WHAT SHOULD BE IN A TECH'S TOOLBOX

Every tech/engineer should have a plethora of tools available to them at all times.  Engineering is more than just pushing buttons and pushing faders.  You need to learn all facets of your gear, and how to service and maintain it all.  Bad stuff can happen at the worst moment possible when running sound.  Are you ready for it?  Here is an exhaustive list of supplies that every sound man/woman should have in their arsenal for such occurrences:

1. Cables - All Kinds!

• XLR/Mic cables
  
• TRS signal cables
• TS Instrument Cables
• Insert Cables
  
• Speaker cables with speakon and 1/4" connectors
• Midi Cable(s)
• Various RCA, 1/8", 1/4", XLR, etc Patch Cables
• Cat5/Cat6 patch cables (for in-ear monitoring systems or other data sources)
• A spool of signal and speaker cable.  Mogami and many others make good cable, but Gepco makes good bang-for-the-buck signal cable if money is tight.
• Raw speaker cable can be found at any good hardware store.  It's called SJ cable, and it works beautifully for this purpose.  If you are bi-amping or tri-amping boxes serviced with Speakons, you'll need the appropriate number of conductors in the cable you purchase.  If you are running your non-powered mains or monitors full range (this is most churches), 2 conductor will be fine.
• Extra C13 power cables
• Extension Cable - at least 25ft.
• Power Strip(s)
  

2. Connectors, Adapters, Mics, and Direct Boxes

• Have a plethora of different types of raw connectors at your disposal in case you have to repair an installed cable you can't replace easily, or if you need to make a custom-length patch cable of some sort.  Neutrik connectors are killer because of the chuck-clutch system they feature.  
• It is never advisable to tell you to use an adapter rather than have the right cable/connectors installed, but sometimes in the real world, when the clock is ticking, and you have 5 minutes to fix something broken & make something happen quickly, you need to be ready.  Various female to female adapters, 1/4" to Speakon adapters, extra banana connectors, RCA to 1/8", RCA to 1/4", 1/4" to RCA, splitters, combiners, etc.  Just be excellent about making sure you deal with the situation the right way once the service is over and you have some time.
• Always have a few direct boxes laying around.  The best economy direct box is the Whirlwind IMP2.  If you can afford something nicer, then Countryman, Radial, Whirlwind, etc all make great upper-end direct boxes as well.
• Female 1/4" & XLR Jacks
• Headphone adapters: 1/8" TRS to 1/4" TRS  and  1/4" TRS to 1/8" 
• Ebtec Hum Eliminator - obviously you need to deal with any hum issues directly, but if you walk in on a Sunday morning to a wicked Hum, this guy can be a lifesaver.  Get the one with TRS & XLR connectors in it.
• Keep a Shure SM-57, SM-58, and an Audio Technica Pro37 in your bag.  Between those 3 mics, you can handle just about anything extra that may pop up.
  

3. Testers, Meters, Analyzers

• One of THE most important tools that should be in your tool box, is a digital multimeter.  Fluke makes great multimeters, but if you need something cheaper, Radio Shack makes great little multimeters for a low price as well.
• RTA Analyzer - Every tech needs one.  You don't have to spend a ton of money either nowadays.  If you need something really accurate, get ready to throw down some cash, but in a pinch, you can make do with free apps on your iphone or android phone.  Obviously not for detailed measurement work, but for a quick reference, it'll do.  I have an android, and I use Spectrum Analyze.  It's OK for light work, and now that you can find THIS Jewel, it's even more of a viable option.  Also, if you already have a product like the DBX DriveRack stuff, it'll have an RTA type component built into it.  Smaart may be an option as well but can be pricey and has its own issues.  The redneck "smaart" way to do it, is to download a free VST host and use Voxengo Span.  Pretty neat, and works fine with a good audio interface and a good RTA microphone.  DBX makes a decent measurement microphone for $99.
  
• Guitar/Instrument tuner - Hardware and App version as well.  Sometimes it can be really handy when you have feedback that you can't nail down because it'll play a game of auditory whack a mole with ya.  Obviously there's more technically orthodox ways, but I have had good luck in quickly humming the feedback frequency in my tuner app, and then notching the frequency from there.  A tuner app like "gStrings," will show you the frequency of the note it hears.  Pretty handy and super quick.  A hardware tuner is great to have as well in case a musician on stage doesn't have one, or their's breaks.
• Decibel Meter - There are a ton out there available.  Find an affordable one with good reviews on Amazon, and you'll be good to go.
• Cable Tester/Signal Tracer - Palmer makes a pretty good one, as well as Whirlwind and Hosa.  There's cheap-o's out there as well.  Here's a picture of the Palmer:    
  

• In the olden days, we mostly used a "fox & hound."  I still think this is a very viable option because you can track down a cable by "listening" with a probe very quickly.
• Square D Wiggy - A quick and generally safe way to test power outlets and discharge capacitors effectively (be very careful around high-voltage - or avoid it if you don't know what you are doing).
  

4. Various Hand Tools

• Soldering Irons - 3 would be ideal.  25 watt, 40 watt, and a handheld 100/250 watt iron.  If you only want one, a 40 watt with and adjustable voltage control will work for most projects.  
• Butane powered soldering iron - Super handy when you don't have time for an electric iron to warm up
  
• Solder - don't mess with the silver stuff.  Good old 60/40 tin & lead rosin core solder is ideal.  No acid core please as it is only for plumbing!
  
• Solder sucker or desoldering iron
• Needle nose pliers - different sizes
• Cat5e/Cat6 stripper, RJ-45 crimper
• Electrician's scissors
  
• Screwdrivers of all different sizes
• Wire snippers/cutters - both large and small
• Battery operated screwdriver in case you gotta get into something super quick.
• A set of "third hands."
• Wire Strippers - The automatic kind are killer beans.
• Razor knife
• Pocket knife
• Flashlight
• String Winder (the kind that'll fit on the end of your battery operated screwdriver)
• Cattle Prod - for those pesky members of the congregation whom make continual "suggestions" on how to make your mix better.  I'm kidding of course!
  

5. Wire Management

• Gaffer's Tape
• Pull/Zip Ties
• Velcro
• Velcro wire binding Straps
• Bailing wire - every good ol' boy needs bailing wire.  Good for keeping bolts from backing out on rigging shackles.  NEVER use it to hang any weight unless you'd want someone to get crushed and killed.
  
• Duct Tape
• Masking Tape
• Labeler
• Sharpie (I knew you were waiting for this one).
• Heat Shrink
• Lighter
  

6. Solvents and Lubricants

• Caig Deoxit or CRC Electonic Cleaner if Caig is too expensive - CRC is usually available in an autoparts store.  Radio Shack carries an OK electronic cleaner as well.  They also carry Caig last I saw, but it's higher than Amazon.
  
• WD-40 or even a Teflon lubricant for squeaky kick drum pedals.
• Isopropyl Alcohol - Very handy for cleaning electronic components that has had something spilled on/in them.
  

7. Manuals To All of Your Gear & Other Reference Materials

• Mixing Console Manual
• Outboard processor manuals
• Microphone Manuals
• Speaker Manuals (for power ratings, crossover points, etc)
• Amplifier Manual(s)
  
• This is handy to have around as well.  Print it and place with the rest of your stuff.
  

Well that's all I can think of for the moment.  If any of you have anything I forgot, please feel free to comment!  Much Love!