Paired with the Headrush or my JBL Partybox 310, this amp is a real killer. I have the Spark Go and the Mini, but honestly, I would have loved to have this when I started playing guitar over 15 years ago, instead of the bulky amps I had back then. A minimalist setup like this one not only completely satisfies me, but it also sounds better than what I had in the past. I recommend it to everyone. With modeling, what people need to understand is that the sound system makes all the difference. The Go can definitely be on stage
Same. Came back from a 10 year hiatus only to find out these amps existed that made my old 212 Crate with digital effects pedal back home, useless and cumbersome. Kids have it all these days.
I just received a spark Go and orderd some wireless Joyo 2.4 gig set up... I also bought the y adapter for the headphone jack... Now I'm using my spark go through my Bass Amp.. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this in Detail. 🙏
Thanks YGS I've been using my Mini on stage for a year now and love the versatility. Team it up with a Spark Control pedal and you have a rig that is very portable. Some old school sound guys scoff but eventually I go directly into the house board. The downside there is you lose control of your output volume. I cart along an amp and use the headphone jack out and send the right signal to the DI box and the left to the amp. I've only had my Bluetooth signal hijacked onstage once. I unplugged from the Mini and went straight into the amp. Turned it all off between songs and reconnected going back into the Mini. I'll hold off on the Go for now as I'm used to carting the Control and cords in the pocked of my soft case and clipping the Mini to a strap on the outside of the case.
It's funny how the live band ecosystem is still held captive by the vintage-correct mafia.. the Mini is at it's heart a modelling amp. They wouldn't scoff a Helix or Kemper but because the mini looks like a toy amp, they do. I say out with old attitudes. Good for you for being forward thinking. It's not 1987 anymore when you needed a two-story Marshal stack to be taken seriously by the house engineer. As for your mini's bluetooth getting hijacked, don't you have to have it in pairing to allow that? Curious as to how that happened.
@@YourGearSucks just play the guitar and listen to music extensively. I dont get the fuss from these "sound nazis" it sounds close if not closer to an actual guitar amp compared with fake drums are to real drums.
@@YourGearSucksThere is a channel on YT, The Guitar Rabbi and he is totally against using any PG amps in live settings.For example, someone could be walking by and notice you have a Spar and pipe ‘Tip Toe Thru the Tulips” thru your amp. Someone suggested plugging a cable into the headphone Jack. I am going to try this today and see if it works.
First of all, anyone who is close enough can pair with the Spark. They could send from any Bluetooth device music into the Spark. But you could have the headphone volume down…problem solved. To get hijacked to where someone is manipulating your amp settings…not sure what can be done for that. How big a problem is it? I have no idea. Great video….
@@RobertVeasquez my phone is always paired with the spark so I can adjust it quickly, and I always turn the music volume off. It's a solution in search of a problem really.
I have a gen1 Fender Passport PA (150 watts. I connected it to my Spark Mini 1/8 to 1/4 stereo cord via the stereo in on the PA and "Bobs your uncle"! Splendid sound, small package and stereo out to front of house.
So glad you did this! I am about to do the same and forgo my heavier amp and pedal board. I use the summing cable with the spark 40. However, I put the 1/4 output from my summing cable into a di box of sorts (quilter phantom box) that has a cab simulator and converts the 1/4 output into an xlr output. That let’s me go into any open xlr into my band’s board. Otherwise I think you’d need to go into your board’s hi-z input to get the proper impedance.
Let me make this simple, get a summing cable, spark headphone to input or fx return, preferably the return if you have a fx loop. Thats it. Your welcome.
I love the sounds that I can get from my Spark 40 after I adjust the tones in my presets. I want to start doing more looping. What do you think of the idea of going into the looper and then into my PA? It solves the problem of the overly bassy sound of the Spark 40 cabinet and allows one switch patches going into the looper.
Either or will work depending on your signal chain desires tho the output to a pa should be set to mono for your looper unless you have a stereo looper which some are.
Why would you want to convert a stereo signal to mono? It's only going to change stereo effects like ping pong delays or a stereo chorus. I think the best way is 1/8 inch trs to two 1/4 inch ts jacks. Then you can run them into 2 channels panned left and right on a p.a. Or to 2 amps
Most amps will only take one channel. Most mixing boards and sound techs will only give you one channel or only have one channel avail. So it's good practice to set it to mono if you're doing it for stages (which is what this video is about) . Also in bars and clubs most speaker output setups are set to mono because the speaker configurations around any given venue aren't based on stereo separation but filling the venue with sound with multiple speakers in many different positions that aren't left and right. So a consolidated mono signal coming out of many speakers is usually the case in most venues so any stereo separation from the signal end would be pointless and the sound engineer would hate it anyway. Again this is for stage setups. At my studio I have things set to stereo in the exact config you describe. But that's because I designed the studio so you can record guitar stereo signals and listen to stereo playback. Venues are designed to efficiently craft sound to sent to dozens of speakers not accurate stereo listening (which is what the band is doing anyway). So mono is your best bet for a set it and forget it stage solution.
