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Hosa Artist Testimonials | Destiny Petrel

Hosa Artist Testimonials | Destiny Petrel

Don’t Let Cables Affect Your Workflow

When creating music, the last thing an artist wants to think about is whether or not a cable is working. At Hosa, we pride ourselves on our cables’ reliability and longevity. No matter where you are in your career, our cable selection will help you get the job done. But don’t take just our word for it.

This month, we were fortunate enough to link with Destiny Petrel, a singer/songwriter, producer and artist based out of Los Angeles. Destiny writes and produces her own music right from her bedroom and has been using Hosa cables for over five years.

Destiny Petrel, Artist and Guitarist, Interview

video transcript:
All my family are musicians so growing up in a musical home, it was very easy to grab anything musical instruments everywhere – pianos, guitars. So, I gravitated towards the guitar. I’ve been playing fifteen years and I absolutely love it. It never gets old.

Hey, I’m Destiny Petrel. I’m a singer/songwriter and musician/guitarist from New York living in L.A. My favorite thing about playing is it takes me to another place. And I absolutely love that feeling. I can be in any type of mood and even change my mood, which I love.

Well, what I love to do most is make music. Now, I’ve produced my own record. My first single is coming out December 11th. It’s an EP that will come out next year of five songs. The first single ever that I’ve written and produced by myself is finally coming out. Yeah, this is where I recorded everything.

Hosa’s helped me be able to run everything – power supplies, I’ve used a lot of XLR’s – XLR cables. Reason being is I do change a lot of my stands. So, of course like, different size XLR cables. And the ¼” cables, I only use Hosa and a lot of the ¼” cables are coming through from my speakers and for my guitars mostly. Of course for touring as well because I use a lot of the ¼” cables for guitar. They’re the best.

The best thing about Hosa is that they last a very long time. These XLR cables – I’ve lasted with them about five years. And the ¼” cables I use for guitar – it’s been used that I’ve used the same ones. That’s what’s awesome about it. But what’s even better is that it’s affordable on top of like, the quality which is so great for any addition. Anybody who’s a producer, guitarist, literally anyone.

I’ve tested many different cables. Their cables are more clean than any other cable and that’s what I do love about them most is I don’t get any static. No hissing. That’s why their cables are super reliable too because especially when you’re recording. You need that and so this just helps me everyday to run everything that I need to run for recording for guitar, all of it.

Popular Hosa Cables and Accessories for Guitarists

– Hosa Edge Guitar Cable
Every electric guitarist needs a guitar cable. Our Edge series are designed to provide a lifetime of outstanding performance.
– Goby Labs Guitar Care Kit
Inevitably when you use music and audio equipment, you’re going to get some wear and grime build-up and potentially expose yourself to unwanted germs. Our Goby Labs Guitar Care Kit can help with that.
– Pro Headphone Extension Cable
Our Pro Headphone Extension Cables are designed to extend the reach of hard-wired headphones. These are especially useful when playing your instrument away from your console or DAW.

Hosa

Cable Assembly – Your How-To Guide

Cable Assembly – Your How-To Guide

Some people will say a cable is just a cable, that varying prices and shiny features don’t really matter or make a difference. Today we’ll be filling you in on how to assemble your very own guitar cable and will hopefully explain why the makeup of a cable is of more importance than anything else. Like a chef, no matter your experience, it is the ingredients that determine the quality of the meal. And for cables, it is the types of materials used to build them that determine the quality.

What is Cable Assembly?

Cable assembly, simply put, is putting together your very own cable – from scratch. We’re going to let you know all of the materials you’ll need and how they work together to ensure signal flows from one end to the other.

