy who let me know I didn’t know what I was doing a year into doing gigs, and if it weren’t for him I would still be doing it, so I really appreciate this content. Thank you!!!!!!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching

[@alexandereditsvideo]

I love this video so much and I just shared the link with my entire location sound recording class at an L.A. film school. This is THE guide to wrapping cables right.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. I agree too. 😎

[@robertharker]

First cable wrap video that talks about rolling the cable with your fingers which is how I was taught to do it 40 years ago.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I tried to be detailed. Thanks for watching and good to see you in the comments again.

[@robertharker]

@@SoundSpeeds Recommending your channel to my fellow Advanced Cinema Sound class at City College, San Francisco. Lots of great information. It is worth going back 3-4 years for your more tutorial videos.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you! Yeah, my earliest videos were shorter but answered a particular on set sound question. Later I started doing more deep dives on topics when I was told no ody else is covering these topics and more info would be helpful.

[@hpmoon]

Here thanks to Curtis Judd. Thanks for nailing it.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Awesome. Welcome

[@matthew.datcher]

Thanks for the advice. Also, I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves Rip-Ties.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I love them and their many sizes.

[@libertyDude1775]

Yeah Buddy! THE SECRET revealed! Love it. Now time to learn it. Thanks! I have been waiting for this one for years.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yes indeed. The time has come.

[@guillianderuiter6292]

I always thought that I had a weird method of wrapping my cables, but instead this is exactly the way I do it! (Also turning the cable between my fingers) Thanks for helping me realize that! Started watching your video’s for a few weeks, it’s helping me out a lot!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@Nadroj97]

Thank you for the video! Impressive wrapping too 😁

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you Jordan and thank you for watching

[@RadioJonophone]

An ex Navy person showed me this technique for coiling ropes. He said it is taught to all sailors.

[@SoundSpeeds]

That's cool. I hadn't thought about using it on rope but I can see that.

[@IamCurrentlyAscending]

That was beautiful. I think I teared up a little.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@MartinFellerMusic]

this is great! thanks for sharing your technique!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching.

[@harrij.9542]

Thank you for this!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing! Thank you for watching

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

No nonsense. I love it.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Of course!

[@jackadamsdaniels6719]

Thank you for this

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching.

[@ParkerEdwardsParties]

Absolute game changer. you rule.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you and thank you for watching

[@jgurtz]

This video is poetry.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you sir.

[@jmendel8]

That's some fast cabling Allen!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I used to be faster. :-) I slow down a little right at the end now. Still... 18 seconds isn't bad.

[@Espresso101]

Thank you for making this correction video. I saw your comment in another video about making this one so I came over to see if you ever made this video and am happy I found it. I spent the afternoon coiling 100ft cat5 cables both over/under and over/over. Kept getting kinks and inconsistent coil lengths and that lead to me doing this search. Thanks again!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for coming by and watching the video.

[@johnbreed4752]

Those must be really nice reference headphones cause you don’t let them off of your head!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm monitoring my sound while recording.

[@palmierigonzalo]

Failed a bunch of times but I finally got i🙌

[@SoundSpeeds]

Very good! There's a bit of a learning curve if you've developed muscle memory in another way but now you know, you know.

[@soundhobo]

Great stuff 👍…man your are fast at it, really fast 💨

[@SoundSpeeds]

And you can be too. :-)

[@soundhobo]

@@SoundSpeeds I have Arthritis so it’s slow and steady for me 👍

[@SoundSpeeds]

Start off slow and you'll get faster actually.

[@alcraig1]

A true pro broadcast A2 should be able to do it in any one of the 4 methods you showed. And any other pro to come along later should be able to "un-wrangle" the cable without any issues. The only advantage I see to your method is that your hand never looses contact with the cable. Personally, I don't really care. There are situations where I have a cable that is too long so I leave the slack coiled up somewhere out of the way. Then, when bumping out, I can pick up the coils and bring in either end. BTW, 45 years in the sports TV industry. You should also show how to over under long lengths of multi-core on the ground. As well as demonstraing the figure 8 method for power cable and camera cable.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ah, the figure 8 method... I haven't done that since the 90's.

