Bass Trainer- worth the money?

Byzcat · #1 10-08-2009, 05:58 PM

So, I'm having this problem...

seems that during the twelve years I wasn't playing bass, I lost my ear- either that or it wasn't as good as I thought it was to begin with.

So, anyway, I'm spending a lot of time sitting cross-legged on the floor (twenty-five or six to four?) with my bass, a Vox Amplug headphone amp (has aux. input, so I can run a CD player into it), bassically annoying myself trying to learn to play songs and I can't quite make out the bass lines.

I downloaded the Best Practice software. The result is that I can now annoy myself trying to learn bass lines that I can't make out at half-speed, and, thanks to the loop feature, I can annoy myself with five or ten seconds of a bass line that I can't quite make out played over and over again..

My teacher suggested adjusting the balance control (haven't got one) to isolate the channel the bass line is in. He also suggested I invest in a Bass Trainer, and I'm wondering if it's worth the money. I got on zZounds and had a look at the Tascam CDBT2, and it has gotten good reviews.

The question is, is this gadget a worthwhile investment? What can it do that the setup I already have can't? The main thing I need is to be able to isolate bass lines from songs, because I can't pick them out of the mix, even at slow speeds. Can the Bass Trainer help pick bass lines out of the mix?

I need help. I'm getting frustrated.

sobie18 · #2 10-08-2009, 06:59 PM

I would listen to the songs without a bass in my hands. Pick out the parts; start slow & easy with simple songs. BUILD the ear.

AN4E · #3 10-08-2009, 07:45 PM

Exactly i started out with journey and now im on rush (geddy for me at least can be hard to hear at times)
itll build back up no worrys

dont get mad and break your bass give it to me if you cant stand it anymore lol j/k

nortonrider · #4 10-08-2009, 08:03 PM

I think that the Tascam Bass Trainer is great, I use mine all the time.

However, it doesn't isolate a bass line out of the mix. What it has is:

. a Standard setting to play the track as recorded
. a Bass Boost setting which bumps up the bass in the mix
. a Bass Enhance setting to really bring the bass to the forefront
. a Bass Cut setting to cut the bass out of a song so you can play your own.

Thats just some of the things it does. It has a few effects, a tuner, you can slow the pitch. a line out that I have plugged my practice amp into to play without using headphones.

Keep a sharp eye out, there are deals to be had every now and then.

Byzcat · #5 10-08-2009, 08:22 PM

Well, I actually have dialed back a bit- I had been trying to learn "Bungle in the Jungle", got discouraged and decided on "Rocka Rolla" instead. I figured Ian Hill's elegant simplcity would be more my speed at this point, but I'm even stuck on that.

I'm thinking that bass boost/enhance might be just the thing. Not ready to rush out and buy a Bass Trainer just yet.

Also, I think my typing speed and accuracy have improved since I've been spending a lot of time running scale patterns.

ByF · #6 10-08-2009, 11:11 PM

I really like SlowGold software for learning parts. You can change the pitch +/- an octave, change the speed from ~10% to 200%, make and store loops, work with CDs, .wav files, or .mp3's. And it's less expensive than a bass trainer. I've been using it for years.

Ed

Steve · #7 10-08-2009, 11:23 PM

Best practice has always worked for me.
Both of those songs have the bass line pretty well buried in places.

If you're not sweating those tunes for a gig, I'd think about finding another tune that's less problematic.

TBassEurope · #8 10-08-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

I downloaded the Best Practice software. The result is that I can now annoy myself trying to learn bass lines that I can't make out at half-speed, and, thanks to the loop feature, I can annoy myself with five or ten seconds of a bass line that I can't quite make out played over and over again..

Quote:

. a Bass Enhance setting to really bring the bass to the forefront
. a Bass Cut setting to cut the bass out of a song so you can play your own.

These are the items, TASCAM BT can do for you. AND it's a headphone amp with some EQ and effects, if you like.
If you are comfortable sitting in front of your PC while practicing, you don't need it. If you want those functions in its own small case, get it.

Byzcat · #9 10-09-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

If you're not sweating those tunes for a gig, I'd think about finding another tune that's less problematic.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I'm nowhere near pro level, I just happen to really like those two songs a lot.

I'm thinking I should just forget them for a while and go back and finish tabbing out "Smoke on the Water". I used to be able to kick that one out pretty good, and I'm starting to get some of my dexterity back.

TBassEurope-

Quote:

These are the items, TASCAM BT can do for you. AND it's a headphone amp with some EQ and effects, if you like.
If you are comfortable sitting in front of your PC while practicing, you don't need it. If you want those functions in its own small case, get it.

Hmmm. Maybe I should start looking around for a deal on one. Sitting in front of the PC is a bit uncomfortable, even on a stool (I got one that I can sit on and keep the bass in the position I play in standing). EQ and effects are always nice. I like my sound a bit scooped. Does it have a Caviar and Meths effect?

Otter · #10 10-09-2009, 10:56 AM

No questions, one hell of an investment. remeber to purchase the seperate charger as well.

Craigmartini · #11 10-09-2009, 12:40 PM

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the greatest song learning tool I have ever had. I LOVE the CD BT-2!!!

Get one you won't regret it!

Craig

tycobb73 · #12 10-09-2009, 05:50 PM

I love mine. It allows me to

1. practice after my kids have gone to bed
2. sell my rack tuner
3. loop hard sections
4. slow down said hard sections and work up the pace gradually
5. have all songs on an mp3 at practice in case the band wants to hear something
6. practice to a metrone

Last night at church our worship leader / pastor needed a tuner. Luckily I had this nearby.

Byzcat · #13 10-10-2009, 05:33 AM

^

I have a Vox AmPlug that allows for late night practice when the insomnia gets bad
I have one of those cute little clip-onto-the-headstock tuners.
I can loop hard sections, it doesn't help.
I can slow down hard sections-still doesn't help.
I will probably be getting the CD version.
I have a metronome.
I'm not in a band.

The only thing this thing has that I really need is the ability to boost/enhance bass lines that have been buried in the mix. If it does that as well as others have said it does, I'll be buying one.

Unless I can get some software cheaper that has that same ability cheaper. I consider effects to be bassically toys at this point, unless there's Caviar and Meths.

nortonrider · #14 10-10-2009, 07:31 PM

Yeah, the effects are truly toys - albeit pretty cool toys.

Nobody really needs one - but the Tascam really is a cool tool. If you have already spent the money on the software, the you probably have everything that the Bass Trainer has, except the ability to move it around.

Like I said earler - I really dig mine, and if I ever break it, I'll buy another one.

Byzcat · #15 10-10-2009, 09:07 PM

OK, next question- do the effects include compression? Because that's something I really need right now. I'm having a bit of a problem with my G string being barely audible when I pluck it, while the D is disproportionately loud. My teacher thinks it's a pickup design flaw- the arched pickups are too far from the G to really, well, pick it up. He suggested getting a compressor, or possibly changing the pickups.

I've been looking around the 'net trying to find a compressor pedal cheap, but the least expensive one I can find is around $50, and if it's going to cost that much, I'd rather not get one, because I've also been searching for pickups and a set of DiMarzio DP 149's looks like it might be what I need (I'm playing an Ibanez SR-300 and don't want to have it routed for P-bass pickups).

And I haven't spent any money on software, so that's not an issue. Being able to, you know, actually hear bass lines in songs where they're buried in the mix, plus compression to get me through until I can upgrade my pickups, would be the combination that sells me on the Bass Trainer. Well, that and Caviar and Meths.