What You’ll Need

– wire stripper
– wire cutter
– a thin spudger
– soldering iron
– crocodile holding clips (or something to hold the cables still)
– scissors
– tape
– pliers
– rag/washcloth

Cable Assembly Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Mark off 5-10 inches from either end of the cable
Step 2: Using the pliers, cut off any exposed copper at the end to create a new tip
Step 3: Using the wire cutters, gently round the cable to expose the copper — careful not to cut too deep and gently pull the sheeting away
Step 4: Carefully separate the strands and gather them to one side of the cable. When done, twist them into a bundle
Step 5: Place a ¼” cable nearby to reference length. Using the wire cutters, cut the outer and inner conductors down to about an inch. Use the ¼” for reference, and if done correctly the inner and outer conductors should align with the outer and inner parts of the plug
Step 6: Using the crocodile holding clips, stabilize your cable & solder
Step 7: Using the soldering iron, apply it to the conductors. If done correctly, the conductors should be shiny and spread evenly
Step 8: Cover the tip of the plug with tape to protect any plating
Step 9: You then apply solder to create the joint between the tinned wire and the contact point. Repeat for inner conductor

When to Buy a Cable vs. Assembling Your Own Cable

For more in depth information on the makeup of cables, head over to our video titled “Do Cables Matter?”

Hosa

Digital Audio Interfaces

Digital Audio Interfaces and Formats – What gives?

In the 1980’s, as digital audio was in its infancy, manufacturers developing hardware had no choice but to create their own digital formats. Unfortunately, this meant the devices were incompatible, so none could be connected to each other. This is why there were so many formats such as AES/EBU, S/PDIF, ADAT, TDIF, MADI, AES3-id, and several others.

What is a Digital Interface?

Since different digital formats were incompatible when directly plugged into each other, the market was soon demanding a way to help these devices communicate. Digital interfaces provided a solution that could be connected between the devices and internally convert, or translate them into the same format. Now you could utilize devices from different manufacturers together without being plagued by previous incongruencies.

What is AES/EBU?

In 1985, to try and solve the issue of digital formats, the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and European Broadcast Union (EBU) created 2 open-source digital interfaces for stereo and multi-channel audio. These are commonly referred to as simply “AES” or “AES3” and “MADI” (Multi-channel Audio Digital Interface). The AES/EBU format made the transition to digital audio feel less foreign to users since it utilized a standard and familiar XLR connection, which was also cost-effective since no proprietary connector was needed.

What is S/PDIF?

Sony and Phillips entered the digital audio realm with a domestic format of their own, S/PDIF, which utilized both coaxial (phono) and Toslink (optical) connections. The auxiliary information and metadata for AES/EBU and S/PDIF differ slightly, but the audio formatting is the same, meaning both can be interconnected without much trouble.

What are “bits” and “kHz”?

Bits are the basic unit of data when transferring digital audio. Bit depth refers to the dynamic range while bit rate refers to the speed and playback quality. Kilohertz, or kHz, refers to bandwidth and is related to the speeds of bits per second. Greater bandwidth means faster data speed overall.

So let’s say you’re trying to connect a pair of Edifier R1280DB speakers, which use S/PDIF, into an Allen & Heath Qu-24 Digital Mixer, which uses AES/EBU. What would you need between them in order to make that connection work?

Compatible Audio Interface Products

S/PDIF Optical (Toslink) to AES/EBU

The Hosa ODL-312 is designed to take S/PDIF Optical to AES/EBU. This is a 2-channel interface that can do simultaneous conversion in both directions if required, and supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz S/PDIF audio.

S/PDIF Coax (RCA) to AES/EBU

The Hosa CDL-313 is designed to take S/PDIF Coax to AES/EBU. This is also a 2-channel interface that can do simultaneous conversion in both directions if required, and supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz S/PDIF audio.

*Be aware that these are digital format converters, not to be confused with analog-to-digital converters, which function very differently.

To learn more about the Hosa digital interfaces and where to purchase, follow the link here.

Hosa

Hosa Artist Testimonials | Beau Burchell

Setting Up A Creative Space – Music Producer Edition

At Hosa, we believe the music business is the people business. This especially rings true for music producers. When actively recording artists, musicians, and bands, one single kink can ruin the entire experience for everyone. The last thing you want to think about as a music producer is why a piece of equipment, whether a console or single audio cable, isn’t working the way it should – ruining the energy of the atmosphere and potential relationship with a client.

