Help getting/setting up a patchbay

[Deif]

Please recommend a patchbay that can work with my set up .. Im looking for a patchbay that wouldnt cost me more than $500 but i dont wanna be limited in case i add more outboard later on. Before i got my outboard pre's and compressors i was using the pre's on the control24 so i didnt need a bay

Here's my set up

Pro Tools HD1 & Control24
Apogee AD16 & DA16
Pacifica
API 3124
Chandler TG2
Purple MC77
Distressor
Fatso Jr

Thanks in advance

[Dan]

You might not need one. What's stopping you from plugging your gear straight into your I/O?

Or, you could build a simple XLR panel. (check out Redco)

I'm biased though, I don't use much compression on tracking. So there's not much reason not to plug the pre-amps into the converter.

[Deif]

i wanna have the option to track through the compressors .. an XLR panel?

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Deif

Please recommend a patchbay that can work with my set up .. Im looking for a patchbay that wouldnt cost me more than $500 but i dont wanna be limited in case i add more outboard later on.

The budget isn't all that realistic if you want to have room to grow and want something at least quasi-professional... it's kinda in the ballpark, but only if you plan on doing the work yourself.

You're going to need outputs from your mic pre's... 7 as I count them now... but I'd leave room for like 12 or 16 channels because you're a slut and as we both know, it's going to grow. You have 4 channel of compression [input and output] with 4 more additional "side chain" inputs should you so desire for a total of 12 holes... but we all know you're going to expand... which means that if I were you I'd leave room for at very minimum 12 in and 12 out [total of 24 holes]... so, now with the pre's... let's say we're up to 36 holes all together leaving room for expansion.

Now you've got the AD-16x and the DA-16x [if they're not the "x" models... I would highly recommend you get your bad self a "Big Ben"... but I digress]. They're going to require 32 holes [16 in, 16 out]... so now we're talking 78 holes... which if you got a 96 point TT bay would leave you a scant 18 holes for even further futuer expansion... not terrible... but something you'll probably outgrow in like 2-3 years [maybe, who knows].

Now... the best way to do one of these bays is by solder connection. You can pick up 96 point TT bays at a variety of places... shop around if you like but they're usually around like $300 USDish if you get them to solder yourself... if you get them so they accept D-sub connectors [which will make wiring the Apogee stuff a dream... and the rest of your stuff a nightmare] they run in that like $7-800 USD range.

If you opt for the "do it yourself" route... now you have to buy wire. No big deal... add maybe $100-150 USD to your total [it'll depend on the wire]... and then you're going to have to buy connectors [male and female XLR's [$3-4 each] for the compressors, male XLR's for the inputs to the mic pres [which I didn't include in the patch bay... so you'll have to sort that out on your own... we use a microphone patchbay made from all XLR's in our joint but that's kind of an expensive way to go] and female XLR's for the outputs of the mic pre's.

You might be able to buy some wires with D-sub connectors already on them... then cut them in half and connect the Apogee units to the bay with the D-sub's going into the Apogees and the bare ends soldered onto the bay... a couple hundred more for those.

All in all you're probably looking about about $6-700 in parts [maybe less] and probably about 10-15 hours of labor [depending on your soldering skills].

Not the national debt by any stretch of the imagination... but a measure over $500 USD which was your budget for the adventure.

Best of luck with all you do!!

Peace.

[Deif]

Thanks! .. any 96tt/Dsub you can recommend?? .. DIY is an option but if the difference is a couple hundred dollars i'd just buy one.

Can you expand a little more on the D-sub dream/nightmare subject?? ..haha

and yes i have apogee X converters ..

[rockstar_josh]

Redco has a 96 TT patch bay for around $500 that takes D-Subs.

Redco Audio

It's a good company, good people that can make pretty much anything you need, or at least steer you in the right direction!

[chetatkinsdiet]

Fletcher forgot to add a Weller Solder station...expect at least the $150 model...forget the model number...and a Fluke meter that's going to run you about $200 or more depending on the actual model. Add in about $30 more for all the solder, wick, de-solder, etc and that will take your $500 budget just on the tools.

Or you could get 3-4 of the cheapie Neutrik 1/4" TRS bays that GC sells for about $100 ea and spend another $300-400 on cabling....and as someone mentioned above, Redco or maybe Markertek...I forget which...will make you an xlr panel.

later,

m

Originally Posted by Fletcher

The budget isn't all that realistic if you want to have room to grow and want something at least quasi-professional... it's kinda in the ballpark, but only if you plan on doing the work yourself.

You're going to need outputs from your mic pre's... 7 as I count them now... but I'd leave room for like 12 or 16 channels because you're a slut and as we both know, it's going to grow. You have 4 channel of compression [input and output] with 4 more additional "side chain" inputs should you so desire for a total of 12 holes... but we all know you're going to expand... which means that if I were you I'd leave room for at very minimum 12 in and 12 out [total of 24 holes]... so, now with the pre's... let's say we're up to 36 holes all together leaving room for expansion.

Now you've got the AD-16x and the DA-16x [if they're not the "x" models... I would highly recommend you get your bad self a "Big Ben"... but I digress]. They're going to require 32 holes [16 in, 16 out]... so now we're talking 78 holes... which if you got a 96 point TT bay would leave you a scant 18 holes for even further futuer expansion... not terrible... but something you'll probably outgrow in like 2-3 years [maybe, who knows].

