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I'm thinking about playing through my computer

B

BassPlayer900

Oct 19, 2011
600
14
#1
I have a SansAmp BDDI and a small, low quality, 20 watt amp. It's annoys me how I can only go from a clean tone that sounds as though I'm not even using the SansAmp to a tone that shakes the speaker like crazy and roars like a distorted baritone guitar (it still has lots of bass though). But maybe this is just how the SansAmp works through a small amp?

Anyway, another thing that annoys me: my amp buzzes and I think it's.... clipping? (I don't even have overdrive on and I still get boatloads of overdrive... I think my amp must be clipping. this could have something to do with my blend setting being on full though)

So now I am wondering if I can get a wider range of tones and no clipping by running my bass and sansamp through my laptop and connect headphones for sound. I once watched a BDDI demo on youtube, and in the video, the person was playing a recorded bass loop through their computer, and tweaking the sansamp knobs. When they messed with drive, it went from a strong rock-style tone at 12:00 to a gnarly growl beyond 2:00.

I watched another video where a guy was demoing his sansamp through a 100 watt combo amp. He had his tone setting on "SVT style" and he was slapping. If I put my sansamp on "SVT style", I worry that my amp is on the edge of breaking (Well... not really. It just rumbles really hard and growls like a distorted guitar).

So will playing straight into a computer with headphones solve my problems? If so, here are my questions:
1) What would be the best way to do this without spending over... say... $120? 2) What are some good, cheap headphones? 3) What would I even need to get to do something like this? I know it's possible, I just don't know what to get...

My current setup is a MIM standard Fender Jazz bass and a SansAmp BDDI.
 
#2
I can't say that running a BDDI into a computer will work; a sound card will make it sound much better.
Also, perhaps some Audio Technica headphones? Something in the ATH Mxx line might work (ATH M30?).
Personally I use Sony MXR XB700's, incredibly comfy, a bit bass heavy, but nice.

I think the issue is that your amp cannot handle distortion well (it's a 20 watt combo, most don't), and either a different amp or running via a sound card to a computer might help.
 
#3
You need your output level switch set for instrument (If this is the BDDI version 2), then turn the input of your amp up to 3/4 full and use the output level control of the sansamp to control the volume. Sounds like you are simply pushing too much signal to the amp.
 

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