Do the FX on the Go exhibit stereo panning w headphones? Modulation FX? Stereo Delay image through the phone output? If so A/B ing two Go's would be killer Nice work bro ;-)
Sounded good until you started playing Mega-Death..then you maxed out your camera mic... I should of brought my Cookie monster hand puppet lol... It sounded real good before then. Good job on a topic not covered elsewhere
hah soon.. P6 is a working studio in Toronto so we have a lot of projects on the go. I have like 5 other vid ideas i want to get up here so hopefully everyone here can be patient with me. Much appreciated.
Thanks for this video but Airstep SPK only seems to work on mode 1 with the Go. The other modes do not appear to turn the pedals on and off. Did you find this is correct?
Can you see how to plug in a keyboard into the spark mini? I have a Yamaha reface cp (thuds, wurli, clavinet). Which these have been played through vintage guitar amps in the past. Curious if you can and how you would be able to do so. Thanks
Yep.. the Mini has an Aux in controlled by the volume knob. You can basically input any stereo signal into that and it will come out the master signal of the Mini. On that keyboard, you'd use two quarter inch mono to a stereo from the L/R output, to 1/8th inch whcih goes into the aux in on the mini. Same cable as the output one in the video. But in reverse.
@@YourGearSucks Heck yea!!!~ thanks much for sharing. Curious to test it out when the cable comes, but I think it just might work!!Thanks for the beta!
@YourGearSucks Any difference or advantages (on a Go or Mini) between using the summing cable with the app set to stereo, vs a mono cable with the app set to mono? Thanks
No it cannot natively as the speaker shuts off as soon as the line out is engaged. However, you can get an xsonic ulooper which creates its own line out signal and still keeps the spark speaker on. I'll be doing a full review of the ULooper soon. Cheers.
@@YourGearSucks This is exactly what I wanted because I have a boss katana 50 MK2. It doesn't have a looper function or an effects in and out. So I wanted to get the spark mini to a looper like the one you mentioned and then out to the katana. But I need these spark mini as a stage monitor. Does this set up hold water? And thanks for your fast reply You're the man!
@@YourGearSucks so yes you would need this particular looper you're talking about because of the USB function, so that it doesn't cut the sound to the spark correct?
@@jasonmelo9379 the line out of a ULooper is a 1/4 so you can send that to whatever you like. The line out will be affected by the sparks preamp tho. It's meant to be sent to stage speakers so you'd probably have to disable the preamp section on the katana so you don't get double preamp colouring.
@@jasonmelo9379 yes correct. The ULoopers line it is designed specifically to allow you to use your spark as a stage monitor. It's pretty much exactly what you're looking for.
You've gave me more info than I've managed to find anywhere else, but could you let me know if I can use a 'Y splitter cable' from the 1/8 headphone jack on the Spark 40 into 2 x 1/4 jacks on my Scarlett 2i2 safely? I've been reading so many contradicting solutions. I just don't want to fuck up any of my equipment 😉
Yes. Absolutely and in your 2i2 just make sure your channels are panned to left and right appropriately to recreate the stereo signal when you're recording otherwise they both come out centered. You can only fuck it up if you force the stereo signal into a single consolidated mono one without any resistors in the line to reduce the signal strength.
Too bad that Spark's headphone out/line out jack is a terminating jack that shuts off the internal speakers once you plug the cable in. I wish there was a way around it
Check out the Spark Amp MODS facebook group.. there are folks there who have built line out jacks for the Spark 40 that bypass this issue. Pretty cool!
When you set the Mini or Go to Mono and use the cable that comes out to separate left and right, like you did, does the amp only send the signal to the left channel? I'm wondering why the summing cable needs resistors but the 'splitter' doesn't.
Yeah when you set the mini and go to mono the signal only comes out the left side of the split cable. That's why resistors aren't needed. You're not brute forcing two channel's worth of signal to a mono output which can damage some audio processors and receivers. The 40 only outputs stereo so you have to use a summing cable which 'resists' the signal by approximately half, and combines them on output. You could use a split cable as well and use only one side, but then some of the stereo effects like delay and verb that may do some left-to-right modulation may get lost by only one side coming through and it will sound weird. So it's better to use a summing cable with the 40. Hope that helps answer your question.
@@harleyguido Correct. But in the case of a mono input on the mixing console, or with a cab, you should use a summing with the 40 as the spatial effects such as stereo delay and reverb and other left-right modulation may only be half heard.
Good Luck getting any help from Positive Grid Customer support. My Mini became a brick after a month and PG was totally unresponsive. what a waste of $$
I've heard mixed reviews but haven't had to deal with them directly yet. Try the facebook group "Spark Amp Owners Club" - they've been helpful there, and I think some who work for Positive Grid also lurk the group. You may get some help there.
23:45 - you wouldn’t recommend going straight in with the spark because it gives you “less control” over the level than if you went into a mixer first. I don’t own any of these devices yet, but want to know, is it not possible to adjust the level without going through a mixer first?
yes.. you can go directly in, adjust the spark's output with it's volume and the volume on the powered PA. I like to have some control over gain and volume separately so I can maximize noise reduction - send unity into the PA but that's just a preference.
