Redco are a premiere east coast manufacturer and distributor of custom pro audio and video cables, patchbays, connectors, custom panels, and microphone boxes. In the never-ending pursuit of customized audio solutions, Redco has offered a no compromise approach for their customers.
Take a trip to the west coast and you will find a highly specialized, refined, and experienced manufacturer of customized audio, video, and data solutions and products that have been holding it down for years. Established in 1978, Los Angeles based Bittree have been providing the highest quality custom patching systems to the entertainment and broadcast industries. With a focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, Bittree has earned an international reputation and received high critical acclaim for their work in creating product components, system design, and integration.
Redco has been a major player for years, but many east coast professional organizations have looked to Bittree for system integration. Bittree can be found in the stadium sound systems of four major sports teams based in New York - the Giants, Jets, Yankees, and Mets all share the common thread of using Bittree patching systems, as well as neighboring teams the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. With the integration of many different businesses and advertisers tied into major league sports franchises, system reliability and function is a must. Bittree has been a highly respected and go-to for performance, reliability, and consistency.
With a highly detailed approach and commitment to the patching process, Bittree has found itself leading the way in delivering robust and dependable audio, video, and data solutions for commercial and residential applications. For meeting the most demanding or challenging situations, Bittree customer service is second to none in determining the right products and patching solutions for any customized installation. If Redco has been your first call for customized audio patching systems, let Bittree be you last.
If you want to discuss how patchbays can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
We love to talk signal flow!
Fiber optic patch cables are cables found in computer and networking installations. Capped at either end of the cable are connectors that allow it to be connected to a fiber switch, telecommunications devices, or CATV. Fiber optical patch cables are much thicker and durable and connect optical transmitters and receivers, and terminal boxes. This is “interconnected-style cabling”.
Constructed at its core with a coating of high refractive index encapsulated by a coating of low refractive index, surrounded by a protective jacket strengthened by aramid yarns, fiber optic patch cables allow the transferring of optic signals at greater distances without the threat of signal loss. Single-mode fiber optic patch cables are usually yellow with blue connectors and connect over long distances. Multimode fiber cables are usually orange or gray, having a cream or black connector, traveling at shorter distances.
Another type of fiber optic patch cables are called armor fiber optic cables, using flexible stainless steel on the inside of the jacket to protect the fibers inside. These cables are in theory identical to standard patch cables but are much stronger, able to withstand the weight of a human, and are durable enough to survive unwanted rodent attacks on your chords.
Fiber optic patch cables are found in all types of broadcast and audio applications, from commercial and home recording studios, telecommunications, and computer fiber networking, theatrical and stage production, as well as armed defense networks. With all of these intensive applications and the need for consistency and high performance, fiber optic patch cables are at the core of our industrialized makeup, and thread the world together through many different methods.
If you want to discuss how fiber optic patch cables can improve your workflow, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
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Armored fiber optic cable are cables usually installed into a network configuration for added mechanical protection. There are only two types of armored fore optic cable: corrugated and interlocking. Interlocking armor is an aluminum armor and wraps itself around the cable internally to protect indoor and outdoor cables, making them much more rugged and durable to crushing. Corrugated armor is steel tape with a coating around it, and runs longways down the cable. This offers protection for outdoor cables offering extra mechanical and rodent protection.
The benefits of installing armored fiber optic cable, getting a more heavily protected construction, does make for one inconvenience. You have to bond and ground the cable. But if you use a dielectric armored cable, then this process isn’t necessary. Different options exist that offer ground protection without having to bond the armor or having to take the extra steps in installing a cable and a conduit when a cable doesn’t have any armored protection.
Whether or not you are going to need armored fiber optic cable in your project is to really assess the area in which you are doing your install. Are they heavily trafficked areas? Is there a threat of rodents or future construction? If so, then the use of armored fiber optic cable would make sense because of the added layer of protection for the optical fiber and added durability to withstand rodents and the natural elements such as direct sunlight and rain.
Armored fiber optic cable is made for durability and sustainability, excelling in harsh environments and severe conditions. Built to maintain uninterrupted optical information under heavy stress and technically challenged installation situations, armored fiber optic cable is also flexible, enabling custom installation options to accommodate corners or spatially challenged install locations.
If you want to discuss how the use of armored fiber optic cables can improve your workflow drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
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Custom Patch - Custom patch, patchbay or patch bays / patch panel, are used in commercial and home studio applications when you want to create hybrid combinations of sound effects and signal flow options by rewiring hardware units and effects processors in different combinations. This is most effectively achieved by incorporating the use of a patch panel, or patch bay. A patch panel allows multiple hardware devices to communicate with one another more effectively, eliminating the need to plug / unplug units from one to another, as this is achieved by the use of the patch panel, or patch bay.
A custom patch can enable you as the engineer to streamline your workflow, with easier recall ability for desired sound combinations. Let's face it. Not having to search for your Bass D.I. level because it is already configured using a favorite amp>cab>D.I.>preamp combo through a patch bay is incredibly helpful and efficient. Have a favorite guitar amp>mic>pre combination ready to go is such a timesaver that I can’t imagine not utilizing these tools in recording sessions.
