Hardware solution for insert auditioning

[rushcutter]

Hi

Some background detail below but TLDR version is - does anyone know of a rack-mounted switching solution for 6+ stereo hardware inserts for about £500?

Longer version...

I have a 19" rack of hardware that I use for post production, processing and basic mastering. I send a finished mix from Logic out of a Scarlett 4i4, via my hardware rack, then back to Logic for digital platforms, or to a cassette deck (yes I still release cassettes!).

Due to increasingly challenging mobility issues, it would be really useful if I could audition different hardware in the chain compared to clean signal, or audition, say, eq options or different compressors from my main seated position.

I have to reach to adjust settings but the ability to audition throughout bits of a track while remaining seated would be hugely beneficial for me.

I'm not a mastering engineer, I'm just mastering my own music for indie distribution and I really like my hardware eq/compressors/fx etc for this.

I'm trying to find a hardware unit for this purpose that would basically give me insert control in the 6u I have available in front of me on my desk.

I found something called a "mastering console" that would do this but they are, understandably, very expensive and have features I don't need. Maselec do the MTC-1X which has insert selection and even flip mode to A/B compare 2 inserts but also a ton of other stuff for pro mastering, and I don't need Maselec build or sound quality. They all say "mastering grade" on them which I certainly ain't

Do any of you fine people know of a less expensive solution, say £500 ish, rack mounted/mountable, that would allow me to audition stereo hardware inserts in a similar fashion to the MTC-1X / DuTCH audio Insert Computer / SPL Hermes / Dangerous Master etc? The flip feature would be a bonus but really just insert on/off is the main thing.

Perfection would be something that could handle 6 or more stereo inserts.

Cheers

Chris.

[The Red Bladder]

It sounds as if you need a small proper mixer - something like a Yamaha MG16 or an Allen & Heath ZED60.

[Wonks]

If you are happy with a fixed order of insert effects, then maybe a DIY option with simple switches? Small four pole double throw switches aren’t expensive. You can decide on TRS jacks or XLRs.

If you only selected one unit at a time, then a single rotary switch would be another DIY option.

Or just a patch panel? It’s what a pro studio would use for choosing and connecting external hardware units.

[Hugh Robjohns]

The heart of a mastering console is a remote-controlled audio router and there are quite a few around, some masquerading as automated patchbays.

Matt has reviewed a few remote-controlled patchbays in the magazine fairly recently, but I think you'll struggle to find something new for £500.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/flock-audio-patch

However, you might pick up something workable second-hand.

For example, I use a second-hand SSL X-Patch to route keyboards through different FX chains. It has 16 inputs and 16 outputs, and is controlled over a network connection via a Browser page on a computer. You can create and save presets for regular signal path configurations, too.

SSL X-Patches come upon the usual marketplaces quite often — I got mine from someone on the SOS Reader Ads!

Here's my review:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ssl-x-patch

I've also seen a couple of ex-broadcast routers come up on BBList.co.uk for really low money recently.

A mixer isn't the tool for the job as you can't chain signal paths easily (or at all).

The cheap and cheerful solution is a manual patchbay, as suggested above, with a handful of patch chords. Not great for instant A/B comparisons, but totally configurable, cheap, and easy to install.

[ef37a]

If you are happy with a fixed order of insert effects, then maybe a DIY option with simple switches? Small four pole double throw switches aren’t expensive. You can decide on TRS jacks or XLRs.

If you only selected one unit at a time, then a single rotary switch would be another DIY option.

Or just a patch panel? It’s what a pro studio would use for choosing and connecting external hardware units.

Way my brain was going Wonks if the OP is up to building something.
Some kind of 'sniffer' that switches each insert to a virtual earth mixer stage and then onto whatever monitoring device he chooses?

If the insert sources are balanced it complicates things and each input will need to be a differential input amp but if as he says, he does not need the last word in fidelity the usual 10k input resistors could be upped to say 47k and thus have a lot less loading on the sources. Be about 7dB noisier but I doubt that would be noticed?

Dave.

[Wonks]

I wasn't thinking about mixing. Just connecting inputs to outputs. Assume a 1U rack enclosure, then the insert signal bus runs along the rack, running through each switch. Each switch simply either sends the input signal to the next switch on the bus or else diverts it to/from a hardware unit and then on to the next switch.

[ef37a]

I wasn't thinking about mixing. Just connecting inputs to outputs. Assume a 1U rack enclosure, then the insert signal bus runs along the rack, running through each switch. Each switch simply either sends the input signal to the next switch on the bus or else diverts it to/from a hardware unit and then on to the next switch.

OK, well my idea was a system that did not break into any signal paths but I dare say there are many ways to skin this cat?

Dave.

[Matt Houghton]

Matt has reviewed a few remote-controlled patchbays in the magazine fairly recently, but I think you'll struggle to find something new for £500.

I have indeed, and of those I've evaluated I'd recommend the CB Electronics XP Relay, especially if you were to add the Elgato Streamdeck discussed in the review. Prices at present range from £1200 (for an 8x8 matrix, not enough for OP by the sound of it as that would allow only four stereo devices, one of those being the audio interface, so three other stereo devices) to £2200 (a 16x16 matrix — enough for the interface plus seven other stereo devices). So it's not the £500 the OP was looking for, but neither is it as expensive as some of the other kit mentioned.

[rushcutter]

Thanks all, I'm reasonably handy with an iron so I think I'm going to have a crack at something DIY