NAD…The Spark Mini has landed!!!

[Thatbastarddon]

Todays arrival was sparked by this thread from @eSGEe (hope you’re doing well Adrian!)…

So far, just some unboxing pic’s:

neat packaging:

Let’s pop it open…

I will actually read though that quick start guide…

Now for the actual stuff…



It’s truly mini! But it feels fairly substantial for its size…not super heavy, but solid enough that it’s going to sit where you place it and not get knocked over easily.
I have it charging now, and I’ll pop back in later with an update….off to read the quick start guide, and set up the app on my phone…

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Just finished charging(took about an hour), read the quick start, and found this video…

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Well....let's see how this works....I'm not a YouTube fan...So this is on Rumble. I don't know if the site will allow an embed from there.
Nope...I wish Rumble.com could be added to the list of approved media sites. So anyway, click the thingie if you dare....

New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature

New Positive Grid Spark Mini First Play- I just unboxed, charged(yep it is battery powered), and set this up for a quick demo. This video was shot using the Spark app for iPhone. No skills, no frills.

rumble.com

<iframe class="rumble" width="640" height="360" src="New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature - Rumble" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I got mine a few weeks ago. Having troubles with app.Doesn't seeem to be an Android one that works so I went to the PC. I just wamt to load like 4 tones I like.
Done.
Program uses the PC mic?? I need it to jive with the Spark so I can play and hear the sounds...

 

[Thatbastarddon]

I got mine a few weeks ago. Having troubles with app.Doesn't seeem to be an Android one that works so I went to the PC. I just wamt to load like 4 tones I like.
Done.
Program uses the PC mic?? I need it to jive with the Spark so I can play and hear the sounds...

Wow! Sorry to hear about your difficulties….I haven’t done much digging in yet…only hooked it up to the computer for a firmware update. That was weird to get through, but it got done between the time I got it charged and shooting the crap video I posted.

 

[syscokid]

Well....let's see how this works....I'm not a YouTube fan...So this is on Rumble. I don't know if the site will allow an embed from there.
Nope...I wish Rumble.com could be added to the list of approved media sites. So anyway, click the thingie if you dare....

New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature

New Positive Grid Spark Mini First Play- I just unboxed, charged(yep it is battery powered), and set this up for a quick demo. This video was shot using the Spark app for iPhone. No skills, no frills.

rumble.com

<iframe class="rumble" width="640" height="360" src="New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature - Rumble" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That sounded pretty cool, and love the tone and playing. Would be interesting to hear that clip mixed with bass and drums.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

That sounded pretty cool, and love the tone and playing. Would be interesting to hear that clip mixed with bass and drums.

Thank you sir!
I may try the Mini out as an interface for just that purpose…I would like to try it out for bass guitar, and I’ll see if I can throw together some drums on EZDrummer.
I’ve been playing around with some of the other features, like the AI play along thing…I’m sure that the above video was the phone mic, even though I was using the app…turns out it has two Bluetooth channels to sync with for certain features…I’m wondering if I would get a direct recording with both Bluetooth signals…I don’t know yet. I’ve got some thunderstorms rolling through this evening, so I’m not firing up the studio stuff…chillin’ with some July 4th flicks in the living room. I do have the amp beside me, along with an SG.
This one:

The P90s are super hot in this one, and the default noise gate has been really smooth and effective so far.

 

[SG John]

That sounded really good!

 

[Thatbastarddon]

That sounded really good!

Thank you sir!

 

[Thatbastarddon]

That sounded pretty cool

That sounded really good!

Also…since I thought that the app would provide audio for the video above, note that I did not have the amp pointed anywhere near the phone microphones. I can clearly hear me striking strings for the heavier accents in the video, but the amp really fills the room. It’s not “band” loud….it’s more “conversation“ loud…but it really fills a room.

 

[SG John]

Also…since I thought that the app would provide audio for the video above, note that I did not have the amp pointed anywhere near the phone microphones. I can clearly hear me striking strings for the heavier accents in the video, but the amp really fills the room. It’s not “band” loud….it’s more “conversation“ loud…but it really fills a room.

So, that’s the amp we’re hearing and not your studio monitors? Cool.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

So, that’s the amp we’re hearing and not your studio monitors? Cool.

The amp recorded by a cell phone…no fancy mic’s…with the amp about 5-6 feet away from the phone, while facing a bit away from the phone mic.

 

[LiveeviL2000]

Well....let's see how this works....I'm not a YouTube fan...So this is on Rumble. I don't know if the site will allow an embed from there.
Nope...I wish Rumble.com could be added to the list of approved media sites. So anyway, click the thingie if you dare....

New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature

New Positive Grid Spark Mini First Play- I just unboxed, charged(yep it is battery powered), and set this up for a quick demo. This video was shot using the Spark app for iPhone. No skills, no frills.

rumble.com

<iframe class="rumble" width="640" height="360" src="New Positive Grid Spark Mini: First Play With Video Feature - Rumble" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That thing sounds good.
Also, your playing was great. Really dug the tone. Very cool!

 

[Astral Traveler]

That's so... Cute!
HNAD!

 

[guitarweasel]

I've owned the big Spark for just about a year now, that thing is amazing! In, fact, most of the vid's I've posted of me playing were done using it. I'd like to see Positive Grid come out with a big head unit that you use a 4x12 with and enough power to do some big venues. I've used mine for some jam sessions, but had to mike it.

 

[jtcnj]

Sounds great!!

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Congratulations on a cool piece of gear, playing and tone was great by the way

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Just popping in to say that I’ve spent a little time tinkering with the Spark Mini. I like it as a portable practice amp, and as a Bluetooth speaker… it’s ok for outdoor movie nights by the fire pit. Not the greatest stereo vibe, but good quality sound at healthy levels.
I’ve played around with it a bit as a USB interface, and that’s where the honeymoon ends so far. It’s been weird monitoring recordings through it…I’ll try again with headphones next time. The Bluetooth will interfere with the USB audio interface functions…like…when you turn it on it will still actively seek out familiar devices, and connect to them…and the range is pretty healthy…even if it is already plugged in to a computer. This shuts down the USB audio. Once I got it locked in, it behaved though. Also, if you’re using it in interface mode, it seems like you can’t use the app to change anything about the presets. So….I think I’m going to try the audio line out directly into my usual interface. I’m sure I’ll like that better.

 

[Sapient]

Congrats! Now you have to learn "Spark me up"!

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Update: I decided to hide from that fireball in the sky today, so I spent some time recording with the Spark Mini. It was wired from the headphone output to inputs on my interface/mixer.

These were the amp models used:








More pic's to come in the next post...