Ableton and Patchbays

[ippidippi]

Hi guys,

So I've been mostly digital for a while and now I'm at a point where I have several pieces of outboard gear that I regularly use and would greatly benefit from setting up a proper patchbay system. How does one go about that?

Windows 10; Alienware PC; Rokit 5s; I've been using a Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD as my audio interface. Should I discard this? I'm really not sure how to integrate a patchbay into my digital setup..

[TLW]

The first step is to buy a patchbay. I’ve been using a couple of old Behringer rack mount ones for over 20 years without problems so if they still make them that’s an inexpensive option.

Audio patchbays only deal with analogue audio - so they have nothing to do with digital signals at all. They’re basically a row of jack (or XLR) sockets on the front each of which is linked to a jack (or XLR) socket on the rear.

The way I use them is to connect the patchbay outputs to line level inputs on my interface, or another any other bits of kit I want to be able to connect and disconnect quickly and easily. The audio outputs from synths etc. then plug into the relevant patchbay inputs and the patchbay passes that connection through to the interface.

Unless you’ve a lot of stuff to connect or, as in my case, gear such as drum machines which have lots or outputs but I don’t want to use them all every time, or I need to be able to connect a hardware effects unit to different things at different times, you might find it easier (but not cheaper) to get an audio interface with more inputs and just leave things permanently connected to it. the advantage of more inputs is that everything connected to one is available at the same time with no need to reconfigure the wiring.

It’s worth knowing that patchbays can often be switched internally to link their input and output sockets in a variety of ways, also sometimes called “normalling” and what those ways do. This explains things pretty well - https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar ... -patchbay/

[ippidippi]

I could'ved saved you a bit of time but I failed to mention that I've experience with patchbays through my minor program but that program didn't go in depth about setting up a studio, only using them. And it was a 200+ point patchbay with who-knows-how-many connections and wires hooked up.

I've been looking at the Behringer Ultrapatch pro PX3000 which looks decent for the price. I guess what confuses me is that my interface has 4 I/O- how would that inhibit sending output signals in and out of Ableton? Does that defeat the purpose of getting a 48-point patchbay?

[Richie Witch]

It really depends on what you mean by "outboard gear". If you have a bunch of hardware synths or other instruments, then yeah, it's all about the inputs. But if you mean "outboard gear" like compressors, EQ, reverb, etc, then you need both--more inputs and outputs. You'll need more than the typical monitor outs to send audio to your outboard gear and then an extra pair of inputs to bring that signal back into your interface.

That interface has inserts on all four of the inputs channels, so you could do some routing with those. I'd take a look at the manual and see how those "playback" outputs are routed inside the interface; you might be able to do something creative with those as well.

I recently picked up a MOTU 16A, 16 in and out, all line level, and along with that same Behringer patchbay, I have all the connectivity I need for my synths and outboard processing gear.

[TLW]

I've been looking at the Behringer Ultrapatch pro PX3000 which looks decent for the price. I guess what confuses me is that my interface has 4 I/O- how would that inhibit sending output signals in and out of Ableton? Does that defeat the purpose of getting a 48-point patchbay?

The PX3000 is basically what I’ve been using for decades. They’re solid and good value.

A patchbay won’t let you connect more inputs and outputs than your interface has into Live at the same time. What they are good for is when you have more stuff than interface inputs and want to be able to patch things in and out quickly. For example, my UFX and strip of ADAT connected preamps (total 20 line ins and 16 line outs) live in a rack and most of the inputs and outputs are in the back of the units so are not easily accessible.

Bear in mind I’ve been acquiring stuff since the early 1980s and some of that stuff also lives in racks and has its sockets on the back, so I’ve a collection of “things usually connected” which occupy most of my available interface inputs and “things I might sometimes want to connect” so having accessible sockets is very useful. And patchbays are a useful way to bring an input or output round from the back of a rack unit so they can be connected to from the front of the rack. A patchbay also makes it possible to insert e.g. an effect unit easily between an instrument and interface - e.g. a compressor has its sockets connected to the back of the patchbay, as does a synth and an audio interface. By patching between the associated front sockets the compressor can be easily inserted between synth and interface when wanted.

Patchbays are problem solvers for setting up cable routing, for arranging things so a live PA contained in several cases can be set up quickly and for offering alternatives to simply plugging things together in a permanent chain. If your problem is too few inputs or outputs available in Live at the same time then I think you probably really need an audio interface with more ins and outs.

[Tone Deft]

I'd love to see some studio pics from this thread!

got me thinking about reviving the "Post your set up and your sexy cat..." thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11535&hilit=post+a+ ... your+setup