Professional video productions can require dozens of SDI connections between cameras, switchers, routers, monitors, recorders and other equipment.

Running every BNC cable individually works, but as the number of video channels increases, setup and cable management can quickly become complicated.

An SDI snake cable combines multiple professional SDI coaxial cables into one organized assembly, making it easier to deploy, identify and manage multiple video signals.

For live production, broadcast, studios and mobile systems, that can mean faster setup and a much cleaner signal path.

WHAT IS AN SDI SNAKE CABLE?

An SDI snake cable is a multi-channel cable assembly containing several individual 75-ohm coaxial video cables grouped together into a single organized harness or bundle.

Each coaxial cable remains an independent video channel with its own BNC connectors.

For example, a four-channel SDI snake can carry four separate SDI signals while allowing the entire group to be routed as one assembly.

Depending on the cable and connector configuration, SDI snakes can be designed for HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, 6G-SDI or 12G-SDI applications.

WHY USE AN SDI SNAKE INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUAL CABLES?

Imagine connecting four or six SDI signals between a production rack and another equipment location.

With individual cables, every cable must be routed, organized and identified separately.

With an SDI snake, those channels travel together.

This provides several practical advantages:

• Faster deployment
• Cleaner cable management
• Easier channel identification
• Fewer loose cables across the production area
• Simpler teardown
• More organized equipment racks
• Repeatable production-system layouts

SDI SNAKES FOR LIVE VIDEO PRODUCTION

Live production environments are one of the most useful applications for multi-channel SDI cables.

A production may need several video signals running between a stage, camera position, production rack or control location.

Instead of deploying multiple unrelated coaxial cables, a snake allows the video paths to remain together.

Common applications include:

• Live events
• Concert production
• Corporate AV
• Sports production
• Houses of worship
• Mobile production systems
• Temporary broadcast installations
• Production fly packs

12G-SDI SNAKES FOR 4K VIDEO

As production systems move toward 4K UHD workflows, multi-channel 12G-SDI snake cables provide an efficient way to transport multiple high-bandwidth video signals.

12G-SDI can carry 4K UHD video over a single coaxial connection, eliminating the need for some multi-link configurations used by earlier systems.

However, 12G-SDI places greater demands on the cable, connectors and termination.

A professional 12G-SDI snake should use coaxial cable and true 75-ohm connectors appropriate for the required bandwidth and transmission distance.

HOW MANY CHANNELS SHOULD AN SDI SNAKE HAVE?

The correct channel count depends on the production system.

CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION MATTERS

One of the biggest advantages of a properly designed broadcast snake is knowing which connector belongs to which channel.

Clear channel identification makes setup and troubleshooting considerably easier.

Instead of tracing an unidentified BNC cable across a stage or production area, technicians can quickly match corresponding channels at each end of the snake.

This becomes increasingly valuable as channel count increases.

SDI SNAKES CAN REDUCE SETUP TIME

Temporary production systems are assembled and removed repeatedly.

Every minute spent sorting, tracing and organizing individual cables adds to setup and teardown time.

A properly configured SDI snake can allow several video channels to be deployed together.

For production companies that repeatedly build similar systems, standardized snake assemblies can make deployment more predictable from one event to the next.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COAXIAL CABLE

The same cable-selection principles that apply to individual SDI cables also apply to multi-channel snakes.

Important considerations include:

• Required SDI data rate
• Total transmission distance
• Cable diameter
• Flexibility
• Installation environment
• Connector type

Compact coaxial cable such as 12G Mini RG59 can be extremely useful when several channels are bundled together because the overall snake remains smaller and easier to manage.

For longer runs, however, transmission performance becomes increasingly important. Our Mini RG59 vs RG59 vs RG6 guide explains the differences between the major coaxial cable sizes used for professional SDI systems.

DON'T FORGET 12G-SDI CABLE DISTANCE

Bundling multiple coaxial cables together does not eliminate the transmission-distance limitations of the individual cable.

Each channel still needs to reliably transport the required SDI signal over the full cable length.

When designing a 12G-SDI snake, cable type and distance should therefore be considered together.

A compact cable may be ideal for a shorter production snake, while longer applications may benefit from a different coaxial construction with additional signal margin.

For more information, see our guide: How Far Can You Run 12G-SDI? Cable Distance Explained.

BNC, HD-BNC AND OTHER CONNECTOR CONFIGURATIONS

Standard BNC connectors remain extremely common throughout professional video production.

However, modern high-density equipment may use compact connector formats such as HD-BNC or DIN 1.0/2.3.

That means a custom multi-channel assembly can also act as the transition between different equipment connector formats.

For example, a production system may require standard BNC connectors at one end and compact HD-BNC connections at a high-density router or other piece of broadcast equipment.

If you're deciding between the two connector formats, see our HD-BNC vs BNC comparison.

WHAT ABOUT HYBRID CAMERA SNAKES?

Some production systems need more than SDI video.

Cameras and remote equipment may also require Ethernet or other signal connections.

A hybrid camera snake can group different cable types into one organized assembly.

For example, a production snake may combine multiple SDI video channels with Ethernet connections so the entire camera or equipment position can be deployed as one cable system.

This can significantly simplify temporary production installations where the same equipment configuration is used repeatedly.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE AN SDI SNAKE?

An SDI snake makes the most sense when several video cables repeatedly travel between the same locations.

Examples include:

• Stage to production control
• Camera position to fly pack
• Production rack to patch location
• Video router to equipment rack
• Mobile production systems
• Temporary venue installations

If technicians repeatedly deploy the same group of individual cables, combining those channels into a purpose-built snake may provide a cleaner and more efficient solution.

CUSTOM LENGTHS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Production cabling does not always fit convenient standard lengths.

A cable that is substantially longer than necessary creates excess cable that must be stored or coiled somewhere in the production area.

A cable that is too short creates an even bigger problem.

Building SDI snakes to lengths appropriate for the production environment can improve cable management and reduce unnecessary cable on the floor or inside equipment racks.

AV-CABLES PROFESSIONAL SDI SNAKE ASSEMBLIES

AV-Cables manufactures professional multi-channel SDI snake assemblies for production companies, broadcast facilities, studios, houses of worship, corporate AV, government and systems integrators.

Available solutions include multi-channel BNC assemblies, 12G-SDI snakes, camera hybrid snakes and custom configurations designed around specific production requirements.

AV-Cables professional broadcast assemblies are hand assembled in the USA and individually tested before shipment.

AV-Cables — Professional Broadcast Connectivity Solutions