Setting Up a PATCHBAY in a HOME STUDIO | Audio Accessories

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[AndrewMasters]

Who's got a patchbay in their home studio? Pros vs cons?? Let me know.

[jloiben]

Patchbays are so underrated.

Even if you have only 2 or 4 preamps in your interface a patch bay would be beneficial

[DansDrums]

Quick clarification, because patchbays are confusing:
- Normalled connections will flow from top to bottom unless you break the connection by patching.
- Half-normalled connections will behave like normmalled, but will mirror/split the signal when you break the connection during patching.
- Through connections (if your patchbay supports it) simply passes the jack from the back to the front and vice-versa. Commonly available in 1/4" TRS patchbays.

[coda]

This is the first patchbay video that clicked for me...Finally!

[eliotcolburn]

i just recently got a patch bay for my home studio! I work with a laptop and a focusrite 6i6. I love to use my tape machines as a preamp into my daw, but i also living recording to then using my daw as a preamp. My patchbay allows me to switch this out as well as switch out the effects send for any physical mixers easily. I also have a reel to reel hooked up.

[christopherjackson]

I have a patch bay (TT connectors) I bought a while back and have yet to put it to work as I haven’t had my studio in one place long enough to utilize it to its fullest, I do find it very helpful you sharing that you are moving in this direction and look forward to seeing how helpful it makes your workflow.
Thanks again for these helpful videos!!

[RickK]

Ah man. Running MORE cables.... I just went through that fun experience adding 2 x behringer mic spliterrs (8 inputs into 16 outputs each: for a total of 16 inputs and 32 outputs) into my mixer rack. That way I can send a completely untouched raw signal with the 2nd output set to another mixer for say a front of house mixer. While being in control of my IEM mix.

So many cables....

Sweet setup. That's a DESK.

[zackorr]

Dude.... THANK YOU. I really needed this video. I really appreciate it!

[MichaelMaughanAudio]

I would suggest going full normal for your mic inputs. You want the back connection to break when you connect to another preamp. You could end up blowing a condenser mic if phantom power is activated on both mic preamps the signal is feeding on a half normal patch bay. You could potentially do damage to a ribbon mic that way also. Having phantom on one of the preamps. Most modern ribbons might not be affected but an old one could.

[arianamastersofficial]

Great job explaining a fairly complex process in an easy to understand way :) Awesome video!

[surefmeurope]

Nice looking Patchbay. Mine is all behind the desk!! Need to Invest in one but there's always something I want more at the time so never end up getting one

[arieldi]

Great video Andrew. I just got my first patchbay today so this comes handy. But I want to call out there is high danger of damaging your pres with this configuration when working with 48v on condenser mics, or at least that’s what I think to be the case.

Let me explain: You need to be 100% sure your 48v is turned off whenever you are plugging in or out your patch cables, because otherwise it will short cut.

XLR cables do not have this problem, and that’s the reason why mic inputs are mainly xlr, but trs and other type of connectors can create problems if dealing with voltage.

The way I am planning to set my patchbay is having the mic inputs going straight into whatever preamps I use without going through the patchbay, I have 16 mic inputs but I don’t have 16 external preamps, so I can leave it hardwired and still be able to use all of my different preamp types.

Then is the line level outputs of my preamps what will go through the patchbay so I can route from there to different compressors or outboard effects.

So basically I’ll use the patch bay to handle line level signals only, because I know I am dumb enough to screw up my gear if these plugs are handling voltage.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on this. Am I right? Or am I overthinking stuff?

[virgiauskas]

Andrew, you should put the SSL controller in front of you in a custom shelf, I bet it would make a difference in you workflow, compared to having it on the side.

[sonicart]

Well done sir in explaining this complex setup scenario, and good luck for the future.

[drdelewded]

There's also 1/4 inch longframe patch bays.. 
Which look like jumbo sized TT patch bays..
They are the pro level patch bays you'll see in broadcast studios
and some traditional music studios that spent the money.

[jackhogsdenmusic]

Awesome video man! Looking forward to see how your gear collection grows and how your patchbay develops over time! Keep up the great content!

[Pimpadeus]

That was, by far, the clearest and most concise tutorial on the installation & operation of a patch bay that I've ever seen!

Thanks a Million!

RBO
Rock Ranch Media
Shreveport, LA

[syap]

Love it, can you do an update version for your patch bay layout for your latest setup? Thanks.

[FranssenMark]

Curious how you routed all connections to and from it. Do you have a routing diagram or sketch?

[quiquepuche]

I have 9 Samson 1/4" TRS patchbays. I numbered each patchbay on both ends from 1 to 9 but did not labeled them. With a bunch of cables in place, reading the labels is quite a task. Instead, I labeled every piece of equipment with the patchbay number and corresponding insert point.For instance, if I have a 4 channel compressor on patchbay 3, insert points 8 to 12, the label would read (3) 8-12