SM Pro Audio M-Patch 2 Passive Volume Control/Switch Box
The M-Patch 2 is a compact desktop/rack-mountable sized passive volume attenuator and patch control device. Building on the success of the original M-Patch, the new M-Patch 2 is a feature packed passive problem solver for nearly all production environments. The M-Patch 2 provides an ideal desktop or rack mounted, stereo level control solution for any audio monitoring application.

A great way to passively attenuate stereo signals from soundcards, CD players, pre-amps, and mixers, the M-Patch 2 front panel rotary controls allow precise level adjustments for two input sources. Featuring balanced combo XLR/TRS input jacks and XLR outputs, RCA & 3.5mm jack inputs, mono/stereo summing switch, Mute switch, A/B output pairs, and a built in stereo headphone amplifier, the M-Patch 2 has all bases covered.

No more bit loss! One of the benefits of passive volume attenuation is that you no longer have to control volumes with your software master volume fader. Reducing audio levels from software only reduces your bit depth. It is much more appropriate to keep your software masters at unity and passively attenuate the audio to your active monitors.

No active circuitry, buffers, transistors, batteries, or power supply of any kind can interfere with the main passive output of the M-Patch 2. It simply delivers attenuated signal. That's it... pure, simple transparent.

For users wishing to monitor the audio via the built in headphone amplifier, the included external power supply is required. Even with power connected to the unit the main outputs remain outside of the power circuit!

The M-Patch 2's dual rotary controls allows precise level adjustments within 1dB from 0 to -40dB, with ± .5dB interchannel accuracy to -60 dB. In addition, the M-Patch 2 features completely balanced operation with its combo XLR/TRS input jacks, and XLR outputs, and can be used in unbalanced applications with the RCA & 3.5mm stereo input connectors. Two stereo output channels are provided (A&B) with a selector switch on the front panel.

The M-Patch 2 is a true problem solver. It will work seamlessly within your system, is very transparent and silent. You will now be able to keep your bit levels up in your system, eliminate using your mixer, and keep all volumes at an acceptable level. This is a very handy tool for a wide variety of applications.

You can use M-Patch 2 anywhere you want to trim the amount of gain; ie, reduce the volume of analog audio signals. For example, you could use one to trim the output of a microphone pre-amplifier. With its high-quality potentiometer, the M-Patch 2 passes signal more accurately, and sounds better than most built-in volume controls. Another use might be to trim the levels of a 5.1 or greater multi-channel monitor system -- either one pair of channels, or two, or all of them. You can also use a M-Patch 2 to trim the output level of a Digital to Analog Converter like those found in high end pre-amplifiers. Or as a local volume control for distributed audio systems. The possibilities are endless.

The M-Patch 2 is great for those times when you prefer to monitor directly from the outs on your sound card or audio interfaces main outputs directly to your monitors. When your monitors are on they are normally extremely loud. As a result, you may become a bit frustrated as the volume is often simply too high to be comfortable. Your only choices is to either hook up through an external mixer and attenuate the signal or to attenuate the signal in the computer outputs, thereby degrading your bit-levels. Neither solution is completely satisfying. Mixers adds color to the signal and reducing the digital output in the computer will compromise the fidelity of your audio.

Typically you should connect the output of your soundcard to the input of the M-Patch 2 using RCA, TRS or XLR jacks. Then you should connect XLR cables from the outputs of the M-Patch 2 to your active monitors or the amplifier that powers the monitors. Turn the volume all the way up on your monitors, software volume control, or amplifier and use the M-Patch 2 on your desktop to control your monitor level. Simple, effective, transparent.