[@alcraig1]

@@SoundSpeeds Well, I do it week in and week out. Any DT12 under 20 meters will get over/undered on the ground. Anything longer gets the figure 8 treatment. Same goes for SMPTE camera cable.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Copy that.

[@TDCIYB77]

Wow, now i can wrap cables like in Hollywood, learned right from the cable wrangling champion nerd king! ;) Seriously, respect for that cable speed running skill and thanks for teaching an idiot like me who always messes up cables, and for correcting half-truths here on KZbin! More of that practical life-hack style content from your professional perspective!

[@SoundSpeeds]

That's my goal. Thank you for watching!

[@TDCIYB77]

@@SoundSpeeds Always! You make holding a stick for days look cool and fun. ;) For real, learning about booming is nearly non-existent on KZbin, you changed that. And while i am just a scrappy start up one-man band, and soon to be KZbinr (Not about anything related), i can learn a lot that applies for me. And watching the rest is just a nerdy guilty pleasure of mine. ;) Greetings from Germany :)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Greetings! If you have an interest in boom operating, check out my 3BO series. kzbin.info/aero/PLpPR2HcQu7YIYoynp0ULZ8BY53Pgj0HbJ

[@davidsinclairmccabe8840]

Hi Allen, thanks for the really great video! It was very interesting. I'm curious to know just how many cables would you typically wrap at the end of an event? Would you have any idea of like the total length or number of cables that have to be wrapped? Cheers!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Depends on the event. Sometimes there's not much but at other times there's hundreds of not thousands of feet.

[@davidsinclairmccabe8840]

@@SoundSpeeds Thank you very much!

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@AryanAbbasnia]

Great tip. Cable management is becoming a big issue as the productions tend to move towards much faster pace. Cheers

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍 Good luck out there.

[@johnbreed4752]

Do you show how to wrap the thicker coax style cables on the ground?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Not in this video. Normally electricians are the ones doing that on a film set.

[@elblopex]

I wouldn't mind to be lectured if I ever end up working with you. Great video!! I now have to un-learn how to wrap cables (and considering I'm the one that does it best at work, I need to be a better example yet). Thanks for the great content

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching. :-)

[@MarcusDubreuil]

Do you have any advice on how to wrap flat cables? I have a flat Ethernet cable that is 100FT and I have a lot of trouble wrapping it up. I can do this technique fairly well on larger cables that are round, like XLR, but I struggle to get it to work with flat cables. Thanks!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I've always just done it the same way but slower and made sure it lays flat.

[@imark7777777]

Oh my dear God the chain technique. I was at a church and this guy insisted on doing that with his extension cords, a year later a perfectly good cord turned into a rats nest because it permanently deformed and would never lay flat ever again. So it was always a tripping hazard.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Totally. A piece of me dies every time someone chains an XLR.

[@cuentaparadeciridioteces3648]

Hey Allen, your method works too well, every time I try to do it as fast you do I end up hitting myself on the nuts with the XLR connectors. Any tips?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Wear a cup. Seriously... start slow and work your speed up.

[@Nordium]

What’s an XLR cable? I just bypass the cable entirely and plug my mic directly into the interface 😉 no latency ever again !!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Respect.

[@MrRmeadows]

Cool. Does that technique work for garden hoses also?

[@SoundSpeeds]

I've never tried it.

[@alcraig1]

I always do my garden hoses over/under.

[@SoundSpeeds]

There you go! Awesome.

[@alcraig1]

@@SoundSpeeds If you bring a hose home from the hardware store, its likely that it has been coiled by a machine (essentially over/over). The trick is to lay your hose out in the sun for a few hours ( to make it supple) and un-twist it. Some hoses even have lines on them. Once it is perfectly straight, you can over/under it on the ground (or on one of those wall hangers).

[@alcraig1]

@@SoundSpeeds Another thing: If you buy cable in bulk, on reels, you have to un-wind them off the reel to get them to lay flat before you can begin thinking about over/undering

[@BoothJunkie]

So... Granny knots are the answer. Got it. ;-)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Hair detangling spray should work for VO artists.