What about just a stand alone setup! , i do some open mic at places where you have to supply your own sound but the establishment does your vocal ! So does it hold up opposite an separate microphone?
That's all based on the mixer and the sound person for the night. I'd recommend a Spark going in curbs the low end, enhances the high end and any vocals need compression and a 15% reverb tail. That kind of functionality is dependent on the mixer but as far a sparks go they can plug in and be good to go. Vocal tone shaping for live is so difficult and requires someone who knows what they're doing with equipment that can do it.
I'd like to buy a Go or a Mini. I started playing guitar with a Nux Mighty Plug Pro. Looking to comparison, Mini only has 2 times more output. I have many Bluetooth speakers at home and therefore 2 choices I can do: buying a Mini and use it as well as a Bluetooth speaker too or pair the Go with my speakers via cable. What do you suggest? Thank you
Go with the mini. The sound quality and power is much higher - you can easily Street jam with it. The go is really only good as a pocket solution when you need absolute maximal portability.
I'm using an app on my phone to switch the broadcast cameras. It's a creative media studio so we have dedicated Blackmagic ATEM hardware that can be controlled in various ways. That specific app is called MetaControl for Android. We also have the one from Apple which does a more professional job.
Hey! Great video! Have you also noticed any unwanted stable frequencies when using Spark 40 via PA system? Whenever I connect my via headphone output to the mixer (even when the output volume of Spark is set to 0) the high freqnuency noise at around 2k and 4k is being produced. If you faced that, how did you solve it? Any insights are much appreciated 🙏
Nope..it has been rock solid. It's worth saying, you should have it on battery when it's being used as a preamp if youre getting noise. If you plug it into an outlet it may create a ground loop - that may be where the noise is coming from. The battery especially in headphone/speaker out mode will last forever. Don't need to worry about it dying. The only buzz/noise/hum I've heard is when it's plugged into the wall where the outlet and signal grounding doesn't match up. Over the summer I must've played 40 different shows in multiple venues with it and I never had to adjust much. The sound techs loved it too as they just had to set and forget it with minimal work. But again it depends on the PA system and depends on the sound tech and the mixer it's going through. A lot of the times the sound tech will patch it into a DI box, and that DI box, especially with modern mixing systems will have a preamp and fx profile placed on it (for acoustic guitars) so I make sure to tell the guy make sure the DI is as dry as possible cuz im feeding it a preamp. SO make sure yours has a dry signal (no profiling or shaping) going into the mixer.
Are there actually any stereo effects in these devices? I’m shocked as I checked so far I have not found any which is a dealbreaker for me, especially since they advertises this as a-stereo amp.
@ why could I not find any stereo fx when I played the demo version of the new amp at guitar center? I even checked it with headphones and I heard only mono delays.
@djbmanifestomode depends which amp which fx you used and what the amp was set to - mono or stereo. I don't think you can adjust the stereoness of the fx which is why they aren't designed as a "stereo" effect - because they have to be mono compatible too. But you bring up an interesting point. I'm going to do some recording with it and see which fx have more stereo separation and which have none. I'll put a pin in this until I do.
@ yeah please let me know because I went through a number of presets from the cloud, and you would think that clicking on each one would trigger whether or not it was programmed to be in stereo or not, and all I was finding was mono delays and somewhat simulated stereo sound, but it was definitely mono. Please let me know if this does actually have stereos and I will buy the spark go at least. Let me know if setting the amp to stereo solves the problem and transforms the delays into actual stereo so I can make my decisions and I would be very appreciative. if these products are mono, they definitely dropped the ball if there is no stereo-tape delay or at least ping-pong delay.
If you're going into an amp, an amp with an FX return is what you optimally want. The FX loop section in an amp allows you to go straight to the power section and bypass the amps preamp section and makes your amp essentially a powered cab. A summing cable or the left right split cable (left side into amp) would work in this case. You can grab one at a link in the description box. If your amp doesn't have an FX loop (FX send, FX return) the best thing to do is go into the amp normally from the spark, and in the APP disable the amp head in your spark software. YOu can do that by swiping up or tapping the on/off tggle switch ont he amp graphic. that eliminates the amp "colouring" and your spark simply turns into an FX pedal signal chain so you can play with it that way. You're not going to get perfectly unadultrated Spark sounds as the power section and speaker of any amp adds characer to the sound, so it may need a lot of adjustment in the amp and in the software. But that's the way to do it. Hope that helps.
It will handle pedals like most modelling amps without an FX loop. Gain type pedals will jus drive it harder, make sure to adjust the amp head accordingly as its unclear if there is soft clipping built in. Time and modulation pedals it will be a case by case basis and I'd argue use the ones in the app instead.
The thing is you can't switch the presets with the spark control since it doesn't connect to the amp directly. The spark control will only work until you mobile app is up and running. It's ridiculous and it's a deal breaker for me. That makes the Mini and Go unusable for live performance. Only spark Live connects to the spark switches directly.
