Simple DI box for silent practice

[secondbestcody]

I’m looking to find a simple, hopefully inexpensive, DI box or something similar to add to the end of my signal chain for silent practice. It really only needs to have a 1/4” in, aux in and headphone out. Bonus points if it has volumes for ins/out. I guess a small mixer would work if it has the headphone out and aux in.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[kyral210]

What’s your budget as affordable is relative.

£11
a simple headphone amp that plugs into your bass
https://a.aliexpress.com/_Euuwh3N

£100
A second hand Line6 Bass Pod. Sounds really good and does everything you need.
Line 6 BASS POD XT Bass guitar multi-effects Processor LINE6 w/ Adapter | eBay

£370
Flyrig Bass V2: pro-level sound in your gig bag
Invalid Link Removed

£400
A pod go: everything you will ever need for bass/guitar
Line 6 POD GO Guitar Effects Processor Pedal | PMT Online

 

[secondbestcody]

What’s your budget as affordable is relative.

£11
a simple headphone amp that plugs into your bass
https://a.aliexpress.com/_Euuwh3N

£100
A second hand Line6 Bass Pod. Sounds really good and does everything you need.
Line 6 BASS POD XT Bass guitar multi-effects Processor LINE6 w/ Adapter | eBay

£370
Flyrig Bass V2: pro-level sound in your gig bag
Invalid Link Removed

£400
A pod go: everything you will ever need for bass/guitar
Line 6 POD GO Guitar Effects Processor Pedal | PMT Online

I’m more looking for a simple pedal/box/small mixer than an AmPlug, and I use an HX Stomp, so the Sans Amp and POD’s are redundant.

My problem with the HX Stomp is the aux in. Even when using a dual TS aux cable, it still doesn’t sound great. Using a mono headphone adapter into the Stomp sounds great, until you get a song that pans left to right and you don’t hear the other side. I have an Apple camera kit on the way to try the USB method, so the DI box is my last resort.

 

[Roxbororob]

Rolls PM55 or Rolls 351 for reasonably priced high quality....or this will do the job for next to nothing https://www.amazon.ca/Moukey-Low-Noise-Sub-Mixing-Microphones-Mixer-MAMX1/dp/B08393DLGV/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=TOCQBJH10WSE&keywords=mini+audio+mixer&psr=PDAY&qid=1696934075&s=pbdd&sprefix=mini+audio+mixer,aps,195&sr=1-3

 

[secondbestcody]

Rolls PM55 or Rolls 351 for reasonably priced high quality....or this will do the job for next to nothing https://www.amazon.ca/Moukey-Low-Noise-Sub-Mixing-Microphones-Mixer-MAMX1/dp/B08393DLGV/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=TOCQBJH10WSE&keywords=mini+audio+mixer&psr=PDAY&qid=1696934075&s=pbdd&sprefix=mini+audio+mixer,aps,195&sr=1-3

This is what I’m looking for. Thanks!

 

[lark_z]

Rolls PM55 or Rolls 351 for reasonably priced high quality....or this will do the job for next to nothing https://www.amazon.ca/Moukey-Low-Noise-Sub-Mixing-Microphones-Mixer-MAMX1/dp/B08393DLGV/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=TOCQBJH10WSE&keywords=mini+audio+mixer&psr=PDAY&qid=1696934075&s=pbdd&sprefix=mini+audio+mixer,aps,195&sr=1-3

I've been using this exact model for a couple of years with no issues. The only thing I had to do was snitch the white craft paint from the spouse's sewing room and blob a small dot of white on the pointers for each knob.

 

[secondbestcody]

I've been using this exact model for a couple of years with no issues. The only thing I had to do was snitch the white craft paint from the spouse's sewing room and blob a small dot of white on the pointers for each knob.

Which model? It’ll be coming from my HX Stomp into the mixer box. Does it color your tone at all?