[@imark7777777]

If you're interested in a playlist of how to O/U rap cables I have been curating one. kzbin.info/aero/PLkaH68RNd5OK03iOzPMGvqId-DaUtkskN And of course it must be updated with new information now.... Since I have started doing the over under the only cable damage I have had is usually at the microphone and occasionally the mixer end. I have however fixed multiple cables for other people in various states and I've seen the damage caused. I have also gotten multiple cables out of trash cans that are easily fixed and some of those that weren't so easily fixed requiring dissection that I still have and use from 15 years ago. They weren't the greatest unfortunately and I can't kill them, each time they break I think it's finally time and it usually just ends up being a broken wire in or near the connector. and The primary reason to use Neutrik connectors.... no screws to lose. Oh and I'm ambidextrous and can rap 4 different ways so I guess I've never really ran into that issue with directionality.

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's amazing how some people don't care anything about proper cable wrapping. Thanks for adding me to the list.

[@CarsandCats]

Now do it with a 6 foot USB cable! I can't figure out how to manage short cables. I know I don't want them in 3 foot loops.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Easy. Scale down.

[@cyberman8080]

Now how about a video on how to unwrap a cable, please? I’ve been wrapping them the right way for decades, but still don’t know how to unwrap. Do you think it’s important to wrap starting at a particular end, then unwrap also being conscious of which end to start unwrapping?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Unwrap? It's a big spiral from one end to the other. Starting at the end of the mix cart or stationary side, pull the length of cable you need to plug in and strain relief and then walk the cable out to the destination while dropping coils laying the cable straight. No tripping hazards. Pretty easy.

[@imark7777777]

I prefer the method that involves throwing the cable and having to unwind itself entangle around the person who wrapped it the wrong way.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I concur

[@djencode]

I do something similar but in my right hand.

[@djencode]

Also gloves are a must, not just for friction but invariably cables get dirty, dusty or muddy.

[@SoundSpeeds]

That too, yes.

[@imark7777777]

11:40 what no demonstration on how to undo the loops! Because you know somebody will do that and then you will have to fix it. For those who might be reading this comment thinking there's a technique? there is you can either grab through the loops or passing the end through the loops loops and then it self undoes it's quite nice. I can't remember if I threw the video into a playlist.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I do say it's a spiral all the way thru and to keep the ends on the right side of the coils. It should be easy to undo.

[@TheINFJChannel]

Here's what's not covered- a combo mic working fine as a USB but popping as an XLR (AT2005). Is it a bit-rate discrepancy? Is it a faulty usb interface (Audiobox), usb cable, microphone or xlr cable? And why does my audio have a 500hz buzz with the interface maxed? If it's not maxed, I can't direct monitor since sound too low. Is the interface not strong enough to power my dynamic mix? Yea i know, soooo many questions. Why? Because nobody can address it. It's always this, this, this, or that, that and that. Nobody can slim it down for dummies 😢 FML right now.

[@SoundSpeeds]

There's a reason those aren't covered in this video. It's completely off topic from cable wrapping.

[@imark7777777]

I'm so confused but a 500 Hz buzz might mean you're using 500 Hz power on an airplane but probably not.

[@marywells3912]

Am I understanding this correctly? If you have multiple people wrapping cables, say in a school, you will have problems because of the different arm lengths?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Great question! Technically, no because the cable is still going back and forth between 1/2 twisted in on direction and then back to normal. Most people are within a foot or so in height and it takes little effort to adjust your wrapping a little bit to keep the cable at the same size across the board. That's technically but in practicality, the cable will develop memory and become accustomed to being twisted a certain way in certain places. Deviate from that and it will resist a bit. This is because cables can be trained in much the same way as humans developed muscle memory.

[@CmdrTigerKing]

did you learn this technique for your belts?

[@SoundSpeeds]

If anything you said mattered, I might get offended.

[@mikeboltz]

I rewatched the video but I’m still unclear why it needs to be counterclockwise? I understand that it’s standard to do it counterclockwise.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Consistency amongst the industry so you don't turn a cable into spaghetti if you pick it up mid-wrap. I didn't say it but the cable will also train to the coil size and direction you coil most often. You can maintain control of the cable the entire wrap by keeping your hand on it.

