dbx PB48 - 48-point 1U TRS patchbay (half-normalled / de-normalled)

dbx PB48 - 48-point 1U TRS patchbay (half-normalled / de-normalled)

The dbx PB48 is a 48-point (2 rows of 24) patch bay in a 1U, 19" rack format, designed to organize and speed up signal routing in studio, live or portable systems. It has 24 reversible cards that allow each vertical pair to be configured in half-normalled mode (partially normalized, factory set) or de-normalled (not normalized) without soldering or cutting, simply by rotating the card. All connectors are 1/4" TRS jacks on the front and rear, accepting balanced or unbalanced (TRS/TS) signals, with self-cleaning nickel-silver contacts for long life and reliable connections.

This patch bay provides clear access to mixer, processor, and recorder inputs and outputs, reduces wear on your equipment's jacks, and enables quick and precise routing changes from the front panel. The half-normal LED configuration makes it possible to " mult " the top send without interrupting the "normal" flow to the lower input; with de-normal LED, each front point corresponds directly to its rear connector, ideal for exposing effects or peripheral I/O.

Main features

• 48 points (2 × 24) with 48 front 1/4” jacks and 48 rear 1/4” jacks .
• 24 adjustable cards (one per vertical pair) configurable as half-normalled or de-normalled without soldering.
• TRS connectivity supports standard 1/4” audio bal/unbal (TRS/TS).
• Self-cleaning nickel-silver contacts for added reliability.
• 19" rack format , 1U high; compact chassis for integration into any rack.
• N/D indicators printed on each card show at a glance whether it is Normalled (N) or De-normalled (D) after configuration.
• Recommended for : Studio , Tour and Portable .

Product benefits

• Tidy signal flow : centralizes inputs/outputs and avoids hard-to-reach rear cables.
• Less wear : protects the equipment connectors, using the patchbay as a connection point.
• Total flexibility : switch from half-normalled to de-normalled per pair, depending on the application.
• Fast Routing : Reconfigure chains (compressor, EQ, FX, recorders) from the front in seconds.
• Reliable connections : Self-cleaning nickel-silver contacts and rugged construction.

Use cases

• Fixed chains (e.g. mixer output → power amp/monitor): use half-normalled to maintain “normal” and be able to monitor or route the signal from the front top jack.
• Non-routed peripherals (compressors, delays, interfaces): configure in de-normalled to expose inputs/outputs and patch where appropriate.
• Exposing console inputs : Map multiple console inputs to pairs of front-end points for quick patching of instruments or players.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does half-normalized mean? The top rear jack is "normalized" to the bottom rear jack; inserting it into the bottom front jack breaks that connection, and inserting it into the top front jack "normalizes" the signal without breaking it.
• How do I change to de-normal LED? Simply rotate the pair card 180° (by loosening the nut on the top rear jack), then re-secure it; the visible indicator changes to D.
• Does it accept TS and TRS connectors? Yes, the 1/4" jacks accept both balanced TRS and standard unbalanced TS connectors .

Description for projects

dbx PB48 Patch Bay ; 48 points (2 × 24) with 1/4” TRS jacks on front and rear; 24 reversible cards configurable half-normalled (default) or de-normalled ; self-cleaning nickel-silver contacts; 19” / 1U rack chassis; dimensions 44 × 482 × 68 mm ; shipping weight 1.1 kg ; compatible with balanced and unbalanced signals (TRS/TS); N/D indicators per card.