@@YourGearSucks thank you for your answer. I consider buying the airstep but I’ve heard that the functionality differs. The stomp mode doesn’t work with Spark Go, you may only switch presets. The three modes of the airstep are available only with Spark 40. I’m not sure though.
@@ArturPopko yeah functionality is limited depending on the spark used. But I find the ability to switch and stomp the drive channel in its basic mode more than enough for my needs.
Lots of people hooking them up to cabs but not sure about active/passive cabs. Hook your phone up to your cab, play some music, and see if that outputs well. The spark delivers the same kind of output so that's how to know.
@@YourGearSucks i wounder if you could hook the sparkgo, to a preamp pedal, lets say a cheap used sansamp. then at that point you would have a crazy small package "combo" amp that you can plug into any speaker and have the most versatile amp ever, because tech they have a bass setting. so i could set a preset for bass and one for a guitar and switch between the 2.
I'd go with the Mini unless you absolutely need something pocket size. Th Mini just offers more possibilities. You can play it with others, in a park and even some street jams. The Go is definitely just a personal amp - quiet by comparison. On stage if you output to PA speakers or the send-return on an amp, or even a home stereo system they both act pretty much exactly the same. Check out my other vid for a comparison.
You may not be in a situation where you can mic it up. Might be a situation where you're performing in a small bar with one mic and mixer. Also microphones have their own tone profiles which can change the sound. It all goes into a mixer anyway so it's good to go direct. Last if you use the go and it's next to set of drums, no mic in the world is going to pick it up effectively. It's good to have the info on how to do everything. 😎
@@YourGearSucks I'd have to disagree with you there. I played guitar through an old Fender Princeton that was amplified by the PA system. I used a Sennheiser mic and it sounded great. Besides, I've always said if your gear sucks, you're going to sound bad. It pays to buy quality gear. Of course, if you're not a pro, you don't need to sound like one. But there's a difference between sounding ok and sounding great, regardless of how good of a player you are.
To mic is totally different. I’ve actually done both line out and captured 2 different mic mixes into the PA with a vintage Pignose. You can get a mix of 3 which provides you way better sound. Similar concept as parallel processing.
@@YourGearSucks it wasn’t some negative shit I have the go and use it all the time and sounds great but some how it didn’t sound good in your demo no disrespect ☮️❤️✨
@@lefujyou yeah that tracks.. you gotta keep in mind, the speaker that's outputting the sound is what is creating the quality.. so make sure whatever you feed it through is high quality equipment.
@@samepage3762 No my end volume is good 👍🏾 I have a Spark go and have no problem getting a great sound hooking it up in different ways through amps through PAs and monitors
the Spark sounds great, I've used it on stages, and busking, and live performances, live streams, recordings, etc. It punches well above its weight class and the functionality is second to none.
![Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 | Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA) [5] vs. Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) [2] | F](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EIjZybhsWqA/mqdefault.jpg)
Paired with the Headrush or my JBL Partybox 310, this amp is a real killer. I have the Spark Go and the Mini, but honestly, I would have loved to have this when I started playing guitar over 15 years ago, instead of the bulky amps I had back then. A minimalist setup like this one not only completely satisfies me, but it also sounds better than what I had in the past. I recommend it to everyone. With modeling, what people need to understand is that the sound system makes all the difference.
The Go can definitely be on stage
I have a Soundcore Rave Party 2. Do you think I can use spark go headphone out then connect to the soundcore aux via 3.5 jack?
Thanks!
@@ColdBrew_1 absolutely
It will work just fine
That's the beauty of it
Same. Came back from a 10 year hiatus only to find out these amps existed that made my old 212 Crate with digital effects pedal back home, useless and cumbersome. Kids have it all these days.
I just received a spark Go and orderd some wireless Joyo 2.4 gig set up... I also bought the y adapter for the headphone jack... Now I'm using my spark go through my Bass Amp.. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this in Detail. 🙏
anytime! This channel is about empowering people to do what they love with less headache around the gear part of it.
Been looking for this video or a while! Thanks for actually talking about hardware and not just demoing the software!!
Thanks YGS
I've been using my Mini on stage for a year now and love the versatility. Team it up with a Spark Control pedal and you have a rig that is very portable. Some old school sound guys scoff but eventually I go directly into the house board. The downside there is you lose control of your output volume. I cart along an amp and use the headphone jack out and send the right signal to the DI box and the left to the amp.
I've only had my Bluetooth signal hijacked onstage once. I unplugged from the Mini and went straight into the amp. Turned it all off between songs and reconnected going back into the Mini.
I'll hold off on the Go for now as I'm used to carting the Control and cords in the pocked of my soft case and clipping the Mini to a strap on the outside of the case.
It's funny how the live band ecosystem is still held captive by the vintage-correct mafia.. the Mini is at it's heart a modelling amp. They wouldn't scoff a Helix or Kemper but because the mini looks like a toy amp, they do. I say out with old attitudes. Good for you for being forward thinking. It's not 1987 anymore when you needed a two-story Marshal stack to be taken seriously by the house engineer. As for your mini's bluetooth getting hijacked, don't you have to have it in pairing to allow that? Curious as to how that happened.
