Which method should I use when setting up my patchbay

[Casbeatz]

What I want to do is use multiple mic preamps with the same microphone. I though about 2 ways I could do this, which one of these methods would work the best, as far as efficiency and safety goes:

Method #1: Plug the mic cable into the front of the XLR patchbay, Go from the back of the XLR patchbay to the preamp inputs, go from the preamp outputs to the mixer channels, and just switch the mic cable on the front of the XLR bay.

OR

Method #2: Plug the mic cable into the front of the XLR patchbay, Go from the back of the XLR patchbay to the preamp inputs, go from the preamp outputs to the top row of a TRS patchbay, go from the bottom row of the TRS bay into my mixer channels, and then just use patch cables on the front of the TRS bay to switch between them.

---------- Post added at 07:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:46 PM ----------

Not a single suggestion?

 

[bandcoach]

method #2 is more efficient and practical. You will need to clean contacts in the trs patchbay from time to time to reduce signal loss due to resistive build up of tarnish and such on the terminals in the patch bay

 

[Casbeatz]

method #2 is more efficient and practical. You will need to clean contacts in the trs patchbay from time to time to reduce signal loss due to resistive build up of tarnish and such on the terminals in the patch bay

Maybe I'm unclear of how patchbays work, but since I only have one mic hooked into the XLR bay(slot 1), how will I be able to make it work using the TRS method without switching the mic cable from slot 1 to slot 2 on the XLR bay? Aren't they directly connected to eachother (slot 1 input, and slot one output per "channel"). Meaning, since the mic is hooked into slot 1 on the bay, how is it going to get signal from slot 2 on the back of the patchbay? I get how to patching works on the TRS bay, but i just dont know how the mic signal is going to route itself through slot 2, versus the slot its plugged into without switching it. Maybe you can shed some light on this. Sorry if it seems confusing the way I put it, its hard to explain this sorta thing in words

 

[hollandturbine]

Assuming that there are no issues with putting phantom power through your XLR patch bay the plug through method is quite straight forward, so what you really want to look at is obtaining the most flexible output configurations from your preamp by using the TRS patch bay, which would allow you to set up default routing to your audio interface or mixer depending on which you prefer.

Because I use a lot of hardware I use a sub mixer for monitoring lots of instruments at once, so that is the default routing for the gear that I use the most, however when I record an instrument into my DAW I will usually bypass the mixer and patch the instrument directly into my audio interface for the cleanest signal possible.

 

[bandcoach]

so, any trs patchbay is usually wired up so that it is normalled - i.e. the back connectors are wired together so that a signal just passes straight through. it is only when you connect a patch cable in the front of the patchbay, that you change where the signal goes to.

the above image shows how you should consider wiring up your two patchbays with a front and rear view

The top two bays are the front and rear of the XLR-XLR front to back patching unit. You connect a mic to any socket and it is directly patched through to the bottom row of the the trs patchbay at the back with the same socket number. The outputs of a patchbay are usually on the top row (long lost origin of this convention, probably dates from the early days of BBC radio). In this case each socket is connected to one of a preamp input or a mixer input or an fx input, etc.

On the front of the trs patchbay, I've shown a cable that is patching socket 1 in to socket 3 out: this is how you would direct the signal to an alternate preamp or other device.

If you intend on using both patchbays to also configure signal direction after the preamps and fx or other devices, then I suggest that you clearly delineate the boundary point for outputs from inputs - leave a dead section or toherwsie mark the front of each patchbay to show what is happening in each socket.

 

[fataltone]

I haven't got into hardware like that but I did alot of research on patchbay configs. and I decide when I do get to that point
I would buy a Tascam DM-4800 which has a digital patchbay and very flexible routing
so when it comes to record a band or a several members of a choir using 3-8 mics and 2-4 different preamps
I can set it once and go no cleaning of patchbay and tons of chords because I send the signal digitally to many areas to get my go to system.
because some ppl just sound bad on certain mics

I hope you find some diagram on the net of the patchbay you have or plan on buying to make certain it will take care of your needs
edit....should have known BandCoach would come with a diagram for you!!!!! Go Band Coach


-Coach Antonio
My ebay Store

 

[Casbeatz]

Great info, guys, has got me 90% of the way, just ONE last question. First of all., let me confirm how I'm understanding things..

Mic into slot 1 on XLR Bay, OUT of the XLR bay slots 1 and 2 into the TRS bay 1 and 2 INPUTS, then TRS bay OUTPUTS to Mic Preamp INPUTS, then from Preamp OUTPUTS into Mixer Channels 1 and 2.

Sound correct?

The only thing I don't understand is how the mic cable itself switches between the 2 preamps when the microphone cable is only plugged into slot 1 on the front of the XLR bay. How does the mic cable travel through the second cable in slot 2 on the back of the XLR bay when it's only plugged in to Slot 1 on the front? That's the only thing I don't understand.

 

[bandcoach]

you only need to have the mic go into slot 1 of the xlr bay

on the trs bay, you use a patch cable on the front to redirect/reroute the signal to the desired preamp/channels

 

[Casbeatz]

you only need to have the mic go into slot 1 of the xlr bay

on the trs bay, you use a patch cable on the front to redirect/reroute the signal to the desired preamp/channels

Okay, so, if I'm only using 2 preamps at the moment, I would always be using Input 1 as my patch point on the front of the TRS bay, and switch between Outputs 1 and 2 to select between the preamps, correct?

 

[bandcoach]

Connections as follows

Source	Destination	Comments
XLR 1 Front	XLR 1 Rear
XLR 1 Rear	TRS 1 In Rear	XLR-TRS cable
TRS 1 In Rear	TRS 1 Out Rear	Normalled in patch bay
TRS 1 Out Rear	Mic preamp 1 Input	TRS-XLR cable
TRS 1 In Front	TRS 2 Out Front	Via TRS-TRS patch cable
TRS 2 Out Rear	Mic preamp 2 Input	TRS-XLR cable

as long as the trs patchbay you use has normalled connections, all should be good.

 

[hollandturbine]

I would not recommend routing a microphone through any old patch bay, I mean a mic's signal is quite low and then there is the +48 Volt phantom power to consider, so I would recommend the most direct mic input connection to the preamps as possible.

 

[bandcoach]

I agree, but I am assuming a simple dynamic mic.

Also, if it can work in sound reinforcement - up to 300 ft plus, then i do not really see the issue at much shorter distances beyond the need to keep the contacts in the patch bays clean

 

[Casbeatz]

I agree, but I am assuming a simple dynamic mic.

Also, if it can work in sound reinforcement - up to 300 ft plus, then i do not really see the issue at much shorter distances beyond the need to keep the contacts in the patch bays clean

First of all, thanks for all your help in this thread. Regarding the mic, I run large condensers. All high end mics.

 

[bandcoach]

my second point covered the possibility of mics requiring phantom power. i.e. it should not be a problem given the signal path lengths we are talking about.

Although, in my experience a lot of high end condensor mics run to having their own independent power supplies instead of relying on inconsistently implemented phantom power

 

[Casbeatz]

Yes, but that comes before the XLR chain, so it should matter. Only one of my mics has its own power supply, the rest are PP.

 

[hollandturbine]

If you don't know what you are doing I would recommend reserving the XLR patch bay just for your microphone connections in order to avoid encountering Murphy's law with the TRS patch bay.