Learn the signal flow options of your patchbay. The most common configurations are normalled, half-normalled and open. When a patch point is normalled, signal will flow directly through the patch point when there is not a cable plugged into it. Whenever a cable is plugged into the input or output, the signal is broken. If the patch point is half normalled, signal will flow through without a cable plugged in and when a cable is plugged into the output, but the signal will be broken when a cable is plugged into the input. When the patch point is open, signal does not flow unless cables are plugged in.
Wire your patchbay. This is the most tedious step of using a patchbay, but once you have it set up, the configuration should stay basically the same. Wiring the patchbay may involve soldering or it may be as simple as sliding on connectors, depending on your patchbay model.
Use your patchbay for microphone and line inputs on your mixer. You should use normalled patch points for microphone and line inputs. Connect the microphone or line input source, such as a snake, to the input on the back of the patch point. Connect the output of the patch point to the input of the microphone or line input on your mixer. With a normalled patch point, when a microphone is plugged in to channel one on the snake, it will route through channel one on the board without having to make a patch.
Configure patch points for inserts. Most mixers have an insertion point that can be toggled on and off. Patchbays are extremely useful for inserts because you can change your processing device with simple patches. Connect the send from the mixer to the output of a patch point and connect the return to the input of the patch point. You can now connect the input of a signal processor to the output of the patch point and connect the output of the processor to the input. Normalled or half-normalled configurations work well for inserts.
Connect the auxiliaries of your mixer to the patchbay. The auxiliaries of your mixer have many uses, such as effects processing for groups of channels and headphones. Connect the auxiliary outputs to patch points. Use these outputs to feed a reverb unit or to send signal to a headphone system.