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The new 1U LED rack display gives studio patchbays editable labels, four layout modes, front-panel keyboard editing, and a much cleaner look for $249.
Every studio has one piece of gear held together by tape.
Usually, it is the patchbay.
Faded masking tape.
Tiny handwritten labels.
A mystery cable labeled “COMP?”
And a routing setup nobody wants to touch because fixing the labels will take longer than the session.
Black Lion Audio wants to retire that problem with the new PBR LIT.
It is a 1U rackmount LED display that mounts above or below a patchbay and replaces handwritten labels with bright, editable digital text.
No label maker.
No marker.
No peeling tape.
Just labels that can change as quickly as the studio does.
Patchbay labels finally catch up
Studios evolve constantly.
A compressor gets moved.
A new preamp arrives.
A synth takes over two channels.
A client wants a different tracking setup.
The patchbay needs to keep up.
PBR LIT lets users update labels directly from the front panel with a standard USB keyboard or through the included Patchcad BLA Edition software for macOS and Windows.
“Patching is one of the few areas of the modern studio that’s remained surprisingly analogue.”
— Preston Whiting, VP of Operations, Black Lion Audio
“PBR LIT makes updating your labelling as simple as editing text, while giving your rack a slick, illuminated appearance that flatters your studio vibe.”
— Preston Whiting
Four display modes for common studio setups
PBR LIT supports four layout options:
- 48-point TRS patchbays
- 96-point TT patchbays
- 16-point XLR patchbays
- Custom mode
That means it can work with the patchbay formats found in many recording, mixing, broadcast, and post-production rooms.
But Custom mode is where things get interesting.
More than a patchbay label
Custom mode turns the full-width display into a blank canvas for the studio rack.
Use it to label equipment.
Display studio branding.
Mark a specific signal chain.
Leave session notes.
Or make sure everyone knows exactly which rack unit belongs to which engineer.
“We’re excited to see the uses customers come up with for Custom mode.”
— Preston Whiting
“I bet we’ll see a ton of uses that we haven’t even imagined.”
— Preston Whiting
Built for the rack, not the junk drawer
PBR LIT uses a reinforced steel chassis with a black-anodized aluminum faceplate.
The display itself is vivid blue LED, designed to remain easy to read in a busy rack.
It is a simple idea.
But simple studio tools can be the most satisfying.
Especially when they eliminate one more small frustration before a session starts.
Black Lion Audio PBR LIT specs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | 1U rackmount LED display |
| Primary use | Digital patchbay labeling |
| Patchbay layouts | 48-point TRS, 96-point TT, 16-point XLR |
| Custom mode | Full-width custom text for gear labels, branding, notes, or alternate layouts |
| Editing options | Standard USB keyboard or Patchcad BLA Edition software |
| Software compatibility | macOS and Windows |
| Construction | Reinforced steel chassis |
| Faceplate | Black-anodized aluminum |
| Display | Blue LED |
| U.S. MAP | $249 USD |
| EU SSP | €355 EUR, including 19% VAT |
Availability
Black Lion Audio PBR LIT is available to pre-order now and is expected to begin shipping through authorized dealers in late Q3 2026 with a US MAP of $249.00 USD and an EU SSP of €355.00 EUR (inc. 19% VAT).
Learn more at Black Lion Audio.
The MikesGig takeaway
PBR LIT is not going to make your microphone sound better.
It will make your studio easier to use.
And when a session is moving fast, knowing exactly where every signal is going can be worth a lot more than another strip of masking tape.
MikesGig — Gear Moves Music. Music Moves People.
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