Golden rule for using 'sheilded' cables?

[adamduke]

..Is there one or is this simply a matter of preference in the output quality you want?  Do I only need to do this on specific parts of the circuit?  Is it just a good habit to get into?

adam.

[Gordonjcp]

Use shielded cable for low-level audio - signals you'd feed into a mixer or amplifier.  It's not so important for speaker level or power leads, and may not be helpful at all for digital signals.

It's also worth getting into the habit of keeping audio signals away from power and digital signals, by carefully dressing the wiring loom into place with tywraps or some such thing.

[wax+wire]

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but this is related.

I've added a bend/mod to a casio, splitting the signal for all the drum + accompaniment parts with mini on/off switches.  I wired it up with a fairly long piece of unshielded multicore wire (about 8 wires in total).  There is now a lot of noise in the circuit.  I'm pretty certain that it is interference from the wire, as moving it around the power and speaker changes the noise.

Could I just wrap the wire in aluminium foil and duct tape to shield it? or something.
What about those magnet things used in shielding wire?

[Circuitbenders]

either use shielded cables, individually or in a multicore with individual shields, or use a multicore with an overall shield. The second option isn't going to help if theres crosstalk between the cables, but it will help with external interference.

The other option would be to route your wiring more carefully.

Trying to shield things with foil sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.