patchbay configuration?

[JTC111]

I'm using a Neutrik patchbay to run mics into preamps/preamps into compressors/compressors into 003, etc.
Which configuration should I be using if I want to be able to send a signal into one unit and out to a different unit?

[NL5]

Half normalled.

That way when nothing is plugged in, the signal will pass thru the patchbay like nothing is there. When you plug something into the top and/or bottom, the signal is interrupted.

So if you go from your preamp to the patchbay, then to the converter, you would take the top plug and send that to the "in" on your comp" take the "out" from the comp and put it in the bottom plug. Now, your comp is inline on that channel.

Make sense? I suck at explaining things over the internet.

[MadAudio]

Are you saying that you're patching the mic into the patchbay?

[JTC111]

I'm not sure what you're saying. I guess what I want to be able to do is chain things together. Let's say I have a mic pre connected to patch #1 and a compressor to patch #2. I want to be able to send a signal into the pre through the #1B patch (input to mic pre) and send the signal from the pre to the compressor by patching #1A (output from the pre) to #2B (input to the compressor). Which configuration should I use for that? My head tells me to use the "isolated" configuration but my head is often wrong.

Originally Posted by NL5

Half normalled.

That way when nothing is plugged in, the signal will pass thru the patchbay like nothing is there. When you plug something into the top and/or bottom, the signal is interrupted.

So if you go from your preamp to the patchbay, then to the converter, you would take the top plug and send that to the "in" on your comp" take the "out" from the comp and put it in the bottom plug. Now, your comp is inline on that channel.

Make sense? I suck at explaining things over the internet.

[JTC111]

This is the patchbay I'm using.

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by MadAudio

Are you saying that you're patching the mic into the patchbay?

Yes, until I get around to making an XLR bay, I'm using my 1/4 inch bay. But I'm aware of the dangers of unplugging mics from a hot 1/4 inch bay and I'll be careful.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by JTC111

I'm not sure what you're saying. I guess what I want to be able to do is chain things together. Let's say I have a mic pre connected to patch #1 and a compressor to patch #2. I want to be able to send a signal into the pre through the #1B patch (input to mic pre) and send the signal from the pre to the compressor by patching #1A (output from the pre) to #2B (input to the compressor). Which configuration should I use for that? My head tells me to use the "isolated" configuration but my head is often wrong.

Isolated for the comp ins/outs. You want the preamp to automatically go to the converter, right? Then be able to insert something into the path?

edit - and I have that exact patchbay - as well as a TT bay hooked to the Trident

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

Isolated for the comp ins/outs. You want the preamp to automatically go to the converter, right? Then be able to insert something into the path?

edit - and I have that exact patchbay - as well as a TT bay hooked to the Trident

I don't think I want the pre to go to the converter automatically. It's easier on my brain if I just daisy chain. I'm much less likely to screw up that way. So to do what I described, is 'isolated' the right way to go?

And I'm jealous of your TTbay.

[NL5]

Originally Posted by JTC111

I don't think I want the pre to go to the converter automatically. It's easier on my brain if I just daisy chain. I'm much less likely to screw up that way. So to do what I described, is 'isolated' the right way to go?

I think so. You will just have to patch in EVERYTHING. Luckily, it's easy to change back the other way if you change your mind. Normalled just means it will automatically go to where it normally would go. If that makes sense. You are essentially just putting all the inputs/outputs to the front of the patchbay.

Originally Posted by JTC111

And I'm jealous of your TTbay.

Don't be, its a royal PITA. Especially since half my stuff is on 1/4". The Nuetrik is much better made as well.

[NL5]

The more I think about it, I'd still normal the pre's to the converters. You would patch a comp in EXACTLY the same way anyway. And, you could daisy chain exactly the same way. Only difference is if you were going straight in, you wouldn't need a patch cord.

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

I think so. You will just have to patch in EVERYTHING. Luckily, it's easy to change back the other way if you change your mind. Normalled just means it will automatically go to where it normally would go. If that makes sense. You are essentially just putting all the inputs/outputs to the front of the patchbay.

Thanks. Yeah, that just works better for me. I can visually see the signal path that way and it makes my brain hurt less.

Originally Posted by NL5

Don't be, its a royal PITA. Especially since half my stuff is on 1/4". The Nuetrik is much better made as well.

I guess I was swayed by the coolness factor. Those TT bays always look so damn impressive.

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

The more I think about it, I'd still normal the pre's to the converters. You would patch a comp in EXACTLY the same way anyway. And, you could daisy chain exactly the same way. Only difference is if you were going straight in, you wouldn't need a patch cord.

I have three pres for a total of 5 outputs. I only have 4 converters available on the 003 (1-4 are DIs and mic pres). I don't think the math works for me, no?

[NL5]

Originally Posted by JTC111

I have three pres for a total of 5 outputs. I only have 4 converters available on the 003 (1-4 are DIs and mic pres). I don't think the math works for me, no?

It still would, yes. The four would be normalled to your 4 inputs. If you decided to use pre 5 instead of pre 1 lets say, you would just take the output from 5 and put it in the bottom of channel 1.

