Analog patch bay outs with 192 and XMON

[EvilTuna7]

Hi everybody,

I'm currently using my 192 analog out to feed my XMON Main Inputs. I need to be able to patch my Pro Tools analog outs (1 - 8) to my patch bay though, so I was wondering what everybody else has done to accomplish this? I saw elsewhere that someone had used the AES out from the 192, ran it through a D/A, and used that to feed the XMON (leaving the analog 192 outs free). Is that best way to do it or am I missing something easier? Thanks!

[Craig F]

I just put everything on the bay

[moofie]

Originally Posted by EvilTuna7

Hi everybody,

I'm currently using my 192 analog out to feed my XMON Main Inputs. I need to be able to patch my Pro Tools analog outs (1 - 8) to my patch bay though, so I was wondering what everybody else has done to accomplish this? I saw elsewhere that someone had used the AES out from the 192, ran it through a D/A, and used that to feed the XMON (leaving the analog 192 outs free). Is that best way to do it or am I missing something easier? Thanks!

Run the 192 analog outputs, 1 - 8 into the top strip of a patch bay. Normal those 8 to the 8 directly below which connect directly to your X-Mon Main inputs (or the 4 stereo inputs or whatever) then you can just pop a patchlead into the 192 outputs on the top row, sending it wherever you want but that may break the normal so you could possibly lose your X-Mon Input.
To get around that you could tap off the Analog output as it connects to the patch bay and just wire that to a duplicate set of patchbay sockets. You'd end up with the Analog 1-8 Output in 2 sections of your patch panel.
Or, if you're using DB-25 to XLR tails as your analog output of the 192, just wire up some XLR y-lead splitters and connect them to the XLR tails. Plug your feed to the X-Mon into one side of the splitter and then send the other side to your patch bay.
Perfectly valid methods.

Something to consider anyway. Good luck!

T

[moofie]

Originally Posted by Craig F

I just put everything on the bay

Basically, what Craig said.

[EvilTuna7]

Craig and Moofie, thanks for the responses!

The reason I was wary of putting the 192's analog output into the patch bay is because pro tools outputs 1 & 5 are feeding my left and right channels (Moofie, I think you touched on that in your response). As far as I can tell, that means I wouldn't be able to use outputs 1 and 5 from protools as outputs on my patch bay because their output would always be either be the audio going to the left or right channels.

I know at my old company we had patch bays where pro tools analog 1 - 8 were available, so I'm a little confused at how they were able to accomplish this. Thanks again for the help guys.

[Craig F]

I cross wire the inputs of the Xmon so it is SMPTE order on the bay (L, R, C, Lfe, Ls, Rs)
then 1 & 2 are your left-right pair on all of my installs
and I bagger Avid about it whenever I can

[moofie]

Originally Posted by Craig F

I cross wire the inputs of the Xmon so it is SMPTE order on the bay (L, R, C, Lfe, Ls, Rs)
then 1 & 2 are your left-right pair on all of my installs
and I bagger Avid about it whenever I can

We do the exact same wire swap here as well. Bit of a curly one to get your head around if you've not done it before but it keeps everything nice and simple in the end.

FYI... if you do want to try re-wiring the xmon input... here''s the layout we use for getting L, R, C, Lfe, Ls, Rs to the "correct" output.
1 (L) stays on 1
5 (R) goes to 2
3 (C) stays on 3
8 (Sub) goes to 4
6 (Ls) goes to 5
7 (Rs) goes to 6

Works like a charm.

To get L/R audio to your Monitoring and to show on the patch bay as outputs is when you either use the splitter leads or double them up on your patchbay. Your Patchbay could look like this...
Top Row: 192 op 1 // 192 op 2 // 192 op 1 // 192 op 2 // 192 op 3 // 192 op 4 // etc to op 8
Bottom Row: Xmon Input St1 L // Xmon Input St1 R // Wayline 1 // Wayline 2 etc to 8.
You physically add connecting wires to the Top Row 192 1/2 connections that then loop across to their duplicate outputs. Those first two connections are also hardwired down to the XMon Stereo input.

[paulo m]

I would add to the excelent suggestions already, that there is no need to introduce any splitters before the patch.

Just use a half normalled patchbay. All outs in the upper rows are half normalled to the lower rows inputs. Inserting a jack on the top row doesn´t break the connection to the bottom row. Only when you insert a jack on the bottom row breaks the circuit. Meaning that you can send the outs of the 192 to anywhere you want without breaking the feed to Xmon inputs.

On a full normalled patchbay, insering a jack in either upper or lower rows, breaks the circuit.

I´m also in favour of crosswiring the 192/Xmon inputs to go SMPTE, rather than the default wiring.

[EvilTuna7]

Guys, thanks for all the great suggestions!


I definitely see how going to the SMPTE setup would make things easier. Just to make sure though, with the SMPTE setup you're still effectively loosing the ability to use 1 & 2 as viable pro tools outputs because they are feeding your xmon with the left and right signals. Meaning, you can patch them but their output would always either be the left total signal or the right total signal?

[moofie]

Originally Posted by EvilTuna7

Guys, thanks for all the great suggestions!


I definitely see how going to the SMPTE setup would make things easier. Just to make sure though, with the SMPTE setup you're still effectively loosing the ability to use 1 & 2 as viable pro tools outputs because they are feeding your xmon with the left and right signals. Meaning, you can patch them but their output would always either be the left total signal or the right total signal?

Yes thats right. Just to clarify, you want a full set of 8 analog outs PLUS a left and right monitor output from your 192?
Yep, you'll need to send out AES L/R (or whatever) into a D/A and then to the x-mon leaving you a full set of 8 analog outs to wrangle as you please.
Find an old 24bit 888, loom it in and run it standalone mode... total cost about $100. Done.

TM