@@YourGearSucks just play the guitar and listen to music extensively. I dont get the fuss from these "sound nazis" it sounds close if not closer to an actual guitar amp compared with fake drums are to real drums.
@@YourGearSucksThere is a channel on YT, The Guitar Rabbi and he is totally against using any PG amps in live settings.For example, someone could be walking by and notice you have a Spar and pipe ‘Tip Toe Thru the Tulips” thru your amp. Someone suggested plugging a cable into the headphone Jack. I am going to try this today and see if it works.
First of all, anyone who is close enough can pair with the Spark. They could send from any Bluetooth device music into the Spark. But you could have the headphone volume down…problem solved.
To get hijacked to where someone is manipulating your amp settings…not sure what can be done for that. How big a problem is it? I have no idea.
Great video….
@@RobertVeasquez my phone is always paired with the spark so I can adjust it quickly, and I always turn the music volume off. It's a solution in search of a problem really.
Positive grid should make you as thier ambassador
Hah thanks.. I'll be doing more Spark videos for sure so one can hope!
I have a gen1 Fender Passport PA (150 watts. I connected it to my Spark Mini 1/8 to 1/4 stereo cord via the stereo in on the PA and "Bobs your uncle"! Splendid sound, small package and stereo out to front of house.
@@bloosman1 nice one!
Great video on the flexibility of the Spark’s with PA’s!
Thank you!
So glad you did this! I am about to do the same and forgo my heavier amp and pedal board. I use the summing cable with the spark 40. However, I put the 1/4 output from my summing cable into a di box of sorts (quilter phantom box) that has a cab simulator and converts the 1/4 output into an xlr output. That let’s me go into any open xlr into my band’s board. Otherwise I think you’d need to go into your board’s hi-z input to get the proper impedance.
Thanks for this one!, just tried using my spark GO into a gig. Worked really really well and I just sold all my pedals now! 😂
Hah nice.
Awesome! You deserve way more subs! 😊
I've been doing this for months using my Spark GO into my EV EVOLVE30M, EVOLVE50M, or EVERSE8. Sounds huge.
BTW: on the Spark GO - You can adjust the volume to the amp/speaker with the + and - button on the top... RATHER than the round Guitar input knob
Great video. Looking forward to more like this in the future.
Thank you, just getting through a backlog of studio work and more will come!
Heh heh heh... he said "Don't fret" LOL
wokka wokka!
You forgot to feature a cable that I use for my Spark Go.
3.5 mm (1/8 in) to XLR Male
good point.. given it's unbalanced, it's kind of the same category as a quarter inch in but yeah.. should have featured it, cheers
Let me make this simple, get a summing cable, spark headphone to input or fx return, preferably the return if you have a fx loop. Thats it. Your welcome.
I love the sounds that I can get from my Spark 40 after I adjust the tones in my presets. I want to start doing more looping. What do you think of the idea of going into the looper and then into my PA? It solves the problem of the overly bassy sound of the Spark 40 cabinet and allows one switch patches going into the looper.
Either or will work depending on your signal chain desires tho the output to a pa should be set to mono for your looper unless you have a stereo looper which some are.
Why would you want to convert a stereo signal to mono? It's only going to change stereo effects like ping pong delays or a stereo chorus. I think the best way is 1/8 inch trs to two 1/4 inch ts jacks. Then you can run them into 2 channels panned left and right on a p.a. Or to 2 amps
Most amps will only take one channel. Most mixing boards and sound techs will only give you one channel or only have one channel avail. So it's good practice to set it to mono if you're doing it for stages (which is what this video is about) . Also in bars and clubs most speaker output setups are set to mono because the speaker configurations around any given venue aren't based on stereo separation but filling the venue with sound with multiple speakers in many different positions that aren't left and right. So a consolidated mono signal coming out of many speakers is usually the case in most venues so any stereo separation from the signal end would be pointless and the sound engineer would hate it anyway. Again this is for stage setups. At my studio I have things set to stereo in the exact config you describe. But that's because I designed the studio so you can record guitar stereo signals and listen to stereo playback. Venues are designed to efficiently craft sound to sent to dozens of speakers not accurate stereo listening (which is what the band is doing anyway). So mono is your best bet for a set it and forget it stage solution.
Do the FX on the Go exhibit stereo panning w headphones? Modulation FX? Stereo Delay image through the phone output? If so A/B ing two Go's would be killer Nice work bro ;-)
@@ChrisMichaelsChicago thanks! There is definitely stereo separation on the headphone /stereo line out output. Fx depending of course.
@@YourGearSucks Is the panning audible when using the headphone out to 2 mixer channels panned hard left and hard rt?
@@ChrisMichaelsChicago it should be for sure.
Sounded good until you started playing Mega-Death..then you maxed out your camera mic... I should of brought my Cookie monster hand puppet lol... It sounded real good before then. Good job on a topic not covered elsewhere
lol did i play megadeath? I dont even think i know a megadeath song lol ... thanks regardless
Any reason to use a summing cable for the Go or Mini?
@@GucciPonderosa not really as you can switch the output to mono in the app.
