• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Oh Yes Another Silent Practice Set Up Question. What Direction Should I Go In?

PJ Bassthumper

PJ Bassthumper

Dec 13, 2015
260
405
55
Hawkesbury Ontario
#1
Good day fellow TBers.

So I have bought a ton of gear this year, I bought a used head (GK Fusion 500) a new cab (GK Neo 410) a used bass (Aria Pro CSB Deluxe) 2 pedals (Broughton HPF + LPF and a Solidgold FX Beta DLX) and now I need to get a silent practice station setup. Now I've read a ton of threads hear on TB so I generally have an idea of what is out there but giving what equipment I already own, I don't know what makes the most sense and yes money is a little tight at the moment.

Here's what I'm considering. All prices are in Canadian currency.

Tascam GB 10 $199.99
Zoom B1X Four $139.99
Soundcraft Notepad 5 $159.99
Fender Rumble 25 $139.99

Here's what I own
Peavey TKO 75 (Practice amp headphones out but no aux)
GK Fusion 500w (Main gigging amp headphones out no aux)
HP laptop Ryzen 7 16GB RAM 512 SSD
Pedalboard with Boss TU-3, Solidgold FX Beta DLX, Ovnilab Smoothie, Broughton HPF+LPF.
Mackie MC-250 headphones

What I want to accomplish
I used to work 4-12 and so I would practice during the day playing music through my laptop and plugging into the Peavey as I was the only one home. Recently I started working 8-4 and I want to practice while my family watches their tv shows, usually between 8-9. It needs to be silent to I don't disturb them.
I want to be able to play mp3 or wav files from my laptop and hear it in my cans along with my bass also being in my cans. My bands principle song writer usually sends just rough vocal, guitar, and drums so that I can come up with my own basslines.

My concerns
Tascam though it's small it seems cumbersome transferring files to SD card kind of looking for plug it in and go.
Zoom B1X Four I already have a pedal board with effects I like. Wondering if this would be redundant.
Soundcraft Notepad 5 I don't have Daw on my computer and I never see myself doing recordings. Also do I need an audio interface? Potential cost of adding other equipment to make this work.
Fender Rumble 25 I already have a practice amp do I need another?

So there you have it.
I have been chasing my tail for about a month now and so any guidance in the most economical option that makes the most sense for my situation would be greatly appreciated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons
#7
seamonkey said:
Audio interface and a PC
Not expensive, don't go overboard on either.
You're probably already on a PC you can use.
Top Grammy winners just just this.
Click to expand...


Would something like this work? Products - Hotone Audio

What I'm really looking for is a box to plug my laptop into and play music from windows media player while also plugging my bass into same box while being able to hear both music and my bass in my headphones. I don't want to add software on my laptop to do this if I don't have to.
Or if a small practice amp is the better option than I'll go that route.
I'm looking for quick, cheap, small, and easy.
 
#9
el murdoque said:
Same here. I use a cheap 6 channel mixer with headphone out. I can connect my DI out from the amp - or my pedalboard,
or even go direct, plus I can connect whatever other source I want and mix them.
Click to expand...

I was considering the soundcraft notepad 5 because it's a 5 channel mixing console with usb so if I understand correctly I can plug my laptop via usb into the mixing console I can plug my bass into my Radial JDI then the JDI into the board. Plug headphones into board?

If a board doesn't have a usb I/O than you need to add an audio interface to make it work? Sorry for the questions I'm not well versed in this area.
 
#10
PJ Bassthumper said:
I was considering the soundcraft notepad 5 because it's a 5 channel mixing console with usb so if I understand correctly I can plug my laptop via usb into the mixing console I can plug my bass into my Radial JDI then the JDI into the board. Plug headphones into board?

If a board doesn't have a usb I/O than you need to add an audio interface to make it work? Sorry for the questions I'm not well versed in this area.
Click to expand...

If you are just playing mp3s or other common audio files, then just take the headphone out from your laptop to the mixer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Bogosity and Hambone70
#11
I use my boss gt-1b. Its a ;

Usb recording interface/soundcard
Portable headphone amp with aux
Multi effects
Batteries or wall wart
Looper
Tuner

When hooked to your laptop, you
Can play along with YouTube
 
#12
Get yourself one of these . . . .

vox bass.png


Victor (and I) recommend it for silent practice:

Cheers!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mingo Sanders, RhynoRock, DrThumpenstein and 10 others
#14
PJ Bassthumper said:
What I'm really looking for is a box to plug my laptop into and play music from windows media player while also plugging my bass into same box while being able to hear both music and my bass in my headphones. I don't want to add software on my laptop to do this if I don't have to
Click to expand...
I do this all the time with a simple USB audio interface. Mine is an ancient Edirol UA25, but you can get them from any number of manufacturers. Focusrite are good, for example Scarlett Solo | Focusrite
 
#17
One thing I like about using something such as the B1-Four (I used to have a B1-on till it died) is that with batteries you can practice anywhere. If it's a nice day, go out on the porch and practice away. Don't want to wear headphones???? Use a 3.5mm TRS lead out of the B1-Four into a small rechargeable speaker and practice outside quietly.

Due to the death of my B1-on i bought a Blackstar Fly 3 to practice while travelling. It does the silent thing with headphones but I prefer to not wear headphones if I can help it and this works fine. Is the sound great??? Nope, but it's good enough for practicing and surprisingly it was loud enough for a campfire jam with one acoustic guitarist and singer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Benner
#18
Ill second the suggestion for the Vox headphone amp. Recently purchased one and it did the job. I use it with my phone or the pc with headphones. Even has some drum tracks built right into the Vox, you can speed up or slow down. Doesnt sound bad with good headphones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikeyjm2 and eSam
#20
you have plenty of nice equipment to practice with.

id say you just need a basic mixer. you can run your soundcard from the computer into

and likewise you can use many of the bass pres amps you already have.

any source can be mixed with any source. mixers are great
and a headphone output to moniter them all.

some even have effects loops for all the channels.
you could technically even run the computer audio with more effects.

something like a Xenyx 802 mixer

otherwise id just use a computer with any basic IK multimedia software

they have any classic amps from fender to ampeg and you can open a mp3 player
inside the software for playback

not to sound like a wiseguy i also recommend learning hand technique and fretting technique with the bass unplugged for 20 or so mins if not longer
and listen to the bass and neck your playing
fretting and picking changes tone and how to have consistent notes and timing.
it helps with overall technique.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back