 

[Derek Williams]

I’m more looking for a simple pedal/box/small mixer than an AmPlug, and I use an HX Stomp, so the Sans Amp and POD’s are redundant.

My problem with the HX Stomp is the aux in. Even when using a dual TS aux cable, it still doesn’t sound great. Using a mono headphone adapter into the Stomp sounds great, until you get a song that pans left to right and you don’t hear the other side. I have an Apple camera kit on the way to try the USB method, so the DI box is my last resort.

I use my HX Stomp with an iPad Pro over USB and it sounds great over headphones (or through monitors for not-so-silent practice). I expect this should work well for you with the Apple camera kit too (iPad Pro can just directly connect without an extra adapter).

 

[lark_z]

Which model? It’ll be coming from my HX Stomp into the mixer box. Does it color your tone at all?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08393DLGV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I can't tell that it's coloring the tone.

 

[LittleRicky]

Moen Buffalo Bass.

 

[secondbestcody]

I use my HX Stomp with an iPad Pro over USB and it sounds great over headphones (or through monitors for not-so-silent practice). I expect this should work well for you with the Apple camera kit too (iPad Pro can just directly connect without an extra adapter).

This is what I’m going to try first before getting a DI/mixer. I’m tired of messing with the mono/stereo adapters for the aux in.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08393DLGV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I can't tell that it's coloring the tone.

This will be my next option after the USB adapter. Thanks!

 

[Roxbororob]

Which model? It’ll be coming from my HX Stomp into the mixer box. Does it color your tone at all?

The two Rolls units are crystal clear...!

 

[Charley Umbria]

Any small four channel mixer will do everything you need. You can find the Mackie for about $100 and it’s got plenty of options for mixing in play-along tracks or sending your signal out to an amp or monitoring system. You can also get off-brand versions online for under 60 bucks.

 

[WRM]

When I made the computer-to-PJB NanoX4 Bluetooth connection, it was only one side of the stereo, but I was able to change the settings on the computer to send a mono/summed signal instead of stereo.

It's not cheap, but it's quite the piece of kit, so I will mention that the PJB Bighead Pro will do what you want to do. It outputs stereo from the Aux-in and mono from the instrument to the headphones. Here's the manual:
https://pjbworld.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/HA-2-manual-V1.1.pdf

 

[Grinderman]

An interface such as UA Volt 1 or Volt 276, instead of a DI, perhaps.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

You don't need a DI. Something like a blackstar headphone amp is all you need unless you want to pay $$$$ and get fancy.

 

[el murdoque]

look into your second hand market(s) for small mixers. They usually all come with at least one mono and one stereo channel, they all have headphone out. Mixing volumes from different sources is what they are constructed to do.

I bought one for twenty bucks, one for ten.

 

[petermwright]

You don't need a DI. Something like a blackstar headphone amp is all you need unless you want to pay $$$$ and get fancy.

This is what I use. Sounds great. I just plug it straight into the bass, but you could just as easily plug it into the last thing in your signal chain.

 

[Grinderman]

For what it's worth, I have a Blackstar headphone amp that I got years ago. I also have a Phil Jones Big Head headphone amp. The build quality of the Phil Jones is vastly superior to the Blackstar unit.

Subsequently to those, I acquired a UA Volt 276 interface. It's very well made and much more useful to me than the Blackstar or the Phil Jones. If were to choose just one of those now I get the Volt 276 without a fraction of a second of doubt or second-guessing. It's not remotely close.

I wouldn't miss the Blackstar and the Phil Jones if they went away.

 

[CraigL]

This checks all your boxes. I've had one for several months and it works great.
Donner USB Audio Interface, Guitar Adapter Interface for Android Smartphones, iPhone, Mac, Tablets, and PC, with USB-C, Lightweight Audio Adapter with 48V Power for 192kHz, 24 Bit Recording https://a.co/d/039tzEa

It has a USB chargeable battery so you don't have to have it plugged into anything to operate it.