Connecting Effects Pedals to an Audio Patchbay and a Tour of the Studio Patchbays

[@712Jefferson]

Your studio is nuts, dude. Enjoy.

[@sandyturner1911]

WOW! You have some very nice stuff, and it's so organized! lol! Thanks for the tour. I have one Samson patchbay, and 4 little Synth units that I'm trying to route into a couple of effect units, and into my Model 12..But I also want to route them to my guitar effects line, when I'm using that setup. I have been trying to figure this out for days. I think I finally understand the way the patchbay works, but the routing is giving me fits. It's exhausting. I want to run 4 channels into the Mixer/Interface, and be able to mix and match the synth modules with my Volante, and a couple of other basic things..Sounds easier than it is. Oh! And kudos on all the Moog pedals! Those alone are worth their weight in gold.

[@iConnectivitySupport]

I see some familar faces in those racks. Nice to see the mio10 and mioXL getting some love in your studio.

[@thesolutionband]

There's also a mioXM on the desk! I love them. I have it all networked with RTP through the walls. I'm planning on doing a video about how it works.

[@iConnectivitySupport]

@@thesolutionband If you do a video about the MIDI side, please tag us and let us know.

[@FirstHomeStudio]

Wow awesome setup

[@NicolasMelis]

wow thats a lot of gear 😍

[@CRRollyson]

This is fantastic, thanks much! Are you running dry recording tracks out of your DAW to the patchbay as an effects send/loop? If so, would love to see it or get any tips. Thanks again, great setup

[@thesolutionband]

Thanks for watching. Yes, sometimes I use the patchbays and pedals as an effects loop with my DAW and other times I’ll record with the effect on the synth or whatnot. It just depends on what I’m doing. Thanks for the idea for a future video.

[@Deadphish1]

Very impressive setup you have there. I just got a patch bay yesterday just for my guitar pedals in a home studio. Most of my pedals are stereo except for one (Chase Bliss Pre Amp MK2) others are stereo but one has a TRS input and a right and left out, another has left and right in and out. Then I have a couple Chase Bliss pedals (Mood MK2, Habit) that just have TRS in and out. I was hoping to get some advice on what type of cables to run from the pedals and into the patch bay. For instance the Hologram Microcosm has a TRS in and left and right out. Should I break the TRS input with an insert cable so I have a left and right going in? Also the Pre Amp MK2, should I just use a TRS cable in and out or do I use a TS cable. Thanks in advance and thank you for the tour of your studio.

[@thesolutionband]

Thanks for watching. I have that problem too. The L/R on a TRS cable are tempting to put in the patchbay as is. And you can do that with a trs patchbay. I tend to break things out into separate L/R in the patchbay for consistency sake. So for instance, if I were to put a Chase Bliss stereo pedal in the patchbay I would probably use an insert cable to split it into left and right.

[@BlackMan614]

Just found you in my feed. Wow... what a room!

[@SonVoMekongDeltaBluesman]

Incredible and impeccable setup. This is where having OCD is a very good trait. You must have all of this written out for lack of confusion? Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if you've memorized your patchbay setup.

[@thesolutionband]

Thank you. Yes, there are many spreadsheets that I have to refer to occasionally. 😀

[@Hello-pl2qe]

Super cool setup. I was hoping to hear you play through some of your pedals.

[@climacticmaxable]

how do you like the tascam mixer? im still rocking a zed10 fx wondering if id notice an upgrade having faders and al

[@taylorperkins6089]

So are you using a remap box before sending your synths/keyboards/drum machines to your pedals? Curious of your method, and whether or not it includes a revamp box like the Radial EXTC or little labs red eye. Thx!

[@thesolutionband]

It kind of depends on what I’m doing. I have a 500 series Radial EXTC that I use when I need a mono send from my Daw. But other than that, I don’t use one. If I’m just messing about making sounds I’ll just patch them right into the pedals. You just have to lower the input level sometimes.

[@taylorperkins6089]

@@thesolutionband Good to know! I've got some pedals racked up now and have been lowering the level on my hardware instruments but I'm thinking about the wiring the EXTC stereo to my patchbay to route line level instruments and DAW outs.

[@joeymc5272]

I see your using a canvas di/line isolator. Can you tell me why you use it? Does it clean up your signal for recording purposes?

[@thesolutionband]

Yes I have the stereo canvas (and a mono di) connected to some of the mixer inputs. It helps the signal to be clean and to balance it out if I use a synth or a bass or anything. The mixer is also my computer interface so it’s nice and clean sounding.

[@joeymc5272]

@@thesolutionband oh ok thanks for letting me know. I have been debating on whether to get one to use with my audio interface.

[@elvisplissken3442]

Yeah def looking to make that next step into patch bays and racks. Your studio/gear gives inspiration for sure. I don't expect problems regarding balance/unbalanced but the web gets kind of vague in regards to that. I guess if I run into noise issues a DI box would be an option?

[@thesolutionband]

Yeah I think a DI could sort that out. I’m gonna connect my mono and stereo DI to the patchbay just so they’re easier to access and in case there’s ever an issue.

[@SumnSumnSumnHTK]

Nice studio bro!

[@taylorperkins6089]

What kind of cables do you use to connect pedals to patch bay? Will interconnect cables work or should I get TS instrument cables? Thank you!

[@thesolutionband]

Either will work. On mono effects I tend to just use shorter instrument cables. On the stereo effects, something like the hosa dual 1/4 to dual 1/4 cables work well for keeping it cleaned up.

[@elvisplissken3442]

Is it a problem to use unbalanced TS (in/out of synths and FX pedals) through a balanced patch bay that expects TRS?

