Thanks for the idea (3.5mm patch bay)

[bobbylandry]

Mazzatron just released this... 8HP, 1/8" on front (8 jacks) and 1/4" on back (8 jacks):
https://www.mazzatron.com/product-page/ ... ack-module

sadly passive .. I'd get an active version

Why would this need to be active?

You can lose some voltage when multing CV signals with a passive setup which could make something like pitch CVs not track perfectly. So maybe something like that is a concern here?

[kay_k]

Mazzatron just released this... 8HP, 1/8" on front (8 jacks) and 1/4" on back (8 jacks):
https://www.mazzatron.com/product-page/ ... ack-module

sadly passive .. I'd get an active version

Why would this need to be active?

boost & attenuation to "normal" studio levels.
I would love 4 receivers with a 12db boost and 4 transmitters with 12dB attenuation. Ideally normaled to each other for my inserts
I actually have a 8 channel version of this semi finished (not to 6.3mm jacks but with Tascam to balanced 6.3 TRS) but I have no time right now

[xcc]

Mazzatron just released this... 8HP, 1/8" on front (8 jacks) and 1/4" on back (8 jacks):
https://www.mazzatron.com/product-page/ ... ack-module

sadly passive .. I'd get an active version

Why would this need to be active?

boost & attenuation to "normal" studio levels.
I would love 4 receivers with a 12db boost and 4 transmitters with 12dB attenuation. Ideally normaled to each other for my inserts
I actually have a 8 channel version of this semi finished (not to 6.3mm jacks but with Tascam to balanced 6.3 TRS) but I have no time right now

OK I could see a use for that, but then it’s not a patch bay anymore which it the point of the thread. I’d like to see yours when you get it done.

[meska]

Hinton Instruments juste Introduces the SwitchMix II !

[studio460]

. . . As it turns out I have a Behringer "Eurorack" patch bay already installed which will do the trick quite nicely. I don't actually patch much audio through it. I just need to order 20 3.5mm to 1/4" adapters, from Amazon it works out to about $60 which is about the same as two 2 or 3 hp 3x3 mults, but doesn't take up any space in my rack!

Which Behringer patchbay is that? Also, I wanted to warn everyone: I bought 10 right-angle 1/4" TS-TS adapters from Amazon for like $8.99 in October of last year. They were so defectively manufactured, a 1/4" plug wouldn't even fit into the jack. Anyway, I was able to return them thanks to the extended holiday-season return period.

For 1/8" to 1/4" adapters, I ordered some from B+H. When they arrived, they were in Comprehensive packaging, a well-known pro-video accessory brand. Anyway, I chose these because they seemed to have the shortest profile. However, the 1/8" to 1/4" female part is extremely tight, requiring a bit of force to pull out. The 1/4" plug is fine. Despite the slightly-too-tight female 1/8" jack, they're a high-quality build and still recommended.

The "build"? Hmm ... layout holes on a blank panel, drill, install components, wire it up. I'm not exactly sure what you mean . . .

I think he means the awesomely professional DIY job you did. If I attempted that it would look like one of "Nailed it!" attempts on the internet.

Mazzatron just released this... 8HP, 1/8" on front (8 jacks) and 1/4" on back (8 jacks):
https://www.mazzatron.com/product-page/ ... ack-module

My God! Where has this been all my life! I so NEED this! This will be a game-changer! Kinda like being able to use someone's YouTube password; i.e., life-changing (OMG—you have got to get one—NO MORE commercials while trying to view another demo on YouTube). Anywho, I've been integrating more outboard pedals into my modular, mainly because there are just so many available, and most sound incredibly good. Got my eyes on a Source Audio Collider next.

[Foghorn]

I just made long cables with 3.5 mm TS plugs on one end and 1/4" TS plugs on the other end.
It accomplishes what a passive patch bay with single jacks will do.
If you don't want passive, plug the 3.5 mm end into buffered mults or a module with driver circuits.
I have seen inline 1/4" TS sockets also.

[studio460]

. . . As it turns out I have a Behringer "Eurorack" patch bay already installed which will do the trick quite nicely.

Which Behringer patchbay is that?