When will you release another video? I enjoyed your previous 2.
hah soon.. P6 is a working studio in Toronto so we have a lot of projects on the go. I have like 5 other vid ideas i want to get up here so hopefully everyone here can be patient with me. Much appreciated.
Thanks for this video but Airstep SPK only seems to work on mode 1 with the Go. The other modes do not appear to turn the pedals on and off. Did you find this is correct?
I'll go do a deep dive and get back to you on it.
Can you see how to plug in a keyboard into the spark mini? I have a Yamaha reface cp (thuds, wurli, clavinet). Which these have been played through vintage guitar amps in the past. Curious if you can and how you would be able to do so. Thanks
Yep.. the Mini has an Aux in controlled by the volume knob. You can basically input any stereo signal into that and it will come out the master signal of the Mini. On that keyboard, you'd use two quarter inch mono to a stereo from the L/R output, to 1/8th inch whcih goes into the aux in on the mini. Same cable as the output one in the video. But in reverse.
@@YourGearSucks Heck yea!!!~ thanks much for sharing. Curious to test it out when the cable comes, but I think it just might work!!Thanks for the beta!
@@michaelbanach9972 anytime.. thanks for watching!
@YourGearSucks
Any difference or advantages (on a Go or Mini) between using the summing cable with the app set to stereo, vs a mono cable with the app set to mono?
Thanks
I'm just here to see if the spark can be used as a stage monitor along with sending a signal to the line out
No it cannot natively as the speaker shuts off as soon as the line out is engaged. However, you can get an xsonic ulooper which creates its own line out signal and still keeps the spark speaker on. I'll be doing a full review of the ULooper soon. Cheers.
@@YourGearSucks This is exactly what I wanted because I have a boss katana 50 MK2. It doesn't have a looper function or an effects in and out. So I wanted to get the spark mini to a looper like the one you mentioned and then out to the katana. But I need these spark mini as a stage monitor. Does this set up hold water? And thanks for your fast reply You're the man!
@@YourGearSucks so yes you would need this particular looper you're talking about because of the USB function, so that it doesn't cut the sound to the spark correct?
@@jasonmelo9379 the line out of a ULooper is a 1/4 so you can send that to whatever you like. The line out will be affected by the sparks preamp tho. It's meant to be sent to stage speakers so you'd probably have to disable the preamp section on the katana so you don't get double preamp colouring.
@@jasonmelo9379 yes correct. The ULoopers line it is designed specifically to allow you to use your spark as a stage monitor. It's pretty much exactly what you're looking for.
You've gave me more info than I've managed to find anywhere else, but could you let me know if I can use a 'Y splitter cable' from the 1/8 headphone jack on the Spark 40 into 2 x 1/4 jacks on my Scarlett 2i2 safely? I've been reading so many contradicting solutions. I just don't want to fuck up any of my equipment 😉
Yes. Absolutely and in your 2i2 just make sure your channels are panned to left and right appropriately to recreate the stereo signal when you're recording otherwise they both come out centered.
You can only fuck it up if you force the stereo signal into a single consolidated mono one without any resistors in the line to reduce the signal strength.
Too bad that Spark's headphone out/line out jack is a terminating jack that shuts off the internal speakers once you plug the cable in. I wish there was a way around it
Check out the Spark Amp MODS facebook group.. there are folks there who have built line out jacks for the Spark 40 that bypass this issue. Pretty cool!
Without doing research i'm thinking maybe a reAmp box. Or some type of aby controller. Not knowing but just a thought
When you set the Mini or Go to Mono and use the cable that comes out to separate left and right, like you did, does the amp only send the signal to the left channel? I'm wondering why the summing cable needs resistors but the 'splitter' doesn't.
Yeah when you set the mini and go to mono the signal only comes out the left side of the split cable. That's why resistors aren't needed. You're not brute forcing two channel's worth of signal to a mono output which can damage some audio processors and receivers. The 40 only outputs stereo so you have to use a summing cable which 'resists' the signal by approximately half, and combines them on output. You could use a split cable as well and use only one side, but then some of the stereo effects like delay and verb that may do some left-to-right modulation may get lost by only one side coming through and it will sound weird. So it's better to use a summing cable with the 40. Hope that helps answer your question.
You could also use it in stereo direct into 2 channels of the mixing console...then you wouldn't need a summng cable but only the stereo cable, right?
@@harleyguido Correct. But in the case of a mono input on the mixing console, or with a cab, you should use a summing with the 40 as the spatial effects such as stereo delay and reverb and other left-right modulation may only be half heard.
I'm wanting to get a spark go, but I'm curious, when you download the app, is there anything that has to be purchased in the app????
Last year they released a Jimi Hendrix tone pack in the app that you could buy. I never bought it, but otherwise all if it is 100% free.
@@YourGearSucks thx for the info on the spark go and the app, I appreciate it , I need to buy it now, 👍
Good Luck getting any help from Positive Grid Customer support. My Mini became a brick after a month and PG was totally unresponsive. what a waste of $$
I've heard mixed reviews but haven't had to deal with them directly yet. Try the facebook group "Spark Amp Owners Club" - they've been helpful there, and I think some who work for Positive Grid also lurk the group. You may get some help there.