Now... the best way to do one of these bays is by solder connection. You can pick up 96 point TT bays at a variety of places... shop around if you like but they're usually around like $300 USDish if you get them to solder yourself... if you get them so they accept D-sub connectors [which will make wiring the Apogee stuff a dream... and the rest of your stuff a nightmare] they run in that like $7-800 USD range.

If you opt for the "do it yourself" route... now you have to buy wire. No big deal... add maybe $100-150 USD to your total [it'll depend on the wire]... and then you're going to have to buy connectors [male and female XLR's [$3-4 each] for the compressors, male XLR's for the inputs to the mic pres [which I didn't include in the patch bay... so you'll have to sort that out on your own... we use a microphone patchbay made from all XLR's in our joint but that's kind of an expensive way to go] and female XLR's for the outputs of the mic pre's.

You might be able to buy some wires with D-sub connectors already on them... then cut them in half and connect the Apogee units to the bay with the D-sub's going into the Apogees and the bare ends soldered onto the bay... a couple hundred more for those.

All in all you're probably looking about about $6-700 in parts [maybe less] and probably about 10-15 hours of labor [depending on your soldering skills].

Not the national debt by any stretch of the imagination... but a measure over $500 USD which was your budget for the adventure.

Best of luck with all you do!!

Peace.

[Dan]

and then there's patch cables at $10-$30/piece. (TT's can be pricey!)

As a guy who built a 380pt patchbay for myself, and worked on other larger ones, I still contend that if you can keep it simple, you should.

I can understand the desire for flexibility though. I wouldn't skimp on the patchbay if you need it, these types of things can make life hard. Others like the ease of the PCB designs for patchbays, and I'm sure there's good ones out there, but hard wiring seems more reliable to me, and it's a nice learning experience. ... In Zen and the art of soldering.

Your Pre inputs can be wired directly to the wall. 8 compressor outputs can be wired directly to the AD-16. So, you've got basically 32 lines that need to be patchable. (8 pre o/p, 8 compressor i/p, 8 AD i/p, 8 DA o/p, the first 8 being hardwired for monitoring.) A 32 hole xlr patch panel would cover it.
Now, this is not terribly expandable, but it's high quality, cheap, and reliable.

I could see going with the $499 Redco TT-DB25 patchbay, but be sure to figure in the additional expenses.

[Deif]

Originally Posted by Dan

and then there's patch cables at $10-$30/piece. (TT's can be pricey!)

As a guy who built a 380pt patchbay for myself, and worked on other larger ones, I still contend that if you can keep it simple, you should.

I can understand the desire for flexibility though. I wouldn't skimp on the patchbay if you need it, these types of things can make life hard. Others like the ease of the PCB designs for patchbays, and I'm sure there's good ones out there, but hard wiring seems more reliable to me, and it's a nice learning experience. ... In Zen and the art of soldering.

Your Pre inputs can be wired directly to the wall. 8 compressor outputs can be wired directly to the AD-16. So, you've got basically 32 lines that need to be patchable. (8 pre o/p, 8 compressor i/p, 8 AD i/p, 8 DA o/p, the first 8 being hardwired for monitoring.) A 32 hole xlr patch panel would cover it.
Now, this is not terribly expandable, but it's high quality, cheap, and reliable.

I could see going with the $499 Redco TT-DB25 patchbay, but be sure to figure in the additional expenses.

Interesting.. do you know any company that makes/sells this XLR panels?

[chetatkinsdiet]

Redco...we've all mentioned it in every post. Redco Audio
Everyone out there should know about redco and markertek if you're doing any sort of studio. They both stock lots of custom cables, connectors, bulk cable, gaffers tape and about a zillion other things that all studios need and use every day. It's the less glamorous stuff that the GC's of the world wouldn't have a clue if you asked them...nor would they stock it.

Go to both websites now and bookmark them.

later,

m

[barryjohns]

Get a Redco 96 TT/DB25 Patchbay, the bay and cabling will cost around 1100. I just did this, and I've got about the same as you.

Email me if you want and I'll send you the spreadsheet that shows how mine is wired.

barryathome@mac.com

Currently I plug my Mics into the front of the patchbay, this works for me as I'm really only doing 2 at the same time at the most. I had Redco make me XLR to TT cables for patching.

Attached is a PDF of the configuration.

[ImJohn]

I highly recommend Redco too! I had bought two Switchcraft bays and a bunch of Mogami wire and connectors but put off setting up the bays for years so i finnaly just shipped off the bays to Redco and had then wire them up for me, very nice!

An alternative if you are on a budget is to check out Mr. Patchbay. new and used bays for great prices
Mr. Patchbay Sells Audio and Video Patchbays New or Used


And for soldering irons / stations I recommend the Hakko 936. under $100

[Dan]

^
That's some good prices on used patchbays.

[kats]

You'll save alot of money if you solder the bay yourself - but it'll probably take you a couple of days. Depends on your circumstances. But I tell you right now - skimping on a PB can be your worst nightmare...

If you can't afford minimum $1000+, go the DIY route.