Patchbay and snake setup help

[Hotstuff]

Hi all.
Im redoing the wiring for my small home studio, patchbay, snakes from the recording room, electrics etc...
My question is, is it a bad idea to send the mic inputs from the recording room snake to the patch?
Is 48v phantom going to be a problem?
Is there a prefered patchbay configuration (normalized, half normalized, open)??
Usually I would connect the snake directly to the preamps but when I need to change preamps I have to fiddle about behind my equipment rack!
Thanks in advance

[-Noodles-]

Good question, I was going to ask that myself in the near future.

I shouldn't think the snake to patchbay will be a problem - however the phantom volt. does need to be switched off before un/plugging or sparks will fly... that i learned first hand!

[stevetgn]

Be careful with phantom power going through a balanced patchbay. If you forget to turn it off before inserting your jack plug into the patchbay the tip of the jack will short across the other connections as you push it in and will probably fry your mic pre.

As far as your other patchbay questions go, I'm too lazy to type out an explaination of what normalling is, so check this link out:

Patchbays

Hope this helps

Steve

[bluesman714]

build yourself an xlr patchbay for mics and for mic pre inputs, mic pre outputs are on my 1/4" patchbay. I built mine using parts purchased from Redco. Affordable & Functional.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Hotstuff

Hi all.
Im redoing the wiring for my small home studio, patchbay, snakes from the recording room, electrics etc...
My question is, is it a bad idea to send the mic inputs from the recording room snake to the patch?
Is 48v phantom going to be a problem?
Is there a prefered patchbay configuration (normalized, half normalized, open)??
Usually I would connect the snake directly to the preamps but when I need to change preamps I have to fiddle about behind my equipment rack!
Thanks in advance

Usually bays are half normaled. For all intents and purposes, it kind of gives you a mult without any further wiring or patching. Plus things are "normaled" if you need them. As for the mic inputs, mostly I see them come into a different bay - often an XLR bay, just so that 48v isn't getting patched where it doesn't belong. Before taking off and wiring, make sure you do a search on star grounding and patchbay interface of balanced and unbalanced gear. It's a lot easier just to do it all one time. Trust me on this...

[Hotstuff]

Thanks for the responce!
My question concerning patchbay configuration was only for the mic inputs, all my gear is patched half normalized but thanks for the tips anyways.
It looks like I am going to have to build a XLR patch system to sort out this problem, after what I have now read it seams dengerous to send the mic inputs to the patch and short circuit the preamps or even worse .
Anymore suggestion would be apreciated

[GreySound]

Originally Posted by bluesman714

build yourself an xlr patchbay for mics and for mic pre inputs, mic pre outputs are on my 1/4" patchbay. I built mine using parts purchased from Redco. Affordable & Functional.

I've 2 recording rooms (one very dry box for vocals and close-miked amps) and a main big hall for everything.

Now I'd like to take mic lines from both places to a XLR patchbay (upper row) and have mic preamps inputs on the lower row.

This way I could have all my preamps inputs suitable for every mic line; however I mainly record in the bigger room, so I'd like to "normal" the lines with the mic inputs below.

Is it possibile?
Or should I use xlr-xlr patch cables everytime?

[Duardo]

People do run mic lines through standard patchbays all the time...but I'd recommend not doing it as well. Not only because of the issues you can have if you forget to turn off phantom power before patching that have already been discussed, but also if you accidentally connect a phantom power input to something that doesn't want to see phantom power, like an effects processor...it could be bad.

An XLR bay is a good, safe way to go...

[casey_outlaw]

Originally Posted by Hotstuff

Hi all.
Im redoing the wiring for my small home studio, patchbay, snakes from the recording room, electrics etc...
My question is, is it a bad idea to send the mic inputs from the recording room snake to the patch?
Is 48v phantom going to be a problem?
Is there a prefered patchbay configuration (normalized, half normalized, open)??
Usually I would connect the snake directly to the preamps but when I need to change preamps I have to fiddle about behind my equipment rack!
Thanks in advance

Why not just change the cables going from the mic into the snake to the correct preamp. There should be no reason to change anything behind the racks with a properly labeled snake connected to all your preamps. If your preamps are not all hooked up, you just need another snake.

[Stitch333]

Lift the ground on input cables to your gear from the bay = +48v no problem

FWIW: half-normaled will keep signal going from input to output through the bay no matter what. Full Normaling will have signal fur from input to output until you patch in.

[GreySound]

Originally Posted by GreySound

I've 2 recording rooms (one very dry box for vocals and close-miked amps) and a main big hall for everything.

Now I'd like to take mic lines from both places to a XLR patchbay (upper row) and have mic preamps inputs on the lower row.

This way I could have all my preamps inputs suitable for every mic line; however I mainly record in the bigger room, so I'd like to "normal" the lines with the mic inputs below.

Is it possibile?
Or should I use xlr-xlr patch cables everytime?

Anybody? :(((

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by GreySound

Anybody? :(((

Sure, why not?
Just make sure you fire up and shut off phantom before you plug and unplug the mics. In this case, an XLR patchbay might be easier and less error friendly...

[Oldone]

I moved my tracking front end i.e. preamps, compressors into another room (recording space) at the far end of the snake then took the output of the outboard into the snake which arrives at my patchbay unbalanced. Then I route everything into the computer. If I need any of the compressors for mixing, I bring them back into the mixing room.

I was worried about plugging the mic into the snake and the signal degradation at the other end prior to hitting the preamp so I kept them close. At least I have a hotter signal running through the snake.