Patchbays (ART P48)

This time around, I'm taking a look at how to hook external gear into a patchbay, and how to use that external gear from your interface/DAW.

I'm using the ART P48 patchbay here. It's a 48-point TRS patchbay that comes in at around $100 USD. I've been using it for years, so it's about time that I learn more about it, and show you what I've learned!

[ourmindzdj]

I understand patch bays but when the time has come to wire in my own, getting my head around choosing a work flow for my processing has been an imaginative headache full of confusion! This is by far the best video on patch bays that YouTube has to offer! None of them show somebody actually processing and yours explains it in so much better detail. And believe me, I’ve seen them all. 😂 thank you

[mdoyleproductions]

This is great stuff. No one ever shows the physical connecting/connections for different scenarios, which I think would benefit mostly anyone. Every other "tutorial" thinks pointing and explaining and using your imagination is all anyone needs. But, some of us are tactile/procedural learners, so thank you very much for taking the time (and taking some of your studio apart) to walk us through it. AND for demoing the results of the wiring. 10/10 on the video!

[NecropsY]

the absolute best understanding of a patch bay iv ever seen

[keychange]

If had this video when I first started I believe I would've had much more success as an intern just starting out at an analogue recording studio. Best video on patch bays I've ever seen. Really wish youtube had recommended it sooner. I use to search youtube forever on a video that took the patch bay apart like this but none of them do. Thank you for being the first to do it right. God bless you, sir 🙏

[looneyburgmusic]

There is actually nothing at all wrong with using a patchbay as a "thru" box, if that is how it works best. I recently added a new patchbay to my setup, and after spending a few days staring at a list of all the in/outs I needed to make, and drawing out dozens of possible patch setups, I realized that the most economical, (and easiest), way to go was to just set every stack in the bay as a "Thru". Doing that allowed me to hook up everything I wanted, leaving around a half-dozen still available for future use.

[adamoliver]

I have tasked myself with setting up a patch bay this weekend, I have watched many videos on how to do it. This one is by far the best; clear and concise, you really have explained the very basic concepts in a way that is going to help me set up some quite complicated routing. It's the normal and half normal thing that is often badly described, I now know that I need to be using half normal for the way I want to have individual outs from 2 drum machines running into my mixer, I've been really struggling with the concepts involved all week, it has now become clear, I can actually visualise how I'm going to set it all up. Thanks so much for this.

[clamdi]

This is the best patchbay video I have ever seen. This one provides live examples on how to set it up. Thank you!

[pandemic]

Excellent video. Thank you so much for actually SHOWING where the cables connect. It makes much more sense this way. This video alone is worth subbing to this channel!

[NemoDrummer]

I recently invested in the same ART P48 patchbay and this video has helped immensely! Although, it would be cool to see someone set up their entire patchbay in a normal fashion just so others can see how you hook up all the gear.

[kkumi]

14:10 Attach coloured cable ties to the rear cables. In the configuration of: one tie at each end of a single cable, both being the same colour. Snip off the excess.

If there is rack space, place a blank front panel immediately above, or below, the patch bay. Lay a strip of masking tape across the blank panel. Use this to label your patch bay connections.

[gitrdunelectric]

Thank you! Was trying to wrap my head around what people were talking about, and well this put it all in perspective. Perfect video

[Dogboy]

Great video. I'm in a similar place with patch bays. Had one for years - a Signex Q Patch QPP48. The configuration is either Normalised or Isolated. You actually flip the board on each pair to determine which way you have. I'm looking to buy a new patch bay to replace it. Most of the patch bays I'm looking at can be 'Half-Normalised' or 'Full Normalised' so I was a bit lost! This video helped heaps.

[macronencer]

4:14 Thank you for the Young Frankenstein reference, much appreciated! :D

[jeduardolopezo]

Thank you!! I just got into analog gear and this saved my butt! I just got the VLA II and I was looking for some video help to set-up a patch bay for my other gear! Subbed to your channel! :)

[ManCalledMif]

Thanks for explaining ‘Half normal’ duplicating the signal (acting as a mult)

[InspiringTracks]

Absolutely great video! I'm starting to take the outboard rack route for the studio and found this video super useful and well made. Thanks!

[andreikhm]

Thank you! The best explanation of concept pathbay which I bought today!

[christdolphin]

i really appreciate you cutting out gulps and lip smacks. more people could learn a lesson from you. great job. also helpful video thank you

[leepshin]

I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one that has a problem with patch bay cable routing. Even after you do figure it out, you're still standing there with smoke starting to vent out your ears as your brain overheat's. It would be impossible follow the wiring of a patch bay with radar but for such a simple straightforward piece of equipment, why oh bloody why does it perplex and confuse so many of us?

[adamalexanderray]

After watching this I’m just going to mix in the box 😂