Normaled
Normaled jacks are those where the top jack in back is automatically routed to the bottom jack in back when the front jacks are not used. You can break the connection by inserting a patch cable. For example: Say the output of your pre-amps are connected to the patchbay on channels one and two. You also have the inputs of your mixer on channels one and two as well. With no patch cord they will be automatically connected. If you were to insert a patch cord into either output from the preamp it would break the connection to the mixer and you can then patch the signal anywhere you wanted.
Half-Normaled
Half Normaled is almost the same as Normaled. Excpet that when you insert a patchcord,the connection will not be broken, the patchbay essentially splits the signal. The signal will still go to the channel that it is half normaled to, as well a through the patch cord to send somewhere else.
Denormaled
With Denormaled patchbays, the top and bottom row are not connected at all. In order to complete a signal, you need a patchcord. For example: Say you wanted a compessor on the 1st set of jacks. It's probably ok, but I'm sure the compressor would not like the input and output running into each other. With a Denormaled patchbay, this is not a problem since there is no connection between top and bottom jacks.
I'm not sure if open or parallel is the denormaled position, but one of them is. I'm not sure about the other. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this. I'm sorry if this didnt make sense; it;s pretty late and I'm kinda tired. I'll re-read it iin the morning.
Good Luck!
