New product family brings professional patching robustness to prosumer-level price points, starting with industry-first 500 Series model
Glendale, CA – May 24, 2017 – Bittree – a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video and data patching systems – has unveiled the new ProStudio series of audio patchbays, aimed at making the company’s renowned quality and robustness affordable to everyone from hobbyist musicians to top-tier studio engineers. The first offering in the new line, the front-programmable ProStudio 4825F, is the first-ever patchbay designed specifically for pairing with transportable 500 Series modular chassis such as the API® Lunchbox®, Rupert Neve Designs R6 and Radial® Six-Pack.
Designed to fit perfectly on portable 500 Series racks or under computer monitors in fixed or temporary installations, the desktop PS4825F ($625.00 MSRP) enables users to easily define and alter their audio signal flow between equipment or around the studio.
The PS4825F offers 48 TT (bantam) connectors in a 2x24 configuration, with DB25 rear connectors for interfacing with Avid® ProTools® and Tascam® gear. Eschewing the plastic construction typical of many low-cost patchbays, the sturdy PS4825F features a metal front panel rather than breakage-prone phenolic material. The same robust and carefully-engineered design also eliminates the noise associated with lower-end alternatives.
This meticulous attention to quality extends to the PS4825F’s connectors and components. Solid-gold switching contacts are welded and electrically bonded to the spring leaves, providing superior durability and higher electrical current ratings than competing solutions’ pressed-on foil approach.
Professional-grade shunts, protected from dust and other elements including EMI and RFI by the PS4825F’s removable front stainless steel designation strips, enable easy reconfiguration of circuit normalling, grounding and bussing. Meanwhile, the designation strips themselves provide ample space for three lines of print, enabling easy labeling and quick identification.
The PS4825F and other upcoming ProStudio models all build on Bittree’s rich history in the music industry, beginning with the extensive experience of Bittree founder and CEO Glenn Garrard. Starting out by building and maintaining speakers and tape machines for Motown Records in Detroit, he came to the west coast when Berry Gordy Jr. relocated Motown to Los Angeles in 1972. Garrard then worked in television on the Merv Griffin Show, before founding Bittree in 1978.
“The ProStudio line fills a void in the market for reliable, professional-quality patchbays at sub-$1000 pricing, and we’re excited to make Bittree’s proven product excellence accessible to a wider range of customers,” said Garrard. “The first model, the PS4825F, is the perfect complement to the exceptional flexibility and elegance of 500 Series modules and chassis, delivering the cleanest patching signals possible in a compact, robust and cost-effective package.”
The ProStudio 4825F is available now with further ProStudio models following later this year. For more information, please visit www.bittree.com.
Bittree’s 4825F compact dimensions (12.5 in. x 7 in. x 2.5 in.) and low weight (5 lbs.) combine with high-quality components to provide the perfect companion for any desktop application. Rack mountable brackets sold separately.
About Bittree:
Established in 1978, Bittree is dedicated to offering state-of-the-art patchbays and patch panels that streamline signal routing and troubleshooting in media and entertainment operations of all sizes. The company offers an innovative line of audio, video, and data patchbays for use in broadcasting, postproduction, and pro A/V operations. Tailored for use in the post-production, pro A/V, systems integration, and radio and television broadcasting fields, Bittree’s patching solutions are rigorously tested to ensure long-term functionality and dependability, especially for mission-critical operations and live events. To ensure consistency, performance, and adherence to rigid quality standards, all of the company’s patching products are designed, assembled, and tested in its state-of-the-art facility in Glendale, California. Bittree is an active member of industry trade organizations NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), and SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers). For more information, please visit www.bittree.com.
Ari Baron
Author