Throughout the years, Hosa has been lucky enough to work alongside, partner with, and sponsor a diverse list of artists. 2020 was a difficult year for all of us and while many center around the industry we are proud to call home, we are first and foremost in the people business and that doesn’t limit itself to music.

Today we’re featuring Beau Burchell, founding member of Saosin and active music producer, who filled us in on what he’s been up to.

Beau Burchell, Saosin Guitarist & Music Producer, Interview

Video Transcript:
I don’t think I have one favorite part. I enjoy it all. I enjoy soldering, I enjoy building weird contraptions to make my life easier. I enjoy comparing the difference between two microphones that are the same exact model and hearing how they differ from each other. I enjoy every part of it.

My name is Beau Burchell. I am the founding member of the band, Saosin, and I produce records, mix records, everything. I’ve just always felt like I needed my own space to create whenever I want which is why having a space at home has been so appealing to me and now I just love it at any point. Especially now with kids I can put the kids to bed and after my wife falls asleep if I’m still getting that crazy itch in my brain about trying something or comparing something I can always come back out here and keep fiddling with stuff like a mad scientist until wee hours in the morning and then wake up and go to to work the next day and doing the same exact thing.

Hosa works with workflow because you don’t have to think about, you know? And those aren’t things you want to think about when you are focusing on something artistic. Or if you have a group of people or a band, especially if it’s a new relationship, the last thing you want is to plug in a cord to something and then have the band or artist think that your equipment is shotty because something doesn’t work. And it’s all because of just one little connection on a cable. You’re sitting there trying to troubleshoot, figure it out and the band thinks you have no idea what you’re doing because of this small little thing that caused you so much grief. So if you can eliminate that from the equation, you’re instantly in a better spot.

Regular mic cables and instrument cables that I use from Hosa – the reliability and the sound quality. Those are the only two things that you care about. You want it to work all the time and you want it to sound great when it does work. They check both those boxes. And I’ve pretty much switched to all Hosa edge series cables now.

Regular mic cables and instrument cables that I use from Hosa – the reliability and the sound quality. Those are the only two things that you care about. You want it to work all the time and you want it to sound great when it does work. They check both those boxes. And I’ve pretty much switched to all Hosa edge series cables now.

Popular Hosa Products for Guitarists

– Hosa Edge Guitar Cable
Every electric guitarist needs a guitar cable. As Beau speaks on above, he relies on Hosa’s Edge Series cables to get the job done. Our Edge series are designed to provide a lifetime of outstanding performance.
– Goby Labs Guitar Care Kit
Inevitably when you use music and audio equipment, you’re going to get some wear and grime build-up and potentially expose yourself to unwanted germs. Our Goby Labs Guitar Care Kit can help with that.
– Pro Headphone Extension Cable
Our Pro Headphone Extension Cables are designed to extend the reach of hard-wired headphones. These are especially useful when playing your instrument away from your console or DAW.

Hosa

History of MIDI

What is MIDI?

By textbook definition, MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It’s an electronic standard used for the transmission of digitally encoded music. But what exactly does that mean?

MIDI isn’t a sound or an instrument, it is simply the carrier for messages that specify the instructions of music. For example, if a chord progression is laid down via MIDI, those same chords’ notes, velocity, vibrato, panning, tempo, and pitch can be transmitted to an instrument that has MIDI capabilities.

Every time a musician plays a MIDI instrument, the exact way the musician played is transmitted into MIDI data. That data can then be transferred to a computer and played the same exact way through another MIDI instrument.

When Was MIDI Invented

In 1981, Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits, presented a paper on the “Universal Synthesizer Interface.” Just two years later, in 1983, at the winter NAMM Show*, a Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 was able to talk to a Roland Keyboard over a 5-pin cable.

*Fun fact, Hosa’s first NAMM Show appearance was just one year later, in 1984.

