DF Audio - Minibay V2
A studio utility that is fun!
Audio Interfaces, Cables, DI boxes, etc. are some necessary studio utilities that you’ll need to buy despite being boring and won’t excite you. Patchbays, on the other hand, are a type of utility gear that can be extremely useful and inspiring. And the Minibay V2 by DF Audio is probably the most exciting patchbay we’ve come across. But before we go through the Minibay, let’s try to demystify what a patchbay is, in plain terms.
A patchbay is a very simple piece of gear that has lots of inputs and outputs that you can use to route your signal anywhere you want by using the connections on the front panel. Almost all patchbays come in rack units and take standard mono 6.35mm jack cables. You connect to the back all your instruments, mixer, audio interface, effects inputs & outputs, and then you can use the front panel to route the signal anywhere you want. Another term that you have to keep in mind is the Normalization of the patchbay. There 3 main types. Normal - All normal inputs will by default transfer the signal to the output below them without using patch cables and the connection will be broken by putting a cable on any of the sockets, Half-Normalized is the same as normal but the connection will be broken only if you plug a cable in the bottom row, De-Normal means that there is no default connection if you don’t use a cable to connect the top and bottom rows. Still with me?
Thinking of it may cause you headaches but actually using one is much more simpler than you’d think.
That’s what most patchbays look
So what’s the difference with the Minibay?
Minibay works exactly like a patchbay but its form factor and layout make it unique and more useful and fun to use. Instead of being a rack-mounted unit, the Minibay sits comfortably as a desktop module on your desk (no more back pain trying to patch). It’s quite small and uses regular Eurorack patch cables instead of 6.35mm cables, being in front of you all the time, you can easily see what you’re doing and make changes on the fly.
And that may seem small, but it makes a huge difference. This way, instead of seeing a patchbay as a task, you use it creatively for experimentation. Also, it has a separate set of inputs and outputs for effects on the top. You don’t have to use those only for effect pedals, but separating your instruments and effects definitely helps visually. It’s easier to know where everything is and that’s a big plus.
Another great addition is the passive mixer that Minibay has. Here you have four stereo channels that you can mix into a single stereo output. If you already have an audio interface with multiple inputs that may not be very useful but for, let’s say, a 2-input audio interface is a life-saver. Using the mixer section you can record and listen to multiple instruments at once so you don’t have to constantly swap the instruments that go in your 2 audio interface inputs. Since it’s a passive mixer (meaning it does not require power to work), you lose some volume when using it but it’s just a tiny drop that won’t bother you at all.
Lastly, in the V2 version, you have onboard control of the normalization of the patchbay. You’ll just have to unscrew the top panel and you can access it. For example, when I was using a 2-input audio interface, I had the first 2 connections normalized so my OP-1 was going through without the need for patching. If I wanted to swap instruments, I just connected the instrument I wanted to play on the stereo input of my audio interface and I was ready to play.
So who is this for?
I think anyone that has a few instruments and a few effects can benefit from a patchbay. It is just a misunderstood piece of gear that scares people off. But the reality is that is super helpful in your studio. And once you get the hang of it, you will love it. The Minibay V2 specifically, is even greater than a standard patchbay for most producers and musicians. It has plenty of inputs and outputs, an effects section, and a mixer so if you don’t have a huge collection of synths and pedals, you will probably be able to hook everything up and use it.
The fact that is a desktop device, is so much better since you have immediate access to it. And that encourages you to experiment more and try out multiple signal flows. A lot of synths also have an input that most of us never use because of the inconvenience. Well, with the Minibay you will be able to connect that input once and use it anytime you want. For example, I always wanted to use MicroBrute’s analog filter for other stuff but never did it. And with the Minibay, it is just one patch cable away.
And if you love using effect pedals, having the power to create any order you want is amazing. You are not tied to a standard pedal order and you can do any sort of order experiments without getting on your knees and plugging and unplugging cables. Quality of life stuff.
Now, if you have a ton of gear and dozens of pedals like myself and you get the Minibay V2, you either have to compromise or just get a big standard patchbay (or two). But for most home studios, the Minibay will be more than enough.
Just a tiny problem…
For me, the only downside of the Minibay is the cables you’ll need to use to take full advantage of it. On the back of every stereo pair, there is a single socket. That means you’ll have to use a TRS stereo 6.35mm to two TR mono so you can connect most of your gear. And if you want to use a pair for two mono synthesizers, you’ll also have to consider that the two mono cables can reach the outputs of your mono synths. So a pro tip would be to get those splitter cables that can be split into two mono cables to allow you to reach everything. Another great option would be to get some breakout cables that have a TRS 6.35mm jack and on the other side two mono inputs. This way you’ll just use the breakout cables on the Minibay and just use the cables you already have on your instruments and effects. In any case, I’m sure that anyone that gets the Minibay will have to get some kind of cables to make it work for them (I’ve purchased a ton of cables) but once you have them, you won’t have to worry again.
And of course, you’ll also need Eurorack patch cables if you’re not into Modular already.
Conclusion
I can easily say I love the Minibay. DF Audio took a boring studio utility and made it to a fun and useful tool. It’s made for the vast majority of producers that don’t have walls of synthesizers and makes their life a lot easier and productive. If there’s one thing I hate about studios is cables. And having just one place to connect everything is such a huge deal.
But it’s not just a fancy cable management tool. Where the Minibay shines, is when you start patching it and creating weird combos of instruments and effects that you wouldn’t normally do because of the time and effort it would take. It makes the whole process effortless and exciting. I now spend so much time trying out different signal flows, experimenting, and most importantly, having fun!
So, if you’re on the verge of getting a patchbay the Minibay is the probably the best choice.
