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How to Use Patch Bay

A patch bay is an electronic device that allows you to reroute input and/or output signals during recordings and mixings. You can even use a patch bay to split your input and output signals. The patch bay has a very unique way to set up. It is important that you connect the right devices to the right places in order to use the patch bay.

Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp an understanding of the different ways signals flow in a patch bay. When a patch bay is normalized, the signals will flow directly through your patch point. A normalized patch bay is a setup where an effect output is wired to a jack and then to the return input on your board. The effect goes right to the board. When a patch bay is half normalized, the signals will flow through without a cable plugged in. A half-normalized patch bay is a set up where the effect output can be tapped at the top jack, but it still goes to the console. An open patch bay does not transmit any signal without a cable.

    • 2

      Connect your microphone and line inputs on to your mixer. Make sure you use normalized patch points for your microphone and line inputs. The process of wiring your microphone and mixers will of course depend on the kind of setup you are using.

    • 3

      Configure patch points for the inserts you will be using on your patch bay. Connect the "Send" from your mixer to the patch point output. Connect the "Return" from the mixer to the patch point input. Once again, the configurations will depend on the setup you are using.

    • 4

      Connect auxiliary outputs to your patch points for adding sound effects. Connect each output of your mixer to the rear of the patch bay. Connect the correlating outputs from the rear of the patch bay to inputs 1 to 8 on your recorder. The setup for auxiliary outputs will depend on the kind of the effect you wish to generate.

Recording Music

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