Recommendations for a combo to record

[410CabW]

All,
I'm older and not a super tech or up on the latest products. Need some direction. Ive read so many posts and watched so many Youtuber's reviews that my brain has cut off for now. Also, pls forgive me for being a tech-noob.

Is there a nice sounding small combo amp under $500 (ish) that will offer two outputs?

I really want do some recording, perhaps Youtube videos. But, I can't deal with even the slightest recording latency. Would be nice to get a good tone from an amp and whilst sending the same signal to my soundcard. No micing of the cabinet, just an output, for speed. (And I'm in a duplex with paper-thin walls.)

I bought some cheapie combo amps this past year that had headphone outputs, thinking that would be the way. They only switched to the headphone output ONLY.

Or, maybe there is even another different solution?

Thanks,
Col

 

[gtirard]

All,
I'm older and not a super tech or up on the latest products. Need some direction. Ive read so many posts and watched so many Youtuber's reviews that my brain has cut off for now. Also, pls forgive me for being a tech-noob.

Is there a nice sounding small combo amp under $500 (ish) that will offer two outputs?

I really want do some recording, perhaps Youtube videos. But, I can't deal with even the slightest recording latency. Would be nice to get a good tone from an amp and whilst sending the same signal to my soundcard. No micing of the cabinet, just an output, for speed. (And I'm in a duplex with paper-thin walls.)

I bought some cheapie combo amps this past year that had headphone outputs, thinking that would be the way. They only switched to the headphone output ONLY.

Or, maybe there is even another different solution?

Thanks,
Col

How loud would the combo need to be? Is it only for your personal monitoring, to play alone, or do you need to play with a band and drummer?

If it's only for a home studio environnement, you could just use a preamp, straight into to the audio interface, and listen to your sound with headphones or monitors. In fact, you don't even need a preamp, you could use plugins on your DAW…

If you still want a real amp, do you want a clean and pure tone, or some character?

 

[abarson]

What is the purpose of two outputs?
Why buy a combo if you're not going to mic the speaker?
Don't use the headphone out for anything other than headphones. Make sure that whatever amp (head or combo) you get has a good DI output.

 

[spiritbass]

I would look for a used Ampeg PF-20t amp. It's a beautiful sounding amp and can also be operated without a speaker attached. It has a preamp balanced output and a transformer balanced out (a signal-level tap off of the output transformer). Perfect for recording, IMO.

 

[Al Kraft]

I may not be understanding what you need, but in a "duplex with paper thin walls" I would be thinking headphones and a good preamp box (for example EBS Microbass or Aguilar AG or TH) or a small class s D head with a studio quality DI (for example a Mesa D-350). This would give you a lot higher a quality in every aspect (including hearing yourself) than you will likely find in a combo you can barely turn up.

 

[monsterthompson]

Sounds like the OP needs an interface with “direct monitoring” to get a zero latency signal from the bass to the headphones. Depending on the tone goals a DI/preamp might be desirable.

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/direct-monitoring-vs-input-monitoring/

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Several interfaces have this ability. Here is what the Arturia Minifuse looks like

 

[Bodeeni]

I am using a Phil Jones X4 as a near field amp and monitor. I have a little passive Art mixer the bass goes into and then to either the X4 or my Presonus Audiobox interface. I also have a line out from the Audio box to the Aux in on the X4. I record direct into the interface.
This setup has been great for quality low volume desktop work. Before this I just had near field studio monitors that also sounded great but took up more room.
The X4 bluetooth is also handy is I need to play something off my phone.

 

[Jack]

Pretty much anything with a proper di would do it. I'd look for a used GK MB150 or an Ampeg Rocket, other options are available.