I have a presonus audiobox usb that I can interface to my PC or use it as a posh 2:1 headphone preamp. It's surprisingly good. For headphones, I'm currently using a pair of Sennheiser PXC350 which are ok, better than most.
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Home Silent Practice Rig HELP
- Thread starter JurassicMarke
- Start date
I got mine to replace using my PF-500's aux/headphone setup as the omni can be run on batteries. Can set myself up anywhere and practice with the pedal.
The last few months I use an M-Audio M-track Plus for practicing and demo recording. It has a built in 3 channel mixer. Pretty handy and cheap.
I use an 8 channel behringer mixer. I use a Sansamp bbdi into the board, source audio from computer or phone and I can use an ambient microphone so I can hear what's happening with my dogs.
I still have an old Line 6 Guitarport I've had for @13 years now... I know they have newer versions of it.
If your on a budget and aren't married to the Phil Jones bass buddy, I would recommend the Ibanez Promethean combo. Very small foot print and would have the meat and potatoes to get you by. Phone-In, Aux-In, and Line-Out all in an affordable package.
Buy a small mixer and plug your pedalboard into it. Invalid Link Removed $50Hey guys, i've been looking into putting together a home practice rig that i don't have to blare on a speaker as i live in student accommodation. I had read about the Phil Jones Bass Buddy is a great headphone amp, that can even power a speaker if needed; and wanted any thoughts from people who've used one. I'm open to suggestions for a decent affordable pair of headphones too
I play an ibanez five string with a b7k for lots of OD so i need to know if i can get a good tone without much noise.
Thanks
Aside from various bass amps that have 'speaker cut' or 'aux in' and headphone taps, over the years I've tried lots of different things, most of which were lacking: They only accepted or would only drive crappy headphones, the patching options were lacking, something was always a little short of what I wanted.
So I picked up a Mackie 802VLZ mixer. The current model is the VLZ4 generation. These have been around for years, they're built like a tank, the headphone out is LOUD and will drive anything from cheapo Walkman phones all the way to serious, high impedance AKG's, and everything in between. Of course you can run anything into them, and set up exactly the mix you want to hear. You'll need good headphones for bass, of course, I use Audio Technica ATH-D40/s-model phones, a bassist studio classic here in Nashville.
There's lots of good small format mixers out there, and lots of great headphones. I just prefer the little Mackie for the strength (1w or better) of the headphone out, and not being limited to only 16 or 32-ohm portable device phones. The VLZ models have tons of headroom, and since various iterations of this model have been around for quite a few years now, used ones can be had for not a lot of money, and new ones are around 200 bucks, so it's pretty inexpensive IF your really want a good headphone setup. Plus you've got a great small mixer for other things should the need arise.
So I picked up a Mackie 802VLZ mixer. The current model is the VLZ4 generation. These have been around for years, they're built like a tank, the headphone out is LOUD and will drive anything from cheapo Walkman phones all the way to serious, high impedance AKG's, and everything in between. Of course you can run anything into them, and set up exactly the mix you want to hear. You'll need good headphones for bass, of course, I use Audio Technica ATH-D40/s-model phones, a bassist studio classic here in Nashville.
There's lots of good small format mixers out there, and lots of great headphones. I just prefer the little Mackie for the strength (1w or better) of the headphone out, and not being limited to only 16 or 32-ohm portable device phones. The VLZ models have tons of headroom, and since various iterations of this model have been around for quite a few years now, used ones can be had for not a lot of money, and new ones are around 200 bucks, so it's pretty inexpensive IF your really want a good headphone setup. Plus you've got a great small mixer for other things should the need arise.
I would give that job to my hybrid, he doesn't speak often but when he does, he speaks with authority.
@el jeffe bass
Maybe one of the dogs need a wireless.
For my home rig in my apartment I use the Blackstar Fly3 bass combo with the extension. It’s way louder than I need but if I want to play silently I just plug headphones into it. They also make great speakers and have an aux input. I got mine pretty cheap from a local shop.
You're going to get a million different answers...so here's mine: I'm using a Presonus Audiobox USB, a VT Bass DI and PJB headphones.
I set the Audiobox as my computer's sound card (to play whatever song I need to learn), and use a short XLR to connect the VT bass DI to the Audiobox. I power the VT bass with phantom power from the Audiobox, and simply balance things with the "playback / input" blend knob. The headphones are the last piece of PJB gear I have - as stated before, they are nice products but stay away if you're on a budget. Likewise, the VT Bass is not necessary, but it makes things sound less dry.
I set the Audiobox as my computer's sound card (to play whatever song I need to learn), and use a short XLR to connect the VT bass DI to the Audiobox. I power the VT bass with phantom power from the Audiobox, and simply balance things with the "playback / input" blend knob. The headphones are the last piece of PJB gear I have - as stated before, they are nice products but stay away if you're on a budget. Likewise, the VT Bass is not necessary, but it makes things sound less dry.
Zoom B3. Swiss Army knife for bass.
This replaced my small mixer and spider web of devices.
Usb to computer, headphones and you are there.
Bonus stuff: boatload of fx, tuner, looper, drum machine, di, interface, amp and cab sims.
It can run on aa batteries, Wall wart, or usb power.
B3n has aux in.
Bought mine used for under $150, use it every day for silent practice.
This replaced my small mixer and spider web of devices.
Usb to computer, headphones and you are there.
Bonus stuff: boatload of fx, tuner, looper, drum machine, di, interface, amp and cab sims.
It can run on aa batteries, Wall wart, or usb power.
B3n has aux in.
Bought mine used for under $150, use it every day for silent practice.
i use my fender rumble 25 most of the time...or sometimes my bugera veyron...as both have aux in and headphone out....but regardless of what you use, get some good extended bass headphones, it'll sound much better...i got some sony's off of amazon for about $35 and they rock.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSD6RNP/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
looks like the price went up a little.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSD6RNP/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
looks like the price went up a little.
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Like a lot of posters here, I simply run my old iPod (massive storage for lots of tunes) into the Aux In of my Ampeg BA-110, bass in via my Zoom B3 and a basic pair of Sennheiser headphones. Works well as long as the signal isn't too hot, which isn't actually a bad thing as it helps keep the tinnitus to a minimum.
I also go this route. I use the Behringer MX400 ($25 US), into which I feed my bass and split stereo from an audio source (it's mono output, but this allows me to favor one side over the other if I'm trying to hear something in the stereo mix), with a fourth input unused. For headphones I use the Phil Jones H850. (Great for practice at home, but I also use these for any and all tracking.) I run my pedal board through this setup at home (even the Meatbox to a degree), but it sounds perfectly good on the road with nothing but the bass. This setup travels well, too, thanks to the limited footprint.
Thanks, now I know what to do with my unused input.
You know, that ambient mic idea is actually pretty smart! My buds seal pretty good so I am tuned out of everything going on. Even if I just pointed a 58 away from me it would pick up if one of my kids or my wife calls my name. Pretty slick.
I use this. You can pick them up on Amazon for about $99.00. It has headphone and aux inputs on the back and doesn't sound bad at all IMHO.
BIG fan of the Cafe Walter! Clean sound with no coloring. Money well spent. I prefer Sennheiser cans but be sure the ohms are rated 50-300
