Audio Patchbay Explained - What'chu say?

What a patchbay does, what a patchbay does not do, and how to set one up. The front and back panels, the three modes: Normal, Through and Half-Normal. See what patchbays are for in this video, so you can determine if you want one.

A patchbay is a useful thing in recording even if you're one guy with a computer daw recording system... with or without a mixing console. They're great for people who have multiple instruments if you are tired of always unhooking the main cables to play other instruments through amps or mixer channels.

The only downside is: it doubles the amount of cables since you are using the patchbay as a splicer for each cable. What you would do with one cable is done with 1 in and 1 out cable when a patchbay is involved. It's usually worth it to have a permanent setup and all of those open ins and outs on the front panel for extra options.

A patchbay requires no power supply or batteries, so you only have to turn on the equipment you want to use, and those patchbay connections will work just like cable splicers, splitters or adapters would.

jaydavee videos are by John David Briley

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• patchbay
• audio
• recording
• live
• mixing
• equipment
• tutorial

[cristianokeller]

And how to monitor everything that is connected to the back? ie. If you want to monitor that synthesizer? What to do? Thanks for the video!

[jaydavee]

@cristianokeller the bottom row rear outputs (some of them) are sent to mixer channels, and the mixer is handling instrument signals in and monitor siglnals out.

The mixer outs and monitor ins can also be going through patch bay channels.

[TheeAldeen]

@cristianokeller I Got The Rack Shelf!

[jaydavee]

@TheeAldeen I sold that 3 years ago. It took long enough to get there :D I hope it arrived the same year I sent it. I remember sending that to Texas.

[brizzyroz]

Clear as mud

[BlackGnosis]

I should get this for connecting my pedal and effects arrays so I can shorten up my chains or repatch as needed.

[subliminaldecibel]

THE REAR

[subliminaldecibel]

SLIP HER THE BUDDY YEAH... STICK ITTO EM

[subliminaldecibel]

you jus stick em in YEAH HAHA HA

[SGwizard1]

willis

[2SugarsPleeze]

I can't tell weather you are High, Stoned or Drunk?

But for some strange reason, I actually understand exactly what you are telling me.

THANK YOU!

[FaulconbridgeStudio]

You're cool

[PhotonVision]

I understand what a patchbay does thanks to this vid but it is VERY unclear and chaotic.

[DeRex9]

great video, thanks mate

[checkabreak]

Ok great! now would you stop doing crack cocaine? just saying LOL

[WaxDat8800]

I finally undserstand patchbays!!! Thanks.

[fooloof]

ha ha. I have that exact same patch bay!



[mr4y]

A 48 point patchbay has 96 jacks in it. You should also write notes about what is plugged in. Don't trust some pesky stickers... Also, you must relist every input and output on the patchbay for every new piece of gear you buy...

[MrKofkon]

Just spit it out. Youve got to stop repeating yourself. Otherwise good video

[daxwax1]

Thanks dude that was a really informative video. Made me laugh with your intro hahaha

[guitargamery]

tx man!! check our newest original music video on my music channel bbuteo!! i just get a patchbay and your video was veru useful,  and tx 4 that!!

[Robfalcon501]

lol

[jimnihil]

Good vid. Thanks!!

[raremess]

What would I need if I just want to record lets say a few different instruments into a sound card, and have everyone able to hear the mix through headphones. So it could be used for jamming as well as recording.

[Johnfrooshlover]

I've heard that if you have say a two channel interface, and you want to record drums (7 mics - 7 channels) you can use a patchbay to record all of them. Can you explain that? or is that not possible?