3 ways to use a Patch Bay // Why they're amazing but not necessary.

I often get asked for a breakdown on how my patchbay is setup, but there isn't too many ways to setup a patch bay. So i figured i'd make a video showcasing how to use a patchbay! There are 3 main reasons you'd use a patchbay. One of course is simple routing for your studio. It gives you easy access to your audio interface without having to rewire much of anything. Another is being able to Split an audio signal and send it elsewhere. With that you can multitrack FX and dry signals at the same time. Lastly would be to plug-in any new gear you might have just picked up without having to ruin your studio routing!

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[JamesReedy]

Other big benefit Ricky is that it really reduces wear and tear on gear IO’s; better to clap out a $100 patchbay than an expensive or vintage piece of gear.

[WillisZzz]

I think what can add to the confusion sometimes, is our choice of words when describing connections, like "plug the input of your sampler/intertace IN to the output of the patch bay". If we instead describe things in terms of the signal flow, starting at the beginning of the signal chain and ending at the end of the chain, I think that would make more sense to more people.

In that case we'd say "plug the output of your synth INTO the input of the patch bay and the output of the patch bay INTO the input of the interface/sampler"; to me that just naturally makes more sense.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

Personally, when I plug a cable into an output I don't think of it as plugging IN, I think of it as plugging OUT...

By the way, great video, as always, thanks Ricky.

[bentdmusic]

You have such a gentle, kind way of relaying your knowledge. Such a refreshing video after seeing so many people shouting at me and not really making any sense while they're doing it. Showing your flaws and mistakes just makes it all the more relatable. Legend.

[hdslave]

Best explanation of normal half normal patch bay on the whole internet

[kennynyc]

Finally a plug in play tutorial .. I dont know wh ypeople do tutorials with literature explanations instead of just physically showing ! TY

[someoneanonymous]

I don't know many YouTube channels that get 27% of their subscriber base to watch videos 5 days since they are released. Just a testament to how being real, saying what you think, having a voice and sharing the love can create a strong community. Thanks Ricky.

[Wraithan]

I’m a few months into my synthdiy journey, this video was great for me as someone who’s never really been in someone else’s studio. I had no idea about what patch bays were, now I’m excited about them and going to make one for myself! Thanks, you got a new sub.

[ksutton]

This is great man, thank you. I've been researching a patch bay and how it could simplify my studio setup. I've watched other videos, but yours is the most clear. I love that you go through live routing examples and also admit the "beginner" mistakes you made (hell, I would have done the same!). Huge help.

[theFloxie]

What a bro! when i've been trying to find info about patchbays otherwise they've always been the pure technical explanation of them (as i study audio production @uni this is no surprise) but i don't think i've ever found an explanation as concise as this. Straight 10/10.

[jkarmas]

Dude I've been trying to wrap my head around a patch bay forever. Your short hands-on video explains it all...I can see clearly now. Thanks Ricky.

[rflob]

Just wanted to say thanks! This video taught me what the uses of a patch bay really are, and made me finally get one for myself, and it is a game changer! If you have a fair amount of hardware, say synthesizers, some effect units, perhaps a preamp, and on top of that some random gear you use now and then, a patch bay is the key to actually being able to use all your stuff.

[ickebins]

As an electrical engineer its quite easy to understand the concept but I see how it is pretty difficult for people with no background in electronics.
Keep up the good work.
Those "simple" videos are what makes your channel great. Not just gear reviews (which are awesome btw.) but everyday things that make live or gear easy to use and understand.

[JMTEE]

I saw a badass routing trick in a video by the guy who made the Minibay. Let’s say you have a sound maker with a stereo output, for example a Volca Sample. Then you plug just the right channel on the patch bay into an fx input, eg a reverb. Now you can pan dry tracks on the Sample to the left and wet tracks to the right! So you can treat tracks differently in one box with one fx input. (The Minibay has a summed feature where you can sum up to three signals, so that you can separate wet from dry, but they’re still going into one input on a mixer, for example).

[magadesto]

Loved the video! I actually went and got the Samson patchbay after seeing OnceUponASynth's video showing how they worked. Once you start wrapping your head around the routing and all a patchbay becomes a crucial part of your studio, it makes everything work so much smoothly! Really appreciate your work, Ricky.

[stealthyBLK]

this was WONDERFUL! I had a patch bay setup years ago and I run my whole studio wired through it
but I had someone else set it up and I've been just using it and not fully understanding how it worksBUT! thanks to you NOW I GET IT !! hahaha! I love your channel this channel is easily one of thee best channels on music on youtube YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

[jakebromberg]

I went and bought a patch bay because of this video. It's made a load of difference when reconfiguring my setup. Thank you!

[bahutu]

Truly a game changer! I find myself quite often depressed about the limited and inflexible routing capabilities of hardware mixers, like limited amount of channels, sends, receives etc., especially with regards to using FX or quickly sampling something into (or from) a device or DAW. I always thought I had to step up the game and go for a bigger mixer with more channels, with the 'perfect' routing etc... Just to browse gear websites and to find out that you can spend hundreds or thousands on mixers, and would _still_ be stuck with a relatively inflexible routing. And after all, for the typical (home) production use cases there is no need at all to mix together 16 signals or so at the _same_ time. Well, good to learn from that video that I just need a patch bay instead, and probably all routing dreams will be leveraged forever ❤

[masedrums]

Ricky, I'm really happy you made this. But as the case with all of your videos, I love (especially during the pandemic) that it feels like we're just two friends hanging out in a room while you talk about what's on your mind. I haven't been able to see my friends much during the last four months, but it used to be that whenever one of us would pick up new gear, we'd hang out and try it out, and discuss what it does and what we're going to use it for, etc.. A lot like you do on your channel. So, thanks for illusion of normalcy.

[grantm]

Have been on the fence and this pushed me over. I need a few more cables but love the new setup, especially with the Thru option on the Samson. Thanks for all the videos and for changing my desktop world with this one!

[jasonlehr]

What an amazing video! I’ve been so curious about the whole patch bay thing but never understood it all. This dude took the time to go over some really helpful knowledge that I don’t seem to find to much help about! Thanks Ricky! Your channel is dynamite!