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Can I plug my bass into a Behringer 802 mixer?

M

monzamess

Oct 22, 2009
54
0
Middle Georgia
#1
I am looking at buying this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000J5XS3C/

Can I plug my bass into one of the 1/4 inputs and get a decent signal? I read a little about "Hi-Z" inputs today; this unit doesn't seem to advertise them--would it work anyway?

As a simple test I plugged my bass into the line input of my computer's soundcard but the signal was really weak. Then I plugged it into the mic input and it was too strong and distorted, as I would expect. So I would hope the 802 can handle the bass signal better!

Ultimately I want a box that lets me hear my bass and my computer through headphones so I can practice quietly at night, so it needs direct input and not a mic on my crappy practice amp.

FWIW I also want it to do a couple of other unrelated things which is why I'm looking at this unit vs one with fewer inputs/features. I'm also on a budget which is why I'm looking at this unit instead of fancy digital ones. :)

Any advice is appreciated.
 
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#4
Cool. I can probably swing that, but dumb question time... would either the "speaker" or "headphone" outputs on my amp do the same thing as a direct box? (it's a Crate MXB15 if that matters) ETA: I guess if I keep the output levels low enough it wouldn't hurt to try right?
 
#5
monzamess said:
Cool. I can probably swing that, but dumb question time... would either the "speaker" or "headphone" outputs on my amp do the same thing as a direct box? (it's a Crate MXB15 if that matters) ETA: I guess if I keep the output levels low enough it wouldn't hurt to try right?
Click to expand...

NO, spend the $ and get a DI, there are lots of choices starting about 30 bucks.
 
#6
I have the earlier version of that mixer and sometimes plug my bass into one of the mono channels for goofing off and practicing. Input impedance for those is about 10k, which is fine.

As a mixer, it's pretty good for the money. No complaints here.
 
#7
You can, but, will you still respect it in the morning?

A DI will make things easier and happier. A simulator will make you even happier!
 
#9
Thanks for all the ideas.

For now, cobbling some franken-cables together, I am sending the headphone output from my amp set at about 75% volume (approximating a line level signal) into my sound card line input. With that, plus the additional mic input on the sound card, and the soft mixer, all going into my stereo and/or headphones, this set up is good enough for now.

I wouldn't use it to perform or record, but I wouldn't use my skills to do either at this point anyway.
 
#11
monzamess said:
For now, cobbling some franken-cables together, I am sending the headphone output from my amp set at about 75% volume (approximating a line level signal) into my sound card line input.
Click to expand...

That's okay to do, and I have done the same thing. But definitely DO NOT ever plug the speaker outputs into anything but a speaker. You can damage the amp and the sound card.

Ed
 
#12
ByF said:
That's okay to do, and I have done the same thing. But definitely DO NOT ever plug the speaker outputs into anything but a speaker. You can damage the amp and the sound card.

Ed
Click to expand...

Well, in a moment of pure stupidity, forgetting that the speaker output was just that, a speaker output in 1/4" jack form instead of the more common split wires, I connected the speaker output to my soundcard. I gave it about 2 seconds with the volume pretty low, realized this wasn't working, and unplugged it. I've noticed no damage so far, but maybe the limited exposure saved me there.
 
#13
Yes you can...I use a Behringer 802 to play along to YouTube clips or saved music in my computer music library.

I haven't tried my active bass on it yet....but passive bass works fine.

(a) plug instrument cable into bass.

(b) Plug other end into "LINE IN" on Microphone input 1 or 2.

(c) Control bass volume with LEVEL ONE white button. Also volume on bass. You can also use the LEVEL ONE EQ dials to customize your bass sound (as well as the tone buttons etc you have on the bass).

(d) Plug wire with headphone mini jack on it into computer headphone "out" jack. Right and left RCA male plugs on one end of wire and mini-jack on the other.

(e) Plug RCA male plugs on headphone wire into 2-TRACK input on 802.

(f) Plug your headphones with 1/4 inch jack into PHONES on 802.

(g) Plug 802 power supply jack into back of 802. ( 802 comes with AC adaptor power supply)

(h) Plug power plug into a wall socket preferably away from computer if you can.

(I) Press 2-TRACK To MIX button on 802

(j) Make sure PHANTOM POWER button is OFF on 802

(k) Use the MAIN MIX white dial and the PHONES/CONTROL ROOM white dial to balance out the sound between bass and incoming music source.

(L) You can also use the RealTek EQ in the computer to make the YouTube clip sound better.

I use an Ebtech Hum destroyer on the 802 plug that goes into the wall socket for added insurance........you don't have to unless you've got hum (which is caused by a ground loop most of the time).

Pretty easy to hook the 802 up and have fun with it.....

I haven't had any issues with mine and it sounds great.......although Behringer doesn't get much love on Talkbass......:meh:.........:)
 
#14
I had one of the Behringer UB802 mixers and I used to plug a passive bass straight into the line input. It worked better through a DI, but worked fine for practice without it.

Also, many simple pedals work for the impedance mismatch. Any Boss pedal for example.
 
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#15
I have been using the Xenyx 802 for parctice and play along with my computer for years. I plug my basses (both active and passive) into the channel 1 line input and adjust the gain accordingly. The output goes to the power amp running my KRK monitors. I have the signal from the computer running into the 2-track. Super simple. Sometimes I put a preamp or modeler in front of the mixer. A DI would work as well, but is not needed.
 
#17
Between the volume/tone controls on the bass...and the EQ/volume tweaks on the Behringer 802, you can certainly get a good signal with lots of volume.

The 802 has an inherently "warmer" sound....

When I'm plugged into the 802 and using my headphones I get quite a bit of difference in terms of what I hear tonal-wise compared to just plugging the bass into my amp with no headphones or anything else.

I actually prefer the sound from the 802 with headphones than what the amp by itself produces.
 

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