"Silent" Band Practice

Ripper91 · #1 10-28-2009, 05:07 PM

Recently my band has been rehearsing in my garage but we've been getting loads of complaints about the nose so i was thinking I could set the place up for a "Silent" band practice using headphones. We'd have the drummer use an electronic kit does anyone have any suggestions as to an electronic kit he could use? I know they're expensive but the cheaper the better. Also am I right in thinking we would need to run the guitar and bass through a mixer then plug a headphone amp into the mixer? If so could anyone recomend a good mixer and amp? (again the cheaper the better)

Cheers

Edit: The drummer knows someone who is selling a Session Pro DD505 kit does anyone know if this would work for what we're trying to do?

JohnMCA72 · #2 10-28-2009, 05:59 PM

We do it all the time. Guitar player's wife comes through all the time & all she hears is drums & vocals. Says we sound good, but that's (part of) what wives are for!

JM

Ripper91 · #3 10-28-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

We do it all the time. Guitar player's wife comes through all the time & all she hears is drums & vocals. Says we sound good, but that's (part of) what wives are for!

JM

Ah nice it can actually be done then

Would I be able to plug this into this and have it work?

I know behringer are bad for bass amps but would that gear be any good? If not does anyone have any other suggestions in a similar price range?

GML · #4 10-28-2009, 06:57 PM

One band I played in for six years (way back when) used to learn/practice all new songs with no amps and no PA - just the guitars unplugged and the drummer using brushes on a kitchen chair seat. We used to do songs with up to 5 voices and heavy vocal arrangements. If ANYTHING was off you could hear it instantly. Once we had a song down acoustically we would then turn on the equipment and try it with full power. It was a serious kick to hear a song sound great the first time with the power on.

This method was the absolute fastest way I've ever found to 1) learn new songs and 2) get all the parts right from the get go. Unfortunately I've never been able to convince any band since then to use this method.

Big sigh.

Graeme

scsm · #5 10-28-2009, 07:16 PM

http://jamhub.com/

Kinda pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK9bOqfsMg

Ripper91 · #6 10-28-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scsm

http://jamhub.com/

Kinda pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK9bOqfsMg

I've seen this but I can't find anywhere that sells it in the UK no one happens to know of a site do they?

Also is that just a glorified version of what I was planning on doing or does it do something a mixer with a headphone amp won't?

standupright · #7 10-28-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GML

One band I played in for six years (way back when) used to learn/practice all new songs with no amps and no PA - just the guitars unplugged and the drummer using brushes on a kitchen chair seat. We used to do songs with up to 5 voices and heavy vocal arrangements. If ANYTHING was off you could hear it instantly. Once we had a song down acoustically we would then turn on the equipment and try it with full power. It was a serious kick to hear a song sound great the first time with the power on.

This method was the absolute fastest way I've ever found to 1) learn new songs and 2) get all the parts right from the get go. Unfortunately I've never been able to convince any band since then to use this method.

Big sigh.

Graeme

i've been working with just the guitar player and our singer for the past couple of weeks for an upcoming gig, mainly because our drummer moved to another state. he came back for rehearsal, and wow. what a difference. when we cut out the "clutter" it really makes you pay attention to what is really going on in the music. couple of hardcore rehearsals with no percussion and now with the full band, the tunes are now at 99%.

you guys could also try turning down, and having you drummer play with rutes instead of regular sticks.

scsm · #8 10-28-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper91

I've seen this but I can't find anywhere that sells it in the UK no one happens to know of a site do they?

Also is that just a glorified version of what I was planning on doing or does it do something a mixer with a headphone amp won't?

I think it can add distortion and lets each musician control their own mix. If the drummer wants more bass he can turn you up.

I see them for about US$300 so in Britain with our exchange rate...about £2.40

Ripper91 · #9 10-28-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

i've been working with just the guitar player and our singer for the past couple of weeks for an upcoming gig, mainly because our drummer moved to another state. he came back for rehearsal, and wow. what a difference. when we cut out the "clutter" it really makes you pay attention to what is really going on in the music. couple of hardcore rehearsals with no percussion and now with the full band, the tunes are now at 99%.

you guys could also try turning down, and having you drummer play with rutes instead of regular sticks.

We can't really turn down as I'm fairly sure a certain one of my neighbours is not going to be happy whatever the volume and the garage has pretty much no sound proofing whatsoever so even drums player with rutes would be likely to cause trouble. Plus we'd quite like to be able to rehearse and jam quite often with possible late night sessions so I think headphones is pretty much our only option.

standupright · #10 10-28-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper91

We can't really turn down as I'm fairly sure a certain one of my neighbours is not going to be happy whatever the volume and the garage has pretty much no sound proofing whatsoever so even drums player with rutes would be likely to cause trouble. Plus we'd quite like to be able to rehearse and jam quite often with possible late night sessions so I think headphones is pretty much our only option.

good luck! been in a similar situation before.

groooooove · #11 10-28-2009, 08:24 PM

i think you guys need new material, such as..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUJagb7hL0E

Ripper91 · #12 10-28-2009, 09:05 PM

So can anyone speak for the quality of the behringer desk I posted up there?

