OT: best way to feed 2 recording systems?

[mgbasinski]

This is off-topic, but if anyone has suggestions:

For my small home studio, I use a Mackie 1402 VLZ3 mixer, and I have 2 different digital audio systems, my MBox, and also a MOTU 828. I use each one under various circumstances (MBox for PTLE, 828 for Garage Band or Logic), though never at the same time.

What's the best way to run signal from the mixer to feed both the MBox and the 828? At present I have 2 sets of cables (going to inputs of each digital audio unit) that I alternate in connecting to ALT 3-4 output of the Mackie (but that is not in a convenient location for easy swapping).

I thought about getting a small patchbay, and just using patch cords to connect the mixer to whichever unit I am using.

I also wondered whether using some kind of Y cable/connection would work, but I'm not sure whether that is really a good idea for this kind of signal path.

Any opinions or suggestions? Thanks in advance,

Mark

[EGS]

I'd suggest a balanced patchbay. Don't use y cables.