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headphone practice solution
- Thread starter scottfeldstein
- Start date
I had teh same complaint w/ my Rolls Mini-Mix 4 so I simply installed one of those $2 inline rotary AC switches. A little flimsy but works fine. Someday boring winter day I'll simply open it up, drill a hole and install a small switch...
with my Xenyx 802 I have the power strip plugged into a short extension chord with a foot switch for on/off, it's intended for christmas tree lights. But I've found it very convenient. I think I got at a radio shack or hardware store for les than $10.
Just a follow up. I gave the AKG K81 DJ headphones a try. They are getting returned. My $50 Koss UR-40's (pictured) won for sound and comfort. Lesson, only buy headphones you can spend time trying out. I average an hour or more a night. If you wear glasses, comfortable headphones are key.
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The top shelf is where the cat hangs out in whatever sun we get here in the rainy NW. South facing basement windows.
The ipod plugs in front and center.
Old, broken halogen floor lamp strapped to the one pole for good light.
Pull out keyboard tray for notes and music. I also use magnets to put stuff up in the "heads up display mode" They stick to the metal rack.
Metal shelf unit from Costco. That's seen a few uses.
Tape out from the mixer goes to the FBI surplus sale Tascam tape deck. Then on to the stereo amp for playback. Primitive but it still works great.
Other old gear that is still alive and kicking: the Sony discman, gotta be form the '80's, an Alesis microverb, Roland DR rhythm 660 drum machine.
Everything comes on with a flick of the power strip, except the mixer, I turn that on last, after checking volume are at zero.
Once the new room is done, I hope to integrate with the computer and the firepod interface.
This is a big improvement over the bassrockman rube goldberged to an old compressor for volume controls.
The yamaha mixer has it's own compression, and it's not bad at all. The one xlr is from my MXR M-80 di and the bass, the mixer supplies phantom power to the M-80 as well.
That's about a four foot square area.
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The top shelf is where the cat hangs out in whatever sun we get here in the rainy NW. South facing basement windows.
The ipod plugs in front and center.
Old, broken halogen floor lamp strapped to the one pole for good light.
Pull out keyboard tray for notes and music. I also use magnets to put stuff up in the "heads up display mode" They stick to the metal rack.
Metal shelf unit from Costco. That's seen a few uses.
Tape out from the mixer goes to the FBI surplus sale Tascam tape deck. Then on to the stereo amp for playback. Primitive but it still works great.
Other old gear that is still alive and kicking: the Sony discman, gotta be form the '80's, an Alesis microverb, Roland DR rhythm 660 drum machine.
Everything comes on with a flick of the power strip, except the mixer, I turn that on last, after checking volume are at zero.
Once the new room is done, I hope to integrate with the computer and the firepod interface.
This is a big improvement over the bassrockman rube goldberged to an old compressor for volume controls.
The yamaha mixer has it's own compression, and it's not bad at all. The one xlr is from my MXR M-80 di and the bass, the mixer supplies phantom power to the M-80 as well.
That's about a four foot square area.
I'm sure it works well, but man that looks complicated for practicing. I haven't set up a proper practice area yet so I appreciate people sharing what works for them.
Doesn't anybody make a small "electronics box" that lets you plug your bass (or guitar if you happen to swing that way) and iPod (or other playback device) in with an output for headphones? Maybe throw a volume or blend control (maybe a pan if you really want to make it fancy) on there for fun. It can't be that complicated can it?
Actually, yes. There are a few. Like that Vox headphone amp thingy. The problem with these is usually a) they're cheap plastic junk and b) they come with built-in amp sounds and cheesy effects which people (like myself anyway) don't want.
There was one mentioned in this discussion that wasn't cheaply made nor did it have garbage effects built in...unfortunately it was a British import that sold for $150 or more.
For a box with some jacks, $2.25 worth of circuitry and two knobs. For that kind of money I can get the same box, the same jacks, the same knobs--and the addition of a professional signal processing effect. (See: every pedal effect ever sold.) It just seemed like a ripoff to me. YMMV.
The only other way out of this dilemma is to get a small mixer--which is exactly what I did.
There was one mentioned in this discussion that wasn't cheaply made nor did it have garbage effects built in...unfortunately it was a British import that sold for $150 or more.
