What is a Normalled Patchbay?

A normalled patchbay is a type of patchbay configuration where two pieces of equipment are automatically connected by default without requiring a patch cable.

In this setup, the signal from an output on the top row of the patchbay is internally connected to the corresponding input on the bottom row. This default connection allows the signal to pass through normally until a patch cable is inserted.

When a patch cable is plugged into the patchbay, it can override or break the normal connection, allowing the signal to be rerouted to other equipment. Normalled patchbays are widely used in recording studios to create flexible signal routing while maintaining standard default connections between devices.