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Punchdown patchbays [message #83169] Mon, 16 April 2007 11:06 Go to next message
Deej [4] is currently offline  Deej [4]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1292
Registered: January 2007
Senior Member
As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes and
have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
works???............nawwww...........

Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?

Thanks,

Deej
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83175 is a reply to message #83169] Mon, 16 April 2007 12:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
EK Sound is currently offline  EK Sound   CANADA
Messages: 939
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
They are used a LOT in larger studios. Wire size is KEY for these
things... even a slight difference in diameter can ruin your day with
punch blocks. This means you can't use *just any wire*. There is a
guy over on GS that built a room and used them:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/48460-steves-new-rec ording-studio-start-18.html

Start reading the thread about mid-way down the page. He had quite a
bit to say about the blocks and wire.

I don't like them personally... something frightens me about
insulation displacement connections...

David.

DJ wrote:
> As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
> patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
> *pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
> blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
> solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes and
> have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
> to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
> with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
> works???............nawwww...........
>
> Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Deej
>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83176 is a reply to message #83169] Mon, 16 April 2007 12:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Bittree programmable.

Use the E3 connector rather than the punchdown. You can do it all with
their crimp tool, but we crimp and then solder. Great gear, easily
programmable for normalling on the front panel and with the E3, easily
changed on the back. We have had zero service calls on these.

I can get you a good price once you get your part number.

DC


"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)

>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more

>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown

>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking

>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
and
>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks

>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years

>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>works???............nawwww...........
>
>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Deej
>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83181 is a reply to message #83176] Mon, 16 April 2007 12:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deej [4] is currently offline  Deej [4]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1292
Registered: January 2007
Senior Member
Cool. I'm dealing with lots of different size wire here. big Mogami/ little
Mogami of various snake sizes ranging from 2 pair to 32 pair.


"DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote in message news:4623d00f$1@linux...
>
> Bittree programmable.
>
> Use the E3 connector rather than the punchdown. You can do it all with
> their crimp tool, but we crimp and then solder. Great gear, easily
> programmable for normalling on the front panel and with the E3, easily
> changed on the back. We have had zero service calls on these.
>
> I can get you a good price once you get your part number.
>
> DC
>
>
> "DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
>
>>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
>
>>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
>
>>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
>
>>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
> and
>>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
>
>>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
>
>>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>>works???............nawwww...........
>>
>>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Deej
>>
>>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83182 is a reply to message #83181] Mon, 16 April 2007 13:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
The E3 accepts most any gauge cable. The little Mogami
console cable (2944) should probably be soldered as well
as crimped, and you have to buy their crimper, but it's a
great system

DC


"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>Cool. I'm dealing with lots of different size wire here. big Mogami/ little

>
>
>"DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote in message news:4623d00f$1@linux...
>>
>> Bittree programmable.
>>
>> Use the E3 connector rather than the punchdown. You can do it all with
>> their crimp tool, but we crimp and then solder. Great gear, easily
>> programmable for normalling on the front panel and with the E3, easily
>> changed on the back. We have had zero service calls on these.
>>
>> I can get you a good price once you get your part number.
>>
>> DC
>>
>>
>> "DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
>>
>>>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
>>
>>>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
>>
>>>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
>>
>>>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
>> and
>>>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
>>
>>>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
>>
>>>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>>>works???............nawwww...........
>>>
>>>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Deej
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83189 is a reply to message #83169] Mon, 16 April 2007 15:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
How about NO patch bays?

Be a purist - fewer connections, etc, etc.

I don't use one & wouldn't bother with one now unless I had a
console - had a bay for awhile, but got rid of it 2-3 years ago,
just couldn't see the advantage.

Neil

"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)

>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more

>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown

>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking

>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
and
>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks

>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years

>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>works???............nawwww...........
>
>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Deej
>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83191 is a reply to message #83189] Mon, 16 April 2007 16:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Absolutely...

If you have enough I/O in your DAW, why not?

You can always patch things around in the app.

DC

"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>
>How about NO patch bays?
>
>Be a purist - fewer connections, etc, etc.
>
>I don't use one & wouldn't bother with one now unless I had a
>console - had a bay for awhile, but got rid of it 2-3 years ago,
>just couldn't see the advantage.
>
>Neil
>
>"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
>
>>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
>
>>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
>
>>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
>
>>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
>and
>>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
>
>>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
>
>>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>>works???............nawwww...........
>>
>>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Deej
>>
>>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83221 is a reply to message #83191] Mon, 16 April 2007 23:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Nil is currently offline  Nil
Messages: 245
Registered: March 2007
Senior Member
Yup... don't need 'em: Mic/mic pre/convertors - why insert an
extra few feet of cable & open-air, unshielded contacts into
your signal chain? I can reach behind my rack just as easily as
I can reach over to the front of it if I wanna try another
preamp or insert a compressor inline or sumthin'.

Admittely, if you're running a big desk, you gotta have 'em.
You can't be climbing behind the console all the time to patch &
repatch stuff.

