Control Your Positive Grid Spark - XSONIC AIRSTEP Spark Edition

link to Airstep Spark Edition
xsonicaudio.co...
Xsonic who are the creators of the Airstep and Airstep lite got in contact to ask if we wanted to review the AIRSTEP Spark Edition. This little wireless unit cannot only change patches on your Positive Grid Spark, it can turn on and off the effects. In this video, I demonstrate how to use the 3 modes on the Airstep Spark Edition so you can leave your hands free to do what they are supposed to, Play Guitar. The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
#xsonic #airstep

[@lukethedrifter100]

I like your no nonsence approach, no stupid humour, no stupid faces, no stupid music or sounds effects, just straight to the point, informative, quick and easy to follow, DONE!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Trevor.

[@MiyawakiToshiro]

I am a Japanese guitarist. I bought Positive Grid Spark the other day. And after watching your video, I decided to buy this controller. Your performance is very good. I like your play very much. thank you!

[@tomtom06romeo]

ルーパーは使えますか?

[@evilkittymusic3221]

Thanks for the review. What tones were you using and are they on the Spark cloud?

[@JohnA000]

It would be nice if spark would update the software with another bluetooth channel so you don't have to disconnect the app.

[@EdEddnEddyMercury]

Are you able to use the airstep to switch between patches created in the app?

[@project-gruve7102]

​@@EdEddnEddyMercury yes

[@schmenge7]

Gawd, not another thing to buy! Gotta have it.

[@gradientboy]

i miss the good ole days when we knew for a fact we couldn´t get stuff. Darn credit cards. :)

[@paulroberts6820]

Hey Mate, great video and way better than the xsonic dudes who aren’t doing themselves any favors with their own YT training vids. You should get massive commission … bought one of these awesome devices, but stumbled through their own how to video. Appreciate your help and review. Also, like other folks, would appreciate if you would share the tones you dialed in. Thx Brother!

[@firemessenger2283]

Thanks, Paul. Contacted Positive Grid to see if they’ll start “carrying” these, but customer support said they’d have to escalate my ticket! I asked if they were planning on making one themselves, but I guess I have to wait for an email...go figure.

[@thomaswhitehead2079]

Hi Paul - are your lead tones at 1:15 and 4:15 available on the Spark cloud - they are absolutely fantastic and are just the kind of sound I have been searching for a long time - great video - thanks

[@GearGasms]

This was a million times better than my video! 🤘🏻🎸

[@brettadkins7563]

Yours was complete shit, but I celebrate mediocrity and subscribed.

[@solotralafolla]

I like your 4 preset tone’s. Could you sharing?

[@nazmoking3171]

Yes, I'd like to download those patches from ToneCloud also if they are saved there?? Meanwhile, I just got mine so I am anxious to try out Option 3 that controls the most effects + 1 button for scrolling through the patches.

[@ReachingWisdom]

Thanks for sharing! Love my Spark!

[@svenw.714]

Wow! Could you please share the tone-settings you use in this video? Great ones - I must have them...😵‍💫

[@CraigCrider]

For as much as I have been using the Spark the $99 was a no brainer. EDIT - Paul, have you saved any of your patches to the Tone Cloud? Would love to try them out. Cheers!

[@64north20west]

THIS rig is a busker's dream! Thanks!

[@larryscheller2476]

It's powered by AC not battery's.

[@jimmyholloway8527]

Oh hell yes. I saw these things a year ago and was like, "Why no Spark version?" Now there is! Ha!

[@Ricovette]

PG needs to incorporate a Wah Pedal somehow... It's LONG overdue... Stay safe... Rico

[@fluxcapacita3323]

Dude! What is that tone setting at 1:15? Is that one of the presets you uploaded to the Tone Cloud?

[@JonathanNelson-nz9ct]

Awesome! Can you share what presets you had set up on each patch for this demo? They were epic! Cheers

[@kennethborrett8074]

Tried to connect via Bluetooth with the Xsonic spark app. Followed your instructions but will not connect with Bluetooth. Please advise why it's not connecting. Thankyou

[@tejasdiablo2870]

Question: but does Airstep work with Spark mini or just spark 40 as you pointed out?

[@equinox7189]

Would like to know as well

[@hofftipus4132]

I really like my spark amp (aside from the overpowering base), but I'm not too enthusiastic about dumping more money into it. The company, Positive Grid, looks like a hot mess. The current amps are shipping with newer firmware then you can download and I think the last firmware version was from June 2020... With that said, this looks good and is exactly what the spark needs. Thanks for taking the time to demo! I love your channel!

