morsefull Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Apologies as I know this has been discussed before but I’ve searched the forum and not really found an answer. I normally practise using an aging Boss micro Br which I download mp3’s to then plug my bass in and adjust the levels, plug my headphones in and practise silently. Unfortunately the boss has developed an intermittent fault and it’s time to move on, so lm thinking, I’ve got an iPad Air 2, what else do I need for silent practise? I’m a bit technologically challenged so please go easy on me 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I think you should have GarageBand, you’ll just need an interface to plug between you and the iPad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I used to use a Tascam bass trainer... CD version. You can speed up or slow down the track and change key (although it sounds a bit wibbly when you do).Why the hell did I sell it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I use a Focusrite itrack pocket with the current iPad running Bias Fx or Jamup pro. Works well. With audiobus app you can cute latency right down by varying the buffer size and you can internally route the output from Bias/Jamup to Garageband to record. Internal amps in Garageband are also excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 An iRig or similar interface will do the job on an iPad. An iPad 2 is quite old so make sure you can install the free version of the amplitube software on it first. http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irig2/ I don't tend to use my iPad for practice much as I'm wary of catching one of the the cables and yanking it onto the floor. I usually practice to music on itunes on my MacBook - either with my bass plugged into a focusrite scarlet solo interface with one of the IK multimedia amplitube ampeg bass amp emulations, or if I'm not using headphones I tend to plug into my Roland Microcube RX amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 15 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: I don't tend to use my iPad for practice much as I'm wary of catching one of the the cables and yanking it onto the floor. I usually practice to music on itunes on my MacBook... +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morsefull Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 5 hours ago, ambient said: I think you should have GarageBand, you’ll just need an interface to plug between you and the iPad. I take it an interface is something to plug my bass in then connects to the iPad via fire wire? Which one would you recommend Kevin ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 3 minutes ago, morsefull said: I take it an interface is something to plug my bass in then connects to the iPad via fire wire? Which one would you recommend Kevin ? Now you're asking Maybe something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/IK-Multimedia-Mobile-Guitar-Interface-Black/dp/B00T631UTC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1517870072&sr=8-7&keywords=audio+interface+for+ipad+mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyP Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 5 hours ago, Trueno said: I used to use a Tascam bass trainer... CD version. You can speed up or slow down the track and change key (although it sounds a bit wibbly when you do).Why the hell did I sell it? I have the solid state version, the GB-10. It's very handy as you can download MP3s into it and play along. Like the CD version (I still have one) you can slow the track down or speed it up (without changing key) or change the key without altering the pace. It's a very nice piece of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I do it two ways. One way is i use my iRig HD interface that plugs in to the ipad via the Lightning connector (NOT FireWire). The bass just plugs in to that and you don’t need any power leasd etc. Using something like GarageBand to give me amp sims I can then play along to any music/videos on the ipad. Works well and is the neatest option IMO. You still have all the slowing down features, as long as you have the right apps. There is a small latency but ive not found it to be an issue. I have found getting the right balance between bass (especially clean bass) and the music to be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it it works really well. It also works well with my iphone and has been handy for working out songs at gigs backstage. Mostly these days i use my ipad in to my Zoom B3n via the headphone out, and plug my bass in to that as well. Then take the combind audio out fo the B3n via its headphone out. This seems to work better for me as i have more control over the bass tone/volume. More wires of course and the need for a plug. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 10 hours ago, LeftyP said: I have the solid state version, the GB-10. It's very handy as you can download MP3s into it and play along. Like the CD version (I still have one) you can slow the track down or speed it up (without changing key) or change the key without altering the pace. It's a very nice piece of kit. Bugger! Now I've been looking at this... looks even better than the cd version... birthday coming up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 If I were buying again I'd probably splash for the Apogee Jam. I prefer a Lightning port interface after a horrific experience with the original iRig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I plug my mp3 player into my Zoom B1, for silent practice. I can use all the effects and as I also use it for gigging so its a win win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 1 hour ago, Bigwan said: If I were buying again I'd probably splash for the Apogee Jam. I prefer a Lightning port interface after a horrific experience with the original iRig. That first iRig was awful, but the later ones also use the Lightning port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I have a little Blackstar ID practice amp, which i connect to both my bass and my ipad/ipod. Then listen thru headphones. Works a treat and gives you all the tone shaping and effects from the Blackstar amp too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfunk Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Or you could go old school and buy a little mixing desk, plug the I pad into the tape in using an aux cable then plaug the bass into a channel, mix the levels accordingly and use headphones plugged into the headphoen out. Something like this: https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/SubZero-SZ-MIX04-4-Channel-Mini-Mixer/SIZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I have an iPad Air 2 and use garage band with an irig interface for recording ideas and songs but it is not ideal for practice, hard to play along with tracks. The MP3s are hard to stop and start when in garage band. I usually use my blackstar fly and plug the iPad into it as an MP3 player, a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Maybe overkill for the OP, but worth thinking about. £75 if you shop around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Just noticed the itrack pocket is down to under £20. No brainer if you're after a lightning interface... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 On 2/5/2018 at 10:43, morsefull said: Apologies as I know this has been discussed before but I’ve searched the forum and not really found an answer. I normally practise using an aging Boss micro Br which I download mp3’s to then plug my bass in and adjust the levels, plug my headphones in and practise silently. Unfortunately the boss has developed an intermittent fault and it’s time to move on, so lm thinking, I’ve got an iPad Air 2, what else do I need for silent practise? I’m a bit technologically challenged so please go easy on me 🙂 Korg Pandora 4, head phones and YouTube and I'm set. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xzodar Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Phil Jones Big Head. Expensive but good. Also check out an app called Anytune. Great practice tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mingsta Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I'd heartily recommend SweetMidi on the iPad as a practice tool if you are playing covers. There's a vast selection of free midi tracks out there. Load them up in to SweetMidi and you can play along with the bass track muted for an instant backing band. Very nicely designed app that's easy to use and has most of the features that you could want for rehearsing, eg tempo and key change. I switched to android a while back and it took a while to find a good midi app, but midivoyager is on par with SweetMidi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I've used the Line6 Sonic Port as an audio interface to an iPhone or iPad. Bass and head phones plug into interface, then on the iPad I can use a variety of apps, including Garageband, but I also have used Capo which allows you to change the pitch (to suit a key change), slow down, loop sections and apply EQ filters to allow you to hear your playing better or hear the original bass line better. The neat thing about Sonic Port, other than being a great interface is that it comes with both Lightning and 30-pin cables to attach it to both more modern iOS devices as well as the older iPads. It works on both iPad and iPhones. I've even used it in rehearsals with a TRS output socket on the Sonic Port going to the PA/Monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 18 hours ago, ribbetingfrog said: I have an iPad Air 2 and use garage band with an irig interface for recording ideas and songs but it is not ideal for practice, hard to play along with tracks. The MP3s are hard to stop and start when in garage band. I usually use my blackstar fly and plug the iPad into it as an MP3 player, a lot easier. Why not just play the MP3 file outside GB? They can play in the background (or foreground) while using GB as an amp sim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I use the vox ampeg headphone amp. Cheap as chips and easy to use - turn on, plug in, play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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