Behringer ULTRAPATCH Patchbay

[DanRock101]

Ok guys,

You take on the Behringer ULTRAPATCH.

Worth trying out?

This is my FIRST patchbay and need to start with SOMETHING.....

.........slutz!?!?!?

[JamesMcp]

for only a bit more money you can get a neutrik patchbay. i trust it a little more.

[PoorGlory]

I have Neutrik ($80) and a Behringer ($40) patchbay. The Neutrik feels like it's going to shatter at any moment. The Behringer is more robust (yeah, I know) but the 1/4" jacks are a little bit too easy to go in and out of (insert low brow joke here) so sometimes you have to make sure that a patch cable hasn't slipped out. Meanwhile, the jacks on the Neutrik are so tight that I feel like I might snap the PCB in half trying to insert a plug.

I would actually recommend the Behri in this low price range. Switch-selectable patch bay modes are also pretty handy, but they're on top of the unit. Still better than flipping PCBs. I still wish I had gone bantam patch bays.

[paully]

Originally Posted by PoorGlory

I would actually recommend the Behri in this low price range...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So would I. I've had half a dozen in use for years now, and they're solid as a rock. A really affordable way to get the back of your desk out front. And 4 normal modes avilable via slideswitch? Come on, who else has got that at that price.

Best, Paul

[DanRock101]

So how do you USE the Behringer patchbay. Seeing as this is my FIRST patchbay, I don't know how to use em AT ALL!

Ok, 24 inputs on the top, front AND back & 24 inputs on the bottom, front & back.

I SO don't get what to plug into what and how to patch things.

Ok, so my preamp has an Input and an Output. WHERE DOES STUFF PLUG INTO!?!?!?

Help me Slutz!

[tazman]

Dumb question. Why are you looking at a patch bay if you don't know how it works? That sort of tells me you don't know if you even need one.

Rob

[DanRock101]

Good question.........

I now have 4 Channels of Ridge Farm Gas Cookers that are going into 4 Channels of Ridge Farm Boilers.
I also have a LA610, a Millennia 2 Channel, an 8 Channel True Systems Pres.8, 2 RNC's, SOON to have a Distressor.

So, I'd like to use my Boilers with my Millennia sometimes and maybe try my RNC's with my Precision 8 and maybe my Distressor with my Gas Cookers and..........

Ya follow? So yeah, I DO need a patch bay unless I want to re.....(go figure)....PATCH my preamp and compressor chains EVERYTIME I want to try a new combo. Plus my customers REALLY love standing there WATCHING my get on my back, break out the flashlight, unplug wires, start sweating like a pig, swear, moan, groan......

.....so, yeah, I know I need one....just do not know HOW to connect them. I know the PRINCIPLE and I know I NEED ONE, or two.

Now with that out of the way....have I indeed QUALIFIED to ask for some help on how to connect , use, operate a patchbay?

Art thou worthyeth thine I asketh unto thou great and noble slutz!?!

[edwonbass]

Originally Posted by DanRock101

Good question.........

I now have 4 Channels of Ridge Farm Gas Cookers that are going into 4 Channels of Ridge Farm Boilers.
I also have a LA610, a Millennia 2 Channel, an 8 Channel True Systems Pres.8, 2 RNC's, SOON to have a Distressor.

So, I'd like to use my Boilers with my Millennia sometimes and maybe try my RNC's with my Precision 8 and maybe my Distressor with my Gas Cookers and..........

Ya follow? So yeah, I DO need a patch bay unless I want to re.....(go figure)....PATCH my preamp and compressor chains EVERYTIME I want to try a new combo. Plus my customers REALLY love standing there WATCHING my get on my back, break out the flashlight, unplug wires, start sweating like a pig, swear, moan, groan......

.....so, yeah, I know I need one....just do not know HOW to connect them. I know the PRINCIPLE and I know I NEED ONE, or two.

Now with that out of the way....have I indeed QUALIFIED to ask for some help on how to connect , use, operate a patchbay?

