bass practice tool - pandora, or something else

[Belgand]

I want more info on this too. I was thinking about picking one up to replace my Tascam CD trainer, but I've read a few reviews of the guitar version of the mp3 trainer which give it low marks due to freezing / software instability issues.

Since I posted I looked around and apparently it's a tad flaky. It only wants your mp3s in relatively low bitrates so you need to fiddle with it and possible reencode everything so it actually sounds worse in order for it to work. Once things get into the device itself apparently the sound quality leaves something to be desired. Just like you I've only been able to find reviews of the guitar model which has also apparently been out longer.

In the end I'd suggest trying to find a place where you can return it if it doesn't work out. I'm pretty sure that Musician's Friend will take it back as part of their "45-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee" minus shipping.

 

[bassjamn]

I've used my Pandora a lot, first found about it in 2003 when i had a lesson with Mr. Stu Hamm since he endorsed it.
Mostly use it for tuner, metronome, drum machine, short chord progression and a few effects. It's my main input into my comp. Pandora->Mixer/Usb connection->PC

the slowdown feature is ok, it tends to break up a little if you slow down too much.
I use Audacity for tempo speed changes it works better in that regard

 

[PaulMacCnj]

+1 for the Pandora. I use it virtually everyday.

 

[walknbluez]

I use Line6 Guitarport with Rifftracker and Gearbox Gold through my PC with a Tapco Blend6 mixer and a pair of powered KRK Rokit8 studio monitors.

Does Guitarport have any limitations when using it for bass? Are you able to play mp3's through it for practice?

 

[Jari Kurri]

almost a year later, i'm replying to my own thread to say that i haven't bought anything but my living situation has changed even more significantly. i moved to kinshasa, the capital of the democratic republic of congo, about a month ago and didn't bring any basses with me (luggage restrictions). now that i'm here, a guy in town has lent me his godin a5 fretless bass. having never played fretless, and only spent a little time with a 5-string, i figure i have plenty of time to learn my way around this bass. i'm borrowing an amp for now but will be moving into a small apartment soon and won't be able to bring the amp with me.

anyway, i've been eyeing the pandora px5d and it looks sweet. i can plug my bass into it, plug in my laptop and mp3 player, make recordings, and use it as an outboard box for fx and amp modeling. best of all, it's pretty small so i may be able to sneak it through the mail system in a small padded envelope (i'm able to get small envelopes shipped to me; the mail system here doesn't allow for larger packages to be sent - they never show up). i play a little bit of guitar too so if i come across an electric guitar i can use it for that as well. heck, i never figured i'd luck my way into a godin a5, so who knows what else i'll find here.

anyone out there have the latest pandora and have any comments? the only holdup might be the ac adaptor - does it run on 110 or 220v ac? everything here is 220 and i would need to buy a voltage converter ($$$) to run a 110 ac plug.

it sounds like i've already made up my mind, but i'd like to hear from other folks out there.

 

[amper]

I used to have a Pandora PX3B, but I didn't end up using it that much, so I sold it on the Internet. Now I wish I hadn't. I do have a vintage Boss TM-3 that I sometimes use, but I'm seriously considering the Micro BR, because it seems more flexible to me than the new Pandora.

 

[Implosion]

Some stuff

Great username. I had some troubles controlling my laughter at my cubicle.

 

[Bassblisters]

I really don't like using headphones, so I got the Roland Micro Bass Cube RX. my neighbors at my condo say they can't hear me jam, and I still get some bassy tones out of it, so I'm happy. There is a headphone jack and an AUX in jack, plus some cheezy built-in rhythms, but it beats a metronome!

 

[Pacman]

You will not find a better practice tool than Band in a Box. I use it with an M-Audio interface daily.

 

[Kevinmach]

I can't help you with the Px5 for a review, I only researched it.

I was about to the pull the trigger on a PX4, then saw a website blowing these out for a price that wasn't all that much more than Px5, so of course I gave it a good look.

The recording interface and ability to connect it to a PC looked cool, and that was the main benefit over the PX4 that I could see. The problem is I already have an 8-track AND PC software that I barely use now. And, a big issue was that it looked bigger. Now I don't know the exact dimensions and weight, so don't quote me on that, but portability and being able to hook it to the strap of my bass was kind of a key issue for me (which works nicely on the PX4).

When I found a PX4 on Ebay for $100 ($50 less than retail), it widened the gap enough to where it was a no brainer. I forget how much cheaper it was than a new PX5, over $100 I think. But even though it was a great for the PX5, I had to pass in favor of sticking to what my main intent in buying such a unit was in the first place.

 

[greenbass5]

You will not find a better practice tool than Band in a Box. I use it with an M-Audio interface daily.

