Silent Practice

[lokikallas]

Alesia io dock II, iPad running JamUp app.

 

[bassness]

I use my Element most often, either running my pedals and Super 300 into it or using it as an interface into the computer to go through Helix Native.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

I use a Shiftline Olympic for this, with headphones and my phone plugged into it. It's got a tube, amp simulation, and sounds killer — all my wife hears is the light clickity-clack haha

same here, although before that I used the amplug. Sound is not amazing , but it's also quite cheap.

Right now I'm gassing for the new Boss Waza Air Bass, for if you want to throw money at this problem.

 

[Matty Koff]

Find a used Pod Go. Don't judge it based on the factory presets.. it's pretty intuitive to EQ the amp sims like you would an actual amp and you get effects with a mix/blend function so it doubles as a pedalboard.. surprisingly well for bass too.

This is all I play through at home any more into my DT 770M's. If I'm going to record I'll use this as well. And I could either use it as an audio interface, or just plug it into one of my audio interfaces.

Best I've ever sounded into a pair of headphones.. a lot of it has to do with the cab IR functionality BUT.. everything from the Pod Go to the Helix offers so much functionality it's hard not to turn a recommendation like this into a 2000 word essay..

For the $350-$400 used price of a Pod Go, frankly, it offers the capability of several pieces of gear that might individually cost that much on their own.

*Edit just noticed the OP was in Canada.. my apologies.. I have an Amplug 2 myself and I like it.. not near as much as I like my PG.. but it does allow for cheap headphone practice and I can walk anywhere I want with my bass while using it.

 

[SuBass1000]

What about the Boss Waza-Air Bass?

 

[fishdude101101]

I use a Mesa subway + DI into a little Yamaha mixer. I run the laptop into another channel and play in headphones 99% of the time. Sometimes if I want a different sound I'll run the DI of one of my amps into the mixer.

Several amps such as my Mesa d800+ and gk mb200 have line in plus headphone jacks. Other amps that do this as well that I know of are Trickfish and Bergantino.

 

[el murdoque]

I use my pedalboard rigged for my IEM band and run that into a small 6 channel mixer I bought off ebay for 20 bucks. I can play music into the mixer from a variety of sources and also have my e-drums connected, they have a pretty sweet metronome.
From there I use headphones.

 

[BrentSimons]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

Lately I've been using my Zoom B1 Four and the headphone out on my Orange Crush 25. Works great!

 

[projectapollo]

I've been using a Rolls PM351 personal monitor for years, works great, only $99. The Aux In (Line In) is STEREO which really helps when practicing with tracks. It's a little Swiss army knife.
https://www.amazon.com/Rolls-PM351-Personal-Monitor-Station/dp/B001032IDS

 

[knumbskull]

Ipad, Amplitube Ampeg package, old fashioned iRig.

 

[SumOne]

The Nux Mighty Plug is much better than the Vox and it doesn't coust much more.

 

[CallMeAl]

I use my Rumble 25 more than anything. I like being able to easily switch between speaker and headphones.

I use my Amplug a lot too. I like that I can stand up and not be tethered to the outlet.

I have a USB 2 track (MAudio) but only use it to record. I don't like practicing in front of my computer or desk. (All my apps and practice material comes from my iPhone.)

Ive thought of getting an Ampeg SCR DI. The nice thing about that is it serves double duty as a preamp/DI. Zoom b3 is a similar piece, with tons of tone shaping .

There are many ways to practice, they all work. What matters is thinking about what you want your practice space to look like and which features you are going to need most.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

@Katoosie posted about a real nice one she found. I can't remember who makes it. K?

 

[lark_z]

I used the Donner 'Basement' headphone amp with AUX input for awhile. It's OK if you like cheap, almost no bass response and the sound of an old LP that's covered in scratches, LOL.

The Ampeg BA108 with AUX in and headphones works perfectly nowadays.

 

[39-Bassist]

Personally I use a 8 channel mixer and just plug music and bass into that and then EQ to my needs and use the headphone out...works great for me and simple.

 

[Ostie]

My practice amp (Rumble Studio 40) has the headphone out, and aux in, and even Bluetooth in for playing along. Most of the time, I'm lazy with setup, so I just keep one earbud in (like most of my day) to listen to the song from my phome, plug cans into the amp, then throw the cans on over the earbud. Life's too short to fiddle around too much. The Vox Amplug is also very convenient, with an aux in.

+1. I have a Rumble 25 that has AUX input and I sometimes run my phone or iPad directly in. Usually, though, I just play bass through the amp and play my phone or iPad into my Bose Micro. Im an empty nester and my wife doesn't complain unless I crank it up to 11. Sometimes that cats freak out though….

 

[sabre79]

I am looking for a way to practice quietly. I know I can use the output jack on my amp, but I can't put a song on at the same time or use a metronome (I use an app for that).

What do you folks use for this?

Thanks for your time, J

I use a Line 6 UX1 at my trailer and a Line 6 UX2 at my Mom's house. They are external usb audio interfaces which act like a soundcard in your computer. I use Line 6 Gearbox software and the Bass Expansion Pack with amp and effect sims I bought over 10 years ago. There are plenty of other interfaces and software packages from many different companies. I play along to YouTube music videos. YouTube has almost any song you can think of and also thousands if not millions of backing tracks and drum tracks to play along to.

 

[Killing Floor]

I either use the Fender Mustang Micro and play along to my phone quietly or I use my PJB Double Four which has headphone out and an aux input with separate level.

 

[Chrisenbacker69]

Everything I need is right here. And in those fleeting moments when I have the house to myself, I can also play out loud. A terrific little practice amp with lots of onboard goodies. Not sure why they didn't sell better.

 

[Kevorargh]

Build a soundproof room, it will only cost you $10,000.

JK, if you have a phone or iPad, there are some jacks you can buy and some programs to use that let you play bass and play along to songs as well - I still use Positive Bias JamUp Pro on occasion with an iRig jack.