How do you listen to “Showcase your playing”?

[sunjamr]

I mainly access Active Melody through my MacBook, which is connected to a large monitor and a pair of Bose computer speakers. So I have a kind of mini concert venue to enjoy our members’ playing skills. But lately I’ve been seeing that more and more people I know don’t even own a computer. And most of them don’t own a tablet, either. They only have a phone, and try to watch videos on a tiny screen with crappy sound. Sure, they could plug in headphones for better audio, but they don’t. And this made me wonder: How do you watch “Showcase your playing” videos? And if it’s on a phone, what’s the point in even watching them?

Sunjamr Steve

[Dave O]

Probably not the norm, but I use a Mac Studio connected to UAD Apollo with pair ATC SCM25P monitors. Room is acoustically treated and listening spot calibrated and EQ compensated for flat frequency response. It can sound amazing! Better than any headphones, but I will use iPhones with headphones when traveling or Spotify in the car. The best purchase I ever made was getting nice studio monitors. It opened up an entirely new audio experience for me.

[Michael L]

I listen primarily on my PC, but sometimes on my Android phone, but in both cases it’s always with earbuds in my left ear. I lost hearing in my right ear about 12 years ago, so pretty much had to give up hi-fidelity sound back then. Bummer, but I get by ok.

[JoLa]

If I’m at home and no one is sleeping (my husband works nights) I play the videos on my 16″ Macbook Pro connected to Adam Audio T5V monitors via Scarlet 2i2 interface. That’s definitely my favorite setup. But if I need to stay quiet, I may just watch them on the Macbook without headphones, the built-in stereo speakers sound surprisingly good.

If I’m at work, I sometimes bring my laptop with me but if not, I do listen and watch on my iPhone 14 Pro Max (bigger screen) with Apple headphones, they’re not so bad but obviously I loose a lot of low frequencies that way.

And if it’s nice outside, I may take my Macbook with headphones out in the backyard and enjoy the sun and fresh air while watching the videos but that’s rare.

🎸JoLa

[San Luis Rey]

Hey Jola, Those Adam Audio speakers are highly rated and I was wondering if you played guitar thru them when not using an amp.

Mike

[JoLa]

Absolutely, I love ’em!

Normally I would use one of the amps, Fender Pro Jr IV or Yamaha THR30iiWL to play.
However, sometimes I may connect the guitar directly to the Macbook/Logic Pro (via interface) and then I either listen through the Adam monitors or use my monitoring headphones (KRK). I would usually do that when just messing around and learning bits before I look for the right sound for the recording.

🎸JoLa

[Richard G]

I generally listen to videos on my iPad with good earbuds. The sound is reasonably balanced. If I’m playing or practicing at the time, I’ll watch and listen via a tower PC and monitors.

Richard

[JoeD1]

I have some PreSonus Eris 4.5 monitors that I use when recording but I will listen to “Showcase” with my MacBook Pro and it’s built in speakers. They’re pretty decent and I’m too lazy to go into my music room.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Alan L]

iPhone into earbuds, usually; occasionally Bluetooth speaker.

[Andy N]

That was an interesting read. My takeaway is that I need to sort out some monitors pronto, which has been on my todo list for an age, but at least I’ve got some tips to go on.
I’m not too different. Mostly I’ll use my Mac with earbuds or Bose headphones, sometimes the Mac’s speakers. If I’m away from home it’s iPhone with the same earbuds.
Occasionally if I’m home alone and want to crank it up, I’ll stream them to TV and it’s sound system but that’s a home surround sound system. It’s not ideal but it can be loud!

[Tremelow]

My favourite way of watching and hearing the challenge submissions is my PC. It has a large screen and good speakers. Option number 2 is my iPhone 8S with a larger screen. Its tone quality is astonishingly good, but even better with my Bose earbuds.

[Bill]

Usually on my phone and connected to either earbuds or Bluetooth headphone. Occasionally on a Bluetooth speaker or iPad mini.

Almost never on a larger screen than that.

[Author]

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