Future-Proof (!) Wiring between Control Room & Live Room

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Zenon Marko
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Future-Proof (!) Wiring between Control Room & Live Room

Post by Zenon Marko »

Hello, all -



What wiring should a studio include between Control Room and Live Room, in an attempt to future-proof for any possible contingencies?

To start the list:
- XLR connections for mics (estimating # on the high side)
- TRS (and TS?) connections for keyboards, guitar, bass DI...
- at least one MIDI In and 1 MIDI Out
- USB 2 & USB 3? (e.g. to connect a USB MIDI device)
- speaker connectors? (probably not necessary, since speakers can be active, or amp for passive ones can be in the live room)

Is there any reason to include other types of data cables (like CAT-5, CAT-6) or anything else?

Thank you for any suggestions.

(I hope this question is appropriate here; I am posting as a general question here since is not specific to my studio build Home Studio in NYC)
Soundman2020
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Re: Future-Proof (!) Wiring between Control Room & Live Room

Post by Soundman2020 »

Definitely I would add a few CAT-5 or CAT-6, as well as HDMI and maybe even VGA. You might also need CCTV, intercom, alarm, and others. I always suggest adding a few extra empty conduit runs at the time of installation: you are sure to need them down the line for something!

- Stuart -
Zenon Marko
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Re: Future-Proof (!) Wiring between Control Room & Live Room

Post by Zenon Marko »

Soundman2020 wrote:Definitely I would add a few CAT-5 or CAT-6, as well as HDMI and maybe even VGA. You might also need CCTV, intercom, alarm, and others. I always suggest adding a few extra empty conduit runs at the time of installation: you are sure to need them down the line for something!

- Stuart -
Thank you, Stuart!

I was planning to run 2" conduit, with 90 degree bends between outer masonry wall leaf and new inner wall leaf, and the break in the conduit (as you recommended elsewhere) for mechanical decoupling. This will terminate in a custom-built surface-mount plywood/drywall box which will hold the RedCo jack panels (probably 4 panels of 8 jacks each to cover every possibility).

I'll consider at least adding the CAT and HDMI. The electrician recommends leaving a strong "string" in there to pull through any additional items if ever necessary.

Happiness is a warm soldering gun.
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