Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

C

chillytouch

New member
Hey guys,

Quick question.

I have a pair of headphones that I connect to the back of amphead to practice past 7pmish. My old combo amp had an AUX input that I could play backing tracks through but my EVH 50w amp just has the headphone jack.

Is there any way, and if so, what's the easiest way to get a backing track that I can play with over my headphones (for instance one I have stored on my phone)? I read that it's not a good idea to play backing tracks with guitar speaker cabs, but I am going to only use it while having my headphones hooked up so it will never hit the cab.


Would a specific pedal or one of the beat buddies accomplish this?

Any suggestions would be a appreciated.

Thank you,
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

It's not recomended to use the guitar cab because of how much they color the sound, which wounds good on guitar but weird on general music. You won't blow up your amp afaik.
It seems you already have a setup that can work with headphones, no?

Personally I use a Boss GT-1, has headphone out and auxiliar in.
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

BlueStrings said:
It's not recomended to use the guitar cab because of how much they color the sound, which wounds good on guitar but weird on general music. You won't blow up your amp afaik.
It seems you already have a setup that can work with headphones, no?

Personally I use a Boss GT-1, has headphone out and auxiliar in.
Click to expand...

Well so my amp has the headphones input, so I use that. But it doesnt have an aux in or anything so I cant play a backing track. So, when I'm not using my headphones I just play through the cab and I turn my computer speakers up high and play the backing track on youtube or an mp3.

But when i want to play quietly i need the backing track to go to my headphones through the amp. Just dont have anything to play the backing track. The gt-1 can do that?
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

They solved this in the 80's - it's called a Rockman.

Back in my formative years, I'd jack in a cassette deck to the Aux In on the Rockman and learn note-for-note while hearing everything on the headphones.
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

I use a Scarlett unit. I have the solo and the 2i2, both work great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

I use an IK Multimedia iRig 2 along with their AmpliTube software on my iPhone.

It has a bunch of great sounding amps and effects pedals. And I can play along with music I have in the Music app on the phone.

It also lets you record, has a drum machine and a looper.

I think it only runs on iOS though, because Android can’t do real time audio processing, except for a couple of pro audio models, due to high latency.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

My Apple laptop had an audio in 1/8" jack as well as 1/8" audio out so any amp with headphone out I could run into the line in and monitor with GarageBand with the headphone out in the computer while playing tracks and any other app.
Perhaps something can be worked out with your computer. If you only have a combo line in/line out on the computer you could maybe use Bluetooth headphones or something
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

You can't just connect headphones to your phone, and play normally with your guitar rig? Surely the easiest solution.

That's what I do unless I'm running through my recording computer with Aardvark interface.
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

devastone said:
A small mixer, run the amp into one channel and your phone into another and mix to headphones.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Mackie/Mix5-5-Channel-Compact-Mixer-1406558845640.gc
Click to expand...

This. Run the headphones out of your amp to one channel, your computer or phone to another channel, problem solved. I have a Soundcraft Notepad 102 mixer do this very thing myself. Since my amp is at our rehearsal space, I use AmpliTube on an old iPhone with the iRig2 to one channel and my laptop goes in to another. My Skullcandy over-the-ear headphones are so great that I can't hear anything else other than what is coming from them. Totally isolated and quiet practicing to the rest of the house, aside from what it sounds like hitting the strings.
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

How does the 5150 amp deal with headphones? Do you just leave it in standby?
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

Yes, Mixer. I got a cheap Behringer one for maybe $40 used?
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

devastone said:
How does the 5150 amp deal with headphones? Do you just leave it in standby?
Click to expand...

Actually I have to turn it on, cant be in standby. Idk it must cut the power enough somehow for the headphones to work.

For the blackstar I mentioned below, yeah in standby is like headphones mode and then when you turn it on it goes into speaker mode. I actually like that a lot. Sound pretty good too.

Update:
So I actually had to return something today at guitar center and there was a used blackstar ht5r there. You can connect headphones to it and plug in an mp3 player so I just bought it. Ended up paying about $60 after I returned my item. So problem is solved.

Thanks guys!
 
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Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

You could get almost any cheap 15 watt practice amp at a pawn shop that has an Aux in and phones out and do this.

But HOLY CARP that Waza headphones thing is cool!!!!
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

Aceman said:
You could get almost any cheap 15 watt practice amp at a pawn shop that has an Aux in and phones out and do this.

But HOLY CARP that Waza headphones thing is cool!!!!
Click to expand...
I just learned more about it, the fact that the amp is in a “virtual location” and as you turn your head it moves across the stereo spectrum is amazing. Wonder if IEMs will start to incorporate this.

Also, it seems like they should have released it about a month earlier, seems like an awesome Christmas present for guitarists.
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

PFDarkside said:
I just learned more about it, the fact that the amp is in a “virtual location” and as you turn your head it moves across the stereo spectrum is amazing. Wonder if IEMs will start to incorporate this.

Also, it seems like they should have released it about a month earlier, seems like an awesome Christmas present for guitarists.
Click to expand...

They are on the NAMM cycle it seems, instead of the Christmas one. This indeed would be a great Christmas gift (from me to me).
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

Yeah, those Waza headphones do look sweet! I also want a job at a record store that apparently pays enough to live in a sweet house like that!
 
Re: Easiest solution for playing to a backing track with headphones

PFDarkside said:
I just learned more about it, the fact that the amp is in a “virtual location” and as you turn your head it moves across the stereo spectrum is amazing. Wonder if IEMs will start to incorporate this.

Also, it seems like they should have released it about a month earlier, seems like an awesome Christmas present for guitarists.
Click to expand...

What's the point of that? Basically they are just emulating the negative thing in real amp vs. headphones that inherently don't have that problem?
 
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