PATCHBAY and SIGNAL FLOW 101 Guide | With EXAMPLES

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Want a crash course on patchbays in the recording studio? Here is a quick rundown of a simple patchbay setup that I employ here at my recording studio.
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[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Do you think a patchbay would make your life easier?

[@njrous]

I was just telling a buddy of mine that I wanted to build a patch bay cause I plan on getting some outboard gear soon!

[@6195ryan]

I have the same patch bays they are awesome. How did you make the labels yours look really nice. Thanks and cheers.

[@robertomora33]

I do, although I don't have much hardware, but I think a little one maybe helpful

[@error8418]

@@6195ryan A really nice option is Patchcad which is piece of software specifically designed for makeing patchbay labels. Alternatively, good old Excel, a ruler and some patience will work too.

[@error8418]

Hell yeah. A well layed out patchbay makes changes super fast and easy to do. Don't underestimate the costs of the patchbay(s) + all the necessary wiring tho.

[@yrdbyrd_bjj]

Finally someone who made a real world example on how to use and understand a patch bay. Thank you for taking away my migraine.

[@KennWall]

Every video that I watch on your channel I always get something out of it! Great video as always :)

[@fantaztikbeatz]

1 channel at a time Wow thanks alot you just simplified this for me I've been thinking to much into this over complicating it for myself thus never connecting my patch bay up until now as I have acquired more out board gear and converters this is the best video on this topic with great explanation and examples.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Glad it helped!

[@ukiyoiharafromdyvision6397]

my maan! im rebuilding a 90's studio as an internship and this video was a lifesaver!great at simplifying the issues/options. thanks a lot, you're a LEGEND

[@angelleon5420]

I've watched a ton of videos trying to figure out this whole patch bay thing, and this explained it perfectly. Thank you sir!

[@prodcountryjames]

This was my 30th video and still didn’t understand it until I landed on your video… You was born to teach thank you!!!

[@solvikarlsson542]

"Hey everybody! Rerstudsolujer Jeremy here!" Love your videos mate!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I'm about to OVER PRONOUNCE EVERYTHING. lol!

[@solvikarlsson542]

@@RecordingStudioLoser SORRY 😬

[@Valleedbrume]

Patch panels are a must.Every studio I have ever build was completely patched for both audio and video.In addition routers were installed for max flexibility.

[@ciscofuentes1428]

First off, I'm two years late but thank you for your Zen vibe calm approach because I'm overthinking everything right now trying to set up my new switchcraft patchbay together with some 500 gear and other gear with my Apollo x8. I'm gonna rewatch a bunch and hit the reset lol. Thanks 👍🏼

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah it is definitely easy to overthink it if you haven’t designed it before. It helps me to draw it out. Everything I’m the studio that needs hooked up and plan it that way.

[@sebprovision]

Great video. I've realised I need to normal more connections than I already have at the moment and I like the idea of compressors being on an input of the interface, I had mine just as thru, and also normalizing the send and returns on my desk to the reverbs, which come back in on their own channel. Nice one man, perfect video for where I'm at and what I was looking for. Gave a Sub *thumbs up*

[@scottjames2355]

Nice job. I"m back at it after many years away from setting up studios. Very helpful.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Glad it helped! It's like riding a bike. It'll come back quick

[@EqDior]

Very informative video! Great job!

[@JayBeBerg]

Good video, thanks. Where it becomes confusing is trying to optimize the normalled signal flow and at the same time provide limitless patching. And then there's half-normalled.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Its alot. Thats where putting pen to paper helps to map everything out

[@levalecook3565]

Finally makes sense

[@jodysloan6054]

I would like to understand how you safely pass phantom power when you bypass the full normal on line one, using your example. So, you jump out of mic line one on the patchbay, into input 16 for a different preamp, then into your interface. In this case, phantom must be passed from the preamp (input 16) back to input 1 for the mic. Did you vertically strap the grounds in your patchbay to pass phantom power? Thanks.

[@joshuakincheloe]

I would as well.

[@jhowe5571]

In my mind, how I would or have done this... If I have a mic requiring phantom power & wanted to route the signal through a patchbay to access outboard gear, before going to my mixer/recorder, I would run the mic directly to the preamp first. This eliminates any confusion (for me) of phantom power going through the patchbay and eliminates any risks it might pose to my outboard gear. That's just me, how I'd do it. 😁 Of course, using XLR patchbays exclusively for running mics to your mic pre's will work, just as well.

[@jodysloan6054]

@@jhowe5571 Right, but then you are climbing behind racks every time you need to switch to a different pre. The whole purpose of the patch bay is to not have to do that. Thanks!!