A custom patch can also exist as its own creation, or custom cord designed for a specific application. Customizing patch cables and cords with color matched pairs helps in troubleshooting connections and technical issues. A carefully constructed patch panel is the first step in network stability and function, and the more organized, the better. The ability to test individual connections by the use of a patch bay or patch panel streamlines troubleshooting operations.
Custom patch cables and patch cords can come in varying lengths, and can easily be made by those that desire a little challenge. The ability to save a bit of cash in the process isn’t a bad thing either. From connecting instruments, amplifiers, stompbox-style floor effects and rack hardware effects and devices, custom patch cords allow for streamlined workflow and cleaner, more efficient wiring.
If you want to discuss how custom patch cables can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
We love to talk signal flow!
Fiber optic patch panel, also known as a cross-connect patch panel, is a gathering of port locations in a centralized hardware device merging communications between multiple users. The actual fiber optics of individual cables can be separated out and spliced to individual fibers on other cables within the patch panel, creating multiple connections and routing options. The fiber optic patch panel makes it safe to work with exposed fibers.
Fiber optic patch panels come in two different types. The first is a wall mounted unit, which in its basic configuration, can keep up to a dozen fibers separate from one another. If there are unused fibers in a cable that is being used in a patch panel, an engineer can route these fibers to another patch panel, or a patch panel designed to hold more individual fibers can be used. Wall mounted fiber optic patch panels can be built to house up to 144 fibers separately.
The second type of fiber optic patch panel is a rack mounted panel. Usually built to open like a drawer, individual fibers are held horizontally. The ability to slide the panel open exposes all of the individual connections, making modifications and updates an easy fix. Engineers often times use a fiber optic patch panel to test individual fibers within an optical cable. The ability to separate individual fibers makes it easier to pinpoint a faulty connection. Testing of connections is a much more efficient way to organize and detect signal flow issues within a network hub.
Fiber optic cables have to be split at one end to expose individual fibers. These fibers can then be sent to individual ports containing fiber optic adaptors, which can then be used to plug in different combinations of devices. Adaptors on a fiber optic patch panel can come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
If you want to discuss how a fiber optic patch panel can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
We love to talk signal flow!
What is a patch cord?
What is a patch cord? A patch cord (also called a patch cable), is an insulated cord containing a plug at both ends, used in computer networking, audio production, television, theatrical and film production.
Patch cords are typically copper cables containing an RJ45, GG45, or TERA connector on both ends, although many different custom versions exist for varying applications. It is also common for patch cords to be tailor made to different lengths, enabling the customization of computer networking hubs, patch panels, and patch bays, which are found in audio production environments. Patch cords can also be used to connect a server or switch port to an installed cabling system.
Patch cords are found in commercial and home recording setups. These cords range in length from a few inches to as long as 100 feet in professional sound reinforcement applications and live concert settings. Patch cords of shorter lengths are used to connect floor stompbox style effects commonly used in guitar setups, enabling the user to create various types of effects together for different sound combinations. Typically, a mono instrument patch cord coming from the output of an electric guitar carries the signal flow to the effects, which is then routed by another mono patch cord to a guitar amp or recording interface. Patch cords connect drum machines, effects devices, analog synthesizers and external hardware devices together in various configurations, often facilitated by the use of a patch panel or patch bay.
Patch cords are often one of the most overlooked aspects of a home recording setup. The importance of having good audio patch cords is significant in maintaining consistent signal flow and optimizing the performance of your gear. Poor cables are single-handedly one of the biggest culprits of technical issues in studio setups, and should be tested immediately if performance of hardware, patch bays or other devices seem erratic or inconsistent
If you want to discuss how good patch cords can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
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How to make a patch cable
How to make a patch cable is a skill that can greatly reduce the cost of buying expensive ethernet and audio cables, as well as giving you the option of creating custom lengths for a centralized network hub, patch panel, or patch bay.. This gives much more flexibility in the planning of shared networks and can create a cleaner working environment, simplifying the process of having to make changes to your network at a later time.
Making different lengths of Cat5 cabling is easy, and can be achieved by first purchasing a box of bulk Cat5 cable and RJ 45 connectors. If Cat6 is your game, this can still be done but will set you back around 20% more in cost.
Ethernet cables are made in two different varieties, straight through or crossover. Straight through patch cable, or patch cords as they are also called, allow for longer cable runs, and are the standard type of networking patch cable. Crossover patch cables connect computers directly together without the use of a router, hub, or switch.
How to make a patch cable in audio production can offer many of the same benefits as in computer networking, but require different types of cable. A good standard choice of making patch cables for audio production is coax, or coaxial cable. These make a very neat and tidy patch cord. You can even add a color heat (a covered shrink on the ends of the cord), which can help you organize, personalize and identify signal flow.
One only need to make two connections in making an audio cable: the tip (signal), and the ground. Make these connections using a soldering gun, which are readily available at hardware stores and electrical supply outlets
The benefits of making your own patch cables have many benefits. The ability to create custom lengths for your applications can result in a cleaner signal flow and network organization, and the cost saved is worth investing the time to understand and learn the process.
If you want to discuss how a patch cables can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com
We love to talk signal flow!