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So I recently upgraded my monitors but due to a lack of space Im using them when I mix as well. Thing is Im really paranoid about fucking the trs plugs through switching the cables out all the time so Ive been thinking of getting a patchbay to avoid this and make it a bit more convenient to swap leads. Anyone point me in the direction of a small/inexpensive patchbay?

You sure a patch bay is the right tool for this job? Not trying to be an ass buf they are meant as signal routing devices and may not work like you think they do. I'd check out a manual on one first.

Ok so Ive checked out a couple a manuals and Im not seeing what you mean? As far as I can see it can do what Im after but obviously I dont wanna shell out if im gonna have any problems.

Btw dont worry about sounding like an ass I appreciate the advice

a monitor controller is what you want.

they run from crazy expensive (dangerous, crane song) to really affordable (samson).

Sharmaji wrote:a monitor controller is what you want.

they run from crazy expensive (dangerous, crane song) to really affordable (samson).

Im not switching between monitors though, just whats being sent to them. The ones im seeing are a lot more expensive than a patchbay anyway though :/

benjaminC wrote: Im not switching between monitors though, just whats being sent to them.

exactly.

trust me that a patchbay is not the best solution for what you want. If you don't want a monitor controller, then get a cheap mixer.

+1 for patchbay being decidely the wrong tool for this job.

Lol ok cheers for the advice Ill have a look what I can find

Hehe. Sorry if I came off a bit snarky! Just hate to see a penny of a production budget go to waste ; p if you have a bunch outboard gear a patchbay is like a hardware daw and is a god send!

fragments wrote:Hehe. Sorry if I came off a bit snarky! Just hate to see a penny of a production budget go to waste ; p if you have a bunch outboard gear a patchbay is like a hardware daw and is a god send!

Haha to be fair I probably shouldve mentioned Ive got a couple of fx units and Im looking for a cassette deck atm so patchbay might actually come in handy? Only reason I dont use them more often is the pain of setting them up every time

Patchbay crew is here: Do it.

http://www.samsontech.com/samson/produc ... atch-plus/



Shit is cheap and has never let me down. Can't recall the name of the fucker I used to use back in the day, but that thing did let me down. Repeatedly and consistently.

This one, the s-patch-plus is rock solid, no issues at all, and I be a'patchin.

EDIT: Think I paid $100 new.

benjaminC wrote:

fragments wrote:Hehe. Sorry if I came off a bit snarky! Just hate to see a penny of a production budget go to waste ; p if you have a bunch outboard gear a patchbay is like a hardware daw and is a god send!

Haha to be fair I probably shouldve mentioned Ive got a couple of fx units and Im looking for a cassette deck atm so patchbay might actually come in handy? Only reason I dont use them more often is the pain of setting them up every time

In that case you may want a patch bay in addition to the monitor controller.

Yeah I cant find an explanation as to why I need a monitor controller anywhere, the patchbay does exactly what I want it to.... going with patchbay I reckon
Cheers guys

Morning Ben

A monitor controller is probably what you need, or an input switcher.
A patchbay would work, but you should really turn the monitors off before unplugging the patch cables. I wouldnt really advise this method tbh

even a cheap input switcher is more preferable than the cale swapping of a patchbay, this one is unbalanced (but only 8 quid), but on a short speaker run, thats probably fine http://www.djkit.com/skytec/audiovideo- ... tAodx0AAig

How are you controlling your speaker volume at the minute?
If its on the computer then you definetely need a controller, for a completely different reason and here's why.

If you limit the output digitally on the computer, then you reduce the bit-depth that you monitor at, so if you are monitoring at 16 bit output, but are only listening at -24db volume most of the time, you are only actually monitoring at 12 bit resolution, and we all know how much of a difference that can make when we put a bit crusher on something.
If you run the audio interface as close to 0 as possible without clipping, but have am analogue volume control, then this maintains the full resoultion.

We sell bucketloads of these, because they are cheap, quiet and built like tanks, also you coud hook up your old krks to compare mixes with. Headphone amp on them isnt half bad either.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/sm-pro-m ... switch-box

Hey tom hope your well Right turns out Im an idiot, Ive got a saffire 6 and just realized I can run the mixer out to the trs ins on the front. Doh!! Cheers for all the replies and advice guys.