Alright, here comes some dumb questions.

[daryl bowden]

Well, I have really started to expand my home operation and needed some help sorting it out. I am using an Mbox connected to a powerbook. I have a Focusrite Penta (no A/D card), a TC multi-fx unit, a rack mixer, and am planning on buying a de-esser. I was thinking about getting a patch bay as well, just so I will be prepared for further expansion. My question is: In what orer should I hook these up. Obviously I will be going from my Penta into my Mbox analog, but how should I set the outputs on the penta? +4, -10? I don't think it is possible to completely bypass the Mbox mic pre's. Also, when dealing with patch bays, what does normalled, half-normalled, and open mean? I don't get it.

[where02190]

Line input into the M-box is +4.

[Kickin.da.speaker]

The only dumbs are the ones who don't ask the questions!

Well, in the old tradition of "more is better", that applys to juice too, +4 is better than -10. You get a hotter signal that is less prone to catch noise. Just make sure to set the corresponding level in your Digi001's settings panel. Oops, that's an Mbox. My bad.

If you use one of the inputs on the back you'll bypass the mic preamps totally since they aren't in the chain anymore. In the case where you have to input your signal through inputs 1 or/and 2, just set the gain to min and depress the "-26dB" button. Oops, that's an Mbox. I should learn to read before answering posts.

As for the terms of the patchbay, a picture is worth a thousand words: download this pdf and scroll down to page 2.