Neil


"DC" nhell.com> wrote:
>
>Absolutely...
>
>If you have enough I/O in your DAW, why not?
>
>You can always patch things around in the app.
>
>DC
>
>"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>
>>How about NO patch bays?
>>
>>Be a purist - fewer connections, etc, etc.
>>
>>I don't use one & wouldn't bother with one now unless I had a
>>console - had a bay for awhile, but got rid of it 2-3 years ago,
>>just couldn't see the advantage.
>>
>>Neil
>>
>>"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight thru)
>>
>>>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
>>
>>>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
>>
>>>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
>>
>>>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
>>and
>>>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it looks
>>
>>>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8 years
>>
>>>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>>>works???............nawwww...........
>>>
>>>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Deej
>>>
>>>
>>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83258 is a reply to message #83221] Tue, 17 April 2007 08:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deej [4] is currently offline  Deej [4]   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1292
Registered: January 2007
Senior Member
I've got 18 preamp channels, 31 outboard processors (25 analog and 6
digital) that I interface during mixdown , 26 AD's and DA's and few other
odds and ends that I am swapping around during tracking and mixing. PB's
just work better for my purposes.I'm not having any *issues* with signal
degradation or intermittent connections. Climbing around behind my racks
just isn't ergonomically feasible or practical. It's much easier to just
lean over from my perch in the sweet spot, grab a cable and plug it in if
need be. Right now, I'm using 3 x 48 point PB's that are configured straight
through (1:1). I'll be making better use of normalling/half normalling, if
and when, to reduce th number of patch cables necessary, but this won't be
for any reason having to do with fidelity, just convenience.

Deej


"Neil" <IUOIU@OIU.com> wrote in message news:46246494$1@linux...
>
> Yup... don't need 'em: Mic/mic pre/convertors - why insert an
> extra few feet of cable & open-air, unshielded contacts into
> your signal chain? I can reach behind my rack just as easily as
> I can reach over to the front of it if I wanna try another
> preamp or insert a compressor inline or sumthin'.
>
> Admittely, if you're running a big desk, you gotta have 'em.
> You can't be climbing behind the console all the time to patch &
> repatch stuff.
>
> Neil
>
>
> "DC" nhell.com> wrote:
>>
>>Absolutely...
>>
>>If you have enough I/O in your DAW, why not?
>>
>>You can always patch things around in the app.
>>
>>DC
>>
>>"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>How about NO patch bays?
>>>
>>>Be a purist - fewer connections, etc, etc.
>>>
>>>I don't use one & wouldn't bother with one now unless I had a
>>>console - had a bay for awhile, but got rid of it 2-3 years ago,
>>>just couldn't see the advantage.
>>>
>>>Neil
>>>
>>>"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>>>As my old cheap modular (switchablenormalled/half normalled/straight
>>>>thru)
>>>
>>>>patchbays start to age, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more
>>>
>>>>*pro*. I'm looking at some o the ADC and Bittree products with punchdown
>>>
>>>>blocks just because I don't want to spend the next three months sucking
>>>
>>>>solder fumes. I could probably clip the TRS jacks off my existing snakes
>>>and
>>>>have these punched down in a couple of days, if it's as simple as it
>>>>looks
>>>
>>>>to be. Then again, since these old modular PB's have lasted over 8
>>>>years
>>>
>>>>with only two modules going south, maybe I should stick with what
>>>>works???............nawwww...........
>>>>
>>>>Any problems with reliability with punch down PB's?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>Deej
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83261 is a reply to message #83258] Tue, 17 April 2007 09:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>I've got 18 preamp channels, 31 outboard processors (25 analog and 6
>digital) that I interface during mixdown , 26 AD's and DA's and few other

>odds and ends that I am swapping around during tracking and mixing. PB's

>just work better for my purposes.I'm not having any *issues* with signal

>degradation or intermittent connections. Climbing around behind my racks

>just isn't ergonomically feasible or practical. It's much easier to just

>lean over from my perch in the sweet spot, grab a cable and plug it in if

>need be. Right now, I'm using 3 x 48 point PB's that are configured straight

>through (1:1). I'll be making better use of normalling/half normalling,
if
>and when, to reduce th number of patch cables necessary, but this won't
be
>for any reason having to do with fidelity, just convenience.

Sorry, you can't convince me... I'm certain that I gain at least
3.5Khz on the top end, -6db lower noise levels and an extra 14db
of dynamic range by avoiding the use of patchbays.

:D
;)
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83262 is a reply to message #83261] Tue, 17 April 2007 09:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Yes, and the high end has that sheen! Way more three-
dimensionality...

heh

DC

"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:

>Sorry, you can't convince me... I'm certain that I gain at least
>3.5Khz on the top end, -6db lower noise levels and an extra 14db
>of dynamic range by avoiding the use of patchbays.
>
>:D
>;)
Re: Punchdown patchbays [message #83263 is a reply to message #83262] Tue, 17 April 2007 09:15 Go to previous message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
Absolutely, it's like having a built-in "soar" button.

:)


"DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>
>Yes, and the high end has that sheen! Way more three-
>dimensionality...
>
>heh
>
>DC
>
>"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>
>>Sorry, you can't convince me... I'm certain that I gain at least
>>3.5Khz on the top end, -6db lower noise levels and an extra 14db
>>of dynamic range by avoiding the use of patchbays.
>>
>>:D
>>;)
>
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