[sdiy] Patchbays - 1/4" or TT/bantam jacks?

[Seb Francis]

Hi Nick,

While TT/bantam patchbays are arguably better than 1/4" in a few 
respects, I've always used 1/4" for convenience as all my studio and 
modular cabling tends to be 1/4".  The key thing is to buy a *good 
quality* patchbay, otherwise you will be plagued by intermittent 
connections, especially as the patchbay gets a bit older.

A good (but still affordable) one I have found is the Signex Isopatch CPJ48
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul98/articles/signexcpj48.html

I'll say it again .. avoid cheap patchbays if you can afford to!

Seb


Nicholas Gregorich wrote:
> What do you use for your patchbays?  I've searched audio forums and "professional" users swear by TT patchbays.  Do SDIY'ers choose another format more friendly with modulars and such?
>
> Obviously a patchbay provides a different function than a synthesizer, and one could have a few hardwired lines from a modular to the rear of the patchbay to run signals to and fro, but does it make more sense to be able to share 1/4" TS cables (I don't run a whole lot of balanced lines) between a modular and patchbay rather than having TT cables as well as 1/4"?  It also seems like TT patchbays as well as plugs cost a bit more than 1/4" patchbays.
>
> Is there something I'm missing?  Are a nice TT patchbay and cables worth the investment?  Is a 1/4" 'bay more convenient?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Nick.
>
>
>