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Modern Cabling for Studios: Ethernet, Fiber, and Why Your Uploads Might Lag

  • Writer: Nick Gran
    Nick Gran
  • Aug 18
  • 2 min read
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Setting up your studio? The cables you use—inside and outside your space—make a huge difference in speed, reliability, and how much you can actually get done. Here’s what you need to know:


Ethernet: The Workhorse (and Why Standards Matter)

  • Cat5e: Still common, supports up to 1 Gbps. Good for basic streaming and home networks.

  • Cat6/Cat6a: Standard for most modern studios—handles 10 Gbps (over short distances), much less interference.

  • Cat7/Cat8: Overkill for most home setups, but future-proof and great for ultra-high-speed transfers (think 40+ Gbps).

  • Shielded vs. Unshielded: Shielded helps in high-interference areas (lots of gear), but is usually not needed for short home runs.

Bottom line: Cat6 is the sweet spot for most.


Fiber vs. Coax: What’s Really in Your Walls?

  • Fiber (FTTH, “Fiber to the Home”):

    • Fastest. Blazing download and upload speeds, ultra-low latency.

    • But… most “fiber” installs aren’t pure fiber all the way to your studio. Somewhere along the line, the connection often switches to copper (Ethernet or even coax).

  • Coaxial (Cable Internet):

    • Widely used, but much slower upload speeds and not true full duplex (can’t upload and download at max speed at the same time).

    • Great for streaming, but live uploads or cloud backup? Expect a bottleneck.

The catch: Even if your provider says “fiber,” you might be on copper for that last mile. Always check—true FTTH is rare in many neighborhoods.


Other Benefits of Fiber Over Coax

  • Symmetrical Speeds: Upload = download (great for cloud backups, remote work, uploading big projects).

  • Less Interference: Fiber is immune to electrical noise—perfect for studios with lots of gear.

  • Future-Proof: Handles tomorrow’s speeds, not just today’s.


Studio Takeaways

  • Wired > Wireless for stability—use Ethernet for everything you can (audio interfaces, NAS, streaming rigs).

  • Don’t get hung up on “fiber” hype—know what cable actually reaches your house.

  • If your upload sucks, blame the copper leg or coax bottleneck, not your PC.


Next Up:Want better sound and pro gear connections? Stick around—we’ll break down XLR, TRS, USB, and what really matters for microphones and audio setups.


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