This is a pretty cool until for volume control of active monitors and also as a monitor switcher between two pairs of monitors.

it's only $99.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--VIOPATCH

The really smart thing I appreciated is that after pulling the half-rack unit out of the box was the kit has 19" rackmount ears in the kit standard. I personally hate half-rack units. And I don't like units that are so light that you can't press a button without physically pushing the unit backwards. Adding ears and rackmounting the M-Patch solves that problem. And for the user who doesn't have racks and just wants to put the M-Patch on their desktop - it'll work that way, too.



Looks to be built pretty well. Gonna hook it up today and see how it sounds.
More info at http://www.smproaudio.com/mpatch.htm

I'd be VERY interested to know how you think it sounds. I'm still deciding on a way to switch between monitors.

Cool, Dan. This company gets advertised a lot over here in Aus, and I've often wondered about their products. Interested to see how you go.
Tube

EDIT: jeez, this unit is only $134 AUD over here.....how did you go Dan?

Dan, as long as you don't report any kind of signal degradation from that unit, I'll have to pick one up for sure... I haven't seen anything else which seemed quite as cost effective and comprehensive for that purpose.

Well, I've been listening to this M-Patch. I'm testing it with a pair of Dynaudio AIR 15's fed by a Benchmark DAC1 - all with Requisite Audio cables. I'm using a CD I recorded as reference material, JAZZOOO's "Two Days In November". Mostly using "NY Blues" and have been using that as my main test material for over the last year. Sonically I know that recording intimately. I also sometimes use the original 24-bit AIFF files.

So, I've got a pretty critical and accurate system here. I've been doing A/B tests going back and forth with the DAC1/AIR 15's and then another with the M-Patch inserted in between the DAC1 and AIR 15's to get DAC1/M-Patch/AIR's.

It's tough to say if there's categorically a blatant degradation in signal. With the M-Patch it doesn't sound bad, but it does sound different. There is a change in the sonics of the signal - just as there could be a change if I switched out the cables or converters or monitors.

The most apparent change is in the stereofield. With test A [ DAC/AIR's ], the sound is open and airy and breathes. With B [ DAC1/M-Patch/AIR's ] the soundfield is much tighter, the air is less apparent, the rich 3-dimensional depth and imagery isn't there. In a way it still sounds good, but it's different. As if you were listening on a different pair of monitors. It definitely does take what is an almost $5000 monitor system and makes it sound more like a $1000 monitor system. I guess you could call that degrading. It has more to do with what the M-patch is doing to the phase alignment of the two channels rather than any slight loss in frequency response. Though it does seem to be a bit lopped off in the top end.

I'll keep playing around and listening. I'm going to do an A-B-C test and throw the A Designs ATTY into the pack.

Stay tuned.

Cool, thanks Dan. It would be interesting if you were monitoring on a $1000 system, to see if would turn it into say a $754.98 system? I guess what I'm saying is that would you notice any difference if your monitoring system (like mine) is pretty average?

Tube

I'm still playing around here. Part of what I think is that if you want something inexpensive [ like a $99 box ] to switch from speakers A to speakers B - that you're probably better off just going and manually changing the cords in the back of the speakers. It's really not that big of a deal. And will definitely make for a more integrated system.

No big conclusions at this point. Still listening and playing around.

I've had the SM Pro Audio M-Patch for a little over a month now. I've concluded that it changes [ I caution to use the word "degrades" ] the signal enough that I wouldn't recommend it. In most cases, I'd say many [ or some ] people might not even notice the difference. But it's there. Mostly where I think the original signal is changed is in the stereo phase alignment. It shifts just enough that the depth and imagery are less and the soundfield sounds more 2-dimensional. Not really a good thing in my book. And this is sort of an across-the-board statement for all these types of inexpensive monitor switchers. The M-Patch is obviously better made than something like a Radio Shack speaker switcher.

The bottom line is that if you're looking to spend $100 or less on a monitor switcher - I'd advise you to "tough it out" and just switch you're monitors manually in the back when you want to go from monitors A to monitors B. You're going to have much better sound. I used a pair of Dynaudio AIR 15's and a pair of KRK V8's for over a year - and had no problem going in the back and pulling the XLR cables out of one set of monitors and plugging them into the other set.

There was a monitor switching topic that came up in Nov 04 in the Recording Forum, and a list with links were thrown out.

There are serious monitor switchers offered by companies like Coleman Audio http://colemanaudio.com/product.html such as the MS6 @ $495 MSRP. MS8 @ $695 MSRP and MS2 @ $750 MSRP.

Don't take monitor switchers lightly. And don't think that you can just throw any box in the monitor path and have everything still sound the same. I can see certain situations were something like an M-Patch would work fine. And if you simply must have a $99 monitor switcher, then get this one. There's some nice design aspects about the package - and it's rackmountable. But I think in most cases where you wouldn't want a lesser-quality signal from your monitors than you're already getting - I would avoid products like this.

I'll be doing some more reviews of other, better-quality monitor switchers soon. Stay tuned.

Well, that's bad news about the M-Patch.

Also, Dan, I think you have a typo. The MS6 is $495 not $95...just more bad news!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dot:
The bottom line is that if you're looking to spend $100 or less on a monitor switcher - I'd advise you to "tough it out" and just switch you're monitors manually in the back when you want to go from monitors A to monitors B.

---

OK. but what about the volume control/ attenuator idea. With Active monitor system and no mixer I need something to adjust the volume.

suggestions on units that will not degrade the sound or cost an arm and a leg?

cheers!
Dave

check these out.
http://www.goldpt.com http://www.nhtpro.com/2004/products/product_detail.asp?ProductLineID=1&ProductID;=6

T

Those both look like nice products, Tonio. The Goldpoint product that appeals most to us pro audio fools costs $550 though.

-Dusty

No kidding I wanted the SA2X1 for quite a while, but yup the funds just don't cut it for me

NHT seems to do the trick for alot o folks. alot cleaner then others.c-comp, etc.

T

"I'll keep playing around and listening. I'm going to do an A-B-C test and throw the A Designs ATTY into the pack."

Dot: did you even get a chance to check the ATTY against the M-Patch??

Thanks,

drbam

drbam, I'll get around to do that testing in the next week or so and get back to you.

How does Mackie's Big Knob perform? I know this is a jump up to $300, but I wonder if the Big Knob compares to the Coleman products. Not to derail this thread though....

Nevermind. I did some research into this, and though the Big Knob has many conveniences, the word from mnay is that it seriously degrades the sound (for the refined ear).

Peace,
Fox

So if the M-patch does something to the sound, is this worse than the bit reduction caused by using the digital volume on my Terratec X24 then?
I am considering the M-Patch 2 or ATTY as a "better" volume control between the soundcard and the Adams.

Dot, how about that atty test. Have you tried it yet?

Hi and congrats bout the forums, i am glad i found this place.

I am about to buy the SMPro M-Patch 2, so i was wondering if Dan or any of you has tried it or compared the sound quality to M-Patch 1. The circuit design seems different since now there is no switcher between the outs but on/off switches in a away that you can use both of em simultaneously.

I wouldn't like to "hurt" the signal between my 1212m and my tannoy's 8d.

Thanks in advance