Practicing with headphones.

[gkaneko]

Hi, I don't know much about gear and equipment so I decided to ask you guys. I want to practice my bass guitar with headphones, mostly along with CDs. What would be the best way to do this?

Should I buy an amp?
If I buy an amp, I don't need a strong one, since I would not be using it w/o headphones too much. But I would like to playalong to my CDs in stereo.

Also, could I plug my bass into my computer?
I have a macbook laptop and have garageband and Reason.
I've tried plugging my bass into the computer with a quarter inch to 1/8 inch cable but obviously it doesn't sound very good.

I was wondering what kind of options I have for these two ways.
Which would be easier? Sound better? Cheaper?

Thank you!

[Droot]

Try this, I just got one and it has a built in trainer and a great line of effects and model amps.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ube?sku=502058

DRoot

[slagbass]

Check one of these out:

http://www.tascam.com/products/cd-bt2.html

Put in a CD, plug in your phones and bass and you can practice all you want (without disturbing the neighbours). Also has cool stuff like a tuner and metronome built in. I use it almost every day.

[Craigmartini]

Originally Posted by slagbass

Check one of these out:

http://www.tascam.com/products/cd-bt2.html

Put in a CD, plug in your phones and bass and you can practice all you want (without disturbing the neighbours). Also has cool stuff like a tuner and metronome built in. I use it almost every day.

Yes!

This is exactly what you want! I have had mine for about 2 years, it has been flawless. I could never live without it now.

[Minotauros]

http://www.pocketrockit.com/Page.php?id=0022

I have the S1b. Works great. Another option is full size 'phones you can plug into your amp if it has a cd jack.

[Febs]

I use one of these:

[slipkyes]

there are many ways. I have one of these:


They´re the easiest way to practice with no cable/amp/mixer messing around, and it has an Aux in so you can connect an ipod, discman etc. with a simple stereo aux cable. I plug a metronome through it for practicing excercises and songs I have to record

[recreate.me]

Do you use the Classic rock one, or the Bass version?

[PaulNYC]

also check out the iGTR for not much more.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by slipkyes

there are many ways. I have one of these:


They´re the easiest way to practice with no cable/amp/mixer messing around, and it has an Aux in so you can connect an ipod, discman etc. with a simple stereo aux cable. I plug a metronome through it for practicing excercises and songs I have to record

I agree. I have the AC-30 version, and I love it for practicing and playing along to songs. I can play clean or add a bit of distortion, so I can sound a bit like Geddy when I play along to Rush songs. And when I plug it into my Strat, I can sound like Clapton in his Layla period. $29.95 at GC, even the price is good!

[slipkyes]

Originally Posted by recreate.me

Do you use the Classic rock one, or the Bass version?

Classic rock, I got it from my gutarist cousing, don't really care if it's for guitar cause it does it's job: to give sound, plus with the gain down it sounds good enough to practice

[LARUMBLE]

ehx lpb-1 into a octave multiplexer into a bass big muff pi into carvin headphones..

[hrodbert696]

There are a few options for what you're describing -- I think Danelectro does a kind of pocket amp for about $30, my local music store has some but my quick online search is only turning up guitar versions. There's also this -- http://www.music123.com/C-Tech-Pocke...?CJPID=1609763.

But if you're ever going to play OTHER than for yourself on headphones you'll need a real amplifier. Seems like most combo amps I see have stereo input jacks and headphone out jacks. I practice to a CD plenty, just using the same amp I take to practice with the band.

[MisterV619]

You could try one of these
http://www.soundtech.com/products/ho...ding/stusbg10/




one of these

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/stealthplug









or one of these


http://www.amplitube.com/irig

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/NewsDisplay.php?Id=2572

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by Febs

I use one of these:

I went even smaller:



Plugged into computer. I use Audacity to pull tunes off places like YouTube and the Amazing Slow Downer to pick out the fast/complicated parts.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by Scottgun

I went even smaller:



Plugged into computer. I use Audacity to pull tunes off places like YouTube and the Amazing Slow Downer to pick out the fast/complicated parts.

Last year I had a small Tapco mixer similar in size to this one. It worked well, but I eventually got rid of it because I would have a jumble of wires all over my bed when practicing. Now with the Vox AmPlug there's only one wire for my MP3 player, and the headphone wire. Nice and simple. And I can move around from room to room if I want.

[Setebos]

I got myself the Vox AC30 heaadphone amp. Very convenient for silent practice.

[jb63]

Originally Posted by Febs

I use one of these:

+1

[BlakeJustBlake]

Originally Posted by slagbass

Check one of these out:

http://www.tascam.com/products/cd-bt2.html

Put in a CD, plug in your phones and bass and you can practice all you want (without disturbing the neighbours). Also has cool stuff like a tuner and metronome built in. I use it almost every day.

I've been looking at this for awhile now, is it particularly useful for developing a good ear?

[Scottgun]

I'm certainly on board with the idea of gettting rid of all the cables, but frankly, me and portable stuff have had a bad history. Mostly due to the chintziness of the units; and the reviews of some of the new stuff complaining of the same thing are keeping me leery.