Organize Pt. 3 (patchbays)

Patchbays

Having a patchbay helps to optimize your signal routing and organization. Even the most modest of studio setups can benefit from the simple addition of a patchbay. Almost any configuration of cable connection - xlr, 1/4" TRS jack, Cat5, etc. can be connected to a patchbay. And you can make your connections without ever having to leave your seat!

If all your equipment I/O is connected to the patchbay and it is labeled well, it will save you time by not having to go around the back of your gear to connect things. It will save wear and tear on the connections of equipment. It also centralizes the grounding of gear and reduces potential ground loop noise problems.

I use two main types of patchbays in my studio: xlr and 1/4". The [Hosa] xlr patchbay is configurable. That is, the two types of xlr - male and female - can be configured to fit one's needs. You can have the front panel all xlr male, all xlr female, or a mixture. Conversely, you can set the back of the patchbay as well.

The [Neutrik] 1/4" patchbay has a two-row topology and is typically set up with an out-over-in signal flow, or a downward signal flow direction. For instance, outputs on the top row and corresponding inputs below. Or, sends on top and returns on bottom. TRS patch panels have configurable setups called "normalled" and "half-normalled". In patchbays, a normal is an internal connection from the top row of jacks, to the bottom row. Normalling allows connections that are normally in effect to exist without the need for inserting a patch cable in the front of the bay. For example, the stereo outs of a mixer are generally connected to the inputs on a stereo mixdown deck. By connecting the mixer’s outputs to the top back row of a normalled patchbay’s jacks, and the mixdown deck to the bottom back row, a connection is made internally in the bay, and does not require extra patch cables. 

When a jack is inserted into the lower plug, however, the normal connection is broken. This provides a convenient way to route signals to multiple destinations. For example, the output of a mixer that is normalled to the input of a DAT on the patch bay can also be simultaneously routed to another patch point. To do this one would simply run a patch cable from the patch point that is the output of the mixer (an upper jack) to the patch point that is the input to the other device (a lower jack). This connection will break the normal of what would normally be feeding that other device in favor of the mixer signal that has been patched in. Signal will now be routed to the DAT and the other device. Another application might be to insert an EQ after a preamp but before the converters. Simply route the output of the EQ (an upper jack) to the normal input jack (a lower jack) for that mic preamp.

As a final note - label, label, label!! In a previous post I mentioned owning a digital label maker. This is when it comes in handy! Also, write all the routing options down on paper first to help figure out organization.

Having a patchbay will simplify your studio life and make routing an easy task!

Peace - and HEY! make it a great day!!

T

Demystifying Pro Tools Preference Settings part 2/3

In the last blog post I covered the first tab under pro tools preferences - Display. Today I will cover Operation Preferences. First section is Transport: The very first selection 'Timeline Insertion/Play Start Marker Follows Playback' is important and I use it all the time. When selected, the Timeline Insertion and the Play Start Marker both move to the point in the timeline where playback stops. When deselected, the Timeline Insertion and Play Start Marker do not follow playback, but return to the point in time where playback began. Many times I leave this deselected because I want to play a section of my song and I want playback to start from the same place every time. This way I can listen to the same section over and over for whatever reason. If you select it, then when you are in playback mode, wherever you stop and then restart, playback continues from wherever you stopped.
**This can also be selected/deselected from the Edit window - underneath the Edit Tools - the farthest right icon (looks like a rt. arrow with vertical line and play button).

The Numeric Keypad mode determines how the numeric keypad functions. The main thing I set this for is memory locations. Whether you have it set for Classic or Transport will determine how you recall different memory locations using the numeric keypad. This will be a personal preference for you. I use Transport setting, just because that is how I prefer to move to my memory locations when using the numeric keypad.

The really BIG ONE is Auto Backup. You DEFINITELY want to have this selected! This determines if pro tools automatically backs up your sessions! If hard drive space is limited you may only want to keep the last 3 backups and backup every hour. I think I normally keep the last 5 or 10 sessions and backup every 20 minutes. Ask yourself how much work and time you are ready to lose and have to re-do? Sometimes when I am working on an intense session or one with heavy work changes or with a client where a lot is happening, I will keep more back ups and back up at more frequent intervals. Other times it's not that critical so I decrease the number of backups and frequency. But every backup takes up hard drive space, so keep that in mind! As terabyte hard drives continue to come down in price, this becomes less of an issue!

On the right side is the Record preferences. The default settings here should be adequate for most people most of the time. I believe the default settings are Latch Record Enable Buttons (selected) and Link Record and Play Faders (selected). Also make sure Open-Ended Record Allocation is set to 'Use All Available Space'.

That's it for the Operation preference! We'll cover some others preference settings next time, so until then . . . .

HEY! Make it a Great Day!!

Tim