[@jhowe5571]

@@jodysloan6054 Yes, I know. Back when I had gear, I had 4 stereo comps, four stereo reverb units and a few other things. Not much in pre's. So, I didn't have to worry about running phantom through my bays. Just a small home/portable setup with a Korg D3200 digital recorder/mixer and an old Tascam 322 8x8 reel to reel. But, I did suggest using XLR patchbays to do what you want. Ex. If you got say, 4 api pre's and 4 Neves, you'd patch the XLR inputs to 1-4 for the api pre's, 5-8 for the Neves. Then, the corresponding outs to the snake going into your recording room. So, let's say you have a mic on channel one from the room. It's on the channel 1 of the XLR bay outs. An XLR patch cable can send that to any of the 8 pre's. Say you want a Neve & #5 is available. You patch to tthat. If the mic requires phantom, you just press the power button on that pre & you're all set. Now, all your pre's have line outs, those go through a line I/O patchbay for whatever you want, without worries about phantom power going through any of that. Sending the signal through whatever you want available to you by way of your patchbay. However, without an XLR patchbay, you're likely going to be diving behind your racks! 😱 Or, just run your XLR snake strait to the pre's. 😁

[@jodysloan6054]

@@jhowe5571 appreciate the additional context. Thanks.

[@blanco2678]

nice refresher, thank you bro !

[@cbrooks0905]

The only thing that confuses me about patchbays are the different options for normal, through, and half normal. This is the best video I’ve seen on it, but it’s still a little fuzzy for me.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s super easy to overthink. Sit down with a sheet of paper and write it out in a Diagram that’s the biggest help

[@TURBOMIKEIFY]

I'm trying to become an apprentice/intern at the studio closest to me. I just heard of the term "Signal Flow" today when I looked at the prerequisites they were looking for. I'd need a personal lesson in order to fully understand this. Hell, I still don't even know how to use the DAW I got almost a week ago.

[@scotiushobius]

I have an akai sampler with 8 seperate outs. I have an external audio mixing desk with 8 mono ins and a couple of stereo ins, but not 8 outs. Only a few stereo outs. I like to eq my individual Akai out, because, of course why would you not. I have my eyes on an audio interface with at least 8 seperate inputs, for tracking purposes. I think you must have an idea where I'm going with this. Is there a patch bay solution? In my mind I can imagine that there is. So Akai each seperate individual out InTo seperate input lanes on the external audio mixing desk to be colored with eq etc While sending those individual lanes to audio device seperate inputs. I think there are 2 challenges. A to have the coloured signal through the mixing desk to the audio interface maintaining the colour. This is my preferred. Or B to have the signal uncoloured by the mixing desk, to the audio interface. I like to have my Akai sampler connected to the mixer permanently, as I colour samples and sounds to be captured by the Akai. This part I have sorted though. Hope you can help before I spend money 💰

[@saulychris]

Great video my friend it's a goldmine

[@jonkuenning]

Does phantom power pass through the patchbay? Is it safe to use the phantom power if you’re also patching in a compressor/eq after the preamp, before the converter/interface?

[@ELOGIC718]

Good video bro, next vid could be you using your patchbay in action. Love your explanation it was on point but, there are folks out there that a visual presentation works better for them than vocal one, if that makes sense.😁

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I gotcha. Do you have things you want to see? That could give me some things to make sure I hit?

[@ELOGIC718]

Sure, maybe the difference between Normal and Half Normal. Other than that you DEFINITELY got this!!!!!! Thanks bro.

[@gianfrancopiletti8463]

Awesome video, thanks man! Now I feel ready to go deeper on signal path and patch bays. Great channel! Great content! Congrats!

[@gitarman666]

Good stuff Could you address phantom power flowing through the trs Lotsa conjecture

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah, I never knew there was so much back-and-forth. I’ve been doing it for 11 years haven’t thought twice about phantom power. I’ve worked in tons of other buildings and other studios and when this first came up, I called those studio owners and asked the question thinking perhaps I’ve been thinking about it all the time. And I can find no one who actually has a patchbay or a professional space and has ever been worried about flowing phantom power through a patch bay. That’s literally what they’re for.

[@HenryC7625]

Nice job, thank you!

[@riktascale4]

I never used it but I sort of don't like it's concept coming from working in the box. I am looking at other options. Thanks for this winning information and education!

[@cary3428]

It’s the way to go if your going to integrate hardware. There really is no option in analog. I couldn’t live without a patch bay.

[@riktascale4]

@@cary3428 I am looking at Cranborne ADAT which would allow me to integrate hardware without a patch bay. Also I saw another box(flock audio patch} where you plugin your hardware into it and you are able to do inserts remotely ITB.

