Is there any kit to make a "Silent Band" possible?

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Brother Number One
Member Since: Jan 22, 2008

I started thinking about this after I realised how cabable a Toneport is and after I tried a Yamaha DTXPLORER drumkit.

Is there any preamp/mixing kit available where you could have a completely silent band that could jam as loud as they want but only they could hear.

E.g. could you plug a guitar and bass into the guitar jacks on a toneport, and stick an electric drumkit into the mic ports? get the levels mixed etc but then how do you have a set of headphones each? Is there some kind of headphone hub available? Does the set up I have described seem plausible?
Would be handy for people, like me, who live in a block of flats when you fancy a jam and a few beers on a Saturday evening.

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Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 18, 2008 07:12 am

Only 2 inputs at a time on the UX2. You can use 2 mics, 2 guit inputs, or one of each. But only 2 total.

You can put a mixer in front of the UX2, and plug everyone into that. Say, have 6 or so signals, all mixed down to 2 channels (stereo), then send that to the headphone amp. Actually, you wouldn't need the ux2, as the mixer will feed a headphone amp, so there you go.

www.gear4music.com/Samson..._Ampsefv_2.html

The above is the one I have, and it works a treat. You may need a little less, if you're just going to have 4 guys all hearing the same thing. The one above can have 4 different input signals, mixed to different levels for different people. Not necessary in a rehearsal setting.

Brother Number One
Member
Since: Jan 22, 2008


Feb 18, 2008 07:52 am

Thats cool, it was just something I had never considered before but with electric drum kits becoming the norm now. It does kind of make sense that bands can get their sh!t together in relative silence and then amp up just to work on their live sound after they are well rehearsed. Its would probably be far better sounding and more comfortable to if your regular rehersal space is pretty crap and you pay to rent some hall space when preparing for a gig.

So all you would need really is each guy to have a preamp going into a mixer and a kind of "headphone hub" after the mixer so they can all hear the same mixed sound. I seem to remember the Korg Pandorra being quite good, haven't used one for years though. They could be useful for an application like this.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Feb 18, 2008 07:57 am

yeah i've thought of that before too, never tried it though. would be pretty cool. definatley with sum beers.

with sum tweakin u could get it sounding pretty sweet i would think.

Brother Number One
Member
Since: Jan 22, 2008


Feb 18, 2008 08:23 am

Yeah I think it would sound great.

I wonder if it would be possible to do it over the net actually so you wouldn't even have to be together. Now that would be clever!

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Feb 18, 2008 08:30 am

Each guitar would need it's own processor, or pedal, to make each person's own sound. Then output this to a line input on the mixer. Bring up the trim / gain till it's fat, then adjust each channel's fader for volume.

I send bass direct into my mixer line input, and it works pretty well. Other's use a DI box, but heck, try the free way first, especially for rehearsal.

Using something like the above linked headphone distribution amp, you can control each person's headphone volume, case they aren't all matched.

You could also put an effects processor in the aux send, and route each person's signal through some reverb, etc. This way you can all use reverb, to your own level, while only using one processor for reverb.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 18, 2008 10:50 pm

I do almost 90% of my projects over the net as it were. We use several different ftp sites for transferring the files back and forth and it works well. Been doing it for years that way actually and its been great. I have never even seen many of my clients faces or even talked on the phone. Most contact is via email or chat.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Feb 19, 2008 11:47 am

I did play in a band once where our normal rehearsal set up was to have the guitar (acoustic/electric), bass (acoustic/electric) and vocals all direct into a desk, and the drums (played with rods) mic'd with overheads). Very cool. All on headphones to everyone's liking. No ringing ears after practice. When we played live, it was a cinch for the sound guy to dial us all in.

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