Patchbays

  • Thread starter Thread starter aaronmcoleman
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aaronmcoleman

aaronmcoleman

The truth is out there!
Anyone have any generic diagrams for how a patchbay could be set up?

I have one that I'm trying to hook all my preamps, and compressors, and future purchases up to. I'm just having some trouble getting my head around setting it up.

Thanks.
 
Patchbays imo are great even in a very small studio set up like mine. It saves a lot of faffing about when it come to routing. I hate having to fumble about in the dusty back of a rack system so it provided a great solution for me. It took a bit of getting my head round the normal/half normal thing for a start but once I figured out that. It's a breeze.
once you've set it up it's handy to make a patchbay map to have on hand in your paperwork for quick referance. Also label the patchbay up as you go along.
I used a spreadsheet software to make the map and colour coded it for easy reading.
Good luck fella it's worth the time investment imho
 
At the most basic level...top row are your gear's outputs and the bottom row are the inputs.

From there you can then consider normalling or half-normalling some of the gear, which allows you to "permanently connect something like the outputs of preamp to the inputs of your interface/recorder, while allowing you to "break" that path and insert something like am EQ in-between, or just to redirect the outputs to some other device. When you "un-break" the normal, it automatically goes back to the default connections.
Use of normalling/half-normalling allows you to "save" on the number of patchbay points. While some of my bays allow for normalling, I just like to use a basic output/input setup, and just patch things where I need them rather than rely on the normalling. It's a very small, spring like connection, so there's more chance of dirt-n-oxidation to form than there is just using the jacks with a basic output/input setup and patch cables.

What style/size are you using...1/4" or TT/Bantam?

BE careful with preamps....IMO, it's better to have a separate XLR input bay, and only connect the line outputs of your preamps to the other (1/4" or TT) patch bay where the rest of your gear is. Plus...less chance of issues with ground loops/hum and phantom power problems when you use a dedicated microphone/preamp input XLR patchbay...or just connect the mics directly to the preamps.
 
Thanks I think this is a good start.

I'm not going to bother with the 1/2 normal stuff. Just ins/outs.

I have a 1/4" and an XLR patchbay. I want to plug the mics directly into the preamps anyway, so that wont' be a problem.
 
Oh, also, what kind of cables do you need for the 1/4" stuff? Just regular instrument cables?
 
You can buy ready-made patch cables. I use to make my own when I used 1/4" way back...now with the smaller TT/Bantam they are not as easy to make, though I have a bunch of loose TT connectors for when I need to make some specialty/conversion cables...like going form TT to 1/4" or XLR....otherwise I have a pile of ready-made TT/Bantam.

If you make your own, get microphone cable...since instrument cables are not for balanced use, and they are single conductor.
 
Very good advice. Get a roll of wire and make your own. I use Beldon for everything. I have Switchcraft long frame 1/4" patchbays that have to be soldered so I built all the snakes and patch cables. Rolling your own, you can make everything look neat.
 
I always make my own cables and use those home tv cable tidy kits to fashion hidden snakes round the back of the racking system. Keeps it neat and cheap
 
Cool. I'm pretty handy with DIY stuff...though I've never made my own cables. I did make a few API style preams, a DAV style preamp, and some 1176s along with a bunch of assorted pedals...I never thought to make my own cables!

Just some basic three strand wire, what gauge, and what do you use to house it in?

Oh, and I decided for now I'm just going real basic with the patchbay...Interfaces outs on top, ins on bottom, and just connect gear that way until I figure out exactly what I want.
 
Oh and one more thing, could I split inputs and outputs, say have each in and each out routed to two spots on the patchbay?
 
aaronmcoleman said:
Oh and one more thing, could I split inputs and outputs, say have each in and each out routed to two spots on the patchbay?
Click to expand...
Here's where you should read up on half normal... The signal at the input is routed to the output without any patch cable. If you plug a patch into the top jack it still routes to the bottom jack as well as out the cable. Patching into the bottom cable breaks the normal and sends only out the cable...
 
MOFO Pro said:
Here's where you should read up on half normal... The signal at the input is routed to the output without any patch cable. If you plug a patch into the top jack it still routes to the bottom jack as well as out the cable. Patching into the bottom cable breaks the normal and sends only out the cable...
Click to expand...

hmm ok, I'll look into it.

For now until I figure out what I want to do for good, I'm going to plug in the interfaces inputs in 1-8, and outputs underneath on 1-8, then plug in my compressors/EQs/pres to the appropriate inputs and outputs 9-24. then I can just connect cables on the front of the patchbay to route things...does that seem right?
 
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