Nevermind, I think I found it. The patchbay I was looking for is one of the few with normalization switches on the FRONT panel:



Samson S-Patch Plus 48-point balanced patchbay ($139)

Though, I have a question: The whole patchbay is TRS. Can I use TS-cables (i.e., mono) both in and out with this patchbay instead without issue? If there's a TS-patchbay with front-panel normalization switches, I haven't found it.

[ima_jrk]

Though, I have a question: The whole patchbay is TRS. Can I use TS-cables (i.e., mono) both in and out with this patchbay instead without issue? If there's a TS-patchbay with front-panel normalization switches, I haven't found it.

Mostly, but ultimately depends on what you are patching to. For instance, many audio interfaces with a balanced input will accept an unbalanced signal. Some audio interface outputs that are balanced don’t like being patched to unbalanced as tying ring and sleeve together results in distortion (looking at you MOTU). Others may be fine.

If you are just patching unbalanced to unbalanced, it works all day long - unbalanced cable creates a short between the ring and sleeve.

ETA that I have several of those patchbays and I love them.

ETA also that Expert Sleepers sells 2 meter long 1/4” TRS to 3.5mm TS cables where the ring is intentionally floating/not connected - you can use these for ins or outs to connect to balanced gear. There was one other company in the US that will custom make them but I can’t remember who.

[muleskinner]

. . . As it turns out I have a Behringer "Eurorack" patch bay already installed which will do the trick quite nicely.

Which Behringer patchbay is that?

Nevermind, I think I found it. The patchbay I was looking for is one of the few with normalization switches on the FRONT panel:



Samson S-Patch Plus 48-point balanced patchbay ($139)

Though, I have a question: The whole patchbay is TRS. Can I use TS-cables (i.e., mono) both in and out with this patchbay instead without issue? If there's a TS-patchbay with front-panel normalization switches, I haven't found it.

I use TS cables on this patchbay with zero issues (apart from the cheap-ass cables I bought failing sometimes ).

[studio460]

. . . If you are just patching unbalanced to unbalanced, it works all day long - unbalanced cable creates a short between the ring and sleeve.

Awesome answer! Thank you! I would only be patching modules to guitar pedals and back. Maybe a synth or two. Didn't know about those cables—great find!

I use TS cables on this patchbay with zero issues (apart from the cheap-ass cables I bought failing sometimes ).

Excellent! Thank you!

[winn3r]

Get one of those and 96 1/4 to 3.5mm adapters

That Samson S-Patch is a good one for sure though

[studio460]

Get one of those and 96 1/4 to 3.5mm adapters

Haha! I already have about 40 of them! Of course, I already went off and ordered two Mazzatron Eurorack patchbays before coming back to here read the replies to my question. I'll save the Samson for the day I re-wire everything. The Mazzatrons are a great stop-gap to resolve my immediate needs.

I'm actually thrilled to have learned of this solution—thanks, circuitburst!!! I'm so jazzed that I'll soon be able to so easily re-patch my pedals in and out of the rack, plus now I'll be able to also use my TC Electronic G-Major multi-effects units (which have all their I/O on the back).

[tymkrs]

Another option is the Bulkhead module by Tymkrs:

That's exactly what I want but with 1/4" jacks on the back!

We're totally working on this as we speak. Hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll be able to put some 1/8" to 1/4" modules up for you!

[muleskinner]

Another option is the Bulkhead module by Tymkrs:

That's exactly what I want but with 1/4" jacks on the back!

We're totally working on this as we speak. Hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll be able to put some 1/8" to 1/4" modules up for you!

Ha - coincidentally I'm just going the the process of getting a cost for a drilled panel so I can build something similar myself.

Do you have an idea how many jacks you're going to be able to fit in how much hp and what the ballpark cost per module would be?

[tymkrs]

muleskinner:

4HP, four 1/8" TS on the panel, four 1/4" TS on the back, same price point as the Tymkrs Bulkhead 2HP ($25USD)

I also managed to work in some normalling to a passive mult type mojo which should prove to make it useful for much more than only as a strait passthrough. First run of PCBs is on the way, so as @atdiy mentioned (given they test good) a week or two we should be able to put the first handful of them up.

@whixr / @tymkrs