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2 Effects only 1 amp

A

Arnak

Oct 24, 2006
25
0
77
#1
Hi,

I couldn't see an answer to this in the forums but perhaps someone can help?

I have a zoom effects box and a zoom drum machine but only 1 mono input amp.

Is there a way to connect the 2 devices into the amp.

Unfortunately the effects boxes do not have a line in and both only have a mono or stereo output.

Thanks,

Arnak
 
#2
I'm slightly confused as to why you want a drum machine through you're bass amp??? there not really designed for it and I would imagine cymbals etc. would be very muddy unless you have a good tweeter so I would say two options...

1. expensive: get a "generic" amp for the drum machine. Keyboard amp or an onstage monitor type amp, it does mean more gear and money but even a cheaper keyboard amp will sound better than running a drum machine through a bass amp (and what evey eq etc is in the bass head)

2. If you're really set on putting the drum machine through your amp you basically need a mix (you can get cheap 2 or 4 channel mixers) and then you're twoinputs will be one.

Why do you want to do this?? If its for solo bass/drum machine performance then deffinity get a seperate amp!! If its just for practicing at home then just try to route the drum machine through a hifi or computer at home(save getting a mixer).
 
#3
Hi,

Thanks for the advice. <g>

I am only playing for pleasure at home but I do take your point regarding getting a separate amp for the drum machine I agree it would sound better.

It is not convenient to put it through the computer as it is in a separate room. 8-((

I'll check into the possibility of a separate amp but as funds are limited it may have to be a mixer for now as I can get one for less than £20, $40, that is quite a bit cheaper than an amp.

Thanks,

Arnak
 
#8
Mr_Dave said:
ahhhhh.... bugger
Click to expand...

That phrase gets me through countless disappointments :D

I think they're right about the amp thing. One thing you perhaps could do is this:

buy a cheap EQ pedal. Run whichever pedal has stereo outputs first in the chain (I'm assuming it's the effects pedal). Then run drum machine and the EQ pedal out of one output, and run a normal 1/4" cable out of the other output. Then buy a cheap coupler (two mono 1/4" into one mono 1/4"), or even just build one yourself if you can't find one..it shouldn't cost you more than a pound or two either way. Use the EQ pedal to boost the higher frequencies to cover for the amp's high-end loss (although a lot of the time it's not the amp section that's the problem, it's just a speaker's poor high-freq response). Either way, you'll have two 'okay' sounding things. That's the cheap way.

The expensive (and better) way is to buy another amp.

PS: I love your avatar :) any more pics of that sexy bass?
 
#9
Do you have any sort of stereo system/boombox at home? If it has a "LINE IN", you could connect your drum machine to that. Just don't run it too loud or you might damage it. I used to do that kind of thing when I didn't want to spring for new equipment.
 
#10
TVBBass said:
I'm slightly confused as to why you want a drum machine through you're bass amp??? there not really designed for it and I would imagine cymbals etc. would be very muddy unless you have a good tweeter so I would say two options...

...Why do you want to do this?? If its for solo bass/drum machine performance then deffinity get a seperate amp!! If its just for practicing at home then just try to route the drum machine through a hifi or computer at home(save getting a mixer).
Click to expand...
OK - and I'm more-than slightly confused as to why you'd discourage him from doing this (even with the emphatic, 'incredulous triple-question marks'!).

Arnak is a six-string, extended-range bassist - maybe a soloist. Is the question 'why would you want to perform with percussion'? Many bassists very-much like performing with percussion. The specs on his Markbass cab rates it for 40Hz to 18KHz - I'd say if theres a 'speaker problem', it's solidly reproducing the LOW-end of his instrument's range!

I my self am a solo bassist (tap bass and vocals). I'm definately planning to get a drum machine! I'll run my drum machine into the bass rig. I might even run vocals into the bass rig (My cab's freq response is a little worse - something like 40Hz-12KHz, is it?). I'm thinking of running it right behind me, and doing the old Greatful Dead trick of using matching out-of-phase mics to cancel feedback.

Go for it, Arnak! It'll work fine. You could even use one of those little DOD resistive mixers, on-the-cheap.

Tell us more about what you're doing with those six strings!

Joe
 
#11
Joe P said:
OK - and I'm more-than slightly confused as to why you'd discourage him from doing this (even with the emphatic, 'incredulous triple-question marks'!).

Arnak is a six-string, extended-range bassist - maybe a soloist. Is the question 'why would you want to perform with percussion'? Many bassists very-much like performing with percussion. The specs on his Markbass cab rates it for 40Hz to 18KHz - I'd say if theres a 'speaker problem', it's solidly reproducing the LOW-end of his instrument's range!
Click to expand...

Joe, I get increasingly annoyed when people feel the need to slate peoples responses to questions for no reason, I feel maybe your a little mixed.

1. I'm the one who plays the 6 string fretless extended bass with a Mark bass (yes it is a very nice amp, thankyou). According to Arnak's profile he plays 4 string with no mention of amps (thus not being able to tell if it would be an appropriate amp for a drum machine)

2. I think to assume a bass amp is not the appropriate amplifier for performance drums is fair...The fact is that no matter how good a bass amp is, its designed for bass, unless you bypass the preamp/EQ's/compression and anything else your amp is doing to the sound it will sound strange, I would suggest plugging the output of an ipod into an amp setup for bass as proof of this then compare to a good quality hifi. Of course you CAN plug a drum machine into a bass amp and the better the amp teh better it will sound (the reasonable flat nature of Markbass actually makes it a good candidate for this!) But there are more appropriate amps out there for more serious performers.

3. Read the rest of the thread, Arnak is not using it for performance, and the conclusion was to use a mixer. Also I'm not sure where you got the idea that I'm against people using drum machines...its great, I love it, bring on the bass soloist we need more of them, more people like you if thats what you do!!

All the best with your solo work, seriously, I'm here to make friends, encourage bassists and offer advise where I can not to get slated for what I thought was a reasonable suggestion... Come on mate...us bassist need to stick together!
 

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