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What do you play your modelers through at home?

atquinn

atquinn

All gear, no talent
Supporting Member
Mar 21, 2004
736
2,028
51
Long Island, NY
#1
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm wondering what those dedicated to the modeler life and doing for home playing? Are you using headphones (if so, which ones?), monitors (if so, which ones?), plugging into the return of a combo amp (if so, what one)? I have an Axe FX 3 that I bought year ago for guitar, but it's fine for bass as well. But the monitors that are ok for guitar are less ok for bass, and they're starting to break down anyway. So I'm in the market for something new.
 
#2
I use an Alto TX310 for my studio bass monitor, affordable, light weight and accurate sound. I use the same speaker for smaller gigs for bass( jazz and acoustic), stage monitor and even a main for some shows. The newer Alto TX410 has features I would like to have combi input & bluetooth. Alto also has powered speakers with 8", 12" or 15" woofer, more power if that is more what you need.
 
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#3
Scarlett 18i20 > Beyer Dynamic DT 770 Pro X headphones for practice or ARC Studio Room Correction System > a pair of Yamaha HS8s and HS8S Subwoofer when I’m ringing out a preset for PA use. I get a much better representation of what it will actually sound like in a room than just using headphones.
 
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#4
I run my Darkglass Anagram through a Warwick Gnome EQ'd to sound flat and an Ampeg 112AV cab. A bass combo with an FX loop would probably be easier and more compact, but I don't like how many manufacturers put cheaper speakers in their combos compared to their standalone cabs.

Sometimes I'll use a pair of ATH-M50s when I need to be extra quiet, but I'm not 100% satisfied with those and assume some Sennheiser HD 650s would sound better.

I've never enjoyed playing bass through studio monitors, so you're not alone in that.
 
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#5
We have a "living room friendly" mixer in a 3U rack with a headphone amp and xlr patchbay. The plan was to plug everything in as needed, but the e-drums and keyboard just ended up set up permanently. I don't use a complicated modeler anymore, just either bddi or OE BR fifteen, and a set of AKG K92 headphones. I have nicer headphones, but I really like the way the AKGs fit. We're talking about adding a set of powered speakers, but I like the idea that I can play with the headphones as loud as I need without worry.

edit: more detail
 
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#7
Mighty Thumb said:
Scarlett 18i20 > Beyer Dynamic DT 770 Pro X headphones for practice or ARC Studio Room Correction System > a pair of Yamaha HS8s and HS8S Subwoofer when I’m ringing out a preset for PA use. I get a much better representation of what it will actually sound like in a room than just using headphones.
Click to expand...
ha! me too!
I'm running an Anagram into a Scarlett 18i20 => Beyer DT 770 Pro's for a lot of things. I also run the Anagram into a Mesa Walkabout (set about as flat as that amp gets) => Berg NV 212t for some stuff. I need to try the Anagram into the FX return of the Mesa just to check that out. I also run the Anagram into an Ampeg BA108 for lots of rehearsals. I have also run my USB battery powered Anagram into big FOH festival stage setups.

The thing I am finding is that I need to be very careful about is that amp/FX/cab signal chains I build only using the Beyer headphones can end up needing tweaking when used thru an amp front end or an FOH setup. This matches up with what @Mighty Thumb said above. Still a WIP for me.
 
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#11
atquinn said:
I'm wondering what those dedicated to the modeler life and doing for home playing?
Click to expand...

I would definitely not refer to myself as someone "dedicated to the modeler life" but fwiw when I'm playing through my Line6 POD Pro at home it's either going straight into the instrument input of a Polytone MiniBrute III combo amp, or I have my Sony MDR-7506 headphones plugged directly into the POD's headphone output

...unless I'm recording, and then I'm listening to the DAW output via a Yamaha 01V digital mixer into a pair of Mackie HR824 studio monitors.
 
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#12
I play through my interface, and out through either my DynAudio LYD48 with subwoofer, or my Fostex TH900 MkII headphones.

The headphones were definitely spendy, but worth it. I really love them. Best bass I have ever had in cans. I also use the IK multimedia ARC system for both headphones and speakers and think that helps a lot.
 
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#16
I usually just go straight to headphones, but I also have an Ampeg RB112 with an effects loop and use the return on that quite a bit. Sometimes I set mine up in the 4-cable routing so I can swap between the Ampeg and the modeller.

My biggest issue is what sounds good through a PA is very different than the same sound in headphones, so I spent some time doubling up all my patches to sound good to my ears in either.
 
#17
Until recently I was completely ampless and used a Yamaha DBR12 that was really good. I also used a QSC 10 at the BL's house when we rehearsed. The big plus is you get a more accurate idea of what you are sending to FOH or your DAW. They sound fine in a mix, but are kind of sterile in isolation.

If you want more of a bass cab response Blackstar makes a nice powered bass cab and I just picked up a Boss Katana with a preamp input that that completely bypasses the Boss controls if you want a flatter response. These have the inherent character of a bass cab and are much more fun to play IMO, but as people mentioned above, they're not as accurate as the PA speaker/monitor approach.
 
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#18
atquinn said:
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I'm wondering what those dedicated to the modeler life and doing for home playing? Are you using headphones (if so, which ones?), monitors (if so, which ones?), plugging into the return of a combo amp (if so, what one)? I have an Axe FX 3 that I bought year ago for guitar, but it's fine for bass as well. But the monitors that are ok for guitar are less ok for bass, and they're starting to break down anyway. So I'm in the market for something new.
Click to expand...
Studio Monitors or headphones if looking to play along/record with mixes

A FRFR type powered speaker such as QSC K series if just for Bass playing

With headphones something like a good preamp pedal with quality headphone amp built in such as Mesa new pedal for best value

PJB Big Head also
 
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#19
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO. Great sound and extremely comfortable to wear over long periods of time. All parts are replaceable, so they last forever.

dt-770-pro-80-ohm-headphones-beyerdynamic-perspective_transparent.png


global.beyerdynamic.com

beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO: Closed studio headphones

Closed over-ear headphones that ensure professional sound in the studio. Extremely comfortable to wear. Robust design. Made in Germany.
global.beyerdynamic.com global.beyerdynamic.com
 
#20
  1. Recording mode
    • Everything runs through my Allen Heath CQ18T - yes, all 18 channels have something dedicated (guitar, bass, vocals) then out to my Adam A77X
  2. Everything can also be run through either an amp and through a cabinet that is mic'd
  3. I also have 2 PA systems, so sometimes I run them through that
  4. Sennheiser IEM system with molded in/ear monitors
The EQ is different for each, the tone and feel is different for each
 

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