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Topic: Practice Headphones |
Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 9:44 am |
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Can anybody recommend a good simple practice headphone set up that doesn't distort and hopefully has a quasi reverb setting? Also rechargeable batteries or electric capacity would be nice. I've been using a "Pocket Rockit" but it distorts a lot. I'm not looking for a rack mount unit, or anything complicated, just something that I can plug my steel into that has headphones out, so I can practice quietly.
Thanks,
Joe |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 9:59 am
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A small mixer with built-in effects...
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 10:31 am
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I still use my old kidney-bean Pod 2.0 or XT for this purpose. I tweaked mine some to make them cleaner - some of the presets distort, but it's not hard to make them pretty clean using blackface Fender models. If you want wal-wart or battery option, the Pocket Pod will do it. Not as good as the others, IMO, but serves a purpose because it's small, portable, and can be battery-powered. Headphone connection on old Pods were 1/4" jacks, Pocket Pod 1/8".
There are also lots of other modelers out there that serve this purpose. I know Pocket Pods are still available new and can be checked out at most big-box music stores. Older modelers can be had used pretty cheaply - ebay, reverb.com, music-go-round, craigslist, etc. I've had mine since early 2000s, no issues. Modelers aren't perfect, but it doesn't sound like you're looking for anything like perfection from this. Reverb and many other effects on the original Pod 2.0 and XT are pretty good. Later Pod 2.0 and Pocket Pod reverb not so good, but certainly qualify as "quasi-reverb". |
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Jeff Porter
From:
Stumptown, OR, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 10:57 am
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+1 on the Pocket Pod.
Sounds OK and runs on batteries so it's very portable & easy to use.
_________________
"I make dozens of dollars a year playing music." |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 11:04 am
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| Microcube by Roland. Many years of use from mine. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 11:27 am
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| As with Dave, I quite like the Pod-XT. It also lets you USB interface with audio from your computer. |
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James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 4:16 pm
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| I second Scott's suggestion. Almost any cheap mixer will sound better than most of the headphone amps, plus it's easy to mix in a music source to play along with. A cheapo Berringer 4 or 6 channel mixer with any stereo reverb pedal will work very well. Run the stereo outs from the pedal into two separate channels, panned wide, and it sounds great. Not as complicated as it sounds and cheap. |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 11:02 pm
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Scott,
What mixer do you use?
Joe |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Posted 31 Dec 2016 11:19 pm
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I found this demonstration for the Pocket Pod on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrsO3VyosMc
It seems like it could be fairly simple if we wanted it to be, but also as deep as we want to program it to be.
Joe |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 1 Jan 2017 4:11 am
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Joe, mine is the same one I use for performing... a Behringer UB1222FX-PRO.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2017 6:35 am
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Joe, I’m not sure if this is exactly the same thing, but I’m using a PreSonus FireStudio Project as a Mixer/Audio Interface, and over by that blue light on the right side is where I plug in my Audio Technica ATH-M50x... I don’t use them so much for practice as for recording, but they work either way, and the sound is great with all the effects in it you want...
I don’t know if something like an iRig would work for you... Sorry about the rackmount thing... age old problem of mine... Dad would tell me to go get... and I’d be halfway to wherever, before I knew what it was I was getting... 
Good luck
_________________
Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 1 Jan 2017 7:37 pm
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Once you get the rest of the rig squared away consider getting yourself some open back headphones. Like these http://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/prestige-series/item/1-sr80e
They are much better for your ears than closed back isolation headphones, and if you're practicing with headphones regularly that's a real concern. They're also a lot more natural sounding. You'll almost forget that you have tiny speakers pressed up to your ears. |
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Dave Magram
From:
San Jose, California, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2017 10:43 am
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Hi Joe,
Many years ago I purchased an amazing device for a headphone amp that I would highly recommend: a Korg ToneWorks Pandora PX3 Personal Multi-Effect Processor.
It has far more capabilities than one would imagine, considering that it is only slightly bigger than a deck of playing cards! It is an extremely portable effects box with over 55 effects built in; the “Country†mode has a very nice reverb effect that works well with steel guitar.
They are no longer in production, but you can find used Pandora PX3 boxes for around $70 or so. Korg later came out with a Pandora PX4 that appears to have even more functionality; I’ve seen used PX4 boxes starting as low as $55.
Korg ToneWorks Pandora PX3
• Two inputs—one for an instrument, one for external audio source.
• One output--for headphones or to an amp as part of an effects chain.
• Phrase Trainer function: A segment of audio (maximum 16 seconds) recorded from a CD player or other audio source can be looped for repeated playback. You can even slow down the playback speed without affecting the pitch.
• Power: Four AAA alkaline batteries, or AC adapter.
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From the User Manual (which is 103 pages long!):
Main features:
• PANDORA is a multi-function yet compact-sized effect unit: 4-1/2†x 2-3/4†x 3/4â€
• 56 types of effect variations: A maximum of seven effects can be used simultaneously.
• 50 user programs and 50 preset programs
• IPE (Integrated Parameter Edit) system.
• Easy to adjust effect settings.
• Auto Tuner function: This feature makes tuning fast and easy. You can also tune without being heard (i.e., while muted).
• Backlit LCD: The LCD screen can be easily viewed even in dark locations.
• Rhythm and Bass function: You can play forty different rhythm and bass patterns.
• AUX Effect function: The sound of a CD player or other audio source connected to the AUX jack can be transposed, or center-cancelled.
• Cabinet Resonator: Select the desired type of speaker cabinet resonance from six types of guitar amp cabinets.
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To save on batteries, I bought a generic 9vDC adapter for a few bucks which still works great.
I believe that the PX3 sold for over $200 new 20 years ago, which would be over $300 in today's money. $70 for a used one today is quite a bargain, IMHO.
-Dave |
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Philip Sterk
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 16 Jan 2017 10:58 am
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When I'm on the road I'll use an "iRig" and my iPad with Amplitude. I still use the iRig 1, but there is a newer version out...
I bought Fender pkg and use the Twin simulator. This nice thing about the software is that it allows you to turn the input down so your hot steel pickups won't distort. It sound pretty convincing to me...
You can use the settings to practice with music from iTunes (Spotify or whatever you use)
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irig2/
Total (not including the iPad)...cost me less around $50, packs light, and I can still check my messages...
_________________
"The method by which the fool arrives at his folly was as dear to him as the ultimate wisdom of the wise." |
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Dale Foreman
From:
Crowley Louisiana, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2017 11:18 am Headphones
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I use the headphone jack on my NV 112's . I put my iPhone buds in then put the big headphones over that. It works well for me and I use this everyday.
Dale
_________________
Rittenberry Prestige(2) |
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Bryan Daste
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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