[@heyitsDevriss]

Thanks man

[@astrangeandmysteriouspodca7168]

When hooking up preamps on patchbays how dangerous or bad is with fantom power. Is it better to run the the outputs only on the patchbay from the preamps? I just dont want to fry my gear.

[@poxcr]

It definitely looks like a bad idea to run phantom power over 1/4" connections. I think it would be safer to have dedicated XLR patch panels for the mic lines coming from the room and the preamp inputs, or just feed the mic lines directly to the preamp inputs.

[@jamiemcparland]

Are you pushing phantom power through TT cables?!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

BALANCED to cables yes. There’s not an issue running phantom power through a patchbay or balanced cable.

[@kazpermusic]

Never got the whole normalled thing with the patch bay I do now, thanks. I have the Focal solo6 be's, maybe you could make a video on how to listen to focal monitors. I used the Sonar room correction software, and I wonder if its still worth tweaking the (HF and LF)knobs in the back of my monitors even after doing the room correction with the software. I really love your videos dude, thanks.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

That would be interesting. I’ve wondered about doing one about my listening setup. But I seemed to niche.

[@yosephkostoro2923]

I'm a newbie in recording studio stuff. Your explanation means a lot dude! Thanks! Subscribe your channel without a doubt! :)

[@itsjshua]

Hey thanks for the vid! Just wondering how do you route your condenser mics that require phantom power to the preamps that can send phantom power?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

No different.

[@h1de]

"A wet dry situation", you mean my marriage? 🤣🤣🤣😂😭😭😭😭

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

lol

[@robertomora33]

Great video!

[@TALKCalgary]

If using a condenser microphone how would you pass phantom power over a TRS cable?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I’ve never had a problem. In countless studios with passing phantom over a patchbay.

[@Onblusbaar_Brah_]

Amazing videos! Thank you! I'm just still trying to understand the Parrallel mode. Say, you connect aux to the back and a compressor below that, the signal will go from the aux to the compressor, right? Now if you connect headphones to the front and another FX unit on the front, the signal will go to all 3 destinations, right? Will the signal go directly to the front, or is it the compressed signal going to the front?😊

[@EricGilletteMusic]

Any tips on how to create the labels for the 9625? Love your channel! Thanks!

[@chfanz]

Thanks for a great tutorial! I just got my first 48 point TRS patch bay yesterday and planned it all out (surprising how easily all points become populated with little gear!) BUT I am confused about grounding, everywhere I look up tips and guidelines for patching, - including in the product manual, I am cautioned about ground loops and hums and instructed to do something about it in terms I don’t understand. What are the techniques for grounding, how do I ground something that isn’t grounded already? I thought I’m just plugging and unplugging cables, do I need to solder stuff too?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It passes ground through the trs connections. It’s basically one complicated passive female to female connector

[@chfanz]

@@RecordingStudioLoser so would you recommend connecting all the ground from each jack together? Or would this be the case already, maybe I should open up the enclosure and look?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Not sure I understand the question

[@VigilanteWilliamson]

Am i correct that a normal patchbay set up would cause a feed back loop if both the input and output are above each other

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Anything would create a feedback loop with its input and output connected. Realistically those aren’t connections you are making. Your connecting mics or tie lines to preamps. And those preamps to compressors or converters or tape. It’s difficult to make a loop

[@Hassan_Omer]

For a first timer trying to understand this concept, I am still a bit confused. I understand that your mic connection is connected through the DB25 cable to the patchbay. But @ 2:58 you say that the bottom row is connected to your interface preamps. My question is how do you connect them ? Do you connect them with another DB25 cable coming from your audio interface to your patchbay or is there another way ?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes this particular patchbay is all db25 which Cherries eight balanced connections and those can be TRS, XLR… Really any cable that you need and a lot of times I am cutting off the connection that's there and soldering and whatever I need to connect to. Some patchbay's are really just pastors so they will have physical XLR or TRS or even raw stripped Wire connections on the back. There's a ton of different styles. It's easy to over think it.

[@Hassan_Omer]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Got it! thank you very much for the prompt reply and explanation.♥

[@jeffdombrowski4736]

So you run your snake directly into your patchbay? That was the part that always confused me. I just had mine for mixing for some outboard gear, but now that i'm getting more pre's I thought of getting an xlr patchbay for the front of my rack or a snake to put into the patchbay. Was just always confused on how to do it

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes snakes in all the room are wired to the patchbay along with everything in the studio.

[@klvAcosta]

What cables do you use? Great video!!! It took me a little bit to understand how patchbay works but it’s pretty simple.