[@thesolutionband]

I’ve looked this up before. In theory it could cause a problem, but it never has for me. Unbalanced TS patchbays are few and far between. I think Behringer used to make one.

[@taylorperkins6089]

What do you think of the bim, bam, and baum in comparison to other pedals in the same price range? Those suckers aren't cheap but they look great.

[@thesolutionband]

I've actually not done a ton of comparing. They do sound amazing. I especially like the reverb, though I'm a bit of a sucker for a good reverb. They have a unique quality to them that's a little "retro" sounding with the right settings.

[@LEDBOO]

Great video.

[@automationtraveler]

Great setup

[@taylorperkins6089]

Cool video! I'm wanting to do this same thing to get some use out of my pedals. What are you using to label your cables?

[@thesolutionband]

Thanks! I use the Dymo Rhino 4200. It has been awesome. I typically use the 3/4” wide tape so there’s room for 2 lines.

[@taylorperkins6089]

What would be your preferred method for routing mics to your pedals that are hooked up to your TRS patch bay? Thx!

[@thesolutionband]

You would need to run the mic through a preamp first. It could be an external pre or one in a mixer. If you’re using a mixer you could use an fx loop for the pedals or a channel direct out to the pedals if it has one.

[@taylorperkins6089]

@@thesolutionband Awesome, thank you. Also, are you using TRS or TS patch cables in the front of your patch bay?

[@thesolutionband]

In the case of the pedal patchbays it doesn’t really matter since they are all unbalanced. I mostly have trs cables so I tend to use those.

[@taylorperkins6089]

@@thesolutionband Good to know, thank you. I just received my first patch bay yesterday and I’m taking all the precautions I can before wiring everything together. Really appreciate you and I’m diggin the channel. You rock!

[@mastermachetier5594]

Why do you go to a over first from synths and such

[@mikebush3834]

Geez... you're my hero 😅

[@deekman78]

I remember when you made that MoogerFooger patch bay. Didn't you make all those cables too?

[@thesolutionband]

Yes. That took forever. I still have some homemade cables from my first dive into patchbays like a hundred years ago.

[@baronvonscratch]

Nice space. How are you (or are you) converting guitar/instrument level effects pedals to line level and vice versa? And is your Walrus Canvas also on a patchbay?

[@thesolutionband]

In general I’m not converting the signal level. I know there can be some issues there, but usually if I lower the output level on a synth or something then it’s fine. The Canvas is not on the patchbay, but that is a good idea. I have it going into a pair of channels on the mixer for monitoring/recording.

[@baronvonscratch]

I use a radial extc-s for adding pedals to the effects patchbay because I had issues with levels. Was curious if there was another gadget I can use to put pedals on the aux busses.

[@thesolutionband]

I do have a Radial ext-c 500 series on my desk. It works great. I tend to use it when I’m using a pedal as an insert in the computer.

[@hughchapman5319]

Non-normalled better for fx to avoid feedback?

[@thesolutionband]

In the way I’m doing the fx pedals I has to be thru because the in and out are in the same slots. But if you have a chain of fx you normally use, you can totally set it up in a normalled or half-normalled config with no issues.

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

Can i ask roughly how much money in usd do you have in that room. I have a guess but id rather have you say. You gotta have an idea. Im retired 68 year old man, just started building my studio to more than just logic an a audio interface. Ill never be able to afford 1/4 of what you have. Im interested in patch bays. Do they sort of work like a stage snake? Or more. I just won a brand new Tascam model 12 recorder/controller/mixer for 240 bucks. Guy thought it was broken and sold it thst way. Otherwise hey go for around 600. I played in bands in the 60s through 80s then again from 20005 to 2015. In my early years i ha my black faced dual showman with mu les paul gold top, and a cry baby wah wah, that was my rig for years. I wish i had all this when it was the 60s and 70s,

[@upstairstudio371]

I have a video that helps explain patchbays! In short, they are different than a snake. A patchbay would make routing audio/effects way easier for your new Tascam!

[@KirklandWilliamsWorkout3000]

The Snake 🐍 Pit 😂🔥

[@BlackMan614]

You should do a video on your moogerfooger setup. I seem to recall issues with interfacing the control inputs via a patch bay.

[@thesolutionband]

It was interesting setting all that up. I did it like 10 years ago, so I’m not sure I remember it all. I am going to do a comparison to the moogerfooger plug-ins at some point.

[@MrSNEAKFREAK96]

I tried keeping everything patched, but ended up not liking it because the cv/expression ports do indeed change the sound/function of the pedals even if no cv is applied. The manual explains it, but I believe a voltage offset is applied from the ring portion of the jacks which makes things behave weirdly. Not the end of the world, but I preferred patching as I went to maintain a better baseline. Hope that helped some

[@ultraturbo]

What make/model are those patch bays? Happy with them?

[@thesolutionband]

They are the Behringer PX3000. I haven’t had any problems with them and they’re pretty cheap. My two old ones that are on the Moogerfooger rack I think are called Re’an. I don’t know if they’re still made, but they’ve had issues over the years.

[@channelite]

Are your speakers Event PS8s?

[@thesolutionband]

They are the original Event 20/20 bas monitors. I’ve had them forever!

[@joeblack007forever]

💕💕💕

[@HiredGoonage]

honestly this looks like a massive amount of time and money. Give me a controller and some VSTi synths or amp sims any day. In the box is faster, cheaper, and more conducive to getting work done, and IMO sounds every bit as good.

[@kevinstafford3583]

Ya prolly need someone to live in that room full time for security n shit....lotta valuable stuff n all....I guess I'll do it. Oh and I forgot, my qualifications are: Nobody has ever seen me and Batman in the same room...just sayin.