• 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.

Practicing with headphones

#21
I've used a Big Head for a few years. I like it quite a bit. I practice a lot at home, and I can do so without bothering my wife in our small condo. I also use piano practice rooms at our local college, and the battery power allows me to 'convert' the piano room into a bass room. I use a good pair of over-ear headphones with it, and I'm in my own world! Sound and build quality are great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza, scowboy and Mingus_Habens
#22
Another TB'r mentioned those as being very good, so many different alternatives now...Vox has a decent one too..I prefer using my amp, but sometimes i still use my old school rockman
s-l1600.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tveg, dramatwist, daveonbass and 1 other person
#23
Dave. Back when I played more...I used several things including an “Earwig” by EA Electronics. It was clean and simple.

Since buying your SBMM and getting back into playing, I picked up a ModTone Bass XL Preamp/Compressor/EQ. It is very cool. Has separate switches to turn off/on the EQ and Off/on the compressor. It has a lot of choices. Input. Thru input. Line in (aux) input. Output (1/4”). DI output. Headphone output. Ground lift and passive/active switch.

I have also picked up a Hotone Thunder Bass 5w preamp. I REALLY like the sound of this one. No DI out and no compressor, but it does have an effects loop, an EQ and Gain (for some growl) as well as a 1/4” out and a headphone out and an aux in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveonbass
#24
daveonbass said:
I've been looking at the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for practicing with headphones. Looks interesting. Got me wondering if any TBers have experience with one of these, or maybe another product that I'm overlooking.

So... do any of you TBers have experience with one of these, or maybe another product that I'm overlooking?...
Click to expand...

I use an Ampeg SCR-DI for headphone practice. I love it! IMO, it sounds waaaaaay better than the Vox Amplug I was using before I got the SCR-DI.

Oh, and btw, the headphones I use are the Sony MDR-7506. :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: eriky4003, Holdsg, daveonbass and 2 others
#26
I've no experience with the Phil Jones gear, but I've used lots of various 'headphone rigs' over the years, and my current and last rig is a Mackie 802VLZ mixer and A-T D40fs cans. Especially with five-strings, most battery powered things would fart out, and little earbuds or WalMart headphones just added to the misery for me.

The Mackie's AC-powered, the Onyx preamps won't break up without a lot of ham-fisted knob-turning, and this sort of thing begs for good, studio over-the-ear headphones for me. The D40's are a minor studio staple, and the Mackie has a 1w headphone output, so it gets plenty loud. I only use this to practice along / learn new tunes from pre-recorded stuff, so for playing along with stuff it suits me personally.

Of course the tone is that 'mixer dry' sort of sound, so you could sub one of the FX Mackies instead or insert pedals or a tube preamp on the way in to get more of an 'amp' sound.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza
#27
Bass goes into an M-Audio M-Track USB interface, which functions as the sound output of my Mac; that way I can mix the bass and USB audio however I choose. I can then run audio from Youtube, iTunes, Logic, Audacity, Anytune, whatever software program i'm using and play bass along with it. This is also great for just playing along with Logic drum loops.

In rehearsals, for a while I played around with using the direct out from my amp into a Behringer P2 personal monitor, running the headphone out from that into my Shure SE215's. I would get the normal sound cut of earplugs, but also get direct bass monitoring that I could dial in from the belt pack. It was a cool system.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToS
#29
I mostly practice and learn songs for gigs using headphones (ATH-M50's) and my audio interface (Audient iD4).
I run straight into the interface and play tunes from my computer.
It's the only option for me as I live in a one bedroom apartment with my partner.
 
#34
I was looking at the PJB gear recently for headphone practice, but it is hard to get in Australia and a bit $$$$.

I picked up a Soundcraft NotePad 5 mixer instead. I plug straight into the Hi-z input, but it has XLR as well if want to DI from your amp. Does a good job for practice, plus it as an actual (very basic) mixer with USB to plug into a DAW. Having an RCA connector for ipod/pc makes it easy to remove a channel for some of the play-alongs with bass only on one side as well.

Best $150 I’ve spent. You can get them closer to $100 in the US.

https://www.amazon.com/Soundcraft-Notepad-5-Small-format-Analog-Console/dp/B075SK443L
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza
#40
daveonbass said:
I've been looking at the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for practicing with headphones. Looks interesting. Got me wondering if any TBers have experience with one of these, or maybe another product that I'm overlooking.

So... do any of you TBers have experience with one of these, or maybe another product that I'm overlooking?...
Click to expand...
Sennheiser hd280s and a Mac.
Realtone cable, GarageBand
 
  • Like
Reactions: sambass0124 and joker820

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back