Trace Eilliot Micro Amp?

[seamonkey]

I gotta buy an ipad to run my bass rig? A separate, relatively fragile multi-hundred dollar gizmo that takes up nearly as much space (once protectively cased) as a micro?

Powered cabs, fine. (Especially if the "power" part is easily bypassed, and field swappable/upgradeable with nothing more than 2 minutes and maybe a screwdriver.)

Even if my pre is digital, at least make it a dedicated/hardened unit that can be operated without an i-gizmo attached. Stick a USB port on it to talk to any gizmos on hand, that'd be fine. Probably should make it at least large/heavy enough to not get lost in pants/coat pockets, and handle having a bass plugged into it without falling down at the slightest tug.

..

These things are Not that fragile.

There are billions of touch cell phones around and I dropped mine a few times, and sat on it many. No problem.

And you can buy stage clamps for iPod/iPad
Here's one for example
Invalid Link Removed

And you can get shock cases.

And extra high quality audio interfaces.

Let see some drop tests of steel cased amps. I've only seen crown and carvin do it. And those that absolutely count on needing an amp carry a spare anyhow.

New iPod is out soon, or iPhone, and these do much of what an iPad can do.

For a Dedicated hardware amp, I'd like to see iPod/iPhone/iPad clamping docs on a amp. I'm sure I will see these soon. Maybe even android, where you can get decent devices for low prices. I'm holding my breath on Microsoft also.

With a little multi-purpose pad/pod, At the same time you're running it as a pre-amp, with presets, with midi pedals, you can mixing your own monitor mix, playing backing tracks, displaying song lists, send a note to the sound or lighting guy, or get a message from them. And recording. From studio to stage to practicing in the park.

 

[PlungerModerno]

These things are Not that fragile.

There are billions of touch cell phones around and I dropped mine a few times, and sat on it many. No problem.

And you can buy stage clamps for iPod/iPad
Here's one for example
Invalid Link Removed

And you can get shock cases.

And extra high quality audio interfaces.

Let see some drop tests of steel cased amps. I've only seen crown and carvin do it. And those that absolutely count on needing an amp carry a spare anyhow.

New iPod is out soon, or iPhone, and these do much of what an iPad can do.

For a Dedicated hardware amp, I'd like to see iPod/iPhone/iPad clamping docs on a amp. I'm sure I will see these soon. Maybe even android, where you can get decent devices for low prices. I'm holding my breath on Microsoft also.

With a little multi-purpose pad/pod, At the same time you're running it as a pre-amp, with presets, with midi pedals, you can mixing your own monitor mix, playing backing tracks, displaying song lists, send a note to the sound or lighting guy, or get a message from them. And recording. From studio to stage to practicing in the park.

Sounds like a massive distraction to me - Even if you had a tried and true setup with a tablet or other device - I'd be afraid of software / hardware issues... and getting distracted by the options. Ahhh! my preamp got a virus! LOL.

A micro head can be a lot cheaper than a tablet + a separate amp - or a PA that can handle bass well for a lot of groups.

It's not a good place to start - outside of heavily electronic music IMO. Very little bang per buck (at least at first) - but lots of variety for experimentation. A trade off I'd consider for a second rig (if I could afford one).
Micro amps and 'massive iron' amps are here to stay - the real question is popularity. Seems bassists like light amps.

 

[seamonkey]

Some things like plungers just can't be improved, but a plunger only does one thing well.

Even Slash enjoys his iPad, and he's not a paid endorser.

 

[makohund]

These things are Not that fragile.
There are billions of touch cell phones around and I dropped mine a few times, and sat on it many. No problem.

I'm familiar with them, thanks. (I own an iPod touch, and a Droid4. Prefer my old non-touch screen nano as a pure music player, and the Droid for portable computing.)

It doesn't take much, just the right sort of impact. My previous touchscreen phone survived much of the same, until it landed just right from a not-great height onto a hard surface... POW.

Sure they work well, but touchscreens can get fiddly and multipurpose consumer OS's leave me wanting something to fall back on, even if I am using them. AxeFX and that Peavey Muse... sweet. An iOS device? Erm... OK, but only if I have another pre to fall back on.

And you can get shock cases.

Great for drops and whatnot. Not so much for something else hitting it in the face. Which could easily happen, especially mounted on a mic stand. (Which I would hope never got knocked over.)

I also don't like 1/8" minijacks. Too flimsy. Know any interfaces (short of stuff like RME's UCX) that have 1/4 instrument input *and* 1/4" output?

Let see some drop tests of steel cased amps. I've only seen crown and carvin do it. And those that absolutely count on needing an amp carry a spare anyhow.

Steel cased amps are less prone to dropping in the first place. Larger, grippier size and surface. Enough weight to keep one's attention, and not get knocked out of your hand by inattentive people during setup. (I'd probably take an iPod over an iPad in this regard, you could keep it in pocket or firmly palmed rather than pinch gripped on one edge.) They also do just fine taking impacts from other objects, which is arguably more likely.

For a Dedicated hardware amp, I'd like to see iPod/iPhone/iPad clamping docs on a amp.