[@AbsurdImprobability]

This pedal isn't made by positive grid. So hopefully they are better. But overall the spark is still pretty cool. Adding a pedal is a no brainer. It's shocking that PG didn't put one out by now.

[@animes2k]

It's been a couple of months, but there is a new firmware update available to download and install, August 2021.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

A tip about taming the bass- the Gain knob also adds bass, so I leave it set low and use drive pedals for distortion. I usually use the Black Op (which is a copy of a ProCo Rat) or the SAB Booster. On the Black Op, I set the filter more to the left, which brings down the bass. There is also an EQ pedal in the newest firmware update, which you can use to pull out the bass frequencies. Also, the Master adds saturation, much like the power section of a tube amp- so what I do is to set the Master higher, keep the Gain and Bass controls low, and tweak my dirty sound with pedals. Hope this helps.

[@gyslainbeauchamp9241]

Thanks for the review,i placed an order via your link,this Will be delivered for january 10,🇨🇦

[@waskele.wabbit717]

Do you think they will ever have a firmware update and an upgraded pedal with expression pedal capability? I'm thinking the Bluetooth latency might not work so well with a wah or volume pedal.

[@bluesman354]

Hey Paul I bought this pedal, but its not connecting to the bluetooth? The Spark 40 blue light blinks and the I on the pedal blinks nothing connects?

[@kennethborrett8074]

I am looking to get a similar sound to Hank Marvin could you help with a setting for this. Thankyou

[@mcdee1208]

I like the lights show whats option on spark pedal does not do that.

[@jmehawk1988]

Just got Spark pedal. Game changer. Thanks for you video. Please share patches.

[@kevincourcey813]

Interesting device. I wonder if they can upgrade it via bluetooth as well. Would be nice not to have to turn it off to change modes.

[@bobli5216]

The SP Edition also can update the firmware

[@carpediem4413]

Very cool… not sure of the value of this if your not gigging … is anyone gigging a Spark? That being said, if you’re really loving your Spark, it’s a cool addition. Wish you could do this with the Fender Mustang Mini

[@JonathanNelson-nz9ct]

Awesome! Can you share what presets you had set up on each patch for this demo? They were epic! Cheers

[@felixuscinewicz4660]

Tell me why i turn on my phone and go to spark app. The pedal disconnects??

[@pikkz394]

The second preset do have a link to that

[@ZojaPaskaljevic]

Bought it. Please share what Tones you used 🙏🏼

[@ScottDaddyMac]

Are you able to set the switches to custom patches within different categories or are you limited to the 4 factory preset patches?

[@iRaiderade]

Have you found the answer to this yet?

[@bassamelkhoury8467]

Could it work as a looper though?

[@mdkotler]

Do these turn off if your screen goes off a la the Positive Grid Control?

[@ismailibrahim1234]

can it still be connected when exiting the application..thank you

[@ssssperes]

Hello… work with Bias FX, Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Neural Dsp plugins and others?

[@davidwoods358]

Kinda cool ... and handy.

[@kangaroofoot]

Well… “footy” lol

[@Danielo197]

You think this is better than Positive Grid's own controller? And does it have a looper

[@stickman33]

For android, these won't pair with both the Spark amp and software. There is a firmware update (beta, as of June 2023) that supposedly allows this to work, but so far the update has failed repeatedly. :-(

[@BJJandBS]

too bad it costs as much as the amp does

[@rontakabuda4474]

Does it work better than using manual on the Spark 40? Give me detail,pls..i am still hasitating b4 buy one,tnc!🎸🇱🇷🎸

[@muziekvoorfeest]

Hi does the airstep toggle between just the 4 presets or bevond? I have many created sounds and would like to reach them all

[@kenkuchnicki9012]

Same

[@timothybailey2119]

I purchased this pedal back in October of 2021. They promised a November firmware update that would "provide full compatibility with the SPARK Android app and SPARK Amplifier at the same time". It's late February 2022, and they just emailed me back that their November 2021 firmware update "should" arrive by MAY of 2022. Honestly, this 3rd party pedal will never be able to log in to the SPARK amplifier and the SPARK android app at the same time. In contrast the SPARK CONTROL Pedal from Positive Grid, offers full SPARK amplifier and SPARK android app compatibility at the same time, for the same price right now!