But in those days, polyphonic synthesizers cost thousands of dollars and one could really only get their hands on one if they were wealthy. So, Dave Smith came up with another idea; an interface so simple, inexpensive, and easy to implement that no manufacturer could refuse it. Smith helped develop it — but at the time, MIDI was widely viewed as “too slow” by peers and industry leaders… until it wasn’t.

The MIDI Manufacturers Organization (MMA) would not back down. In an industry of intense rivals, the MMA was able to hold a coalition of the most competitive manufacturers of the time. The message became clear: if MIDI is successful it would drive the industry into even greater success. The MMA was right, manufacturers were on board and immediately helped educate the market on MIDI through books and even online materials such as “Introduction to MIDI.”

MIDI Cables

MIDI cables help connect to MIDI devices. MIDI devices range from instruments, modules, computers and much more.

Hosa carries affordable and reliable midi cables in singles and doubles (for the in/out pair), we offer right angle MIDI, and we even have a MIDI to USB interface.

MIDI Interfaces

MIDI interfaces changed the way the world makes music. No longer did someone have to be in a luxurious studio to lay down guitar tracks or vocals. With the development of MIDI interfaces, emerged the concept of a “bedroom producer” — leveling the playing field for musicians across the globe. And when a “bedroom producer” wins multiple Grammys, it’s hard to justify the reason to even use a studio.

MIDI Today

Now, MIDI is everywhere. Initially just an idea that separated sound from a keyboard, it is now built into the least expensive keyboards to the most expensive studio gear. And, until just recently, the spec remained at version 1.0. MIDI data is responsible for nearly all of the music made today and, more importantly, helped lower the barrier to entry for music production. Instead of acquiring multiple instruments, use MIDI devices and simply pick out whatever sound you want. 

If you want to learn more about MIDI, head over to hosatech.com and get started using MIDI today!

- Hosa

Hosa Artist Testimonials | Aaron Stechauner

The Music Business is the People Business

The music industry isn’t just about art, it’s about people and the support we give each other. It’s part of the reason why we developed our core values; passion, drive, community, responsibility, and resilience.

Throughout the years, Hosa has been lucky enough to work alongside, partner with, and sponsor a diverse list of artists. 2020 was a difficult year for all of us and while many center around the industry we are proud to call home, we are first and foremost in the people business and that doesn’t limit itself to music.

So, we connected with a few of our artist partners to help share their stories. Today we’re featuring Aaron Stechauner, drummer with the metal band Interloper, who was kind enough to let us into his personal studio.

Aaron Stechauner, drummer of Interloper, Interview

“If you’re a musician and you don’t love it, you shouldn’t do it. It takes a lot of sacrifices and it takes a toll on you.” Aaron is a teacher and a drummer. In this video, he explains how it is common for people to overlook drummers’ needs for audio cables.

Video Transcript:
I feel like if you’re a musician and you don’t love it, you shouldn’t do it. It takes a lot of sacrifices and takes a lot of toll on you and it’s tough. You kind of have to be cut out for it. There are too many obstacles to do something like this without loving it.

Hi, my name is Aaron Stechauner. I play drums for a band called Interloper. I also teach, I fill in for a lot of bands when touring. I obviously love writing, I love playing drums. Teaching’s great. All those things are great, but when I really boil it down, that’s like not only my favorite thing to do – but that’s what I’m meant to do, as like, a human being – is to be a performer, to play on stage live.

I try to count my blessings as often as I can and as often as I realize them. Probably for a lot of people, they don’t think of drums as an instrument that needs cables and electronics in the same way, you know, guitars do – electric guitar and a singer, you know, with their microphone. You have to have the cable and you have to have all that stuff. Drums, you know, are loud on their own. But even so, you have to mic them up.

I have cultivated a lot of fanbase and growth based on online media presence, so I’ve been making videos for years. That’s how I actually got picked up by that band when I was eighteen. I would upload videos to YouTube. What did I need to make all those videos? I needed microphones and I needed cables so Hosa comes into play with that. They’ve always worked – which is the important part.