23:45 - you wouldn’t recommend going straight in with the spark because it gives you “less control” over the level than if you went into a mixer first.
I don’t own any of these devices yet, but want to know, is it not possible to adjust the level without going through a mixer first?
yes.. you can go directly in, adjust the spark's output with it's volume and the volume on the powered PA. I like to have some control over gain and volume separately so I can maximize noise reduction - send unity into the PA but that's just a preference.
What about just a stand alone setup! , i do some open mic at places where you have to supply your own sound but the establishment does your vocal ! So does it hold up opposite an separate microphone?
That's all based on the mixer and the sound person for the night. I'd recommend a Spark going in curbs the low end, enhances the high end and any vocals need compression and a 15% reverb tail. That kind of functionality is dependent on the mixer but as far a sparks go they can plug in and be good to go. Vocal tone shaping for live is so difficult and requires someone who knows what they're doing with equipment that can do it.
I'd like to buy a Go or a Mini. I started playing guitar with a Nux Mighty Plug Pro. Looking to comparison, Mini only has 2 times more output. I have many Bluetooth speakers at home and therefore 2 choices I can do: buying a Mini and use it as well as a Bluetooth speaker too or pair the Go with my speakers via cable. What do you suggest? Thank you
Go with the mini. The sound quality and power is much higher - you can easily Street jam with it. The go is really only good as a pocket solution when you need absolute maximal portability.
@@YourGearSucks even though I am still learning? Tbh I don't play publicly hahah
@@fernyb15 yes. Especially if you don't need portability. The mini is the way to go.
@@YourGearSucks Thanks for the timely feedback
@@fernyb15 anytime!
Hey what app are tou you using? The one you're pressing in phone
I'm using an app on my phone to switch the broadcast cameras. It's a creative media studio so we have dedicated Blackmagic ATEM hardware that can be controlled in various ways. That specific app is called MetaControl for Android. We also have the one from Apple which does a more professional job.
@@YourGearSucks thank you for this info
Don't fret! Knaw Knaw!!🧀
Hey! Great video! Have you also noticed any unwanted stable frequencies when using Spark 40 via PA system? Whenever I connect my via headphone output to the mixer (even when the output volume of Spark is set to 0) the high freqnuency noise at around 2k and 4k is being produced. If you faced that, how did you solve it? Any insights are much appreciated 🙏
Nope..it has been rock solid.
It's worth saying, you should have it on battery when it's being used as a preamp if youre getting noise. If you plug it into an outlet it may create a ground loop - that may be where the noise is coming from. The battery especially in headphone/speaker out mode will last forever. Don't need to worry about it dying. The only buzz/noise/hum I've heard is when it's plugged into the wall where the outlet and signal grounding doesn't match up.
Over the summer I must've played 40 different shows in multiple venues with it and I never had to adjust much. The sound techs loved it too as they just had to set and forget it with minimal work. But again it depends on the PA system and depends on the sound tech and the mixer it's going through. A lot of the times the sound tech will patch it into a DI box, and that DI box, especially with modern mixing systems will have a preamp and fx profile placed on it (for acoustic guitars) so I make sure to tell the guy make sure the DI is as dry as possible cuz im feeding it a preamp. SO make sure yours has a dry signal (no profiling or shaping) going into the mixer.
Are there actually any stereo effects in these devices? I’m shocked as I checked so far I have not found any which is a dealbreaker for me, especially since they advertises this as a-stereo amp.
@@djbmanifestomode all the time based effects definitely have stereo separation. The Spark 40 has two speakers. So it's a stereo amp.
@ why could I not find any stereo fx when I played the demo version of the new amp at guitar center? I even checked it with headphones and I heard only mono delays.
@djbmanifestomode depends which amp which fx you used and what the amp was set to - mono or stereo. I don't think you can adjust the stereoness of the fx which is why they aren't designed as a "stereo" effect - because they have to be mono compatible too. But you bring up an interesting point. I'm going to do some recording with it and see which fx have more stereo separation and which have none. I'll put a pin in this until I do.
@ yeah please let me know because I went through a number of presets from the cloud, and you would think that clicking on each one would trigger whether or not it was programmed to be in stereo or not, and all I was finding was mono delays and somewhat simulated stereo sound, but it was definitely mono. Please let me know if this does actually have stereos and I will buy the spark go at least. Let me know if setting the amp to stereo solves the problem and transforms the delays into actual stereo so I can make my decisions and I would be very appreciative. if these products are mono, they definitely dropped the ball if there is no stereo-tape delay or at least ping-pong delay.
@@djbmanifestomode keep in mind that the amp has to he switched to stereo. Depending on the amp and settings it may be defaulted in mono.
What cable do i need if i want the spark go amp to have the sound coming out of my Fender tweed deluxe amp?
If you're going into an amp, an amp with an FX return is what you optimally want. The FX loop section in an amp allows you to go straight to the power section and bypass the amps preamp section and makes your amp essentially a powered cab. A summing cable or the left right split cable (left side into amp) would work in this case. You can grab one at a link in the description box.