[@mikeboltz]

Understood. I was always curious why that became standard, the mid wrap and standardization makes sense. I also did clockwise without letting the cable go, just a quick turn of the wrist inwards. It feels more natural and easier to coil on the ground. The cable forms a memory and you can still throw it. I’m not disagreeing that counter clockwise is the way it’s taught it just never really made logical sense to me.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I can do the inside method with removing my hand too and did for years until I was told by multiple pros not to. I retrained myself the right way, increased my speed by at least 2X and then brainstormed the technique and broke down the advantages. That's why I mentioned wrapping to your right hand the inward way creating counterclockwise coils but didn't longer on it. There's also a piece that was edited out where I talk about how people that only touch their own cables can do it their own way and also omitted a bit about why stage sound people may wrap clockwise.

[@mikeboltz]

Got ya, thanks and nice video. I usually do whatever is preferred by the owner of the gear but on my own cables go clock wise. Honestly a lot of it is because of muscle memory now.

[@SoundSpeeds]

🤷

[@christopherconkright1317]

My cables tend to want to go in a certain direction.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Counterclockwise? If not, convince them.

[@Hugmir]

Most fortunately my longest audio cable is still only 5m.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Did I fail to cover cable wrapping this time?

[@Hugmir]

@@SoundSpeeds oh come on, don't take words so personally! You did alright ~

[@SoundSpeeds]

LOL! That's all I can hope for. ;-)

[@Hugmir]

@@SoundSpeeds at least you didn't spontaneously burn an hour+ meticulously comparing the sound of two unrelated mics and end up deciding to upload the quality webcam footage of that to the tubes. So yes, a plus for editing quality ♪

[@SoundSpeeds]

Not this time. Maybe next time.

[@slcgaming]

Overall good technique but you can’t coil the same size every time. The coil size for a 25’ xlr should NOT be the same size as say a 300” bnc cable.

[@SoundSpeeds]

You can. Using this technique you can pick the size you want the loops and do it that way every time

[@slcgaming]

@@SoundSpeeds I’m not saying you physically can’t, I’m saying you shouldn’t. You gauge the size of the loop by the type and length of cable. I’m just saying it’s not one size fits all.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I see. Yeah, I agree with that. I was a video assist assistant on Fast Five and we had multiple cameras with hundreds of feet of cable per camera. The hooks for all cables were high on the cart because the boss liked big loops. Using this technique I was able to make fast coils at maximum wingspan length in seconds

[@oldschooldjernie]

faster way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKSzloeVm86Boc0

[@SoundSpeeds]

Total crap way to make spaghetti and train cables to knot up AND very much not faster.

[@oldschooldjernie]

@@SoundSpeeds I dont save cables for my grandkids like you may want to. I just want a quick n and out of a gig. i dont sit around all day wrapping cables while the venue's starting to turn off the lights. This is a great way to leave and set up quickly.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I buy or make premium cables that last decades without degrading. I can wrap 1000 feet of XLR in 5 minutes or less using this technique and have done it many times. If your technique works for you, great, but if you did this to a cable on a film set, you wouldn't make it to the afternoon.

[@oldschooldjernie]

@@SoundSpeeds I don't work on a film set but if you are a union gaffer you wouldn't care if anyone wrapped cables anyways since you gaffers could give 2 shits about non union people

[@ourfunhousekids]

Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude but I am totally confused. When training someone how to do something correctly…and maybe for the first time, NEVER show them the WRONG WAY. Only show them what to do CORRECTLY.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Didn't I only demonstrate the right way with an occasional thing to be aware of.

[@ourfunhousekids]

@@SoundSpeeds no. You first started by showing 3 wrong ways of doing it. Then in the middle of showing how to do it correctly, you showed how to do it wrong again.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Oh, I see what you mean now. Every video I've seen online teaches it the wrong way so I explained, my way, why it's wrong.

[@CredibleHulk10]

I have no need or interest in this content. Watched all 13 minutes. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@SoundSpeeds]

Well, thanks for coming by to watch.

[@CredibleHulk10]

@@SoundSpeeds Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the quality. 👌🏻

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Thanks for watching.