[@tylerwinter512]

Phantom power will travel through a TT or TRS patchbay?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes

[@Andybaby]

I'm confused. You plugged your balanced mike into an unbalanced 1/4 inch patchbay?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

The switchcraft is fully balanced. The connections are not 1/4 but “TT”.

[@jackmmarsden]

Hey I have a question. I just got a 48 point patch bay for my setup. The interface I’m using is the SSL12, so I only have 4 inputs and 4 outputs to use. I have 3 pieces of outboard gear that I want to be able to have the option of using while recording. I’m just stumped on the part of where I plug my mics into. Do I need like an XLR bay?

[@jackmmarsden]

I know it’s a dummy question, but I’m just hitting a road block on my mind right now 😂

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

You definitely don’t need one. If your stuff never moves then a patch bay is definitely the flexible thing to do you want one I would look at the switchCraft mini patch bays that are DB 25 then you could get different breakout cables to suit whatever you have

[@playsgibsons]

Great vid! Do you send phantom power from your mic pres through the patch bay and out into the live room mic inputs without any issues? I have heard conflicting advice on whether this is a good idea. Thanks!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I actually didn’t know there was issues with this until I posted this video. I’ve worked in countless Recording Studios so I just set up my patchbay like theirs. Long story short yes that’s exactly how I use it no I’ve never had a single issue.

[@playsgibsons]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Thanks for the reply! Yeah i couldn't figure out why it would be a problem when nearly every pro studio does this, its just maybe making sure not to repatch with phantom active.

[@jg1503]

Are your 96 point patch bay also switchcraft? I like that there’s a space for a scribble strip. I’ve watched so many of these patchbay videos and what people fail to show is the back connections or the full signal flow connections. Mic to snake then snake to patch bay? show how the connections changed. Did you solder new ends?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

They are switch craft. The back is just db25 terminating to whatever you need. So you would shop for the appropriate cable. You can make your own. I am very comfortable with soldering anything. However db25s are a pain

[@jg1503]

@@RecordingStudioLoser thanks man!

[@graphenemusic5922]

Hey, great stuff, I love the intro song, what is that?!

[@JJDPROMEDIAPRODUCTION]

Thanks!!

[@matthewt.donnelly2493]

@Recording Studio Loser thanks for the video! One question, does needing to use phantom power on a mic affect any of what you described? Or does it still just come from your preamp like normal, back through the patch bay, out through the snake and into the mic? Hope that question makes sense

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah phantom power will flow through a patchbay just fine

[@matthewt.donnelly2493]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Thank you, follow up question: There isn't anything between your snakes endings and the patchbay? Does it terminate in TT? While researching TRS patch bays I've found a lot of conflicting info on routing phantom power through a TRS patchbay. Some people say it's totally fine, others say you can't do it at all, others say it is potentially dangerous. Hoping that you could provide further insight on this topic

[@ribassmad]

Hey, can we send +48v through the patchbay?

[@zyxyuv1650]

There's special XLR patchbays for that which keep the signals totally isolated. Do not try it with a normal patch bay.

[@jasonsavory9748]

Have you had any experience of patchbays for guitar amps? I've been trying to find one but I;m not sure they exist. I want to invest in more amps/cabs and it would be killer to have the amps in the control room and the cabs elsewhere and be able to patch different combinations

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes! Ampete and Kahayan (spelling?)

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Not really patch bays but more like switcher

[@tonyadams6985]

Well done! Concise but thorough. Thank you.

[@elielsolis]

is it a good idea to patchbay my mics and mic pres. I have read its a bad idea. Can you explain this thanks

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

What else would you be using with a patchbay? I’ve heard this after making this video. All I can say it I reached out to switchcraft. They responded with a “what? No, that’s what is for”

[@elielsolis]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Nothing els just mic pre’s and condenser mics. I was reading comments of people saying it’s not a good idea because of phantom power or something related to that. Is it really that bad ?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I’ve worked in many studies. Patched mics, preamps, consoles, outboard. Never had an issue.

[@MichaelBlackYT]

Hey man, you have facebook or anything? I'm at my band house right now and we are pretty interested in talking with you. We are in the same city.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah dude. My studio is whisper-studios.com. You can find my contact information there.

[@RickK1988]

You said TeeTee... Lol.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ope!

[@othelo989]

🤔🤨😑😶

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

🫣😐😑🫥

[@6or7breadsticks]

three fuckin ads in ten min :(

[@InternalMind]

This told me nothing, I learned nothing

[@rustywp]

People who do, can't teach. People who teach, can't do. I'm a 70 year old musician and patch bays are like a foreign language. Sorry, but this video didn't help me :-(

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Hey thats ok. What questions are still left unanswered?