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What content playback platforms/hardware are you using to practice with?

What playback platform/hardware set up are you using to practice?

  • Total voters
    38
Rlkelly

Rlkelly

Jan 18, 2021
24
9
Toronto
#1
A recent question I posted about practicing with my iPad got a good chat going about other solutions and I'm curious as to what the "preferred" platforms are for practicing along to tunes, reading tabs etc. Perhaps this will be useful for folks new to the art get going more easily.

I've kept this to the hardware side of things - to help people with the initial spend on their practice platform of choice. If I've missed something, please let me know and thanks for sharing your practice set up!

RK
 
#2
I use my Macbook Pro along with Bluetooth to some Sweet Dayton Bluetooth Monitors. I usually play through a Hartke LH1000 into a barefaced Supertwin. Every few weeks I switch to My Traynor YBA-300 for a couple of days.

My setlists are all in Itunes. I play by ear so no need for multiple screens. I crank everything up to near live drummer volume and stand up with a strap. This is every day for two-three hours. Some of my gigs are 6-8 hours so I always play standing up to be ready......
 
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#4
These days my Android phone into tue Aux In on my Mesa TT800 and headphones. If I need a chart I'll use my Windows laptop to display it.

AmazingSlowdowner app on my phone is exactly like its name.... amazing. I can slow something down in tune or define something without slowing it down. It's great! It's expensive for the computer, but not too bad on Android. Well worth it.

The TT800 isn't just the best stage amp I've ever owned, but the best practice tool as well.
 
#5
most of my practice is with a click/metronome and/or a drone pitch. but i like to play tunes, too, sometimes --- most of that is with tunes that my band would play (or actual multitracks of my band). but i can pick up an ax and be working something out with nothing but the ax itself. so: lots of different ways to "practice."

i voted "desktop" and "multiple screens" just because i'm generally sitting or standing in front of that stuff when i'm practicing, whether or not i'm using any of it.
 
#6
two fingers said:
These days my Android phone into tue Aux In on my Mesa TT800 and headphones. If I need a chart I'll use my Windows laptop to display it.

AmazingSlowdowner app on my phone is exactly like its name.... amazing. I can slow something down in tune or define something without slowing it down. It's great! It's expensive for the computer, but not too bad on Android. Well worth it.

The TT800 isn't just the best stage amp I've ever owned, but the best practice tool as well.
Click to expand...
I have been waiting for Sweetwater to get the TT800 back in so I can use it for Headphone practice. Glad to hear it's such a good choice.
 
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#9
Generally, I use my iPad with Amplitube for my bass and Spotify for song playback.

If I’m reading charts or lyrics I’ll display them on my PC w/ dual monitors.

I keep a Vox Amplug in my gig kit for warming up. That’s a perfectly acceptable option if money’s tight.
 
#11
Bumping this with the hopes of getting some insight from the community. Still keen to better understand what everyone's using out there! (I've been using my iPad - but it's pretty hard to interact with and am wondering if there are better ways at playing along to youtube learning videos etc.)

RK
 
#13
My bass is plugged into digital mixer, along with a Linux laptop (using USB), some keyboards, and android phone (actually plugged into line in on one of the keyboards). Audio from a mixture of transcribe! or Ardour (on the laptop), youtube (on the phone or the laptop), irealpro (on phone), a metronome app, various other stuff. I listen through headphones or a powered PA speaker--generally the former, to spare my family. I use MobileSheets on an Android tablet for charts.

Probably none of this is optimal, it's just what's evolved over the years.
 
#14
Laptop (Mac) with a Focusrite 2i2.
Love the flexibility to play along with songs via streaming, or use a DAW (Logic) for click tracks, chord loops, recording, software monitoring with fx etc.
It also gives the flexibility to use any combination of bass amp, DI, speakers and headphones, for loud or silent practice.

When traveling I’ll just bring the laptop, interface and headphones.
 
#15
For me it's KISS
Android phone into this bluetooth speaker (which is jolly good for what it is, good even and clear playback), and play along thru amp....
20220410_165052.jpg
 
#16
Two practice setups in my room:

- iPod touch into an SCR-DI for silent playing.

- For room-filling playing, it’s a MacBook Pro into a stereo amp pushing a pair of vintage Small Advents with redone cone surrounds (that I stumbled into while on an out-of-town TV job). Basses are played into either a BA-210v2 or a Rumble Studio 40.
 

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