OceanAudio The Ark 500 Series Owner's Manual - page 9
Ark 500 range - Owner’s Manual - Revision 2.2 - page 9
3.5 Using the console with a patchbay
The previous examples showed basic ways to use the Ark.
But the Ark offers much more. And as with so many things in audio, there are not much rules.
We would like to invite you to customise the connections so the Ark really suits your workflow.
But when using the Ark with a patchbay, you need to make sure that similar connections as described
above are made. Ideally, you would use a "normalled" patchbay, to make it easy on yourself.
A possible way to do this could be as follows :
Use a patch bay which normals insert sends to lower rack inputs, and another patch bay which normals
lower rack outputs to insert returns. So, the lower rack 500 series modules (most likely EQ or
compressor) are connected to the insert points.
If you want to bypass the lower rack modules, you simply connect insert send and return on the patch
bay.
Combined with this, you can have a patch bay which normals the group insert sends to the monitor rack
inputs; and another patch bay which normals the monitor rack outputs to the group insert returns (the
monitor racks can for example hold compressor modules).
This way, you’ll have a standard set up, but you still have the possibility to patch any module to any
channel or group.
That is the strength of the Ark.
It not only allows you to fill it up with your preferred 500 series modules, and have the “colour” you want;
but by using a patch bay, you can actually use any module - or chain of modules - on any channel or
group. (now try that with a traditional analogue console)
Please see the section on “Audio Connections - Wiring” for correct wiring instructions of all D-Sub
connectors.
Important Notes :
* The D-Sub connectors on the Ark are analogue audio connectors.
DO NOT connect them to digital D-Sub connectors (such as can be found on some DAW
interfaces) or bad things can happen.
* D-Sub connectors are - by design - per 8 channels.
If you have only a couple of 500 modules installed (less than 8), you need to make sure that you
pass signal through the “empty” slots of the console.
If you don’t use a patchbay, you can use D-Sub to XLR cables to make all connections.
You can also use the Ocean Audio 500 I/O connect.
The 500 I/O connect is a 500 series module without any components. It just links the input to the
output, and is inserted in the unused slot.