AUDIO NORMALLING is usually used with audio patch panels and is a wiring pattern in which a circuit path is established from one piece of audio equipment to another without the use of a patch cord. This pattern is then considered to be the “normal” circuit path that is desired most of the time. If a patch cord is inserted, the normal circuit path is interrupted and re-routed to a different circuit path.

HALF NORMALLED BOTTOM ROW is the most common configuration, very often called "half normalled". In this configuration internal normalling contacts connect the top jack contact with the corresponding bottom jack contact. Inserting a Plug in the bottom Jack will interrupt this internal normalling connection, while inserting a patch cord into the top jack doesn’t interrupt the circuit. (Can be used to monitor the normalling circuit.)

HALF NORMALLED TOP ROW is the opposite version of HALF NORMALLED BOTTOM ROW (rarely used) In this configuration internal normalling contacts connect the bottom jack contact with the corresponding top jack contact. Inserting a Plug in the top Jack will interrupt this internal normalling connection, while inserting a patch cord into the bottom jack doesn’t interrupt the circuit. (Can be used to monitor the normalling circuit.)

In the configuration FULL NORMALLED (also called NORMALS STRAPPED) internal normalling contacts connect the top jack contact with the corresponding bottom jack contact. Inserting a Plug in the top or bottom Jack will interrupt this internal normalling connection.

In the configuration ISOLATED (also called NO NORMALS) no connection between top and bottom jack is established. The top and bottom jacks are isolated from each other, there is no normal circuit path to be interrupted. Isolated patch panels require the use of looping plugs or patch cords to establish a circuit path.

In the configuration PARALLEL internal normalling contacts connect the top jack contact with the corresponding bottom jack contact. Inserting a Plug or patch cord into the bottom or top jack will NOT interrupt the circuit path.

In the configuration DOUBLE NORMALLED internal normalling contacts connect the top jack contact with the corresponding bottom jack contact from top to bottom and from bottom to top. Inserting a Plug into the top or the bottom jack will not interrupt the normalling circuit. Patch cords must be inserted in both rows so that the normalling can be broken.