How to Record - Lesson 16: Patchbays - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro 

Hands down THE best patch bay tutorial I have come across. You sir are gifted at the art of imparting knowledge. Thank you.

I’m 15 years old and recently started producing, I recently bought some rack effects so I have just bought a patch bay as it is supposed to be the best way to use the effects, and this is the best tutorial I have seen, thanks for the help

This video was my introduction to Produce Like a Pro shortly after its release. It’s *still* the best patch bay tutorial on RU-vid.

Great video! I'm picking up where I left off 8 years ago, getting back into my home recording projects. I tried the "in the box method, and decided it wasn't for me. Nothing against it, I'm just a 1990's kid who got into the hardware component workflow, and can't let it go. Up until the past few years everything I used was pretty much consumer based stuff. I taught myself, and picked up what I could from other guys along the way. Now I'm upping my game, and collecting/piecing together semi-pro, and pro level gear from the late 80's up until the early 2000's... a hybrid mix of analog, and hard disk/digital components. I've thought about setting up a patch bay for years, but the way I'm doing things now, it has become a necessity. Especially since I'm opening up my studio to a few friends, and select local bands/musicians. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the basic idea, and functionality, but this vid has confirmed what I (thought) I knew, as well as cleared up any questions I may have had. Excellent tutorial. Very concise, and easy to understand. Between yourself, Glenn from Spectre Sound (F**K YOU, GLENN!!!), and Steve Albini, I've learned a lot. If only there was affordable gear, internet, and the wealth of knowledge that you all so generously offer, back in 96 or so... Either way, great work, and thanks for sharing all the info!

All this free education! Thanks for the knowledge you're sharing. I have a patch bay but never really had it set up the way that makes the most sense. Now I know the easiest way to hook all my outboard gear up through my patchbay. I'm self taught when it comes to recording. Learned everything I know by reading, trial and error, and now through youtube. I've learned a lot, have picked up a few skills here and there, but always have more to learn.

Hi Warren, I am currently in my second month at CRAS - there is so much to learn, but it is made far less daunting knowing that in addition to the awesome instructors I have, I also have you as a resource and it really is a blessing! Thank you sir for all you do for the Audio community!

I needed this video a few years ago! I was only dealing with 16 channels but my confusion was complete

Thank you for your very detailed and precise explanation on patching on a console! Your passion for recording and helping others really comes through with this video!!

Thanks Warren another cracking video. Always wanted to know more about this stuff as have only worked on audio interface and PC systems.

I appreciate the breakdown in a commercial setting. Already setup a few patchbays in a few studios but actually seeing how most modern commercial grade studios are thinking about the patch sets and what is useful is great. Not to mention seeing the common way people are color coding their patchs is extremely helpful.

I learned years ago that the waterfall idea was how patch bays worked and that is how I setup mine. All outputs are on the top of each unit and inputs are on the bottom. So I am scratching my head a little on this but Im sure there are exceptions to any rule.

Absolutely the best description of how to set up patch bays in an efficient and functional way. The first one where I haven't been left scratching my head. Thankyou sir, you are marvellous :)

Thanks for the video! Patch bays always give me a giant headache, although I'm getting used to the 4000 at the studio I go to school at, and this helped a lot for learning it

Watching for a second time after making a diagram for my patchbay and you do such an incredible explaining! In particular I was getting tripped up as some say to always have outputs be on top. That makes sense for interface I/o but not for compressors and EQs. Going to reconfigure my diagram with hardware inputs on top and outputs on the bottom. Makes so much more sense! Thank you again!

This is an incredibly useful video. Exactly what we need to know, clear explanations, no BS. Thank you so much Warren.

I've been wanting a video on this forever! THANK YOU! Always happy to see anything on signal path and workflow. Would love to see a video on how people use outboard gear with their DAW being that I never see people messing with cables, just clicking around in protools.

Just bounced over here from the show you did on the Working Class Audio Podcast. I gotta say you are one righteous dude, really enjoyed what you had to say. Thanks so much for all that you give!

I am going to school for Sound Production and your videos are helping tremendously!

Great job Warren. You just clarified a couple things I was trying to get my head around for my studio build this fall. Thanks a bunch! Keep up the great work!

