"headphone practice"

Spacelordmother · #1 01-07-2007, 07:20 PM

sorry if i missed a sticky, my search didn't turn up too much with such ambiguous terms.

basically, my friends and I want to setup something so we can practice together through headphones so as not to disturb my neighbors (I live in an apt building) we all have our own equipment/amps with line outs - would we only need a simple mixer to all run into and then maybe either a headphone jack splitter or one of those headphone amps? Ideally it would also have an out I can run into my computer (I have a soundblaster Live Drive)

thanks for helping out a recording newb.

i hope that i was clear enough about what I'm trying to do.

emils · #2 01-07-2007, 07:46 PM

You could get a cheap mixer, headphone spliter and all that stuff or you could get yourself one of these interfaces:

You both plug in, it already has two headphone outs plus it's conected to your computer so you can practice playing along some MP3's and also record yourself. And they trow in some recording software for you to start recording as soon as you're set up. I think this would be the most elegant solution.

Spacelordmother · #3 01-07-2007, 08:06 PM

I wish I could swing the $300.00 for that, but that is rather out of reach at the moment.

arbarnhart · #4 01-07-2007, 08:28 PM

Here's an off the wall suggestion for you - get a cheap mixer (you can find NADY and Behringer 4 line models on eBay for $20-$30) and connect the output to one of those mini FM transmitters like you use for an iPod in a car ($10-$20 on eBay). Then each of you just gets a cheap FM headset radio (I see those for $10-$20 at the local discount store) and tunes in. That way the headphones are cordless (much less hassle). You would be looking at about $40 shared cost plus $15 or so each (for your personal radios).

EDIT - I forgot about the $3 1/4" to 1/8" converter you might need from Radio Shack...

Spacelordmother · #5 01-07-2007, 08:39 PM

could someone please explain to me the line input and direct input on the EHX mini mixer here:

http://www.analoguehaven.com/electroharmonix/minimixer/
"The Mini Mixer is a 4-channel mixer with two inputs for Microphone/Guitar, one Line Input, a Direct Input, and Output"

and the output would go out to either a headphone amp/splitter or the line in on a computer interface right?

i_got_a_mohawk · #6 01-07-2007, 08:40 PM

Id just get a cheap mixer (i got a really cheap behringer UB1202 for recording ideas to an MP3 player in the practice room, it worked surprisingly well), and use your cheap mixer to sort everything, and send the output to a headphone amp, like this:

http://www.presonus.com/hp4.html

Which isnt very expensive, and then your good to go, there are cheaper alternatives too, its just presonus have a pretty good rep

Behringer also make one, but i dont have a clue if its any good at all, alot of thier stuff is getting better, but its still pretty hit or miss.

http://www.behringer.com/HA400/index.cfm?lang=ENG

arbarnhart · #7 01-07-2007, 08:57 PM

If you go in to the computer, you can check on "Monitor Input" and have the sound come out its speaker or through its headphone jack. This is actually what I am doing. I actually found an even cheaper alternative than mentioned above. I was checking out at Walgreens one night and saw an ultracheap wireless headset priced at $9.99. I figured it was worht a shot; I could always bring it back the next day. Turns out it is one of the little FM transmitters paired with an FM radio headset. I use it as my computer headphones and I jack in to the line in or mic jack and can play along with CDs quietly and can record (only captures my input, even if I am playing along with a CD). So I have been mulling the idea of throwing a mixer in to do just what you are thinking about.

arbarnhart · #8 01-08-2007, 10:32 AM

Coupla more thoughts...

If you go with a headphone splitter and wired headphones, you may need some additional amplification out of the headphone jack.

The dirt cheap FM transmitter and headphone set I found is mono, which actually worked out well for me. For whatever reason, when I use "Monitor Input" to play the bass from the PC mic jack, it all goes to the left channel. Also, I have a few play along CDs that have the bass line in the left channel and the rest of the band in the right, so you can adjust to hear just the bass to learn and just the band to play along. The mono headset redistributes the sound evenly. Just something else to think about; mono can actually help sometimes (it sure helped with the price).

lamarjones · #9 01-08-2007, 01:46 PM

I use a Korg px3b into my computer, or headphones, and use a real cheap mixer to include some of my friends into it (among other methods, but man that pandora is a GIFT to any bass player, Michael Manring turned me onto it when he would practice in the halls with one at some bass camp). The latest korg pandoras for bas are the px4b. The px3b works great, and as a practice tool you can definitely justify it. As for cheapie mixer, browse craigslist or something but ways to mix a signal are generally had for 20-30 bucks if you had to go that route.

arbarnhart · #10 01-11-2007, 10:08 AM

A little something to add on my FM transmitter idea. I am not sure when Walgreens became a discount electronics store, but I ran across another deal that was just too good to pass up. They have little FM radios that look like an MP3 player. Comes with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck, but it fits in a shirt pocket also. When you wear it around the neck, it gets in the way of the bass, but it is pretty easy to tie off the lanyard to resolve that. It's also a clock and stop watch. It includes earbuds (there is no speaker) and comes in a bunch of colors. It works just fine with the little transmitter I got to give me a second set of head phones. Price? $3 and it comes with a battery already in it. So I have a transmitter and two wireless headphones each with individual volume settings and I haven't spent $15 yet. All bought over the counter down the street at a place that would refund my money if they didn't work. Amazing...

lamarjones · #11 01-11-2007, 10:30 AM

that actually is a pretty sweet idea, I have used the setup I have mentioned through the tape deck adapter in the van when we are travelling out of town, and we jam in the van. It works, rock it out!

peaveyuser · #12 01-11-2007, 10:17 PM

Couldn't you all just buy the cheap wireless headphones, plug each transmitter into each of your amps and since they are all the same brand just tune into the same channel. Kinda like walkie talkies. This would be great because you'd practice quietly with still having the flexibility to move around, stand up and do crazy stage gimmicks, it would also be cheap.