Did a quick search and didn't really find anything on this specifically, but I'll post the full story and a tl;dr at the bottom for the essence of the inquiry.
Long version:
So I have an excellent, quiet neighborhood I live in now...complete with sleepy babies and all. I don't turn on the subwoofer, try to keep the volume down on things, and I don't play bass at night. I also have a roommate and don't want to disturb them while they're sleeping. This is the biggest barrier to me practicing, as I typically want to hear my bass signal (and not practice unplugged) and like playing along to songs, which makes practicing more fun for me.
There's a few ways to skin this cat, but essentially my conundrum has to do with how my effects are laid out. I don't think I'll need to spend more money on the monitoring solution, but I'd also like to allocate my money towards specific things. The crux of this is based around my Zoom B3n and where I can place it in the signal chain.
I know there is a headphone out, along with an aux-in, on the Zoom B3n. I could just plug into the Zoom B3n, plug my phone into the aux-in and call it a day...but that pretty much leaves my beloved dirt pedals (and a few other things) out in the cold. I want to use the Zoom B3n as a noise gate and compressor (which it does GREAT), which won't do me much good added after a bunch of dirt pedals or other effects.
Now, I DO have a Focusrite Scarlett Solo sitting and doing nothing (space is limited here, can't pull out the recording PC setup). I believe with just proper power supplied to it, I can run the direct monitor mode and do exactly what I want to. Ideally, my signal chain would go like this:
Bass Guitar -> Zoom B3n (Noise Gate, Compressor, Tuner) -> (OD/Dist/Fuzz Effects) -> (Chorus, Flanger, etc) -> EQ pedal -> (Delay/Reverb/Echo Effects) -> GK 700RB (for final EQ and DI Out) -> XLR input of Focusrite Scarlett Solo
Phone (for songs, tracks, etc.) -> Aux cable w/ 1/4" adapter -> Focusrite Scarlett Solo 1/4" input
So for the signal chain, I think I've pretty much got that all figured out, my concern is with powering the Scarlett Solo properly. It retrieves power from USB via its USB-C port, however looking over the specs it's using the USB 2.0 standard for connectivity and power. Now I've got USB chargers galore, but they are typically designed to charge devices. I'd rather not fool with a spot to put a PC, monitor, etc. either...so just hooking it up to a PC isn't really what I'm after here.
The USB 2.0 voltage standard would be somewhere in the 5v range with a max amperage of 500mA. My concern is either too much frying the Scarlett Solo or too little causing reduced headroom or audible distortion. That's also ignoring the possibility of introducing noise into the signal from an ill-matched power adapter.
Has anyone tried this before? What amperage was the adapter that you used? Notice any audible noise or other side effects with this solution?
tl;dr version:
I want to monitor my bass signal chain and mix in some music from my phone or something to a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. What voltage and amperage have you used to power it without plugging it into a USB bus on a computer? Plenty of USB charging bricks on hand, just don't want to fry the Scarlett Solo or underpower it and have the signal distort.
Long version:
So I have an excellent, quiet neighborhood I live in now...complete with sleepy babies and all. I don't turn on the subwoofer, try to keep the volume down on things, and I don't play bass at night. I also have a roommate and don't want to disturb them while they're sleeping. This is the biggest barrier to me practicing, as I typically want to hear my bass signal (and not practice unplugged) and like playing along to songs, which makes practicing more fun for me.
There's a few ways to skin this cat, but essentially my conundrum has to do with how my effects are laid out. I don't think I'll need to spend more money on the monitoring solution, but I'd also like to allocate my money towards specific things. The crux of this is based around my Zoom B3n and where I can place it in the signal chain.
I know there is a headphone out, along with an aux-in, on the Zoom B3n. I could just plug into the Zoom B3n, plug my phone into the aux-in and call it a day...but that pretty much leaves my beloved dirt pedals (and a few other things) out in the cold. I want to use the Zoom B3n as a noise gate and compressor (which it does GREAT), which won't do me much good added after a bunch of dirt pedals or other effects.
Now, I DO have a Focusrite Scarlett Solo sitting and doing nothing (space is limited here, can't pull out the recording PC setup). I believe with just proper power supplied to it, I can run the direct monitor mode and do exactly what I want to. Ideally, my signal chain would go like this:
Bass Guitar -> Zoom B3n (Noise Gate, Compressor, Tuner) -> (OD/Dist/Fuzz Effects) -> (Chorus, Flanger, etc) -> EQ pedal -> (Delay/Reverb/Echo Effects) -> GK 700RB (for final EQ and DI Out) -> XLR input of Focusrite Scarlett Solo
Phone (for songs, tracks, etc.) -> Aux cable w/ 1/4" adapter -> Focusrite Scarlett Solo 1/4" input
So for the signal chain, I think I've pretty much got that all figured out, my concern is with powering the Scarlett Solo properly. It retrieves power from USB via its USB-C port, however looking over the specs it's using the USB 2.0 standard for connectivity and power. Now I've got USB chargers galore, but they are typically designed to charge devices. I'd rather not fool with a spot to put a PC, monitor, etc. either...so just hooking it up to a PC isn't really what I'm after here.
The USB 2.0 voltage standard would be somewhere in the 5v range with a max amperage of 500mA. My concern is either too much frying the Scarlett Solo or too little causing reduced headroom or audible distortion. That's also ignoring the possibility of introducing noise into the signal from an ill-matched power adapter.
Has anyone tried this before? What amperage was the adapter that you used? Notice any audible noise or other side effects with this solution?
tl;dr version:
I want to monitor my bass signal chain and mix in some music from my phone or something to a Focusrite Scarlett Solo. What voltage and amperage have you used to power it without plugging it into a USB bus on a computer? Plenty of USB charging bricks on hand, just don't want to fry the Scarlett Solo or underpower it and have the signal distort.
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