TT / bantam (4.4 mm) pinout
TT / Bantam Patchbay Wiring & Normalling
TT (tiny telephone, or bantam) patch cables are balanced three-contact plugs wired like any TRS: tip hot, ring cold, sleeve ground, on a 4.4 mm body that packs 96 points into two rack units. The wiring is the easy half; normalling is what makes a patchbay a patchbay.
| Pin | Signal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tip | Hot (+) | Balanced signal, positive leg. |
| Ring | Cold (−) | Balanced signal, negative leg. |
| Sleeve | Ground | Shield and reference. |
What it’s used for
TT bays are the center of studio and broadcast plants: every meaningful input and output lands on the bay, and signal flow is rearranged with patch cords instead of crawling behind racks. Live production borrows the format in broadcast trucks and installed venues.
Rows come wired to DB25 (AES59) tails on the back, which is why the DB25 page and this one describe two ends of the same loom.
Wiring & termination notes
- Half-normalled (the studio default): the top-row output feeds the bottom-row input automatically. Patching into the bottom jack breaks the normal and substitutes your source; patching into the top jack taps the signal without breaking it, which is how you mult an output for free.
- Full-normalled: insertion into either jack breaks the connection, used where a tap would be wrong (console inserts).
- Non-normalled (open): no automatic connection; pure patch points, typical for effects sends and returns.
- TT and quarter-inch TRS do not intermate; bays are one format or the other, and the cords are not adapters.
Frequently asked questions
What does half-normalled mean on a patchbay?
The top jack (output) automatically feeds the bottom jack (input) until a plug in the bottom jack breaks that path. A plug in the top jack only taps the signal, leaving the normal intact, which lets you split an output just by patching.
Are TT cables balanced?
Yes: tip, ring, and sleeve carry a standard balanced connection. Mono TS bantam cords exist for unbalanced points but are the exception on modern bays.