If recessed/protected somehow, that'd be fine. As long as it can also be operated without it. To do it right... a fully operational head (large or micro). Clamp/dock that stores device inside protected area, and can fold out for easier access. Switch on amp to select between standalone operation, gizmo as full preamp & effects replacement, as preamp-only replacement, as effects processor (as if in loop), or insert only (mix incoming audio with your otherwise untouched signal).

I'm holding my breath on Microsoft also.

Ugh. Not me. You go ahead and keep holding yours, if you want that.

With a little multi-purpose pad/pod, At the same time you're running it as a pre-amp, with presets, with midi pedals, you can mixing your own monitor mix, playing backing tracks, displaying song lists, send a note to the sound or lighting guy, or get a message from them. And recording. From studio to stage to practicing in the park.

That's fine and dandy. Maybe I'll try all of that. Or maybe I'll do the same with other gear I have already. Now, where's my little amp to plug it into? I'd like one that fits in my gigbag with the tiny iPod rig. It should work with any speaker, so I don't have to lug a special one around unless I feel like it. And has a preamp of some sort in it already, so if somebody knocks my gizmo out of my hand into a pitcher of beer, or an exuberant guitarist nails it with his headstock, I can keep playing.

Does anybody make anything like that?

 

[PlungerModerno]

Some things like plungers just can't be improved, but a plunger only does one thing well.

Even Slash enjoys his iPad, and he's not a paid endorser.

What you got against plungers HUH?!?!?!?!?

Nah - what I'm getting at is cost effectiveness from the perspective of a beginner bassist (with most priorities on bass without effects).

If you have a decent cab and a decent head you can get great sounds (and more than one of them LOL) for a lot less than an integrated rig with an iDevice or equivalent for a bunch of helpful functions (which might be great but I'd see them as unwelcome distractions to mess with instead of rehearsing etc.)

In a rig the high price tag of a device like the aforementioned plus software just doesn't pull it's weight ATM. Not even close - unless you are using it for a bunch of functions. Then it may fly.
They may prove their suitability to me in the future, but in my experience - buck for buck, dedicated devices kick ass - if you pick some kick ass ones

 

[PlungerModerno]

I'm familiar with them, thanks. (I own an iPod touch, and a Droid4. Prefer my old non-touch screen nano as a pure music player, and the Droid for portable computing.)

It doesn't take much, just the right sort of impact. My previous touchscreen phone survived much of the same, until it landed just right from a not-great height onto a hard surface... POW.

Sure they work well, but touchscreens can get fiddly and multipurpose consumer OS's leave me wanting something to fall back on, even if I am using them. AxeFX and that Peavey Muse... sweet. An iOS device? Erm... OK, but only if I have another pre to fall back on.



Great for drops and whatnot. Not so much for something else hitting it in the face. Which could easily happen, especially mounted on a mic stand. (Which I would hope never got knocked over.)

I also don't like 1/8" minijacks. Too flimsy. Know any interfaces (short of stuff like RME's UCX) that have 1/4 instrument input *and* 1/4" output?




Steel cased amps are less prone to dropping in the first place. Larger, grippier size and surface. Enough weight to keep one's attention, and not get knocked out of your hand by inattentive people during setup. (I'd probably take an iPod over an iPad in this regard, you could keep it in pocket or firmly palmed rather than pinch gripped on one edge.) They also do just fine taking impacts from other objects, which is arguably more likely.



If recessed/protected somehow, that'd be fine. As long as it can also be operated without it. To do it right... a fully operational head (large or micro). Clamp/dock that stores device inside protected area, and can fold out for easier access. Switch on amp to select between standalone operation, gizmo as full preamp & effects replacement, as preamp-only replacement, as effects processor (as if in loop), or insert only (mix incoming audio with your otherwise untouched signal).




Ugh. Not me. You go ahead and keep holding yours, if you want that.



That's fine and dandy. Maybe I'll try all of that. Or maybe I'll do the same with other gear I have already. Now, where's my little amp to plug it into? I'd like one that fits in my gigbag with the tiny iPod rig. It should work with any speaker, so I don't have to lug a special one around unless I feel like it. And has a preamp of some sort in it already, so if somebody knocks my gizmo out of my hand into a pitcher of beer, or an exuberant guitarist nails it with his headstock, I can keep playing.

Does anybody make anything like that?

I dunno about the last part.... better keep dreaming.

P.S. I don't like touchscreens either - I need to look at the screen to interact - fine at a terminal or something I can do in my own time... with gear I want to be able to do it with hands and ears... not with a visual puzzle to figure out with calloused fingers on a screen . . .

 

[makohund]

I dunno about the last part.... better keep dreaming.

That last part? No, I'm sure I've seen 'em before. They called 'em "micros".

 

[PlungerModerno]

That last part? No, I'm sure I've seen 'em before. They called 'em "micros".

LIES!

Any amp that produces more than 5 watts cannot possibly be housed in anything short of an airship hanger.

Better call your local geological consultants, this baby weighs Giga-tonnes.

With tubes the size of shipping containers it can crank out a peak value of a (theoretical)
60W of raw power!!!!
Smaller than the average nuclear facility, it's got two channels too!
This is the way forward, the nano bass head.