Since I have started to mix all of my own material and gotten better at engineering and just understanding in general – I did notice, yeah, that the sound quality of using Hosa cables is great.

Would I recommend Hosa to others? Yeah, of course, I’d recommend Hosa to others, yeah, they’re great.

The two most important things? Reliability and a great team.

Popular Hosa Products for Drummers

– Hosa Edge Microphone Cable
Drummers quite often use microphone cables to mic their sets. As Aaron speaks on above, he was able to transfer his audio signal into his DAW – for high quality sound in his YouTube videos. Our Edge series are designed to provide a lifetime of outstanding performance.
– Cable Ties
Good cable management is important to good sound quality. Drum sets typically require multiple microphones and cables. Cable ties will help keep power cables separated and kink free.
– Pro Headphone Extension Cable
Our Pro Headphone Extension Cables are designed to extend the reach of hard-wired headphones. These are especially useful when playing your instrument away from your console or DAW.

- Hosa

New Hosa Face Masks Now Available

Buena Park, CA, January 2021 — Hosa is pleased to introduce the newest addition to the growing list of preventative and protective products, Hosa Face Masks. With social distancing measures still in place, personal safety has become all the more important.

A growing portfolio of research has been done on the efficacy of masks over the past year. Reusable cloth masks have been shown to be effective in preventing large droplets from entering the atmosphere, which could then become aerosolized and spread airborne pathogens. Hosa Face Masks use a polyester outer layer, cotton inner layer, and come with one 5-layer filter which can be easily replaced.

Some masks and facial coverings can feel restrictive and uncomfortable, leading to people touching and adjusting them consistently. Hosa Face Masks are stretchable and non-restrictive, made with a material that allows for good breathability without sacrificing what makes masks effective in the first place.

Hosa Face Masks are washable and reusable, reducing waste from disposable surgical masks that workers and gigging professionals have used since returning to work from the global pandemic.

“Even in areas where there are less government-enforced restrictions in place, it’s still the norm for private businesses to take it upon themselves to practice social distancing” adds Jose Gonzalez, Hosa’s Director of Marketing & Product Development. “While there are an abundance of masks on the market, we think we offer something just as effective and also more comfortable which can be worn anywhere.”

The New Hosa Face Masks are available at an MSRP of $24.95.

- Hosa

Testing Cables – Why Use a Cable Tester?

Cable testers verify the electrical connections in a signal cable — confirming things are wired correctly between the ends of the cable. If there is a broken connection, the Hosa CBT-500 Cable Tester will let you know exactly where that connection is, which may have a simple solution such as resoldering a single contact point, saving you from throwing out a perfectly good, salvageable audio cable. Diagnosing these issues can help save a lot of headaches in the long run. Always test your cables before gigging, which can be done quick and easy with the Hosa CBT-500.

How to Test an Audio Cable

  1. Turn knob to position 1
  2. Plug one connector into corresponding jack on the left side of tester
  3. Plug other connector into corresponding jack on right side of tester
  4. Turn knob to each position to check wiring of each contact

Alternative Continuity Test

For any electronic connection to be tested, a complete loop must be present. The additional continuity testers allow you to test any pin and contact point in order to complete the circuit. These allow you to test the connectivity of any circuit, not just audio cables. To use the continuity testers:

  1. Apply the tip of each lead to the corresponding contacts
  2. If continuity exists, the tester will beep

Battery Check

Always make sure to check that the battery has life before testing any cables so you don’t misdiagnose any connection as faulty. The steps for the Hosa CBT-500 Cable Tester are simple:

  1. Turn knob to battery check
  2. The LED will illuminate if the battery is charged

Hosa’s Cable Tester – Better Safe Than Sorry

Hosa’s CBT-500 Cable Tester is constructed from metal to withstand field abuse and operates with a standard 9-volt battery (included). The device also provides a battery check function to ensure proper working condition prior to use. The CBT-500 Cable Tester makes an invaluable addition to one’s ‘tools of the trade’ and is ideal for use when preparing for a concert, studio recording session, or an installation as well as checking cables afterwards in order to ensure working operation the next time. Get yours today.

