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One of the things that's always driven me nuts is the tendency of cables to get tangled up when you put them in a container for transporting to and from gigs.
A related problem is remembering which cables go with which application (guitar? Patch? PA?)
One simple solution that addresses both problems is to get a box of extra-large zip-lock freezer bags. Cords that go together can be stored in the same bag, which can be labeled.
Multiple plastic bags can be piled into the same container for transportation, and they don't get tangled together no matter how many times the container got jostled along the way.
I suppose you could get smaller bags and use onefor each cord, but in my experience the larger bag with related items is Justas effective and it saves time.
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Or, you could put everything in a rack, pre-wired. When we set up, I plug in the speaker cables, power, mics, and I'm done. Those wires go in a hard suitcase.
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Or, you could put everything in a rack, pre-wired. When we set up, I plug in the speaker cables, power, mics, and I'm done. Those wires go in a hard suitcase. Exactly. Next time I do one of my freelance FOH mix training classes, I'll take some snapshots of what the rack wiring looks like (I don't do the wiring, I'm just bragging on the shop guys). It is a thing of beauty. I'll try to remember to post the photos here. -Scott
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My stuff is all pre wired in the racks with a custom wired snake to the playing position. I can set up in 20 min. and tear down in less.With a little hustle. 30 min. if I'm more casual about it.
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I used to have the hardest time convincing roadies and other musos that cables aren't rope. At some point I began 'folding' cables in half repeatedly until I could LOOSELY cinch the things into a big overhand knot. This way both ends are together so you can quickly see what kind of cable you've got, and they don't get tangled up in a container. It doesn't require any extra material such as Velcro ties or freezer bags. As long as you do it LOOSELY it saves the normal wear and tear--you know, that thing where mic cables routinely go bad about 6 inches from the connector from being TIGHTLY tied?
I hope I've explained this clearly.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I used to have the hardest time convincing roadies and other musos that cables aren't rope. At some point I began 'folding' cables in half repeatedly until I could LOOSELY cinch the things into a big overhand knot. This way both ends are together so you can quickly see what kind of cable you've got, and they don't get tangled up in a container. It doesn't require any extra material such as Velcro ties or freezer bags. As long as you do it LOOSELY it saves the normal wear and tear--you know, that thing where mic cables routinely go bad about 6 inches from the connector from being TIGHTLY tied?
I hope I've explained this clearly.
R. It's also very important to know how to properly "roll" your cables, using the over/under technique that stagehands use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yPcJD7RVuY That said, we have some 100' heavy speaker cables that have to be done in halves. 
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That's another benefit of the 'folding' technique--if you do it that way you don't have to worry about that quarter-turn rotation. The cords and cables just don't get tangled and twisted.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I'm with 90 dB on this. Over/under, twist in/out, whichever you do this is really the best way to keep kinks out of cables. Just don't let anyone else touch them. One sight that gives me a stomach-ache is to see someone start doing the 'wind-it-around' the fore-arm method. When I do A/V system training as a side job, this is one task that I require all of the students to pass. I used to do the fold-over that Ryszard refers to, but I can vouch that with the grade of cable I was using (middle of the road), the cable will start to get a memory to it. When I'm running long runs, with the over/under technique, I can grab one end and chuck the bundle down the straight of the run with no knots, etc. Here's a link to a case for the company that I do training for - not space efficient but VERY time efficient: Note that all of the AC cables, XLR, instrument cables have been wrapped over/under. Length of the cable is signified by the color of velcro wrapper. [img] http://flic.kr/p/ecWge[/img] I wish I could show you the back of this mixer case - these are a thing of beauty. Next time I do one of these jobs I'll make sure to snap a picture on my phone. [img] http://flic.kr/p/4TFviv[/img]
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It's also very important to know how to properly "roll" your cables, using the over/under technique that stagehands use: I do use this technique, and it does a good job of keeping a cable from getting tangled with itself. I also have a pre-wired rack In spite of that, cables in a suitcase that gets jostled in transit tend to tangle with EACH OTHER no matter how they are wrapped. The bags keep the inter-tangling from happening. I once heard a band mate describe it like this: "trying to take one cable out of a tangled mess is like trying to take a small sip out of a spittoon... it all comes out in one big glob"
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It's also very important to know how to properly "roll" your cables, using the over/under technique that stagehands use: I do use this technique, and it does a good job of keeping a cable from getting tangled with itself. I also have a pre-wired rack In spite of that, cables in a suitcase that gets jostled in transit tend to tangle with EACH OTHER no matter how they are wrapped. The bags keep the inter-tangling from happening. I once heard a band mate describe it like this: "trying to take one cable out of a tangled mess is like trying to take a small sip out of a spittoon... it all comes out in one big glob" If you then wrap Velcro round the properly rolled cable, you pull it from the pile by grabbing the rolled cable where the Velcro is. No tangling. But ziplock baggies would work as well.
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"In spite of that, cables in a suitcase that gets jostled in transit tend to tangle with EACH OTHER no matter how they are wrapped." How many cables you got, man? I have two mic cables and three speaker cables. 
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How many cables you got, man? I have two mic cables and three speaker cables. I hope nothing ever goes bad on you at a gig
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How many cables you got, man? I have two mic cables and three speaker cables. I hope nothing ever goes bad on you at a gig What I meant was...I have two mics and three speakers cables for our setup. We actually bring two complete PA's to every gig and enough gear to cover a 5 piece band.
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