[@markpaul2561]

Are you connected to app while demonstration, whe I'm not connected to app foot switch works everything, but when I connect to app foot switch lights and sound don't change! Can you please help?

[@jeffskyberg5615]

How do you hook this Spark to a mixer or PA system? I have tried it and it clips or cuts out really bad. If I hook it to one Line6 speaker like a phone playing Spotify songs and it works great! Any suggestions? Spark tones are amazing, with this pedal switch and the ability to hook it to a PA this little Spark amp could do live performances! Thanks!

[@d.killdos9927]

another one pointless video. you should've put this thing on the floor and push it with your toe while playing some music piece so we could see a switching latency and so on. I don't need no footswitcher to switch presets with my finger, do I?

[@TheStudioRats]

Do you need a cuddle D.K? You seem very tense. First of all think about what you are saying and then think of logistics of camera placement in videos. You also might want to come to terms with a video isn’t just made for you.

[@d.killdos9927]

you're right, I guess this video has been made for a huge audience and all those people doesn't see why they should buy another one fingerswitcher, cause there is one on spark's panel. camera logistics is a videomaker's headache. and cuddle! I really need it after a dozen of similar useless videos.@@TheStudioRats

[@mattdevol3339]

My new AirStep Spark foot pedal is a great addition to my Spark Amp. “Look Ma! No hands!” I use it in Mode 3, giving me the most number of effects pedals (4), and a + Channel button. Does anyone know, what the: 1) blue, 2) blinking blue, and 3) green led lights assigned to the 5 buttons indicate? The instructions are not very helpful either (e.g. just use the AirStep, or the Spark app, but not both simultaneously!)

[@alexaraya2018]

The only reason I haven’t bought a Spark Amp is that it didn’t have footswitch control....it could hook up to the phone so it had bluetooth...why in the heck only now is this possible?

[@greysnout]

Hey Paul. Great vid. Any idea why the autowha no longer accessible via long press on button 1? Hadn't used it for a month and can't work out what I've done to bugger it up.

[@kennyshredder6139]

I’m wondering does the airstep work better than the actual spark control pedal? I have a spark control pedal and it has serious latency problems takes 2-3 seconds to change patches which is very annoying also sometimes the patch will change but the screen on my iPad stays on the previous amp does anyone else have issues like this?

[@mervynsullivan]

Excellent

[@skipbass2771]

i can not get my airstep to connect with my spark amp.everytime i turn pedal of to put it in mode 1 thats the a button then i have reconnect the pedal to the app .i didnt see you do that once what am i not doing right?

[@mitchelljarvis2010]

Hi Paul, I’m a relatively new guitarist and bought the spark amp and have been waiting for some kind of a footswitch to accompany it. This looks like the job so I’ve ordered one!..........You said about running the spark to ‘front of house’....do you mean a mixer? Like I said I’m pretty new to this but from what you implied could the Spark be used for small gigs? If I wanted to sing and play at the same time using the spark how could this be done? Is it possible? Maybe you could make a video about this! BTW, I really like your channel you’ve helped explain the Spark amp brilliantly for me over the past few months! Cheers mate! 👍👍👍

[@razhua]

does the airstep takes any functionality away from the Bluetooth abilities from the spark?

[@TheMBunk]

Does the air step have a mode that will change the speed of a backing track/song? Thanks for the video!

[@mikkellm2599]

What - it's not 100 dollars anymore - it's 230!

[@diomargulen7843]

is this compatible with spark go?

[@tomtom06romeo]

What's the difference in between spark control and this??

[@phillipholt6005]

Probably going to be answer my question condition but how much does it cost?

[@clash1469]

When you’re holding the pedal up to the camera so we can see it, try to not shake it so much that we can’t actually see it.

[@HikingFreak]

Do you know if this will work with Spark GO?

[@Greenleaves123]

Is there a uk outlet for this product ? I’m only seeing US ? I’m looking to get the 1 that goes with the Yamaha THR

[@maxflinter6896]

Is this the lite or standard version? What is the difference?

[@TheStudioRats]

Always go for the standard version of you’ll be buying multiple versions.

[@Toquelibre]

Since it is wireless and Bluetooth, do you need to charge it up beforehand and how long does it hold a charge? Is there an option to keep it plugged in while using it?

