patchbays - experience with types and manufacturers

[danielruder]

Good day -
First time poster here, and I have to say thanks to everyone who posts all of your helpful tips and tricks. I have learned more from this forum than I did in college.
To the topic - I did a search, and while there are plenty of topics on patchbays, I couldn't find any about specific types and manufacturers. I found some general information in the link in the sticky about this, but I want some real-world first-hand experience opinions on the different types and manufacturers of professional level patchbays.
In my reading of the links from the sticky, one of the articles (I believe it was one of the Sound on Sound articles) states that 1/4 inch patchbays have more contact surface, and are therefore better than the common bantam (or TT or MINI - for searches) patchbays found in most professional studios. I'll say for the record that I've actually thought of this point before, but I've always figured that there is some sort of black magic in bantam patchbays that I didn't know about.
While I will entertain all the technical discussion that could be had about this, I am specifically looking for personal experience that anyone has had with 1/4 inch, bantam, or other platform patchbays. I have had experience with both 1/4 inch and bantam, and I've always found bantam to be easier to use, mostly because of the small space the panels generally take up relative to the space of a 1/4 patchbay panel with the same amount of connections.
Furthermore, for those of you with experience on this, are there any manufacturers that you endorse? I don't want this to seem like I'm looking for a sales pitch - rather, are there any manufacturers that you have had patently good or bad experience with?
I am intending to build a small professional level studio in the future, and am trying to find out as much as I can before I spend any money. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.
To the moderators - DO NOT HESITATE TO LINK ME TO ANOTHER POST IF THIS HAS BEEN COVERED. As I said, I searched and could not find a post of this variety.

Daniel Ruder

[Aaronw]

Greetings Dan, and welcome to the site.

If budget is not an issue, my first recommendation would be either Re'an (dist. by Neutrik) or ADC patchbays.

As far as 1/4 vs TT, it's mostly a preference of what you want. I personally prefer the TT, mostly for reasons of space, but also they're easier to work with. Downside, they cost more in cables and bays.

[stuntbutt]

I have installed a few Audio Accessories bantam bays around town and think they are great. The solder types are very reasonably priced.

[Lbc]

You should check out Mr. Patchbay at http://home.flash.net/~motodata/patchbays/ttbantam.html they have great prices on new and used patchbays of all types and cables as well

[Aaronw]

And one more piece of advice when buying bays and cables...

DO NOT buy the gold/brass plated connectors or bays. BUY the NICKLE plated. The brass plated corode over time and makes a bad contact.

[Sideshow]

I use a couple of these Behringer patch bays and they are great.
I didn't have a forture to spend and wanted a better workflow.
ULTRAPATCH PRO PX3000 is a great deal

I have all two of these (1000, 2000)

The 1000 is balanced - to me the options are limited. Maybe it's me?
2000 unbalanced - works great and I would be happy to use in EVERY situation.
3000 balanced - can only get better...?

Price wise and availability you can't go wrong. I actually started with the 2000 as an experiment - and if it wasn't the real deal or noisy I would not have wasted much....glad I tried it. I am hooked.

Again, they work for me - spend 3 x the $ if you wish for the high end pro stuff - your call.

In honesty I have had these under a year - and they have had a workout...but how will they be in 10 years? Dunno...

Some people love to bash Behringer - that's their issue and their experience - not mine.

Like a mate said to me - you can pay $10k for a good mic.
You can spend a house on a good studio.
(hmmm..Maybe in the future when we all have flying cars I will think about upgrading....)
But there are awesome quality songs and production out there - done on low-mid priced equipment.

The technology available today at comparatively low(er) prices is staggering methinks...

Nickel is good - I read up a while back and agree too...
Enuff from me...hope it helps..