Do you need a Patch Bay in Your Studio?

[@FLOSPhotographer]

The front end of my entire studio is Dante based. Among other things, Dante offers digital patchbay functionality, allowing the user to route any signal source to any destination. In conjunction, I use an RME Digiface Dante, which via TotalMix software acts as a mixer and patchbay. Both of these options allow zero latency (Minus A/D conversion) and signal routing that can (if setup properly) render a traditional patchbay superfluous. I use this setup with both a Pro Tools HDX system and Native systems (on Mac AND PC) SIMULTANEOUSLY... so all I/O can be used in any DAW without any reconfiguration, and expansion / uprades are future proofed, since you do not have to re-buy new interface hardware to reconfigure or expand I/O. I truly believe if more people knew or understood the benefits of networked audio, they would realize the enormous cost / benefit it provides regardless of studio size (project to multi-room). Initial outlay can be more expensive, but costs are recouped over time when you are not constantly chasing after a new interface because of A/D improvements or a need for more inputs or outputs. Integration of older digital hardware is painless as well.

[@DownThePieRateHole]

Yes! Samson S-Patch Plus. Each I/O has a toggle switch to change between normal, half normal, or thru.

[@LipazMusic]

Like Behringer PX3000, but Samson is more convenient with switch on the front.

[@kenzoblytheproducertv4934]

Thats what i got in mine,2 of them🫡.

[@jemwand2530]

Yeah, I had one and couldn't begin to understand what they meant. I no longer have the patch bay, which is a shame but I also got rid of some seriously unuseful outboard gear... I kept the goodies though.

[@LipazMusic]

@@jemwand2530 wise decision to sell anything that only collects dust. Analog patchbays are easy. Once you read use cases and explanations, you’ll understand. Basic principle is “waterfall”, you plug signals that are coming into patchbay (so connected to gear outs) in the UPPER row, and plug all signals that are going out to a gear in the LOWER row. If you label it accordingly, you won’t miss and don’t have to remember. After that, if you use thru mode and cables only, you’re good. Normal and half-normal relevant if you want to maintain and/or split signal from top to bottom (i.e. synth signal redirection or effect split). Anyway if someone is serious and makes some bucks from music production at home with limited amount of outboard, I think Flock Audio has good stuffs to use gears as inserts. Hybrid environment is cool and requires less space than most of people think, albeit still expensive (but cheaper than an analog console fully plugged out… unnecessary).

[@jemwand2530]

@@LipazMusic thanks for the info, of course it means nothing to me at present but if I ever do go back down the patch bay route, I will try to remember what you said, bless you.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

I have two 8 channel stage snakes connected directly to my mic preamps. One for each end of my room. Each channel is labeled on the box according to which mic pre it's connected to. The stage boxes keep me from having to go behind my rig to change mic ties, which is nice, but I'm more or less patching mic lines directly. My patchbays only move line level signals, which cuts down on the number of patch points I need. I'm running three 1/4" patchbays. I still have room to grow my outboard gear, and it was way cheaper than buying two 96 pt bays. I mostly mix in the box. My outboard is mostly either for tracking or for the mix bus. For a fairly simple rig, it's super flexible, though. One advantage to 1/4" bays: it's rather easy to integrate rented or borrowed gear into my setup without having to buy or build specialty cables or tear apart the heart of my rig. Do most bedroom warriors need a patchbay? Probably not. I'd say until you have a need for moving around more than about six or eight line level signals, there's probably not much benefit. I can't say enough good things about a 25' 8 channel stage snake, though. That's 100 bucks well spent for anyone working with four or more open mics at a time.

[@KarterBrown592]

Good timing. I just did a bunch of planning for my patchbay, introduced a new interface to link to my mixer for monitoring and set up for my capi 511-vpr to start building more 500 modules

[@johnstrawberriusfields]

i've been patch bay free since 2014 & never been happier! TBH every patch bay i'd had for the previous 2 decades rarely changed once it was setup/patched (thus the no more patchbays policy in 2014)

[@meistudiony]

We have 288 little holes to our left at the mix position. It's been an indispensable tool for us for routing everything in the studio. The last time we set it up, we wound up normalling a bunch of the gear we regularly kept patched in to interface i/o. Now we can just use a hardware insert to use the gear, but we can also chain stuff if we need to as well. Our studio is heavily hybrid. Lots of outboard and all of our pres are separate from our interfaces. We also use another patch bay in our live room that connects our synth collection.

[@itsadamjosh]

Soooo when are you going to talk about the move?!

[@jemwand2530]

Is there a move movie in the workings? Are you going to talk about the move movie or are you in talks with Hollywood about the move movie and it's potential future? Or, is the move movie just speculation, if so will you make a move to deny the move movie ever existed or will you simply remove all move movie comments before the masses catch onto the move movie and start demanding movement on the release of the full uncut, cinematic release of the move movie that never was... or was it?

[@GrizzlyMadams]

Patch bays are also a synth enthusiasts best friend imo.

[@DavidLeeKing]

Yes, you need a patchbay - if it makes life easier. My "studio" mostly consists of a laptop and a Focusrite Clarett+ 8pre ... and a simple XLR patchbay. Only so I don't have to reach behind everything to plug/unplug mics into the back of the Clarett. It is awesome!

[@Durian404]

If you have a lot if inputs & outputs to reconfigure on a regular basis, then yes a patchbay makes it easier.

