At the upcoming MusikMesse show in Frankfurt, Germany, Allen & Heath will be launching the Xone:PB patchbay, the latest club installation product to hit the Xone range.

The Xone:PB patchbay is a 1U rack size, passive interface box designed to simplify the task of connecting encoded vinyl replay systems to installed mixers without the need to re-patch. It's a handy unit that will save DJs and the like a lot of time.

The patchbay's outputs from up to four audio sources and inputs to the mixer channels are connected to RCAs on the rear panel. On the front panel, connections echo the outputs from the audio sources on the left side, while connections on the right provide inputs to up to four external sources. Switches on the front panel select whether the mixer inputs are connected directly to the audio sources or diverted to the external sources, allowing for quick interfacing to scratch amps or computer soundcards. Likewise, the audio source connections on the front panel are duplicated, enabling two scratch amps to be connected to the same audio source for simple DJ handovers.

What's more, two switchable inverse RIAA filters let line level sources be connected to the phono preamps of the mixer; Common mode noise attenuation filtering on all external inputs help reduce laptop power supply noise; and an Earth Lift switch helps prevent ground loops.

The Xone:PB will be available in May of 2010 for 210 GPB + VAT (or about $320). For more information, visit Allen & Heath online.