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

It still would, yes. The four would be normalled to your 4 inputs. If you decided to use pre 5 instead of pre 1 lets say, you would just take the output from 5 and put it in the bottom of channel 1.

I kinda sorta understand what you're saying but unless someone is sitting here with me drawing pictures, I don't think it's something my brain is going to retain it or fully comprehend it too easily. I think I'm better off sticking to isolated (the setting for simpler minds apparently).

[NL5]

Originally Posted by JTC111

I kinda sorta understand what you're saying but unless someone is sitting here with me drawing pictures, I don't think it's something my brain is going to retain it or fully comprehend it too easily. I think I'm better off sticking to isolated (the setting for simpler minds apparently).

Yeah, it would be WAY easier to just show you. It's really not that complicated. Maybe someone can explain better than me. Sonic Albert is pretty good with this stuff - he helped me out quite a bit when I was getting started.

You should have seen me when I got the Trident. It was supposed to be shipped with all the wiring and labeled with a manual. It showed up with no wiring at all, and no manual. I had to figure out the stupid patchbay and ELCO's from SCRATCH. Talk about a PITA. Took me MONTHS!

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

Yeah, it would be WAY easier to just show you. It's really not that complicated. Maybe someone can explain better than me. Sonic Albert is pretty good with this stuff - he helped me out quite a bit when I was getting started.

You should have seen me when I got the Trident. It was supposed to be shipped with all the wiring and labeled with a manual. It showed up with no wiring at all, and no manual. I had to figure out the stupid patchbay and ELCO's from SCRATCH. Talk about a PITA. Took me MONTHS!

So why do we put ourselves through all this?

[NL5]

Originally Posted by JTC111

So why do we put ourselves through all this?

Mental deficiency?

I'm obsessed with music! Now, if I could just learn to play.........

[SonicAlbert]

If you don't want to split the signal you should probably just use "non-normalled" which is what they refer to as "isolated". It's a straight through signal from rear to front of the patchbay.

It means you need to make every connection at the front of the patchbay. But that's not a bad thing because the patch cables allow you to see your routing at a glance.

Don't forget to label the front of your patchbay!

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by NL5

Mental deficiency?

I'm obsessed with music! Now, if I could just learn to play.........

I can sing and play. Now if I could just learn to record....

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by SonicAlbert

If you don't want to split the signal you should probably just use "non-normalled" which is what they refer to as "isolated". It's a straight through signal from rear to front of the patchbay.

It means you need to make every connection at the front of the patchbay. But that's not a bad thing because the patch cables allow you to see your routing at a glance.

Don't forget to label the front of your patchbay!

Yep, that's what I did. I like being able to see it laid out in front of me. I even have patch cables in different colors so I can see the sound chain better.

[WhiteStrat]

Patchbays really improved my life in the studio. I've got everything normalled, so 70-80% of the time, I don't even need patch cables--my default hookups are ready to go.

But even with everything going straight through like you've done (that's how I started with patch bays, too) it oughta save you time and help you keep organized.

Have fun!

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

Patchbays really improved my life in the studio. I've got everything normalled, so 70-80% of the time, I don't even need patch cables--my default hookups are ready to go.

But even with everything going straight through like you've done (that's how I started with patch bays, too) it oughta save you time and help you keep organized.

Have fun!

Fun? Is this stuff supposed to be fun? Nothing on PT7.4 and the 003 works the way it did on 5.x and the 001. I'm having to relearn a lot of things. I had to call tech support to get sound out of my synth today...ugh! And my studio really needs some tidying up after all I've done in there this week.

But on the bright side, I put in a call to the person I'm going have master my cd and found out that it's not all that much more to have him mix it as well, so I'm going to let him do that and take that pressure off of myself. On my first cd, I was very hands-on and very involved with the mixing and mastering to the point where I heard the songs so many times that to this day I can't really enjoy my own cd. It was played out in my head by the time it went to print. I really don't want that to be the case with this one. So I'll still be involved, but I'll trust him to do the initial mix and I'll get involved for the tweak stage. This guy has done work on about a third of the cds in my collection. When I look at his client list it's like I'm looking at my mp3 playlist.

Of course I'll hang around and take notes while he does his work. Might as well learn from the masters, right.

[WhiteStrat]

Well then, except for the hangups with the new stuff, it sounds like you're in a good place. Doing the CD this way could be the best of both worlds.

[JTC111]

Originally Posted by WhiteStrat

Well then, except for the hangups with the new stuff, it sounds like you're in a good place. Doing the CD this way could be the best of both worlds.

Yeah, although I really did envision myself doing more on this one. I've found that I have no problem mixing other people's stuff but when it comes to my own, I hesitate and anguish over every manipulation. And that's especially true on this upcoming cd because I've put together a great supporting cast and I don't want to screw it up.

Oh well, like I said, the pressure's off now. All I have to do is the tracking. The sun shines a little brighter now.

[SonicAlbert]

I think once you learn how to get around in PT 7.4 you are going to like it a lot better. It's a great version of the program in my opinion.