[@colbydrums924]

My teacher was surprised I had a patch bay when I was younger, it was either that or a very good set of knee pads Now it gives me the normalized I/O for all my hardware and I can send the signal any direction; couldn’t imagine not having it, don’t think it’s possible to have any sort of setup without one

[@RicardoTolbert]

I use to always tell interns/assistants that patch bays are like a highway. They can take you to many different places you just need to understand where you’re going and where you wanna go.

[@audiodude]

It is so nice to just have the flexibility of being able to do a variety of different recording sessions when you can move yourself through your gear and only a patchbay gives you that freedom

[@marc_leblanc]

I don't have a full-fledged studio, mostly doing guitar overdubs and a few demos. If I did, I would definitely have a patchbay.

[@matturmy]

so timely. i'm moving back to a new house in East Nash after 10 yrs in Madison...alas, moving the studio again. But, a new space!! I have samson s--patch+ PBs that I've been using for guitar pedals, synths, grooveboxes, etc etc...and love them. However, my modular rig has never had simple access to my guitar pedal array and in the new studio I am hoping to create a super streamlined way to have all my pedals (UA amp modlers/stomp ox, plus all my effects) available to my entire studio gear list. Really debating whether a patchbay is all I need, or if I'll need a programmable midi switcher as well. the goal is to be able to pick up any instrument and it's ready to go, and can quickly route through any of the effects I have if I want...including into and out of the modular rig. have you had to integrate a midi switcher for your effects chain?

[@jazzylamel]

Hey Andrew, Can you do A video on Recording studio business? For example like how do you get new clients, Competing with different studios in your area, How to set up rate structure, Advertising or getting the word out on your studio, etc? I think it would help a lot of studio owners and engineers out are trying to figure this out.

[@JessFromSquareOne]

Very informative video. Thanks so much!

[@g3cd]

I currently use 14 synths with 9 effect pedals. A patchbay allows me to patch any synth into any effect or chain pedals however I want which is just awesome. I'm using the Samson S-Patch Plus as it costs 1/10th of the Switchcraft TT patchbays and also has the normal switches in the front. By now I have 3 Samson = 144 cables in the back which started to become a total mess, but switching to 2x Switchcraft TT will cost me over $5k including cables 😭

[@tb80038]

Do you just connect everything with TS cables? I have synths, drum machines and pedals as well and I have considered a patch bay but wasn't sure about the connections since patch bays seem to ask for TRS

[@Synthetic-lt4ed]

Everybody should note that you look happier the bigger your room gets ;)

[@jeremythornton433]

I have a little basement studio that is fairly well equipped and has, well, some acoustic treatment. My goals? Well, my main one is to record and release my own music.Since I play keyboards, guitars, bass and also sing, I can pretty much cover everything except drums. I just bought an Alesis Strike Multipad which I'm slowly integrating into my Cubase 13 Pro DAW. DO I need a patch bay? Yup but only so i can use my stereo tube pre-amp and tube compressor on whatever I want when I'm tracking and or mixing down.

[@Synthetic-lt4ed]

Yes. And if your studio grows enough, you will eventually see yourself go bantam with self (or tech) made custom cabling.

[@Funkybassuk]

I’m greedy. I want the option to be able to record everything all at once. But I’m not sure how long I can keep resisting getting a patchbay!

[@guitarcheckermarc]

Great content man as usual! if somewhen you wanna share your philosophy and methods about drum mic time/phase alignment i would be grateful! cheers from italy Marc

[@marvsowell684]

Off topic, but did you move again?

[@dfhm-pq2cf]

🤷🏻‍♂️

[@pajarodebarro]

These topics are so great!

[@jasperdany]

Great video on patchbays. I have a feeling you might buy Flock audio soon

[@itsstudiotime]

Haha I don’t think so - but never say never

[@harry-binns-music]

Watching Stranger Things while setting up Patch Bays 👌

[@andelys6310]

What about the Arturia Audiofuse 16 rig? This audio interface has a built in patch bay that can be managed in the software. So no need for an additional patch bay with all the cables dangling

[@itsstudiotime]

Depends on your specific setup needs! That may work great depending on what you need.

[@MarginalCoyote]

It’s time for the flock audio patch bay…I’m pretty sure there is a patch for your configuration

[@dillonmurray592]

Kept on thinking where u are in thin video but then I remember that u changed locations😹😹

[@jakobdoblekar2000]

Hi teacher!!

[@Farabeats70]

Big like👍👍💣💣

[@milesbennett8926]

I love the concept of this channel, but this one was less informative than the last ones. If the point of it (the channel) was to be more informal about studio gear and things, but all of the real useful information is in the videos that you have to pay for, whats the point of making the channel? Again, I love the concept and have enjoyed the videos so far and on your other channel, but I just have to ask.

[@itsstudiotime]

This is fair. I won’t make every video perfectly and completely full of every bit of info on every topic. I’ve been working really hard to build out a 16 part series of courses - and my plan is to give most of the info from the courses away for free but it’ll likely be over a few videos as I have 4,000 other things I also have to do.

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

No!,... COLT TOLD US to get in DEBT with the Mc DSP APB :)

[@mxfxdlg]

This is the problem with youtube videos. This video was supposed to answer a very basic question. But for ten minutes and forty four seconds I learned more about someones musical career highlights and very little about…….well…..whether or not I need a patchbay.