Patchbay Advice

[siddhu]

Can somebody give me some pointers for buying/setting up a patchbay in the analog domain? Brands, prices, etc.

[Fishmed]

What gear are you going to use in it?

[stuntbutt]

I like the Audio Accesories solder bays. Quality stuff, reasonable prices.

[Kronos147]

Yes, it makes a big difference if you are wiring 20 connection or 200 to the patch bay.

[artbeat77]

Check out the Switchcraft stuff too. I have found the DB25 bays very convenient, especially with the normalling settings on front. I have an Audio Accessories bay that I have to take out of the rack if I want to change the setting.

Besides that, for a normalled setup, outputs in the top row and inputs on the second row, next bay starts with the outputs of the gear that has its inputs on the first bay.

More info = more help.

[flute player]

Audio Accesories Shorti mini quick switch.
Two reasons for buying it.
1) Db25 connectors at the back
2) Easy switchable normalisation
By the way, they have great woven patch cords too.

I have just ordered a Tecnec XLR patchbay with Neutrick connectors.
Seems to be heavy duty a
And with that it's eay to plug in the mic without having the phantom power on the other patchbay.

Greetz,

Paul

[Steffmo]

Bays with DB25 connects are pricey....but if you have to hire a good tech to do a solder bay be prepared for some sticker shop. Good guys cost a bundle.....but are worth it.

However you go about it, don't cut corners. If you go the DB25 route....get good cable with quality connectors.

A bad bay is amuch bigger headache than no bay.

[flute player]

Originally Posted by Steffmo

Bays with DB25 connects are pricey...
However you go about it, don't cut corners. If you go the DB25 route....get good cable with quality connectors.
A bad bay is amuch bigger headache than no bay.

I agree Steffmo it is pricey.
But you are totally making a good point here.
Why to let your sound go through high end quality gear and then rule it by some Behringer patchbay.
It is part of the result you want to get as a musician.
One lesson I got once when I did semi-professional triathlon is never to buy bad material.
And now I am in music this seems to be the same for my studio.

Paul

[siddhu]

I'll be using the patchbay to route various audio sources such as synths, drum machines, vocals, etc, through various pieces of outboard such as Chandler, API, Vintech, etc.

I want to be able to very simply create different signal chains without having to get back behind the gear every time

[perun]

Buy Mosses & Mitchel bantams (they have very pricey Flexi-Patch series, too). You won't be sorry. If money is an issue (they are very expensive), then go for Signex, Neutrik or Switchcraft.

Cheers!

[duvalle]

Originally Posted by siddhu

I'll be using the patchbay to route various audio sources such as synths, drum machines, vocals, etc, through various pieces of outboard such as Chandler, API, Vintech, etc.

I want to be able to very simply create different signal chains without having to get back behind the gear every time

i am in the same situation.

i tried the NEUTRIK NYS-SPP-L1.
but I did not like the way the connecters work.

right now i use a BEHRINGER PX3000 ULTRAPATCH PRO.
since i use Sommer Cables the cables cost 10 times more than the patchbay.
i think it's working ok so far (3 month) but i would like to upgrade soon.

but i want only something with TRS connectors ...
would like know what's working for others.
SAMSON S-PATCH PLUS?
SIGNEX ARC-32S PATCHBAY?

[vibralux]

I was at the same point few moths ago. I was thinking about Switchcraft and all those fancy boxes , but finally went fot the Samson S Patch Plus - super easy to normalize (switches on front) - which is very important if thats You r first switchboard. Its super built quality and cheap. Work perfectly so far- I have some Machinedrums, synths and high end compressors connected to it and I dont hear any sound degradation.
try it- even if You dont like it its so cheap that YOu might use it for some other duties.

Cheers

M

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by duvalle

i am in the same situation.

i tried the NEUTRIK NYS-SPP-L1.
but I did not like the way the connecters work.

right now i use a BEHRINGER PX3000 ULTRAPATCH PRO.
since i use Sommer Cables the cables cost 10 times more than the patchbay.
i think it's working ok so far (3 month) but i would like to upgrade soon.

but i want only something with TRS connectors ...
would like know what's working for others.
SAMSON S-PATCH PLUS?
SIGNEX ARC-32S PATCHBAY?

re-an (rebadged re-an) or Klotz.
the ones with solder ends on the back are (obviously) more reliable.

[David Kulka]

Originally Posted by artbeat77

...Besides that, for a normalled setup, outputs in the top row and inputs on the second row, next bay starts with the outputs of the gear that has its inputs on the first bay...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote, but that seems like a very awkward way to set up patchbays. The cables from your outboard gear would need to be split between two different bays. Wouldn't you tend to have a lot of unused patchpoints with this system? And what if you want to start with 1 or 2 bays and add more later?

[steins]

Originally Posted by duvalle

i am in the same situation.
<snip>
but i want only something with TRS connectors ...
would like know what's working for others.
SAMSON S-PATCH PLUS?
SIGNEX ARC-32S PATCHBAY?

No. You don´t want a patchbay with TRS connectors. Do yourself a favour and go Bantam.

FWIW, I´ve found TRS patchbays to be unreliable beasts.

Stein Tore

[Jayro_Rockola]

This could be a helpful thread for you.

Help me with my first Patchbay setup?!

Good luck! Patchbays are awesome!

