Originally Posted By: props2
Thank you Jim for the reply. I need to get my head around this and maybe I am making this more complicated then it needs to be.Here is my scenario,
I like to play my bass to BIAB backing tracks that I have made and have the ability to record the bass on a track to critique my playing.Sometimes I play just to bassless online backing tracks.
When I am in playback mode I usually just output the laptop to my amp and use headphones, sometimes no headphones, but it seems the bass frequency and the music compete against one another even though it is a 500W 4-10 cabinet.It just don't sound that great.

At that point do I output the laptop to a pair of self powered studio monitors?
Will I get that sterile sound from studio monitors?
Is a laptop sound card good enough for this setup? I am thinking there has to be a better way.I dont mind spending the cash for the proper stuff.
Or...Do I rip out my big Yamaha sound system in the tv room and put in my music room. (The kids would get me in the middle of the night):)


Personally, I wouldn't think any (no brand specified) 500W bass amplifier pushing a four speaker cabinet would sound good in any household setting. You'd have to keep the volume turned down so low it would sound like blah. frown But that's another discussion altogether. Conversely if you connected your laptop and bass to your Yamaha sound system in the tv room the bass likely wouldn't sound right.

So your ideal audio interface has: 1) at least one high impedance, or high-z, instrument input 2) receives digital or analog audio from a pc 3) direct monitoring that eliminates latency so pc and bass audio can be played together 4) a blend control to listen to either the bass or pc audio or blend them together 5) headphone output and 6) external speaker output. Note: You really want to be able to blend everything together so your (one channel) bass is sent evenly to both outputs.

Your ideal speakers are likely a 2 + 1 self powered configuration where you have two desktop speakers providing mid and high frequency directional audio and a separate sub woofer for the bass frequencies. It will be helpful if the speaker system has frequency adjustments built-in so you can adjust the sound to match what you hear with headphones. Pricey at $699 but +++ this Blue Sky eXo2 Stereo System +++ is an example of what's available.

Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
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