Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

[Kac]

I'm looking for the best (but also inexpensive) device to rock out in my apartment. With using headphones. I want to get the distortion and effects from my pedal board so I can stay used to my on-stage guitar rig. The problem is I just can't crank my amp in my apartment.

What are your suggestions for devices to look into?

Thanks in advance!!


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[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I'd probably find the cheapest Vox Valvetronix I could find on Craigslist.....that has a headphone out and all the staple amp models. Then you can use it with or without headphones at a normal room level.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Boss eBand?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I use a Little Night Train for this purpose.

Guitar > Pedal board > LNT > Headphones

 

[tinman1]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I have the equipment below and have tested this out at length. In order I'd advise:

1) Line 6 podHD500x > quality set of headphones.

2) (If you must use your stage rig) Tube amp > THD Hotplate attenuator "Load" > Hotplate line out into podHD500x with flat amp model and cabinet emulation > headphones.

You need some sort of cabinet/ speaker emulation for the hotplate line out. Alternatives to the podHD for this are laptop DAI interfaces, Palmer PD109 boxes etc.

Another option is a mic'd isolation cabinet (not tried that myself).

None of the above options are particularly "cheap", but I guess great tone never is. You will have to compromise a bit whatever you choose.

I've had a Valvetronix and the headphone out sounds like ****.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

When I feel like using pedals with headphones I just use my little Vox AmPlug.

 

[Artie]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I would do something like this: Alto-Zephyr ZMX52 compact mixer

Inexpensive. Lets you pan your mono guitar to left/right. Lets you add in an iPod/MP3 player/CD, etc., to jam with music.

Artie

 

[Kac]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Artie that's a pretty sweet idea. Thanks


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[Artie]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Every once in awhile, I pull one out of my . . . well, you know.

 

[tinman1]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I would do something like this: Alto-Zephyr ZMX52 compact mixer

Inexpensive. Lets you pan your mono guitar to left/right. Lets you add in an iPod/MP3 player/CD, etc., to jam with music.

Artie

I may be missing something here, but you can't simply plug a guitar/pedalboard into this thing.....! You could mic a speaker and run it in via XLR, sure...but thats not quiet headphone practice (which I think was the purpose of this thread).

 

[everdrone]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

since you say cheap, if you have a smartphone you could just download amplitube and use it

I dig my home rig which is tech 21 oxford analog pedal into recabinet impulses

 

[MrTondo]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Best device: computer, get some decent software and audio interface and you'll be done...

 

[Artie]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I may be missing something here, but you can't simply plug a guitar/pedalboard into this thing.....!

Actually, you can, with some limitations. Most pedals would have a sufficient buffer to drive the line input of ch-1 with no problem. (I do it all the time with my Teac Model 3 mixer.) But of course, if he bypassed all the pedals, the line input would load down the guitar signal direct. An inexpensive DI, (direct box), would solve that problem.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I use my Marshall Class 5 for that... Thinking of replacing it with the Orange Micro Terror because its smaller.

 

[TomGearman]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Yamaha THR10x.
You're welcome.
=)

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[Kac]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

I use my Marshall Class 5 for that... Thinking of replacing it with the Orange Micro Terror because its smaller.

That Orange is a great little amp. Thought about going that route. Pics and review of what I did decide to go with once I get home tonight. Thanks for all the input.


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[tinman1]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Actually, you can, with some limitations. Most pedals would have a sufficient buffer to drive the line input of ch-1 with no problem. (I do it all the time with my Teac Model 3 mixer.) But of course, if he bypassed all the pedals, the line input would load down the guitar signal direct. An inexpensive DI, (direct box), would solve that problem.

Havn't tried this but I strongly suspect your phrase "with some limitations" is an understatement! If you're getting to the point where you're running pedals direct into a mixer with no amp (not even amp/speaker emulation) you might as well use a pod or other such modeller. Why avoid a pod (designed to sound like an amp) when the ampless setup you suggest is all digital anyway?

I forgot to mention that I also have a THR10. It's not bad, does the job. Not as good sounding as my 15watt Orange amp running with the volume low and not as good as my podHD500x through headphones.

I've had podfarm in the past too and played through headphones via a UX1 interface. Good, but not as good as the podHD.

I've also used my ipad and played (via Apogee Jam) with amplitube, Garageband and a couple more apps I can't remember the name off. Nowwhere near as good as the podHD500x.

Trust me, if you can get over the "Line 6" tag, the podHD500x is the best option for headphone playing unless you are desperate to use a real amp. Through headphones it probably still sounds better than a real tube amp played with full attenuation/ dummy load into a direct box. The attenuation will colour the tone to the point where the modelling is at least as good (and far less hassle). There are cheaper (older) pod versions and second hand options. But go with a $40 plastic mixer if you must. Good luck.

Just my 2c.

 

[Kac]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Digitech RP70. Was considering a small amp with headphone output, was considering the amplitude app on my phone, but picked this up for only $20 at guitar center (clearance). It's super cheap, I can set the EQ on it, has a halfway decent noisegate built in, so I can run it clean and run my pedals through it and it works fine with my headphones.

So it's super cheap and gets the job done. I may look into something else a little bit down the line for better tone and so on, but this will do the job for now.

Thank you all.


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[Artie]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Haven't tried this but I strongly suspect your phrase "with some limitations" is an understatement!

Yeah, I would concede that you might be right. When I first suggested the mixer, it was while playing with my newly acquired Digitech RP2000 multi-effects pedal. When he said "pedal board", that's what was on my mind.

If you're getting to the point where you're running pedals direct into a mixer with no amp (not even amp/speaker emulation) you might as well use a pod or other such modeler. Why avoid a pod (designed to sound like an amp) when the ampless setup you suggest is all digital anyway?

Yup. I love my J-Station and my Pod, for headphone listening. Not sure I understand your last sentence though. The setup I suggested, guitar>pedals>mixer, is pure analog.

 

[tinman1]

Re: Best device to use for headphone rocking with pedal board

Yup. I love my J-Station and my Pod, for headphone listening. Not sure I understand your last sentence though. The setup I suggested, guitar>pedals>mixer, is pure analog.

I meant no valves. I concede that set up is technically "analogue", even if it won't work! Sure, a digital modeller like the RP into a mixer would be ok, but most modellers have headphone outs anyway.