Patchbays are one of the most useful tools that there are to use in a studio environment. If ever you needed a particular analogue hardware compressor on your vocals lets say, and you possess such hardware, then patching it in would both help your sound and stabilise your mix. Patching is used far less now than it did way back when; since the invention of software plug ins. Regardless but it is still super valuable knowledge to have in your back pocket.
Patchbays
There are many ways you can patch things through your mix, via a patch bay. Today I will be focusing on just one to keep it short and simple; throwing a hardware to your already recorded mix. Firstly, how you have recorded your audio doesn’t affect how you patch in this particular way, so there is no need to worry about that.
“Patchbays are typically a 24 channel unit (although you can use multiple). They have 24 ‘ins’ and 24 ‘outs’ effectively making them have 48 connections” (Ledger Note, 2018). The rough template for how a patchbay is layered out is as follows:
Studio Mic Lines: Output from the mics in the live room
Channel Mic Inputs: Mic level recoding console inputs
Direct/Group Outputs: Line level recording console outputs from channels and groups
Multitrack Sends/Inputs: Line level tape machine or digital audio converter inputs
Multitrack Returns/Outputs: Line level tape machine or digital audio converter outputs
Channel Line/Monitor Inputs: Line level console inputs used for monitoring
You can also find that these patchbays can feature other inputs and outputs as well such as:
- Insert Sends
- Insert Returns
- Aux Sends
- Aux Returns
- Signal Processing Unit Outputs (Outboard Gear, External Hardware)
- Signal Processing Unit Inputs (Outboard Gear, External Hardware)
- Cue Sends
And
- Aux Inputs
Signal Flow
Assuming you’ve recorded to the DAW, what you’ll need to do as your first step is to route all the channels (in the DAW), that your thinking of using on outboard gear and map them to a mixing console. Assuming you’re in a fully equipped studio, all the patching should be already done for you.
On the Recording Console (this is the next step by the way), there should be AUX sends and such. You’re gonna want to activate your AUX sends on the channels you’ve mapped earlier and throw your pots (usually all you’ll need is one aux send per outboard gear) on these channels up to half to be safe, while making sure your master AUX fader is also up (this time at ¾ to be safe).
Next, you’re going to need to get to your patchbay, and use it. Depending on what you’re after, you should be choosing which outboard gear you want to use. Patch bays use special patching cables called ¼ TRS Cables, you’ll be needing at most 4 TRS cables per external hardware device for patching (mono and stereo). First you’ll need to find your Console Auxiliaries outputs for each channel.
Typically, you’ll only use 1 aux out but if you have two channels you can use 2. Assuming you’re only using one, what you’ll be needing to do is to find the corresponding AUX Out for the channel your looking to use (on the Mixing Console). Using one patch cable, patch the external hardware that you want to use; from the AUX Out, to the SPU (Signal Processing Unit) Inputs.
From here, assuming your outboard gear isn’t already on, turn it on. It’s good to turn it on before the patching circuit is complete as the initial startup of the hardware could cause a power serge through the patch cables, into your channel on your desk; making a large pop that could damage equipment if your unlucky.
On the Pachbay there should be an SPU Out. Some outboard gear can have a Mono Out or a Stereo Out. Depending on what you’ve got, you’ll be needing to use either 1 patch cable (for mono signal ‘1’), or 2 patch cables (for stereo signal ‘2’). Regardless, you’ll need to patch from the SPU Out to the AUX Ins on the same channel you patched out of at the start.
From here you should be able to monitor the signal flow through the gear and back into the DAW. Assuming you haven’t, you’ll be needing to press the ‘Mix’ button on the long fader, on your channel of choice. This is to ensure that you can complete the flow of audio back into the DAW.
By the end of this you’re signal flow should look something like this:
DAW Outs – to – Interface – to – Recording/Mixing Console – to – AUX no.1 – to – AUX Master Fader – to – PatchBay – to – AUX no.1 Outs/Sends (on corresponding channel) – to – SPU (either mono or stereo) – to – AUX No. 1 Ins/Returns – to – Mixing Console – to – Interface – to – DAW In (Ledger Note, 2018)
Other Things to Note
This is just one way to patch hardware into your tracks, there are multiple. For instance, in the last E.P. project I recorded, I patched a soft compressor (a compressor with minimal compression), into the vocals providing a solid and balanced vocal. I’d also like to point out that you aren’t just limited to using one outboard effect unit, you can chain them together via more patch cables. The order of effects typically starts off with Compression, then time-based Delay’s and Reverb units, then Equalisation units after that. The reason for this order is because the compressor evens out the track and usually negates all unwanted peaks in the waveform, now that the waveform is stabilised, you are able to safely put Delays’ and Reverbs to alter the sound of your track. The combined effort of compression and reverbs and such will alter the way the waveform sounds as well as it’s frequencies. It is here that you can effectively use an outboard EQ to make that track sound fantastic.
There is a good chance I didn’t cover everything in this blog as I am just starting out. But if there is one thing I have learned so far is that experimentation is key to finding your sound. You don’t need to patch you’re outboard effect as I said you should, do what you like. Maybe straying from the norm is exactly what your mix needs.
Wyatt Nicholls
Novice Recording Engineer
Student at SAE
References:
Ledger Note. (12/01/2018). How to use a Patchbay. Accessed at https://ledgernote.com/columns/studio-recording/how-to-use-a-patchbay/
Pack, Brad. (11/ 01/2017). Patchbays 101 — Layout, Signal Flow, Normalling & More. Accessed at https://theproaudiofiles.com/patchbays/
[Image] https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/727723-i-love-patchbays.html
[Image] http://nwexposure.com/2011/04/11/radio-revealed/kaos20110411-002/
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Wyatt Nicholls 