Transformers in the Patchbay

[Dave Martin]

Steve, in another thread you wrote:
"Both my mobile units have utility transformers built into the patch bay. The new truck's patch bay was designed so the transformers show up in various areas of the bay for convenience in patching the various devices.

I also have tons of mults, phase reverse patches and various pads built right into the bay. There's at least 40 transformers, 40 phase reverse patches, about 48 mults and a whole bunch of pads (I forget the count at the moment).

The patch bay has over 2700 patch points to handle a variety of tasks."

Can you go into a little more detail about that? Both what you have and how you use them?

[Remoteness]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
Steve, in another thread you wrote:
"Both my mobile units have utility transformers built into the patch bay. The new truck's patch bay was designed so the transformers show up in various areas of the bay for convenience in patching the various devices.

I also have tons of mults, phase reverse patches and various pads built right into the bay. There's at least 40 transformers, 40 phase reverse patches, about 48 mults and a whole bunch of pads (I forget the count at the moment).

The patch bay has over 2700 patch points to handle a variety of tasks."

Can you go into a little more detail about that? Both what you have and how you use them?

Dave,

The straight truck (Jethro) has a number of transformers wired to rows on the patch bay. Additional transformers are also available (wired) via XLR panels, then show up at the patch bay. Some of our tie lines go through iron (transformers). They're mostly used to isolate us for the outside world. They have also been used to balance unbalanced sources.

The expando truck (Elroy) has an insane amount of transformers. Most of them 600 Ohm. We also have a number of bridging transformers wired to the patch bay.

Both trucks also have a bunch of phase reverse and mult connections available at the patch bay. The phase reverse patches are very useful when the mic or line input you're getting is incorrect and your device doesn't have a phase reverse button to use. The mults are used just like in many recording studios. It can come in very handy when sh*t hits the fan. I have a bunch of these multiple tap UTC transformers that I would like to build a box with a bunch of multi-ganged switches, so we can use the various input/output impedence options they have. This is on the back burner and will be one of the final touches installed when we're just about finished with the wiring of the facility.

My buddy in NC has designed a PCB mounted pad network. It has a variety of values to pick from and can be used individually or combined in 5 dB steps. The new truck will have rows of line and mic level pads built into the patch bay. If you need a -5, -10, -15, -20, etc. dB pad, just patch it in.

Jethro's control cabin can handle up to four 48 channel consoles with full patch bay access. The main patch bay called "Inside Universe" is located at the right rear area of the control cabin. It handles (3 of the 4 desks) the two music mix desks and the broadcast desk. All interconnection from the outside world is handled by the "Outside Universe" interface panel located on the other side of the main patch bay. That panel has three 56 channel MASS W4s, eight 12 channel DT12s, and a bucket full of XLRs. Hundreds of inputs and outputs are available.

The left rear area of the control cabin is the home of the digital, video and guest audio console patch bays. We call it the "Other Universe."

Each side of the control area has it's own 15KVA isolation transformer, UPS and conditioning. The "Inside, Outside Universes" run off of one AC system and the "Other Universe" which handles all the digital, video and guest stuff is connected to the other AC system. It's two control rooms in one cabin!