- What is a patchbay?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Patchbay normalling<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Full-normal vs. Half-normal<\/strong><\/a>
- Full-Normal patchbay<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Half-Normal patchbay<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Patchbay tips<\/a><\/strong>
- Cables and labels<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- Create a patchbay diagram<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Double-check phantom power<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
What is a patchbay?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An audio patchbay connects all of the inputs and outputs of your outboard gear into a centralized hub. This allows you to route one device to the next without needing to go behind a rack full of gear in order to change one thing. While it takes time and planning, it\u2019s easy to use a patchbay once everything is connected. You just need to know how the gear will be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you begin<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Before you start connecting your gear to a patchbay, there are a few things you need to know. The top set of jacks are for outputs<\/strong>, and the bottom jacks are for inputs<\/strong>. When patching gear together on a patchbay, think of the signal flow like a waterfall. It always flows from the output of one device down to the input of another. If you patch an output to another output or vice versa, you\u2019ll break the signal flow resulting in an audio dropout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patchbay normalling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not to be confused with normalizing<\/em><\/a>, normalling simply boils down to how the audio signal is routed through the patchbay. Outputs and inputs are connected to each other inside the patchbay (OUTPUT 1 <\/strong>is matched with INPUT 1<\/strong>, etc.) unless a patch cable is used. Knowing your workflow will depend on when you would use one configuration over another. So think about this and other factors before installing your gear.
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\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFull-normal vs. Half-normal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The most common configurations when using an audio patchbay are full-normal<\/strong> and half-normal<\/strong>. Two of the most asked questions is \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between the two?\u201d and \u201cWhen would I use one over the other?\u201d To answer that, let\u2019s look at some examples below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full-Normal patchbay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A full-normal audio patchbay configuration means each output goes through the corresponding input directly below it without the use of a patch cable on the front. Connecting a patch cable to the output on the front will break the input connection and signal will only be sent through the patch cable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example: if you have an audio patchbay where a microphone preamp<\/a> is connected to OUT 1-4<\/strong> and an audio interface<\/a> is connected to IN 1-4<\/strong>. The output of the mic preamp will automatically flow down to the matching inputs on the interface, so no patch cable is required. However, if you wanted to send OUT 1<\/strong> to IN 4<\/strong>, you need to connect a patch cable from OUT 1<\/strong> to IN 4<\/strong>.
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Full Normal signal flow<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Half-Normal patchbay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you make a half-normal patchbay connection, you split the signal to two separate inputs. Unlike a full-normal setup, the signal flow isn\u2019t broken when you connect a patch cable to the output. The signal is sent into the input of one device as well as the input of another. This allows you to record a dry<\/a> and wet signal<\/a> at the same time.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s an example: If the mic preamp is connected OUT 1-4 <\/strong>and the interface is connected to IN 1-4 <\/strong>but you also <\/em>want to send the signal to a compressor<\/a>, you would simply patch the output of the preamp to the input of the compressor <\/strong>on the front of the audio patchbay. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Half Normal signal flow<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A note on Non-normalling<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Unlike full and half-normal, non-normalling on a patchbay is when the output does not flow down to the corresponding input unless you connect a patch cable. It can be beneficial, particularly in effects processing and feedback loop situations. Here\u2019s a video from our friends at Bittree<\/a> for details on non-normalling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Create a patchbay diagram<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
- Half-Normal patchbay<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Patchbay normalling<\/a><\/strong><\/li>