Pacman,
Do i need a special sound card or something? I downloaded the demo version and it sounded super cheesy. I'm sure I probably don't know how to use it.
I've got a bunch of the Aebersold stuff on cassette and would love to have BIAB up and working. Very interested in it just wondering if my PC won't do it justice. I've got a Lexicon Omega available. Thanks.

 

[Pacman]

When you buy BIAB, most versions come with Virtual Sound Canvas (a software synth) which decreases the cheese factor by far. They also have "RealDrums" sets available, which are great, too. If you use a 64-bit OS, the VSC doesn't work, and I had to spring 40 bucks for a soft synth that works.

Still worth it though.

 

[greenbass5]

Thanks Pac! I'll look into it further. Just seems like if I could get it going it would be the ultimate practice tool.

 

[Infernal Affair]

I think if you want a very portable practice tool that you can take anywhere the best bet would be a Vox Bass Amplug and an mp3 player to run it through. Less wires and hassle.

But if you are in a room with a computer, use whatever tools will help you, like Band in a Box, recording software, slow down software, etc.

 

[NickInMesa]

I too use the Pandora (P4XD) absolutely ALL THE TIME when I practice, but I would like to upgrade to something better.

For one, I am not completely happy with the sound. The bass sounds a bit squeeshed. I run the speaker out from my PC into the line in on the Pandora, bass on the input, then play over Rhapsody, MP3s and Guitar Pro (although I use the latter mostly to display sheets, as they are usually wrong to a certain extent, or at least the bass track is very incomplete).

I am looking to upgrade to something a bit more pro, I like Hawaii Islander's setup very much.

Thread subscribed.

 

[MNAirHead]

I think if you want a very portable practice tool that you can take anywhere the best bet would be a Vox Bass Amplug and an mp3 player to run it through. Less wires and hassle.

quote]

Ditto.. have the AC20 version.

At my house I use an old laptop, downloaded Best practice (freeware) and plug into a small $25 mixer.

Works well - I rarely fire up amps at home - only gigs.

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

anyway, i've been eyeing the pandora px5d and it looks sweet. i can plug my bass into it, plug in my laptop and mp3 player, make recordings, and use it as an outboard box for fx and amp modeling. best of all, it's pretty small so i may be able to sneak it through the mail system in a small padded envelope (i'm able to get small envelopes shipped to me; the mail system here doesn't allow for larger packages to be sent - they never show up). i play a little bit of guitar too so if i come across an electric guitar i can use it for that as well. heck, i never figured i'd luck my way into a godin a5, so who knows what else i'll find here.

anyone out there have the latest pandora and have any comments? the only holdup might be the ac adaptor - does it run on 110 or 220v ac? everything here is 220 and i would need to buy a voltage converter ($$$) to run a 110 ac plug.

it sounds like i've already made up my mind, but i'd like to hear from other folks out there.

My coworker just bought one and wants me to check it out for him. I'll see if I can give you a review.

 

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[NickInMesa]

anyone out there have the latest pandora and have any comments? the only holdup might be the ac adaptor - does it run on 110 or 220v ac? everything here is 220 and i would need to buy a voltage converter ($$$) to run a 110 ac plug.

You can get a universal AC adapter, those run for a few bucks but are cheaper and cheaper. My PX4D came with none, as it was used on the Bay, and I ran it on AAA batteries first then on a universal adapter.

So really your nation and region does not matter, it will work either on batteries or a universal adapter.

I bought a Zoom G2.1u used on eBay for cheap as the previous owner complained it was dying after 30 minutes. I suspected it was the adapter. I was right. Got one for cheap, tested it successfully for two hours, then flipped it.

I may get the Zoom B2.1u now to upgrade my Pandora, or maybe get the better Pandora. I don't know yet. Just had some expenses.

 

[Jari Kurri]

After starting this thread almost two years ago, I'm posting to say that I picked up a PX5 last fall in the states. Well, I bought it and had it shipped to a friend who was coming to the Congo, and brought it in her luggage. I used it to practice with the borrowed Godin A5 that I had at the time. A few months ago, I moved to Mali and returned the Godin to its owner before I left, so I was bass-less for a while. However, this past summer I went back to the states for home leave and picked up my Mexican pbass, my SansAmp Bass Driver, and my old "Building Walking Bass Lines" book that I never fully finished.

For the past few weeks I've been using the Pandora and I've been pretty happy with it so far. I run my Ipod or PC into it to play along with songs, and I've used the metronome to work on practice exercises from the Walking Bass Lines book. An old bandmate from the states wants me to put down some bass lines on a new project of his, so I'll use the Pandora to do some recording as well.

Not too bad, although the Vox AmPlug might have been a good choice for me as well. I didn't know it existed - how long ago did it come out?

Oh, and the AC adapter for the Pandora runs on 110v, whereas the outlets here are all 220v. Thankfully I can power it from a USB port on my laptop.