One camera feed usually means one SDI cable.

But what happens when a production needs three, five, six, twelve or even sixteen SDI connections running between the same two locations?

You can deploy a collection of individual BNC cables—or combine multiple coax channels into a purpose-built SDI snake cable.

Both approaches can work. The better choice depends on the production, number of channels, deployment frequency, distance and how much cable organization matters.

In this guide, we'll compare SDI snake cables vs individual BNC cables and look at where multi-channel cable looms can make professional video systems easier to deploy and manage.

WHAT IS AN SDI SNAKE CABLE?

An SDI snake combines multiple coaxial video channels into a single organized cable assembly.

Instead of deploying several completely separate cables, the individual channels travel together for most of the cable run and separate into individual connector leads near each end.

Depending on the design, an SDI snake may contain:

• 3 SDI channels
• 4 SDI channels
• 5 SDI channels
• 6 SDI channels
• 10 SDI channels
• 12 SDI channels
• 16 SDI channels

AV-Cables builds professional snake cables and custom cable looms for broadcast, live production and professional AV applications.

INDIVIDUAL BNC CABLES: THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH

Running individual BNC cables provides maximum flexibility.

If you need four video paths, you can simply deploy four SDI cables.

This approach makes sense when:

• Only a few SDI channels are required
• Each cable needs to travel to a different destination
• Cable lengths vary significantly
• The system configuration changes frequently
• Individual cables need to be replaced independently

For a small system, individual cables may be the simplest solution.

As the channel count increases, however, cable management becomes more important.

WHEN INDIVIDUAL CABLES START BECOMING A BUNDLE

Imagine a temporary production requiring eight SDI paths between the stage and video-control position.

Deploying eight separate cables means eight cables need to be:

• Uncoiled
• Routed
• Secured
• Identified
• Connected
• Disconnected
• Recoiled

Now increase that system to twelve or sixteen channels.

At that point, you are essentially creating a cable bundle every time the system is deployed.

ADVANTAGE #1: FASTER DEPLOYMENT

One of the biggest reasons to use a multi-channel cable loom is deployment.

Instead of repeatedly routing several separate cables along the same path, the production crew can deploy one organized snake.

This can be especially useful for:

• Live events
• Mobile production
• Fly packs
• Temporary control rooms
• Corporate AV
• Houses of worship
• Remote production systems

Any installation that is repeatedly assembled and removed can benefit from reducing the number of independent cable runs that crews need to manage.

ADVANTAGE #2: CLEANER CABLE ROUTING

Multiple individual cables naturally spread apart unless they are bundled or secured along the route.

A snake keeps the channels together through the main portion of the run.

That can create a cleaner route between locations such as:

The individual channels then break out near the equipment where they need to be connected.

ADVANTAGE #3: EASIER CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION

When several identical black BNC cables arrive at the same rack, identifying the correct channel can become frustrating.

A properly designed snake can use numbered or otherwise identified breakout channels.

For example:

Matching identification at both ends makes troubleshooting and setup considerably easier than trying to trace an unidentified cable through a large bundle.

ADVANTAGE #4: ONE MAIN CABLE PATH

In many productions, several SDI signals travel between exactly the same two general locations.

Examples include:

• Stage to production rack
• Camera platform to video control
• Fly pack to equipment position
• Machine room to production area
• Replay position to router

If all of those signals need to follow the same physical route, a snake can make more sense than treating every channel as an unrelated cable run.

WHAT ABOUT 12G-SDI?

A multi-channel cable assembly still needs to meet the transmission requirements of the signal carried by each coax channel.

For 12G-SDI applications, the coax, connectors, cable length and complete transmission path all matter.

AV-Cables builds multi-channel 12G-SDI BNC snake cables using professional 75-ohm coaxial cable and connectors appropriate for broadcast video applications.

This allows multiple high-bandwidth SDI paths to be deployed as one organized assembly rather than a collection of independent cables.

WHY MINI RG59 WORKS WELL FOR MULTI-CHANNEL SNAKES

Cable diameter becomes increasingly important as channel count increases.

A single coax cable may not seem particularly large.

Bundle twelve or sixteen of them together and physical size becomes a major design consideration.

This is one reason compact Mini RG59 constructions can be useful for multi-channel SDI assemblies.

For 12G-SDI applications, AV-Cables uses options including Belden 4855R Mini RG59.

Its compact construction helps reduce the overall size of a multi-channel assembly compared with building the same loom from significantly larger coax.

DON'T IGNORE THE BREAKOUTS

The main trunk is only part of a professional snake design.

The breakout section determines how easily individual channels reach their equipment connections.

If the breakout is too short, every connector may not comfortably reach its destination.

If it is unnecessarily long, excess cable may become difficult to manage around the rack.

When planning a custom snake, consider:

• Where the main trunk will terminate
• Distance between equipment connections
• Required breakout length
• Channel identification
• Strain relief
• How the assembly will be deployed and stored

SDI SNAKE VS INDIVIDUAL BNC CABLES

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE INDIVIDUAL SDI CABLES?

Individual cables remain the better solution in many situations.

Use them when channels need to travel in different directions, when only one or two connections are required, or when maximum flexibility is more important than bundling.

They are also useful when cable lengths frequently change independently from one channel to another.

An SDI snake should solve a cable-management problem—not create one.

WHEN DOES AN SDI SNAKE MAKE SENSE?

A snake becomes particularly attractive when:

• Several SDI channels follow the same route
• The system is repeatedly deployed
• Setup and teardown time matters
• Cable organization is becoming difficult
• Channels need consistent identification
• A cleaner production layout is desired

HYBRID SNAKES CAN GO BEYOND SDI

Not every production route carries only video.

A camera position may need SDI plus network connectivity. A fly-pack connection may require several video paths along with Ethernet.

Custom hybrid assemblies can combine different cable types into one organized loom.

AV-Cables builds camera hybrid snake cables for applications where multiple signal types need to travel together.

For example, an assembly can combine multiple SDI coax channels with CAT6 network channels in a common production cable.

PLAN THE SNAKE BEFORE ORDERING

Before specifying a multi-channel cable, answer a few questions:

1. How many SDI channels are required?
2. What SDI data rate will they carry?
3. How long is the main cable run?
4. How long should each breakout be?
5. Do both ends need the same breakout configuration?
6. What connector type is required?
7. Does the assembly need Ethernet or other signal types?
8. Will it be permanently installed or repeatedly deployed?

Answering these questions before the cable is built helps create an assembly that fits the actual production workflow.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Individual BNC cables provide excellent flexibility and remain the right choice for many professional video connections.

But as the number of SDI channels following the same route increases, repeatedly deploying separate cables can become inefficient.

A purpose-built SDI snake cable organizes multiple coax channels into one manageable assembly while still providing individual connections at each end.

For live production, fly packs, mobile systems, houses of worship, corporate AV and other multi-camera environments, that can mean cleaner routing, easier identification and faster deployment.

The decision isn't really snake versus cable.

It's about choosing the cable architecture that makes the complete production system easier to build, operate and maintain.

AV-Cables — Professional • Reliable • Connected