Warren… you rock. I am gonna join your membership because all of your videos are fantastic. Thank you

This is splendid. At the RSC Theatre Sound Department, Barbican, London, we wired in several 'Mults' , but called them 'Parallel'..... essentially : passive splitting and (a bit naughty 😋) passive summing. We had a 40 into 16 into 24 custom E-Type Cadac. On the patch bays we specified a buffered PFL bus output and PFL bus input. Thanks again for this video. 😊😊😊

A big thanks Warrren ! Your content is so interesting and valuable. It enables people that never have the chance to work in a big studio to learn from all this great knowledge and skills ! Personally, I really love your attitude and your caring ! Thanks, man ! :-)

Perfect! I've been watching videos all day and none explained this clearly. Thank you so much!

Really great to see some info on advanced patching of a pro setup. Thanks Warren!

Respect Warren! I love the way you teach, very knowledgeable and humble. Cheers!

Thank you Warren for the affirmation that I have my patchbay wired, at least somewhat "normal"!! lol Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I always enjoy your videos. Joel, Studio 52

Excellent video. so useful as I am planning setup multiple patch bays to get my console rocking! Thanks Warren

I was thinking to myself sometimes "how do they wire the old school studios with tons of gear in the chain" and guessed it must be some routing board. Today I learned it is called a patchbay :-) Man, I like your style and energy very much. Subscribeb, cheers

Thank you for introducing me to the concept of mults Warren 25:49 !! Such a handy and versatile option.

The best explanation about using patch bays! Thanks Warren!!!! I finally get it!

So grateful for this man to exist

That whas great! Thanks from a comercial studio in Brazil Warren ;) Big fan here!

Wow! What a great video! Thank you for taking the time to do this. I really learned a lot from it. I found my new studio love - mults....

Great video, just got me a patchbay and you confirmed that I'm doing things right. Thanks for another great video!

Great Lesson, this is a very important piece of gear for a recording studio, and learning the correct way to implement it can be confusing. But your detailed teaching helped. THANKS.

Been watching your videos and other SSL console videos...SSL console is the top of my list now after I buy a new project car. Never thought patch bays would get me all lit up and ready to work

Thanks Warren, for another great video. Very informative and I wish I had seen something like this 16 years ago before I used a patchbay for the first time. Never actually used a mult though, so that was new to me (and a cleaver feature). Still use a patchbay (6,35mm/ 1/4" TRS) in my humble home studio, (though I don't have a big nice SSL console , well no console at all) since it's such a great thing to not have to plug/unplug back in my rack. :)

Great video, answered a lot questions about patch bays. Thanks again Warren.

I feel grateful for the time you've dedicated to your videos. I only regret you didn't address the issue of phantom power potentially going through TRS/patchbays and that could easily damage gear (and also a comparasion with XLR patchbays would have been interesting). It's a topic that has been widely comented on Gearslutz but I can't really make up my mind on how is it dangerous and how to prevent any problem. Thanks again.

Warren you are THE BEST! Thanks mate, my students and I benefit greatly from your videos. Cheers!

Stunning video. I've learned so much. Cheers.

I love this episode... definitely helped me with my patchbay setup! Thx a zillion Warren!!

Complication made simple. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I know really know what all this is all about. Warren the Rock star. Thanks again

Another great video to learn! I was lookin' for something like that and bum - Waren came out to the rescue ;) Cheers from Poland!

Just yesterday I bought my first patch bay rack! what a great timing. I wanted to get all connections of my gear from the back of the rack to the front so I can change if required easily rather than accessing the back of my desk for access. Most likely set as normalized. Great to have explanation of different modes of patch bay like open and normalized etc, and what type of equipment in/out would use those modes. Maybe the next video? Thanks again.

Yo Warren! Plz can you do a comparison of Digital plugin- brick wall limiters vs Analogue outboard brick limiters. I believe it's important, because many bedroom producers will not be able to afford high end outboard limiters and it will be nice to hear the difference in loudness , clarity and distortion between these 2 platforms, Luv ur videos. Concise, educational and informative. Keep up the good work!

oh man, this is the lesson i have been waiting for forever, warren ur a maaaarveelous freakin' legend

Thank you. This is internet's best lesson so far

Brilliantly clear thank you Warren.

