Looking for practice tool

BassChuck · #1 12-11-2006, 08:16 AM

What I need is something that I can plug the bass into and some kind of sound source, like a CD player or iPod. I've looked at the Tascam Bass Trainer and while that's nice unit, its a little pricey.

Is there anything that is just a simple portable battery powered amp that has 2 imputs?

thanks

ErikP.Bass · #2 12-11-2006, 10:34 AM

Well worth the investment.....and pop up on eBay at reasonable prices occasionally.

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_...&category_id=6

tZer · #3 12-11-2006, 11:55 AM

I have been using my PC and Laptop for the last bunch of years - really can't think of anything more versitile...

Correlli · #4 12-11-2006, 03:36 PM

Years ago, I used to DI into my portable stereo. Sounded OK, acceptable.

http://www.whirlwindusa.com/ftp/Blackbox/imp2.jpg

arbarnhart · #5 12-12-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

I have been using my PC and Laptop for the last bunch of years - really can't think of anything more versitile...

Can you expound on that a little more? I use my PC, but actually have a tny practice amp sitting beside it. I don't have anything that mixes the PC with the bass for headphone use.

tZer · #6 12-12-2006, 12:01 PM

In the most basic set-up I can pop a CD in the PC's CD drive, have a player like WinAmp play tracks.

I plug my bass into the line-in (using a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter). Then using Windows Volume Manager, select Line-in as the input source (recording) and the bass can now be heard through the headphones.

So you can listen to your CD and Hear you bass through your headphones or your PC speakers.

I also use Sonar - so I will extract audio and put it on a track, plug in and arm another track for recording (using the line-in as the input).

May not be the optimal way to do things, but I find it to be quite fine - my laptop works just as well and I can be sitting in a field of flowers (with a full battery) and be happily jamming along with my favortie Elvis Costello song.

fourstringdrums · #7 12-12-2006, 12:05 PM

I'm looking into getting this: http://www.stealthplug.com/ I can play along to music as easily as putting a cd in the computer, it comes with a few different kinds of recording software programs and has one that can slow down music without changing tempo, has a headphone output and even has some effects/amp modeling. All for $100.

twodinners · #8 12-12-2006, 12:13 PM

I bought a Pandora when I got back into playing, even before buying an amp.

I've loved it, it has an aux input so you can jam along with cd's and such and a sampler so you can set up loops/changes to solo yourself silly to.

Cheap to buy and cheap to run so long as you get a power supply for it. I've used mine pretty much every day for three years and had no problems.

The tracks on mespace were recorded using it.

If it got lost I'd definitely get another.

Kevin

arbarnhart · #9 12-12-2006, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

In the most basic set-up I can pop a CD in the PC's CD drive, have a player like WinAmp play tracks.

I plug my bass into the line-in (using a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter). Then using Windows Volume Manager, select Line-in as the input source (recording) and the bass can now be heard through the headphones.

I have the adapter and I record okay with Audacity, but I don't get any sound through the speakers while recording. If I turn that on in Audacity (play input while recording), there is a delay. It plays other tracks while I record a new one, no problem. I am using a Dell notebook; a D620. I also have an older Toshiba I can try to see if it is something specific to my hardware.

arbarnhart · #10 12-12-2006, 07:03 PM

Following up on my own post. Since tZer assured me this was quite doable (we traded some additional email also) I hit the net with more determintation to make it work. It turns out to be a Dell notebook specific issue and fortunately there is a fix. Just in case someone else has the same setup, here is the info...

From a thread on the Dell support forum:

The full duplex capability was pseudo-disabled in the driver. Probably so that Dell support wouldn't have to deal with feedback issues.

Here is the fix:

Run Regedit and search for "DisableMicFromPlayback" and set it to 00.

Reboot

In volume control under advanced settings, set it to show Mic volume in Playback.

You should now be able to monitor what is being recorded in real time. Note that unless you are using headphones, feedback will probably occur.

Aren't computers wonderful?

arbarnhart · #11 12-19-2006, 08:06 PM

One more addendum...

After doing the above, I was getting my bass in the left channel only. It is probably my adapter plug doing that but I am not sure. Anyway, I was tempted by a cheap ($9.99) set of wireless headphones next to the checkout counter at Walgreens and I figured they were worth trying. Turns out there are a couple of reasons for the low price - only a 20' range and they are mono. For my purposes, that's perfect; I still have the guitar cabled to the PC and now I don't have a headphone cord to tangle with the guitar strap and the audio is in both ears. And it was cheap (like me) !!

Jazzdogg · #12 12-19-2006, 08:20 PM

I've been using one of these for several years. Very convenient. I clip it on my belt, plug in my bass and a sound source, and practice without disturbing anyone (provided the correct headphones are used).

My late wife really appreciated it - no longer did she have to listen to me play the same track over and over again while learning new songs.

I donated several to a friend who is a middle-school music teacher for whom I volunteer to teach aspiring bassists. Students sign them out for practice, and can take them home - just like a library book.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--DAVROCKBA