JohnMCA72 · #13 10-28-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper91

Ah nice it can actually be done then

Would I be able to plug this into this and have it work?

I know behringer are bad for bass amps but would that gear be any good? If not does anyone have any other suggestions in a similar price range?

Looks like probably so.

I don't know what we're using for headphone amps, so I'll have to check that out. We use our regular mixer's (A&H Mixwiz) auxes for separate monitor mixes (4), same as on stage, so it's really not any different except for greatly reduced SPL since there are no monitors or mains hooked up. Instruments DI, + guitar amp inside an insulated box with mic.

JM

Ripper91 · #14 10-29-2009, 05:27 AM

Would it be possible to run a cable from the headphone jack in a practice amp into the mixer?

JohnMCA72 · #15 10-29-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper91

Would it be possible to run a cable from the headphone jack in a practice amp into the mixer?

Sure, it's possible. A better question might be, "Would it do anything useful?"

Speaker/headphone levels & impedance aren't anything close to what the mixer's inputs need. You may find yourself with a very low level with lots of noise and/or distortion.

Better to make your connections on the input side. That is, where the levels & impedances are fairly closely matched to begin with. In other words, connect between the instrument & amp to a similar point at the channel inputs of your mixer. Use a DI (Direct Input) box between your instrument & the amp. The DI will give you a 2nd, Lo-Z output that you can connect to a mic. input of your mixer.

Once you've got that set up, you might as well just do away with the amp completely.

JM

Ripper91 · #16 10-29-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

Sure, it's possible. A better question might be, "Would it do anything useful?"

Speaker/headphone levels & impedance aren't anything close to what the mixer's inputs need. You may find yourself with a very low level with lots of noise and/or distortion.

Better to make your connections on the input side. That is, where the levels & impedances are fairly closely matched to begin with. In other words, connect between the instrument & amp to a similar point at the channel inputs of your mixer. Use a DI (Direct Input) box between your instrument & the amp. The DI will give you a 2nd, Lo-Z output that you can connect to a mic. input of your mixer.

Once you've got that set up, you might as well just do away with the amp completely.

JM

I've been told I could plug my active bass straight into the desk and it would sound decent is that right? Also in terms of DI boxes I don't suppose anyone could recomend something cheap for the guitarist?

JohnMCA72 · #17 10-29-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripper91

I've been told I could plug my active bass straight into the desk and it would sound decent is that right? Also in terms of DI boxes I don't suppose anyone could recomend something cheap for the guitarist?

Maybe. It might be good enough for practice. I've plugged a passive into the desk, but had to max the gain. It was a little noisy, & no headroom, but acceptable for practice.

I use a Radial J48, but there are plenty of other good choices, too. Some effects double as a DI.

JM

Lexicon · #18 10-30-2009, 01:48 PM

I actually own a set of Roland Vdrums and have exactly what you're talking about set up in the spare bedroom of my house. I bought an inexpensive Yamaha MG102 mixer and a 4 channel headphone amp. You simply send the left and right outputs from the Vdrums to a stereo channel of the mixer and the guitar and bass into the board using any Pod-like device (I use a Zoom B1). I can connect 4 sets of headphones using the headphone amp and each person has their own volume control. There is only an overall mix with this setup rather than individual mixes though. Having good headphones makes a big difference in this setup.

It works great and unless you have someone singing it's literally only the tap-tap-thud-thud of the drums that can be heard by anyone.

musicman7722 · #19 10-31-2009, 08:20 AM

OK here is my exp. and I've been doing it on and off for years. I'm in 2 bands right now. One has 5 peices (2 gtr, bass drums, keys. All 5 sing and the ld singer does flute, sax and keys.) Second act is 3 peice, 2 gtr, bass, seq keys and drums). In the 5 peice band our current drummer uses an exp. Yamaha electronic drum kit. Previus drummers used acoustic drums.

First off you need a mixer with enough inputs to put al your instruments and vocals in. If you have electornic drums great if not you can acutally mike up the kick or place a mike over the kit or not worry. Now if the mixer is unpowered I recommend you run it into a small power amp and then into a headphone setup like the Furman HR-2

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...RWXGB&ZYXSEM=0

I've used some of the toher type of haedphone amps abut they do tend to distort.

Finally and most importantly every one needs to use the same make and model haedpones otheiwse you are not all going to be sure to hear the same volume and tone.

Works great even with real drums.

Good luck

CP

Cree · #20 11-01-2009, 06:13 AM

What you are talking about will work. Move up to the Behringer 1202. That will give you 4 xlrs and 4 stereo channels. That way you can have 4 vocal microphones and you can plug the electronic drums and direct boxes/modelers into the stereo channels.

The behringer mixers also have a headphone out that you can plug your headphone mixer into. I use the cheap Rolls one.

The DD505 is an electronic drum kit that is sold by a variety of different online retailers. For a good video demonstration, do a search for Sigler Music.

I hope this helps.