Snake cable
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A snake cable (often just "snake") or medusa is an electrical signal cable with multiple insulated wires or even other cables within it. They are often used in sound reinforcement, as they are far simpler to work with, and also far less likely to cause tripping and other entanglements. Each cable within the snake is independent of the others, having its own insulation and shielding. The name comes from its resemblance in thickness and colour to a black snake.
Basic snakes are simple, having all of the same connectors on one end, and their companions on the other, just like single cables. Some with XLR connectors have up to half of the channels swapped to opposite ends — that is, some channels might run male-to-female, others from female-to-male. This provides a path for return audio to the stage or other similar area.
Many high-end snakes have up to 64 channels of balanced audio, and are permanently attached at one end to a large reel or spool which has the connectors on its side panel, rather than just dangling loose as on the other end of the cable. Some snakes have integrated DI Boxes.
Aside from audio, an electrical snake can mean any cable with many conductors for carrying separate signals with modular plugs at either end. Snakes are used for lighting, computers, and industrial controllers, in addition to audio signals.
