patch bay dummy questions

am trying to understand them, I'm not sure one would make my life easier, but here's my setup

analog mixer/tape recorder with 8 xlr inputs, 8 1/4" line ins, 8 1/4" per channel line outs, rca master and monitor stereo outs etc

2 mono preamps (XLR and 1/4" jacks)

1 4-in and 2-out stereo vintage tube mixer/preamp (XLR jacks)

8 XLR microphones

2 2-channel compressors

two sets of studio monitors

A PA system with RCA aux-ins we sometimes use to hear the music

1 headphone amp (for six headphones)

- how would you wire a patchbay?

- most patchbay seem to be 48-point with TRS jacks front and back. Do you go out and get xlr-> trs and rca -> ts adapters and shit?

My work is video production, so I have two patchbays - one for audio and one for video. I have several video recorders that have XLR inputs and outputs. The patchbay allows me to re-route the audio signal from one deck to another without having to crawl behind the equipment.

I always plug microphones directly into the mixer. When connecting recorders and mixers always try to stay balanced (XLR or TRS) wherever you can. Some equipment is only going to have TS jacks so you will have to use that kind of cable on some equipment. You can buy 1/4" TS-RCA cables for equipment that only has RCA jacks. Don't buy a cable 1/4"-1/4" cable and then buy a 1/4"-RCA adapter because you are just adding another layer of things to go wrong.

It is almost impossible to find all of the cables you will need at a local store, so in the long run it is easier to figure out exactly what you will need, make a list, and then order from a dealer that specializes in "recording" cables.

Monoprice doesn't have everything you will need, but they sell top quality cables and they are CHEAP. Also, their website is top notch. It tells you exactly what items are in stock - unlike most "music store" websites. Monoprice is where I got almost of the XLR & TRS cables for my patchbay.

I ordered other cables I needed from Sweetwater. They have a large variety of Hosa cables that will work well for anything you can't locate at Monoprice.

You will also need some patch cables to use in the front of the patchbay. Sweetwater has those cables too.

This probably goes without saying, but the top row of jacks on a patchbay is the "outputs" from a deck or mixer, and the bottom row is the "inputs" to a deck or mixer.

I'm not sure this will help, but here is a diagram of my video and audio patch panels. Video is the top diagram and audio is the bottom diagram. The other stuff in the middle of the page are labels that I cut out and put on my mixer and video monitor.