Art Pro Audio P16 - XLR Balanced Patch Bay

Product Information

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The front panel connections are where you route signals with patch cords and connect additional inputs. The ability to easily switch modes and the concise labeling system are other great features. Pairing this device with high-quality snake cables can improve its performance. Clean wiring and dependable connections are the benefits of this setup. If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offeredFinding the right patch bay for your home studio involves understanding your specific requirements and budget. Whether you're a beginner dipping your toes into audio engineering or a seasoned professional in need of versatile configuration options, there's a product a part of this gear roundup to meet your needs.

They are typically used in recording studios and PA systems, where you might need to make it easy to route various audio sources to any available signal processing devices. TRS—1/4″ TRS patch bays are the type most commonly seen in home studios. TRS stands for tip ring sleeve. Those looking for a balanced patch bay with 1/4” connectors would do well to consider the Samson S-patch Plus. The build quality is pretty impressive for the price, and the ability to switch configuration settings from the front panel will definitely help new users well along the road to familiarity. Even though the printed configuration diagrams on the top panel make this patch bay ideally suited to beginners, it will continue to be useful in your studio as your needs become more complex.

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For example, the line level outputs of a bank of mic preamps are typically normalled to the line level inputs of the analog-to-digital converter in a pro studio setup. Many studios function perfectly well without a patchbay, and the extra cost associated with them can be off-putting for some producers. Many of these patchbays are pretty good. But as you may need to choose one, we’ll figure out which is best for our final analysis. Top Choice: Samson S-Patch Plus

Hot tip: While it may sound tempting, running different microphones on an ¼” patch bay before they reach your mic preamp isn’t recommended. The 48v phantom power that’s required to run some microphone types can cause dangerous side effects when ¼” cables are accidentally removed. Avoid it altogether by using an XLR patchbay or skipping the patchbay for your mics.

Connectors are more than a matter of aesthetics. RCAs might seem like a good idea, but keep in mind that they are not capable of passing balanced signals. You will then be unable to incorporate equipment with balanced inputs such as a mic pre or a mixer. Most RCA-equipped patch bays are also closed configuration devices, reducing your connectivity options.

The P16 is suitable for professionals such as sound engineers and musicians. It can manage multiple sound sources, which is ideal for large home studios, commercial recording studios, and live concerts. It makes managing multiple sound sources a lot easier. Most users are impressed with the ART TPatch’s functionality given its price point and its size. Since eight connection points are typically enough for a small home set-up, something as small and compact as the ART TPatch would not make anybody’s home studio space significantly more crowded.Even hybrid studios with only a few pieces of outboard gear can benefit from a patchbay. It’s all about reducing the amount of time you spend setting up, and increasing the amount of time you spend making music. If you have a studio with analog equipment, you’ll benefit from a using a patchbay. Just be prepared to spend 10-20% of your gear investment for all the cabling you’ll need. Patchbay Design Signal passes from the outputs to the inputs, without the need for a cable. The signal is broken when a cable is plugged into either the top or bottom row. Half-Normal And before someone writes in to ‘correct’ me, yes, I know it’s possible to patch mics on standard patchbays, and that there are countless examples of studios where that is done. But it is only a safe practice if phantom power is turned off at the time, or if other technical arrangements are made to isolate phantom power completely from the patchbay. The problems are that the latter is prohibitively expensive and potentially degrades the mic signal quality, while the former is a tragedy waiting to happen; sooner or later someone will inevitably forget to switch phantom off before patching.