3 minutes into this video and I've already learned a thing, even with over 20 years of experience with recording gear

Best patch bay tutorial. I've seen. Awesome!!!!

Thanks Warren! Just came into an Ssl Console and this was super helpful.

we used the same duality board in school.. pretty amazing board, gives us the opportunity to work with a full analog mix an as digital(daw) controller

Thank you, you gave me years worth of ideas in 20 minutes

Greatest video of all time.

Hi Warren, this is helping me straight away from the get go so thank you. I want to share a work flow route I'm taking as I'm worried I may cause damage due to my lack of knowledge after watching you route the microphone at the start of this video. I have the following setup for my vocalist's microphone in my band: 1. Dynamic mic cable into mic in on channel 1 of Soundcraft Spirit Studio 16-8-2 2. Y insert cable into channel 1 insert 3. Insert Send and return into back of patchbay and normalised A1 and B1 with balanced TRS patch leads on a balanced patchbay. I believe this is so far so good as if no additional equipment plugged into front of A1 and B1, it returns to the channel path unaltered. 4. Patching from the front, I run into a vacuum tube pre amp then a compressor. My question is, why do you take you mic lines though your external processing equipment but then back into Line In on the channel rather than Mic In? I wouldn't know to do this. Is it wrong to plug a microphone directly into patchbay, patch through external effects and processors and pre amps then patch back into the mic in on the mixer? Would this cause damage to the pre amps if an external pre amp is already lifting the signal? I want to avoid breaking anything but I seem to have more control over mic inputs in the channel path than I have for line inputs. Also should I go through the gate/Limiter/Compressor unit before the valve tube pre amp or after, how does it affect things and does it matter? Thanks and hopefully you can set me on the correct path. Chris

Thank you for this information, it helped me in school

Great video Warren! Can you do an in depth video where you explain how you hooked up your console to your DAW, especially the hardware aspect?

Hi Warren! Thanks so much for these videos. Couldn't possibly pay you enough for this great wisdom!! I'm going to ask a noobish question: do patchbays negatively affect sound? If so, what patchbays should a studio purchase? Are there brands to go to or to avoid? Thanks again! Mycroft

Excellent lesson. And mad english swag. How come these types of engineers always sound way cooler than I do when I talk about this stuff?

Great video, Warren. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm going to have to watch it again to get more of the tips and tricks. I loved the added bonus of the vocal parallel compression. What kind of settings would you use for the softer passages? Thanks and keep up the great work.

THANKS ALOT I JUST FINISHED THE LESSON I LEARNED ALOT I JUST STARTED MY JOURNEY SO ILL KEEP GOING AND GOING

What an Absolutely Awesome introduction series, you have given me SO Many "Ah HA" moments, I'm going to be lost for days playing :-) I'm So Glad I subscribed & Truly want to thank you for sharing your wisdom & knowledge. Your a Legend! :-) Looking forward to all your other tutorials & vids

Thank you very much for your time and this jobb you do.

Awesome! A little bit confusing for me cause some of the patchbays ins were located above the outs of the same rack. Learned a lot anyway

Thank you so much for this video

Really well explained Warren

I've never needed more than 24 channels simultaneously, but my monitoring set up could get pretty complicated with a 5 + or more piece band , with everyone needing their own headphone mix.

its a great information thanks warren

Great video Warren, thanks again

Thanks, this is real world information.

Thanks for a good lesson, as i am mostly doing sound in church it is good to know.

Warren, I've got an idea for a future episode. Patchbay use ... part II. I really appreciated the one episode you did at an educational facility, where you talked about "the waterfall" kind of relationship of the patchbays. Very helpful, and thank you. But it would be great to get some implementation practices from you. EXAMLE: When phantom power crosses a preamp patch ... it's it safe to connect/disconnect via patch cable. I get different opinions about that. Channel muting ... does that matter. Can you harm a mic who's channel is wired to a pb and then to a preamp that is powered? Can you harm a preamp who's i/o are wired to a pb ... can connect/disconnect? When is a pb helpful? 1/4 or TT? db25 or connection of choice? I'd also like to hear what you've blown-up w/ a pb ... those stories are always fun : ) Really appreciate all you do for the world wide recording community Warren. All the best friend. Ron Flack Canton, Ohio

Thank you so much for this.

awesome studio...... great vid! thx

hi warren i like your channel the patchbay lesson was great

Amazing job Warren, Thanks a lot ! Cheers Bro !