Art thou worthyeth thine I asketh unto thou great and noble slutz!?!

I'm in the same boat but not quite as extreme. I am getting a preamp soon and then a compressor. I too would not like to have to move everything out of the way, turn my rack around and run cables. I always though a patch bay was just an up front access to things that had rear connections. That's basically all I would need for now. Half normal? No I am not.

[terrytee]

I have an ultrapatch pro and a neutrik and will be getting another behringer in the next week or so as they come in a little bit cheaper the neutrik and do the same job, both ok pieces of kit, the switchable thru & balance is a plus but the only thing that lets the behringer down is the the inserts of the reverse, there not as firm a grip on your jacks as the neutrik, not really a problem but i did have it on the top of a trolley rack and sometimes they would have a tendency to come out quite easily when raising the angle-able top half, so i had to move them from the top section to the bottom upright shelf.

[Stevil]

i scored a furman & a B patchbay a while back. i use them both interchangably & dont reallly prefer one over the other. if yer doing 'low end' home recording, the changes it imparts on yer signal will prolly be the least of yer problems.

+1 on the backside gription issue.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by tazman

Dumb question. Why are you looking at a patch bay if you don't know how it works? That sort of tells me you don't know if you even need one.

Rob

GOOD GRIEF!!! SOMEONE took the time to write an article for you to read or physically show you what patchbays were all about...why not return the favor instead of posting a snide comment???

DanRock:

If you're looking for 1/4" plug'n'play patchbays like the Behringer, I would highly recommend getting the ProCo PM148 (1/4" mono inputs). You can fetch them off Ebay pretty cheaply. If you have 1/4" TRS needs, the dbx PB48 (1/4" stereo inputs) will fit the bill. I'm pretty sure both units have brass connections. They can be had off Ebay for ~$50 or less.

Here's a few tutorials:

http://www.hosatech.com/hosa/downloads/PHB340_350.pdf

Patchbays

PATCHBAY + MULTITRACK

http://www.recordingwebsite.com/articles/patchbays.php

One word of advice: use GOOD cables (Belden, Canare, or Mogami) & connectors (Switchcraft or Neutrik). If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can buy this stuff bulk and make your own for a fraction of the price of purchasing them already made.

Good luck and have fun!

DY

[zoink]

Ultrapatch is the only behri gear i own. i got multiples of them and one used neutrick. prefer the behri. neutrick is modular and all but for the usage i do for a home studio the ultrapatch fine. it passes audio signal fine and i'm the only one using it. i'ld rather have 4 or 5 patchbays with decent quality (the behri is more then decent) then 1 or 2 really good. take note all the ultrapatch i have are balanced. if your going to get behriger gear, at least get it balanced.

Advice coming from my own experience and others: never buy USED patchbay. you'll never be able to know what went in them (juice, dirt, etc) and never be able to evaluate correctly its prior usage (unlike tape head or the sort). If you buy from ebay, buy new. good prices can be find.

about patchbay setup. you won't really get anywhere with only one. you'll need more... not much point in getting one strip. really.

first start by establishing that your OUTs are on top and then your INs at the bottom row. or the opposite if you prefer... only thing.. stick to it throughout your design. so for a basic studio setup exemple:

strip 1: pre/Tape in = normal
Top row - Mic Pre/console direct out
Bottom row - Tape In/AD in

Strip 2: tape outs = normal
Top Row - Tape out/DA out
Bottom row - Line in console

Strip 3: inserts = semi-normal
Top row - Inserts sends
Bottow row - Inserts returns

Strip 4: odds and ends = thru
Top row - fx/comps/aux/filters/etc outs
bottom row - fx/comps/EQ/etc ins

any left over at end of strip can be filled with master section bits, headphone mix, cd player, tv, whatnot.

you never have too much on the patchbay. it's nice to have every single source possible available.

thumbsup

[Akoppenheffer]

I just bought that PX3000 balanced bay, works great. i like the fact that it's real convenient to change the normals. I could say though, I wish the plugs were a little tighter, but it's not a big deal.