What is an audio snake?

An audio snake (multicore) is a bundle of individually shielded audio cables in a single outer jacket, with a stage box at one end and a fan-out of connectors at the other. It carries multiple audio channels between the stage and the mixing desk, replacing many individual cables.

How long should my audio snake be?

Measure the actual route the snake will take — not the straight-line distance. Add 5-10 metres for slack, routing around obstacles, and connecting to stage box and desk. Common lengths: small venue 15-20m, medium venue 30-50m, large venue 50-100m.

What is the difference between sends and returns?

Sends carry signals from the stage to the mixing desk (microphones, DI boxes). Returns carry signals from the desk back to the stage (monitor mixes, effects). A 16×4 snake has 16 sends and 4 returns.

Should I consider a digital snake instead?

Digital snakes (using Cat5e/Cat6, fibre optic, or Dante/AES50) offer major advantages for long runs: no signal degradation over distance, lighter weight, fewer cables, and easy channel expansion. They are increasingly common even in small-medium setups. The trade-off is higher initial cost and need for digital infrastructure.

Snake Calculator — Audio Snake Channel & Length Requirements

Calculate audio snake requirements from channel count, length and connector types.

Microphone Inputs

Enter the microphone inputs

Line Inputs

Enter the line inputs

Return Channels

Number of audio channels

Snake Length

Length measurement

Phantom Power Channels

Number of audio channels

How We Calculate This

Channel Count

Sends = Mic Inputs + Line Inputs

Total = Sends + Returns

Standard Sizes

Audio snakes come in standard configurations: 8×4, 16×4, 24×8, 32×8, 48×12. Choose the next size up from your requirements to allow for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Cable Length Calculator

Calculate the maximum cable length before signal degradation for XLR, TRS, TS and other audio cable types. Free online calculator.

Signal Loss Calculator

Calculate audio signal attenuation in dB over a cable run based on cable type, length and frequency. Free online audio calculator.

Cable Impedance Calculator

Calculate the characteristic impedance of audio cables from conductor diameter, spacing and dielectric constant. Free online tool.

Connector Calculator

Reference guide for audio connector pinouts, wiring diagrams and signal levels covering XLR, TRS, TS, RCA and more. Free online tool.

Balanced vs Unbalanced Calculator

Compare noise rejection and maximum cable run lengths for balanced versus unbalanced audio connections. Free online comparison tool.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.