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I am sorry if this is the wrong SE, but it seems to be the only one where my question makes even the slightest sense.

I am taking music lessons online, and I am having troubles setting up the following:

I have an E-Bass connected to an amp which I want to connect to

  • a) my headphones and
  • b) to my PC

so that the instructor can hear too. At the same time, I would like to connect my headphones to my PC as well so that I can hear both

  • a) the bass and
  • b) the instructor.

How should I connect everything in the most optimal way? Here is a graph of the problem:

enter image description here

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    This kind of question is bordeline here, on topic on SuperUser, but answers on there are few & far between on this topic, which does crop up a lot. This is pretty easy on a Mac with Audio Hijack or Loopback, but idk for Windows. Perhaps vb-audio.com/Cable could do it.
    – Tetsujin
    Nov 25, 2020 at 10:25

2 Answers 2

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Sounds like this could be accomplished simply by using a USB audio interface with direct monitoring (for instance the Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 is quite common)

The interface contains a headphone out for monitoring both the inputs (your bass) and the system audio if you select the device as your system output device in audio settings for your operating system.

You will need to set the input device to "PC-Mic" or "inbuilt mic" in Zoom unless you have your own microphone you can plug into the audio interface.

graph using audio interface

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  • The trick with this setup is to get Zoom to output to the audio interface while using the computer audio for input (which I don't think is easy to do.) An alternative is to plug a mic into the audio interface and in Zoom audio settings, select the audio interface.
    – Jeff Learman
    Oct 17, 2022 at 13:19
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    The Scarlett 2i2 is a great interface; it's what I use myself. But you can get great results with a less expensive device from Presonus or Behringer. Just pay attention to the number of inputs (you need 2) and the type of connectors on the inputs (you'll probably want a 1/4" for your bass amp's line out or FX loop out, and whatever mic you use.)
    – Jeff Learman
    Oct 17, 2022 at 13:28
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    Yeah definitely - I probably shouldn't have suggested a brand/model here. I only meant to suggest an interface with direct monitoring that is class compliant
    – lys
    Oct 17, 2022 at 22:34
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Definition of "the most optimal" is not clear. For me it means a balance between usability, sound quality and cost just in a way that happens to subjectively feel good for me. To be usable = It must work and it can be put together and adjusted by me without special tools, special software and special knowledge that must be hired.

I would use a few input analog mixer for signal routing. It gets as inputs

  • the mic (a separate one, it's too tricky to try to use the one in a low cost headsets)
  • my bass amp line output or the bass directly
  • PC audio output.

The main mix result can be fed as well to possible speakers and mixer's headphone output.

PC's audio input doesn't get the main mix result, it gets only mixer's AUX output. Mic and Bass channels in the mixer must have AUX pots for making the needed submix.

If you happen to know nothing of mixers and its connections you must get local help to select the right model which fits to your already existing gear, the needed cables and adapters and to get the system started.

The said system can be used also as a "record one track at a time" recording studio if you get an audio workstation program. But the sound quality (noise, distortion) is limited by the integrated soundcard of the PC. High quality sound needs a high quality audio interface and also high quality mics, sound sources and speakers.

In theory you could work also with an audio interface as suggested already by others, but no quarantee for its routing possibilities and working with a video conferencing system. The analog mixer approach is free of software compatibility problems.

BTW many analog mixers can be used also as USB audio interfaces. The quality and capablities vary widely between different models. But that's another story.

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