"Silent hub for practicing through headphones"

[alexis]

Hello!

My guitarist is looking for,

" a silent hub for practicing through headphones".

Would anyone be able to point me to something (s) that might fit the bill please?

Thank you!

PS: I thought this might be a general enough question to put here, but if better in the guitar subforum, mods please move at your discretion:) !

[adrian_k]

Not quite sure what “hub” means here. Is he looking for something that multiple people can plug into and play together? Otherwise any amp sim/multi-fx pedal would allow this.

[N i g e l]

Is he looking for something that multiple people can plug into and play together?

https://www.roland.com/us/products/hs-5/
I think there are modern equivilents.

The zoom live track mixers allow for multiple headphone mixes.

Or does your guitarist want a personal mixer that networks to a main mixer ?

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Li ... 2236638134

[The Elf]

For personal practice on a budget I doubt you could do better than a Sonicake Pocket Master. Beyond that I'm broad alignment with the questions the others above are asking.

[Sam Spoons]

If it for silent band practice there used to be a thing called "Jam Hub Studio"* but I guess it was a bit too niche to be a commercial success so they stopped making it. These days a digital mixer and several headphone amps would be the simplest/cheapest way to get a band rehearsing together more or less silently.

* Up to seven musicians each with a line/instrument and a vocal input and a headphone output and mix options plus stereo or multitrack recording.

[N i g e l]

if its just a guitarist practising

1/4" jack > electronics > headphone out

then things to look out for are ...

aux input , to practice along with external somgs,

Multi tracking, to have control of play backof your own stuff.

"good tones" amp simulation + fx

Looping, to practice along with your own chords,

slo motion, to slow e.g. EVH licks down to an understandable speed to learn the notes.

all of the above are now old tech , so available on ebay if your not keen on modern phone linked gear.

etc

[alexis]

Thank you guys!

Is he looking for something that multiple people can plug into and play together?

I checked back with him and yes that ^ is what he's looking for.
.

https://www.roland.com/us/products/hs-5/
I think there are modern equivilents.

The zoom live track mixers allow for multiple headphone mixes.

I've forwarded this to him, I think he'll be happy
.

Or does your guitarist want a personal mixer that networks to a main mixer ?

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Li ... 2236638134

Thank you all again!

[Murray B]

I too remember the Jam Hub, seemed like a neat idea, but never caught on.

For a cheap option - If you can all live with the same headphone mix and have amp modellers already for electric guitars, then any old mixer and a headphone splitter amp will work fine. It could be a useful exercise in self balancing for the musicians involved, but as there's no 'more me' option restraint will be required on the part of all involved.

[Wonks]

He's probably looking for one with a 'Less Alexis' mode.

[Sam Spoons]

I too remember the Jam Hub, seemed like a neat idea, but never caught on.

I suspect the timing was wrong, once cheap digital mixers came onto the market they would do all the stuff the JamHub could as well as being your main gig mixer and probably for less money.

[ef37a]

I too remember the Jam Hub, seemed like a neat idea, but never caught on.

For a cheap option - If you can all live with the same headphone mix and have amp modellers already for electric guitars, then any old mixer and a headphone splitter amp will work fine. It could be a useful exercise in self balancing for the musicians involved, but as there's no 'more me' option restraint will be required on the part of all involved.

I was going to suggest this but thought I might get shouted at for mentioning the "M" word! This,...https://www.andertons.co.uk/behringer-x ... k-effects/ would serve. More inputs than you can shake a stick at and playback through USB from a lappy.

Add the Behrry HA400 and you have 5 headphone feeds, the mixer's and the HA because it can be fed from the RCA line outs. A good online search might find the original Xenyx 1202 with no FX nor USB but much the same connectivity and much cheaper. USB D/A dongles are under a tenner.

Dave.

[alexis]

He's very happy with the Roland HS-5, thank you, Nigel and others!

It's not for sale at Sweetwater, and the following article suggests it's discontinued. It suggests a replacement, Zoom Livetrak L-12:

https://www.chamberlainmusic.com/blogs/ ... oland-hs-5

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/zoom-livetrak-l12

Even that's 7-8 years old though ... anyone know of something newer that might be better?

Thank you!

[The Elf]

I've been using a LiveTrak L-12 for years for one of my live rigs (am doing so now, in fact). It's a good option, though the non-motorised faders can trip the unwary until it become familar. The 5 separate headphone outputs are a boon if he needs that facility.

[alexis]

I've been using a LiveTrak L-12 for years for one of my live rigs (am doing so now, in fact). It's a good option, though the non-motorised faders can trip the unwary until it become familar. The 5 separate headphone outputs are a boon if he needs that facility.

I couldn't tell from the SOS review - can the five headphone outputs be adjusted for "more me"?

Thank you!

[Wonks]

5 independent mixes, so yes.

[alexis]

5 independent mixes, so yes.

Thanks very much, Wonks!

[James Perrett]

Even that's 7-8 years old though ... anyone know of something newer that might be better?

You should see that model's longevity as a plus point - it obviously works well and continues to sell.

[Sam Spoons]

A Berry XR-16 plus 4 x P2 headphone amps will give you four mono and one stereo* monitor mixes for £404.

* From the mixer's headphone output.

[Martin Walker]

Even that's 7-8 years old though ... anyone know of something newer that might be better?

You should see that model's longevity as a plus point - it obviously works well and continues to sell.

+1 to this sentiment - a good design doesn't necessarily become obsolete, and quite franky, many more recent products are built more to a pricepoint than they were years ago.

[The Elf]

Is the L-12 unique? I can't think of another mixer with 5 built-in headphone amps.

[Drew Stephenson]

Is the L-12 unique? I can't think of another mixer with 5 built-in headphone amps.

Some of the podcast mixers have a few but I think most of them top out at 4. (Rodecaster etc.)