This video is gold.

thanks!!! you gave me lots of ideas!!!

Just subscribed. Great videos Sir. Thanks.

What an informative video, Warren, thank you very much! Can you say about this multi patch channels, are they isolated in some way(like transformer and etc), or are just connected to each other?Great approach by the way , with parallel compression, wow!

The best way to describe patch bays i learnt from my teacher was just like a 'waterfall' output to input, the water flows down the stream and lands to another input, but instead of water, its just signal. It's funny cause we have an SSL duality aswell, but we have a separate patch bay on the racks instead of connected to the console. means lots of turning around and checking phantom and neck twisting to see if you're getting signal

Where in the chain does Phantom Power get added for mics that need it? Also, thanks for the video. Helps a lot with understanding the patchbay connection modes.

Could you please explain how the channel inserts are set up in the back of a patch bay? I’m guessing you would just come out of the channel direct insert with a TRS Y cable to the different point of the patch bay, would greatly appreciate an answer, thanks Warren really love learning from your videos, you are awesome!

That was great Warren, I always wondered what the deal was with patchbays, Correct me if I am wrong, but they bring all the ins and outs to where the action is. So all the pre-amp inputs "for example" are really only accessible through the patchbay? Because the outputs/inputs to that preAmp already lead to the patchbay? Originally starting out with having a "one track at a time" recording approach has left me with little need for much gear and I also use an audio project chart, that floats around in the room on casters, for all my rack stuff - it makes for pretty easy access. I can see why you choose that studio, the control room was very nice and the patchbay properly laid out and labeled. Thanks for the lessons, I really appreciate your channel.

Hi Warren, Great video! Wondering if there are still shots available of the labeling on the SSL console in the video... it's a bit hard to read at times. Thanks!

Warren, have you seen the video Patchbay Basics Part 2 by @SLCAUDIO the format is gold. So easy to understand. It compliments your video well.

Thank you Warren, another awesome video as always! How do you set up multi? is that as simple as a splitter in the back?

Hi, thank you for the great video. So helpful! Specially since Duality is popular AND it represents most of the features you might see on the similar consoles. Let me please clarify just one things and it's about MULTS 29:59 Form my understanding there are 2 MULTS. 1st one takes 1 signal and splits it in to 2 equivalents. And the 2nd MULT does the opposite - takes 1 signal and merges it to just one. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you!

Hi Warren, marvellous video! Would you kindly explain how the external mic pres are connected in this set up? How is phantom power handled with the TT setup? Cheers, Benny.

To much information!! a lot to learn!! I don't figure it how the connections are to work perfectly with the console and pro tools but i'll research it!! Thanks for this lesson!! it's awesome!! lml

Thanks for the video. It's very informative. I'm doing my homework before I dive into my own patchbay. I have a question concerning the bay with the outboard gear. Is that set up in what would be called "de-normaled"? Are the connection just straight through on that? Thanks!

wow !! i think its scary how you all guys using big consoles . and i only use my midi keyboard and a daw + audio interface ... im a student right now . so when i work . i will build my own studio . and you are helping me to learn some new stuff ! Thank you for your hard work making videos and tutorials !!!!!

Really good video!

Eyy I go to school here :D I'm starting my Intro to Pro Tools class in a few days.

LARS! Wonder if Lon still works their,.great engineer and teacher. Thanks for the video

Great video Warren from a fellow Northern Englishman lol. Also wanted to echo some of the points below about how one connects a patch bay to ones interface and equipment etc. It would me mega useful my brother, ktf, Jay

Hi Warren I'm very grateful of this videos, I have learn so much. What about the remaining four lessons? Greetings!

I see the traditional patchbay quite intuative and I didn't know about a normalized fuction which is helpful... Although I could easily find a recall session a absolute overwhelling night mare... Do you think this channel could do a review of the Flock Patch XT? as this would make that process such a breeze

still watching this so excuse me if this was asked. if I have an outboard mic preamp, I go from the mic input to monitor input. what if I also want protools out to use outboard processing. both won't be able to patch into monitor input. what's the procedure then?