[@tomsidoti5290]

Hey Paul..I like the 3rd option setting but the channel up button ive been told, if you do a short press it changes up as indicated but a long press reverts back to previous channel .Is this correct ? Or if not do you think it would be a good edition to the unit through firmware.Reply would be appreciated. Thanks for the good vids. Tomasid

[@kylelujan89]

What’s the patch you are using for the high gain channel at 4:20??

[@williamking7420]

Seems like way too much button pushing by hand to change modes. Turn unit off, hold down switch by hand in order to change modes. What's the point of a footswitch if not to be able to change everything with your feet? Nice idea but bad implementation IMO.

[@jasoncrispe]

Just use your feet instead of hands lol.

[@MrGlasstech]

Is this a better midi pedal then sparks midi pedal?

[@gceltmc]

Does it come with the KZbin looper? Like the airstep lite?

[@timperry8961]

Have you also tried Spark Control and if so, which one do you prefer?

[@jaunianise4172]

99$ pedal control (5 ON/OFF switches) for a 220$ amp... LOL and it's not a joke it's a big deal, real price is 129$ !

[@carlbullaro7616]

Make your own

[@MrGlasstech]

I just purchased the pedal I'm having a hard time connecting the pedal to the amp and my Android phone at the same time. It drops the pedal signal when phone or tablet is connected.

[@MrGlasstech]

I actually bought a iPad to use with the spark pedal with no issues works perfectly. Don't waste your time with Android it won't work. It didn't work for me anyways.

[@jsanzt]

You did not explain button 5 in modes 1 and 2

[@RichardLumasag]

Wow, will there be also a park version for xtone pro? Will wait for it, thanks

[@kevinallcock5927]

Looks very convoluted tbh

[@MichaelMacherey]

This will improve busking with the Spark!

[@vaughanwilson1532]

And costs £190

[@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591]

Ordered.

[@ijahtom]

Thanks but I prefare what I alredi have. Fender Mustang GT and a Fender Deluxe plus. I Play them together and it's very good. So Im fine. Well wishings everytime

[@jmehawk1988]

Thanks for the info. Needed it. Please share tones.

[@hapkidosevilla]

Gracias

[@alexfomin580]

Does it work with the Spark app running at the same time?

[@gosman949]

no

[@officialnickelcitygrunge]

Awesome review I have this want the pedal now, I review the unit on my page as well!!

[@officialnickelcitygrunge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4qZY5SMZtubma8

[@adventureawaits3646]

having to turn this off and on again to change modes is a deal breaker, that's a very strange way to change modes. I don't want to bend down to the floor with my guitar around my neck. There are much easier ways to do this, like step on and hold one of the buttons. Odd.

[@MrMhidalgo]

Ordered it earlier today, pre-order price $99.99 + $14.99 shipping to Uk + Currency Conversion fee = around £85

[@carrington57]

I ordered one this morning

[@williamspruce7084]

Hi , Michael ,did you have to pay import fees. , please ?

[@keithb7361]

Hi Paul, I can't see the link anywhere...?

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks Keith, its in the link now. Thanks for letting me know.

[@keithb7361]

@@TheStudioRats You're welcome! I thought it was me...

[@keithb7361]

Hi again, Paul. Just tried the link. It takes me to the XSonic site, but I'm getting a '404 - Page Not Found' message. Any ideas?

[@TheStudioRats]

Keith B it works here, perhaps the website had a slight issue.

[@keithb7361]

@@TheStudioRats The link works for me this morning, so problem solved. Thanks for replying so promptly!

[@TomMarvan]

Very cool. I may have missed it, but in mode 3, what does the 5th button do? (edit: just checked the link to the Airstep, and it describes the 5th button as Channel + ).

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Tom, glad the link filled in what I missed.

[@jasoncrispe]

This sounds and looks great, definitely going to get one when they come down a bit or Thomann stock them. Please would you share the delay setting you put on in the first 25 seconds please? Sounds amazing. Trying to recreate it but it's driving me insane! Thanks!

[@kennethborrett8074]

I like plenty of echo on can you give me advice on how to get this with reverb aswell. Thankyou

[@jezza46]

Thanks Paul. As usual, very informative and seems like a great addition to the amp. EDIT - Just went on to Xsonic site and pre sale orders are already sold out!

[@bobli5216]

Now the 2th pre-sale is available!

[@jezza46]

Thanks

[@solotralafolla]

I don’t understand the last part of the video. What you do with 2 mini jack?

[@charliebuttocks2400]

How much coin