patchbays

[AndAllWasSilent]

Hey, I'm fairly new to home recording. I've been in a few studios, some analog and some digital. The digital studios I've been in had standalone recorders not based off a computer..now I'm wondering if you're using a computer..does that eliminate use for a patchbay?

[vox]

Patchbays exist for the sole purpose of convenience, they are designed so that at the cost of a few extra feet of cable you don't have to go digging behind your rack every time you want to connect one thing to another.
Whether you need a patchbay or not depends entirely on your gear list, hookup and preferences.