If your amp doesn't have an FX loop (FX send, FX return) the best thing to do is go into the amp normally from the spark, and in the APP disable the amp head in your spark software. YOu can do that by swiping up or tapping the on/off tggle switch ont he amp graphic. that eliminates the amp "colouring" and your spark simply turns into an FX pedal signal chain so you can play with it that way.
You're not going to get perfectly unadultrated Spark sounds as the power section and speaker of any amp adds characer to the sound, so it may need a lot of adjustment in the amp and in the software. But that's the way to do it.
Hope that helps.
How does it handle pedals? I'm testing one as a direct amp for live shows. I can run stereo set up with the GO in the house.
It will handle pedals like most modelling amps without an FX loop. Gain type pedals will jus drive it harder, make sure to adjust the amp head accordingly as its unclear if there is soft clipping built in. Time and modulation pedals it will be a case by case basis and I'd argue use the ones in the app instead.
The thing is you can't switch the presets with the spark control since it doesn't connect to the amp directly. The spark control will only work until you mobile app is up and running. It's ridiculous and it's a deal breaker for me. That makes the Mini and Go unusable for live performance. Only spark Live connects to the spark switches directly.
I haven't used the spark control but I use the Xsonic Airstep Spark Control and it works perfectly on all of them. Thanks for detailing this.
@@YourGearSucks thank you for your answer. I consider buying the airstep but I’ve heard that the functionality differs. The stomp mode doesn’t work with Spark Go, you may only switch presets. The three modes of the airstep are available only with Spark 40. I’m not sure though.
@@ArturPopko yeah functionality is limited depending on the spark used. But I find the ability to switch and stomp the drive channel in its basic mode more than enough for my needs.
yes, make sense. I agree
ok, so lets say we wanna hook it up to a external "Passive" cab, would it work the same way or would would it need more power?
Lots of people hooking them up to cabs but not sure about active/passive cabs. Hook your phone up to your cab, play some music, and see if that outputs well. The spark delivers the same kind of output so that's how to know.
@@YourGearSucks i wounder if you could hook the sparkgo, to a preamp pedal, lets say a cheap used sansamp. then at that point you would have a crazy small package "combo" amp that you can plug into any speaker and have the most versatile amp ever, because tech they have a bass setting. so i could set a preset for bass and one for a guitar and switch between the 2.
Spark go or spark mini???
I'd go with the Mini unless you absolutely need something pocket size. Th Mini just offers more possibilities. You can play it with others, in a park and even some street jams. The Go is definitely just a personal amp - quiet by comparison. On stage if you output to PA speakers or the send-return on an amp, or even a home stereo system they both act pretty much exactly the same. Check out my other vid for a comparison.
@@YourGearSucks thank you
@@AriaMusicVibe Anytime!
Why would you not have a pick when you are doing a video about this product?
I mostly play without one. But there's always some around.
A lot of work for something that sounds ok at best
Why make it so complicated? Just mic it and rock on...
You may not be in a situation where you can mic it up. Might be a situation where you're performing in a small bar with one mic and mixer. Also microphones have their own tone profiles which can change the sound. It all goes into a mixer anyway so it's good to go direct. Last if you use the go and it's next to set of drums, no mic in the world is going to pick it up effectively. It's good to have the info on how to do everything. 😎
@@YourGearSucks I'd have to disagree with you there. I played guitar through an old Fender Princeton that was amplified by the PA system. I used a Sennheiser mic and it sounded great. Besides, I've always said if your gear sucks, you're going to sound bad. It pays to buy quality gear. Of course, if you're not a pro, you don't need to sound like one. But there's a difference between sounding ok and sounding great, regardless of how good of a player you are.
@@Bigfoot-px9gj All good. Rock on!
To mic is totally different. I’ve actually done both line out and captured 2 different mic mixes into the PA with a vintage Pignose. You can get a mix of 3 which provides you way better sound. Similar concept as parallel processing.
The demo was not to good it sounded bad 😮sorry to say ☮️❤️✨
all good.. opinions may vary... much appreciated, regardless.
@@YourGearSucks it wasn’t some negative shit I have the go and use it all the time and sounds great but some how it didn’t sound good in your demo no disrespect ☮️❤️✨
@@lefujyou yeah that tracks.. you gotta keep in mind, the speaker that's outputting the sound is what is creating the quality.. so make sure whatever you feed it through is high quality equipment.
Did you ever think that you might have terrible output on your end listening to this? No offense. ❤ ☮️ ✨
@@samepage3762 No my end volume is good 👍🏾 I have a Spark go and have no problem getting a great sound hooking it up in different ways through amps through PAs and monitors
The problem is that the main reason for buying is the main con. The sound is poor even for practicing.
It needed to be said 😅
Wow that truly Sounds awful .. you thought sounds cool?
the Spark sounds great, I've used it on stages, and busking, and live performances, live streams, recordings, etc. It punches well above its weight class and the functionality is second to none.
The single mic against the PA speaker probably makes it sound odd to us