Headphone amp that can be used to record?

[Jared Lash]

With two very little ones at home I'm looking for a headphone amp to practice with at nights after they go to sleep. Ideally with an audio input so I can plug in an mp3 player to play along with.

But I'm also looking for a simple way to record ideas as well and would like to kill two birds with one stone and without spending a ton of money.

The Cafe Walter seems perfect as a headphone amp with an audio input but of course you can't record with it.

The AxePort Pro seems ideal as a simple recording tool and can double as a headphone amp but doesn't (as far as I know) allow you to plug in an mp3 player AND it has to be connected to a computer to use which would make it a bit frustrating as a pseudo headphone amp.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[BassmanPaul]

Just about any micro mixer will have a headphone socket. It can also be used for recording and have a spare stereo channel or two for a music source of your choice. Cost around $40-50.

Paul

[Highfox]

I bought a Korg Pandora PX5D not too long ago.
I've found it ok to use as a practice headphone amp when I have to keep things quiet, it has some fairly nice effects as well as drum loops to play along to as well as having an aux-in that you can connect an ipod/cd player to. Connects up to PC via USB for recording.

The Pandora PX4 is out there as well and a bit cheaper being the older model, but think you have to flap about a bit more trying to connect it up to pc via sound card in.

Just my thoughts...

[Yools]

You should check out the Korg Pandora PXR4. It is a great headphone amp, complete with lots of built-in effects, drum rhythms, a stereo line-in for playing along with CDs, and a tuner; plus it has four tracks for recording and a built-in condenser mic. I've had one for a few years and, while the recording controls are not all that intuitive, once you get used to it you'll be able to use it as a scratch pad for recording ideas and arranging parts. Sound quality is pretty good for that; might be difficult to get good, big-sounding tones out of it. The best part is that it's pretty small and it takes batteries as well as AC.

-Y

[Yools]

Followup to my last post... it appears that the PXR4 has been discontinued, though there probably are a lot of them available through eBay. You might want to check out the Korg Sound on Sound - it looks like it's a lot better than the PXR4. If anyone knows anything about it, I'd be curious to hear.

-Y

[waleross]

I have one of those Line 6 recorders $99 or so. It runs from (usb) your computer and you can plug in headphones and your bass, etc.

[abarson]

Tascam's GT-R1 seems to be pretty much tailor-made for what you want, although I don't know the price.
http://www.tascam.com/products/gt-r1.html

[The Lowe Down]

I tried the VOX a Line6 BassPod and a couple others, then I plugged into my Mac with a $3 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and fired up GarageBand. The Mac gives me way better sounds and I get a bunch of effects and amp simulation.

I travel for work a ton and I simply pack a bass and a pair of headphones, my laptop is always there. I can practice all I need to in hotel rooms without bothering anyone. Works fine at home with the kids sleeping too.

They make PC software that does the same thing as well. Obivously you have a computer or you wouldn't be on talkbass.

Oh and you can record right into GarageBand, and you have MP3s right at your fingertips and there is a bunch of "slowdown" software out there so you don't need any of those goofy gadgets. I would almost contemplate building a laptop into a rig now-a-days.

[Jared Lash]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. A few things for me to check out.

And if anybody else has anything else I should add to my list, please do.

[Son of Bovril]

EBS microbass II will do everything you asked for in a handy little di/pedal box form