 

- Hosa

Hosa Guitar Cables: Hear the Difference

The audio cable market is small, yet competitive. With competition, there may be companies making big claims about why their cables are better than others. All in all, does cable quality matter or is all just “marketing fluff”? What makes one guitar cable more special than another? Today, we will be testing out and recording through our very own Hosa guitar cables (Essential, Pro & Edge) and we’ll let you be the judge.

Does Your Audio Cable Affect Sound Quality?

They certainly can, but it’s important to note that cables don’t “improve” your sound. Their main purpose is to translate sound from its source as transparently as possible. So, when it comes to “making a difference” — we are referring to a cable’s durability, internal build, and longevity. To dive more into cable specifics, check out our article on Do Audio Cables Affect Sound Quality?

Capacitance, What Is It?

Capacitance is the ratio of the change in electric charge of a system to the corresponding change in its electric potential. In the cable world, it’s ideal to have a lower capacitance as that means less resistance, allowing a more pure signal to pass through. This is especially important in instrument cables because they tend to be unbalanced, and the longer the length of the cable, the more inherent capacitance you introduce. The easiest way to explain this is: the longer the cable, the less pure the signal.

Hosa Guitar Cable, GTR-200 Series

Recording

  • Serviceable, all-metal plugs for touring and other applications
  • Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) conductor for enhanced signal clarity
  • Hi-density OFC braided shield for superior EMI and RFI rejection

Hosa Pro Series Guitar Cable

Recording

  • Nickel-plated REAN® plugs for efficient signal transfer and superior durability
  • 20 AWG Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) conductor for a louder, clearer signal
  • 90% OFC braided shield for a higher signal to noise ratio

Hosa Edge Series Guitar Cable

Recording

  • Original Neutrik® connectors for security and durability
  • 20 AWG Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) conductor to reduce resistance
  • Low capacitance wire for a crystal-clear high end

So, do cables affect sound quality? The short answer is not really – but still want to learn more about why cables are important? Check out our video which goes in more depth about what the specs mean and why they matter:

Do Cables Matter?

- Hosa

New Hosa A/V Work Gloves Now Available

Versatile and comfortable hand protection

Buena Park, CA, December 2020 — Hosa is pleased to introduce the newest addition to the growing list of preventative and protective products, Hosa A/V Work Gloves. These work gloves provide much needed comfort and protection to professionals in the music industry.

Whether working with permanent or temporary setups, Hosa A/V Work Gloves protect your hands without limiting your abilities. Synthetic leather tips on the thumb, index, and middle fingers, allow use of touch screen devices that continue to expand in the marketplace. The stylish Hosa “H” silicone grips on the palm also make grabbing and gripping heavy gear during load-in and teardown easier than with your bare hands while providing extra protection.

Hosa A/V Work Gloves are form-fitting so you don’t have to sacrifice dexterity while wearing them. Unlike other gloves, Hosa A/V Work Gloves utilize a breathable fabric on the back of the hand to help ventilate and keep your hands from overheating. Hosa A/V Work Gloves also feature an adjustable hook and loop strap for adjustable security and comfort.

Hosa Work Gloves are washable and reusable, reducing waste and eliminating the cost of disposable gloves that workers and gigging professionals have invested in since returning to work from the global pandemic.

“As events and places continue to open back up, gigging professionals are constantly having to juggle normal functionality with new safety measures,” adds Jose Gonzalez, Hosa’s Director of Marketing & Product Development. “The result of Hosa’s research is a versatile glove that is functional and keeps you safe. We’re proud of the new Hosa A/V Work Gloves and know it will become a valuable asset to those working with A/V equipment in any setting.”

The New Hosa A/V Work Gloves are available in four sizes. MSRP is $27.95 per pair.

- Hosa