[artbeat77]

Originally Posted by David Kulka

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote, but that seems like a very awkward way to set up patchbays. The cables from your outboard gear would need to be split between two different bays. Wouldn't you tend to have a lot of unused patchpoints with this system? And what if you want to start with 1 or 2 bays and add more later?

I have:

Bay 1 (normalled)
Microphone outputs
3124 Input (20 channels) + Chandler TG2 input (2 channels)

Bay 2 (normalled)
3124 Outputs + Chandler outputs
550A inputs (2), 560 inputs (2), 550B inputs (18)

Bay3 (normalled)
EQ outputs
HD24 inputs

Bay4 (normalled)
HD24 outputs
ATB32 line inputs (monitoring and mixdown)

Tracking and mixing require no patch cables unless I want to put one of the lower numbered mic outputs to the TG2 (or, of course, take an HD24 output somewhere for processing).

[Picketl]

Switchcraft Patchbays!

Really nice and convenient, no soldering involved! Just buy db25 cables and your all ready to go!

[siddhu]

Sorry for my ignorance but what does "normalled" and "normalised" mean in relation to patchbays?

[seanmccoy]

Originally Posted by siddhu

Sorry for my ignorance but what does "normalled" and "normalised" mean in relation to patchbays?

Normalling defines what the "normal" signal flow is through the patchbay, and what happens when you plug patch cords in. "Full Normal" allow the signal to pass from top row to bottom row, but the connection is broken when you plug a cord into either row. "Half Normal" passes signal from top to bottom, but the signal is only broken when plugging into the bottom row, allowing for multing of the signal from the top row. "No normal" has no connection between the top and bottom, and can be useful when you want to have both the ins and outs of processors or effects on the same patchbay without creating feedback loops.

[walth]

Audio Accessories. All the Way.

[whitepapagold]

I found Audio Accessories randomly on the net and had them build me a custom xlr patchbay. Excellent quality and workmanship.

Its interesting to see others recommend them as well! I thought I was taking an internet chance but once I got it, I knew...thumbsup

[Bloodz]

Originally Posted by whitepapagold

I found Audio Accessories randomly on the net and had them build me a custom xlr patchbay. Excellent quality and workmanship.

Its interesting to see others recommend them as well! I thought I was taking an internet chance but once I got it, I knew...thumbsup

Im setting up my patchbay and seem confused with what should be the top row and what should be the bottom row. Should the inputs from the live room be the top row and set to half normaled to the bottom row which would be the preamp ins? i would want the signal of the mics comming from the live room to flow through allowing me to patch to diff preamps and then carry on to the dynamics section of the bay allowing me to patch once again to certain comps as wired or break the normal with a patch to select my comp of choice. Am i going to need mults for all of this? ?????

thanks

[stuntbutt]

Lines from the studio in the top row, Preamp inputs on the bottom row. I like to keep it consistent and wire my outboard the same way, outputs over inputs. If you are on a Mac I have a template for labeling the Audio Accessories bay.

[oakdown]

also sorry to thread jack a bit, but what is the max length of db25 runs? i've seen up to 30ft (pre assembled), but could one go to 50ft, isolated in conduit under slab, isolated from power sources? whereabouts does degradation become noticeable?

[Bloodz]

Originally Posted by stuntbutt

Lines from the studio in the top row, Preamp inputs on the bottom row. I like to keep it consistent and wire my outboard the same way, outputs over inputs. If you are on a Mac I have a template for labeling the Audio Accessories bay.

so can you verify this for me....for example....lead vocal mic one is going from U87> line in 1 on row 1 which is the top row? and will correspond with out 1 on the bottom row (row 2) which will go to the input of api 1..... if thats the case my inputs are on the top row or row 1 and outputs on row 2. I think ive read alot of peep recommending the outputs to be the top row which is throwing me off.

will the setting be half normaled still to keep the signal flow from top row 1 to bottom row 2?

im not on a mac but could you send me the template as a pdf or somthing. i could at least print it and write on it then make a new template. i would really appreciate it if you could.

[stuntbutt]

I'm not sure I understand; It sounds like you are describing "Outputs over Inputs".

The mic line from your performance room shows up on the bay on the top row. It is normaled to a preamp Input on the bottom row.

The downside of this configuration is that you need more than one bay to have the preamp Output below the preamp Input. It would be the top row on the next bay down.

I just realized that the template is on the studio computer. I think I can save it as an Excel doc. Would that work for you?

[Bloodz]

Originally Posted by stuntbutt

I'm not sure I understand; It sounds like you are describing "Outputs over Inputs".

The mic line from your performance room shows up on the bay on the top row. It is normaled to a preamp Input on the bottom row.

The downside of this configuration is that you need more than one bay to have the preamp Output below the preamp Input. It would be the top row on the next bay down.

I just realized that the template is on the studio computer. I think I can save it as an Excel doc. Would that work for you?

Excel would be good for the template....thank you!

i was seeing this as follows

my lines from the mics (16 in total for what i need) go into the first bank top row 1-8. the bottom row of bank 1 is xlr male output from db25 and would go into the in on each pre. in bank 2 is the same thing again, only 9-16 ins and outs go to more pre ins. i will set up the compressors to be patched to. and also the converters...

maybe you could forward your template as well for reference.....thanks again for the help.

chris

[Bloodz]

anybody have templates for audio accessories db25 bays. excel, word, pdf would be appreciated.

[Mondial Music]

You should not connect mics or mic signals to the patchbay as mics sometimes would require 48v and you do not want that running through the patch.