Welp...your patches have greater surface area with a 1/4" bay than with an 1/8th" "TT" bay, so in theory it sounds better...it also takes up twice+ the room, and the patch cables cost more...but are easier to make at home (and the 'ho made' one's cost less than the 'store bought' type).

A "directional nonanswer" if I've ever done one...

1/4" is probably better, unless you need a lot of patch points in a small area. I went with TT because of the density- twice as many points in the same rack space. It was a huge pain in the ass, though, and Fletcher's right about ho' made. Much easier with TRS.

Oh, and if you're talking about cheap, then I'd differ with Fletcher- there are cheap bundles of 1/4" TRS patch cables available, and I haven't seen any TT cables that would really qualify as cheap. Whether the cheap ones are worthwhile is up to you....

Thanks for the replies on this elementary question. :) I got the space in me empty rack so I guess I'll go with quarter inch.

Neutrik sells the:

NPP-TB 1/4" patchbay for $589

and the

PB-MI 1/4" patchbay for $99

(prices from markertek)

which one should I buy? that's quite a price disparity!

Originally posted by Jon Best:
Oh, and if you're talking about cheap, then I'd differ with Fletcher- there are cheap bundles of 1/4" TRS patch cables available, and I haven't seen any TT cables that would really qualify as cheap. Whether the cheap ones are worthwhile is up to you....

Where would I obtain these cheap bundles of 1/4 inch TRS? And is this cheap and good or cheap and comprimised? :roll:

i looked at the neutrik website and it's pitiful. no info at all.

YO!

Check out digibid.com they have 10 brand new switchcraft 96 point bays (TT style) up for sale. the price is around $230 for each bay but ofcousre since I just mentioned it here they might double LOL

Your local music superstore type place will have $30 bundles of Hosa, Cable Up, whatever- sometimes I can't hear any difference, sometimes I can, but hey, they work in a pinch and when they break you can pitch them.

Originally posted by Faeflora:

i looked at the neutrik website and it's pitiful. no info at all.

I think there may be some confusion on which 1/4" type patch bays and cables we are talking about.

There is the 1/4" that is standard at most Guitar Mart stores. Usually these patchbays have jacks on the front and back and they are flimsy garbage that breaks.

Then there is the 1/4" military style patchbays and cables. These are more robust, more expensive and you can't buy the cables at Guitar Mart (unfortunately). I hope this helps.

Good luck and Happy Patching!

Bob :)

Originally posted by Bob:

There is the 1/4" that is standard at most Guitar Mart stores. Usually these patchbays have jacks on the front and back and they are flimsy garbage that breaks.
Then there is the 1/4" military style patchbays and cables. These are more robust, more expensive and you can't buy the cables at Guitar Mart (unfortunately). I hope this helps.

Is it worth it to me to buy a $600 patchbay that'll last me 4 times as long as a $100 patchbay? When the $100 patchbay grows old and useless I can pitch it and buy another. The other thing is that I need 144 patch points, or 3 48 point bays. If I bought 3 of the $600 types that totals at $1800! Shit! I'm not a commercial studio, I don't even bill it out. It's for me to record me and friends or people whose music I think is awesome. It won't hurt me much if the patchbay commits suicide in the middle of a take since I'm most likely going to be the client.

I can deal with patchbay death, but what I WON'T deal with is a patchbay that deteriorates my signal! If buying a $600 patchbay nets a sixfold or even threefold improvement, I'll think about buying them!

As for TT, I don't think I can really afford that. Since I'm not confident in my soldering abilities, it would mean I'd have to buy lots of cabling that terminates in TT at one end to plug into the patchbay.

I don't know. I'm willing to pay the extra if it's worth it for TT and more expensive patchbays, but a few people are also telling me that 1/4" (non-military type) will be totally keen.

:(

I wouldn't get too hung up on how this patchbay would degrade your tone. The thing to worry about is your time. Is your (or your clients) time too expensive to waste chasing down intermittent connections on a cruddy patchbay? Maybe not. Not every studio needs a top of the line patchbay as part of their rig. Maybe you'll only make a few patches a day and the cruddy one will last you years. I don't know. I would steer clear of those ones they sell with the jacks on both sides if you anticipate anything other that temporary or occasional use because they fail a lot. The cheapos are modular in design usually. Maybe you could buy an extra and use it a "parts-bay" if you went this way ;) . Good luck and remember, the most important part of it is having fun.

Bob