For a box with some jacks, $2.25 worth of circuitry and two knobs. For that kind of money I can get the same box, the same jacks, the same knobs--and the addition of a professional signal processing effect. (See: every pedal effect ever sold.) It just seemed like a ripoff to me. YMMV.
The only other way out of this dilemma is to get a small mixer--which is exactly what I did.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
I plug my tascam GB-10 into the input of a Boss Me-50B, and also plug my headphones and bass into it as well. Couldn't ask for a better set up. I also have a music stand right at the end of the table.
Powered computer speakers with a headphone out, and a 1/4 to 1/8 mono to stereo adapter. That's what I used until I could buy an amp
Portable? That's when I take my amp and go somewhere.
It's actually pretty simple, and easy to use. I pick up a bass, plug in and flip a switch. Turn on any input device, the levels are set and it's going. Work with a backing track, switch to just the drum machine or metronome.
For me it is more about keeping the peace in the household and having a set up that's easy to work on, even if I only have 15 minutes.
I can always throw the old rockman in my case, or take the zoom along when I travel. Like later this week I have to travel for work, I'll take a bass, iPod, and the zoom b9. Mostly cause with a couple weeks in a hotel I should be able to finally figure the thing out.
I've got other ideas for the mixer, like looping with multiple inputs.
The heart of the station, the mixer was $80. Everything else was found, repaired, or super cheap.
Works for me.
It's actually pretty simple, and easy to use. I pick up a bass, plug in and flip a switch. Turn on any input device, the levels are set and it's going. Work with a backing track, switch to just the drum machine or metronome.
For me it is more about keeping the peace in the household and having a set up that's easy to work on, even if I only have 15 minutes.
I can always throw the old rockman in my case, or take the zoom along when I travel. Like later this week I have to travel for work, I'll take a bass, iPod, and the zoom b9. Mostly cause with a couple weeks in a hotel I should be able to finally figure the thing out.
I've got other ideas for the mixer, like looping with multiple inputs.
The heart of the station, the mixer was $80. Everything else was found, repaired, or super cheap.
Works for me.
I have been using the iRig for a couple weeks now and, as previously mentioned, while not the best sounding solution I am (for now) enjoying its simplicity and convenience. What I didn't like was the absolute unruliness of the package with everything plugged in. Headphones pulling one way, the guitar cord another because of the way too short cord on the iRig. So, while admittedly a bit of overkill by turning a pocket sized unit into a desktop one I have at least made the whole a lot more stable and practical for my current needs.
A few minutes in the secret lab utilizing an old, now unused bit of pedal board, a couple Velcro cord ties, a leftover Garmin GPS cradle (slightly modified to accommodate the iPod USB connector so that it can remain plugged in when in use) and a couple new holes and viola(!) it's done.
Check it out:
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And iRigged up:
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Still small, same ease of use except everything stays where I want it to now.
A few minutes in the secret lab utilizing an old, now unused bit of pedal board, a couple Velcro cord ties, a leftover Garmin GPS cradle (slightly modified to accommodate the iPod USB connector so that it can remain plugged in when in use) and a couple new holes and viola(!) it's done.
Check it out:
Link Removed
And iRigged up:
Link Removed
Still small, same ease of use except everything stays where I want it to now.
Awesome! Now if someone would take this idea to heart, make the same type of thing, for a just a bit of money..
I had a similar problem, my wife was working nights and I was working days. I found a digitech BP200 processor, on craigslist for $65 ( This was a while back, used ones are probably cheaper than that now). There is a 1/8 inch "jam along" port in the back of them, just for this purpose...
I think I went through the effects couple of times, just for s**** and giggles. Then I plugged a good set of Bose headphones in, and that was what I used instead of a practice amp. I could plug my phone, laptop, or MP3 player in, and plkay with any song I liked
I still have that processor in a corner behind the couch. It was junk, but invaluable to me at the time
I think I went through the effects couple of times, just for s**** and giggles. Then I plugged a good set of Bose headphones in, and that was what I used instead of a practice amp. I could plug my phone, laptop, or MP3 player in, and plkay with any song I liked
I still have that processor in a corner behind the couch. It was junk, but invaluable to me at the time
I picked up an iRiffPort to connect to my iPad and headphones, and I use the PocketGK app. Love it. Nice GK sound, changes pitch and speed of MP3s and loops song segments. Not cheap at $99.
Yeah, I already have the iThing worked out (see pics above) but I am looking to consolidate some things so I am specifically looking for an Android app to do the same thing.
