My favourite Mercuriall Spark guitar tones (7 presets)

[@Quietistooquiet]

These Plug Ins from Mercuriall are great. Best I have used in my opinion. Great video, great presets, great playing.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks a lot Brian. I agree, very nice plugins with a lot of tonal possibilities.

[@NicolasLaucirica]

came for the review, stayed for the playing!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Humble thanks mate. Glad you liked it 👍

[@MrHardrocker98]

Killer sound/playing, you killed it at Nick Johnston! :)

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Nick is the man! 😀😀

[@michaeldouglas2634]

Thank you so much for sharing. Some really fantastic preset and extreme chips.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thank you for Watching Michael! Glad you find the presets useful. Cheers

[@juleslacrapule]

Bro, f*ck the plugin, your playing is excellent. great feel, great attack and versatility. Super clean and articulate, yet emotional and not sterile.

[@andreascapoli9519]

Amazing Sounds Dude! Thanks for sharing!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thank you for watching! Glad you like the tones

[@TheMikailovich]

Thanks a lot for sharing , Mercuriall should pay you for this great demo. Do you think is the best marhsall amp sim out there? It sounds like it is.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thank you for watching! at least it is the best I've tried. I think it's at the level of Universal Audio plugins (Friedman amps, etc). Would be great to be paid hahaha, but i think they deserve this kind of demos and customer reviews as it is a great software.

[@TheMikailovich]

Indeed It's a great piece of software, hope they watch this and hire you for their incoming Reaxis! I'm a Spark user myself and want to ask you a couple of questions about your input settings with the Scarlett 2i4: do you use the pad button at all? do you try to aim at max -6db with all your guitars? Thanks again for this and your awesome Johston (and others) covers.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Yes, PAD is always on. Gain knob usually between 10 and 12 o' clock. Have to turn it down specially on the guitars with humbucker and high output pickups. Thanks for the comments! I always try to avoid clipping, after that I tweak the Spark input/output pots for fine tuning 👍👍

[@Ale-Desafinados]

I forgot to say that I cannot wait for testing the Reaxis, at least the demo version!!!

[@DreamEclipse]

I have the same interface, I get decent tones from Spark (been using it for like a year now) it but nothing like what you've achieved. I always have the PAD off, I'm wondering if I should switch it on? Also, my gain knob is always on zero - I have an Ibanez Prestige RG652 with TZ/Air Norton's and not only does the gain have to be zero but I have to turn down the volume on my guitar slightly too to stop it from clipping red (on Inst setting). Considering you have it at 10 or 12 o clock I'm wondering what the hell is going on and is this sucking my tone? I never get that awesome pick attack you are getting with your JEM.

[@frolics]

Great tones, playing, and editing

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thank you ar3dko! 👍👍👍

[@cferrarini]

Just Beautifull! Spark Really Nails it.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks mate. Really good plugin!

[@leandroeger5526]

Amazing bro !

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks Leandro!

[@momogris6159]

Tan solo para decir que lo de menos es el plugin! Genial la forma de tocar😊

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Muchas gracias! El plugin ayuda!

[@JoshMyersBand]

These are great!! Are there downloads of them? I don’t have my spark yet so I’m new to it.

[@leemodernemo5059]

This is great man!!!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks!

[@leemodernemo5059]

@@Ale-Desafinados at what sample rate u record this? 48 or 96 or else?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

@@leemodernemo5059 44. Regards

[@leemodernemo5059]

@@Ale-Desafinados wow!! I think u use 96khz sample rate...wow man!! Now i know, not bcause scarlett 2i4 or mercuriall spark, but your finger that made it sounds great.

[@Ferlocodeath]

Increíble. Enhorabuena

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Muchas gracias Ferlocodeath! Aunque el mérito lo tienen los creadores del software 😃

[@progrob27]

Great playing

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks Rob!

[@enriquerm4034]

Geniales!!!. Gracias por compartirlos.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Un placer. ¡Gracias Enrique!

[@Rocco11510]

Wow you covered the Rob Halford/Fight solo from “For All Eternity” wow!!! 🤘🤘🤘

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Yeah, amazing record and amazing guitar player Russ Parrish

[@crisolivares7847]

Me haz convencido a probarlos y está genial tu playera siempre eh querido una igual

[@Ale-Desafinados]

🤩 gracias Cris!

[@joev4483]

many thanks!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks for watching and the comment Joe!

[@АлександрШестаков-т2б]

hi! Very cool rebuilt the sound! what are the pickups on your Stratocaster?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

2x dimarzio dp170 blue velvet and seymour duncan ssl5 (bridge)

[@HEGuitarTracks]

would you provide your presets please? Thanks a lot in advance, it sound really fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi, I think the presets depends on the DAW you are using. Anyway, you can copy all preset settings watching the video images. Thank you!

[@giuseppedibari]

Que bien suenan

[@iurigrang]

ok, fuck, now I wanna buy this

[@rbfigueira]

Intentaré replicar, a pesar de no tener todos los parámetros. No he investigado todavía, pero estos ajustes preestablecidos no se exportan ? jajaja

[@MJ-xz5ft]

Only just come across your demo having recently found out about this Amp Sim and absolutely blown away by how good the sounds you have created with it. A large part is you and your playing but am going to buy it right now. Thank you for sharing. Can I ask what pickups are in your Ibanez RG550?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks Mike! It is an RG450 with the cheap INF pickups on it! ha ha. You can download a free demo and check if it fits your sound before purchasing 👍👍👍

[@craighohrmann3898]

Thanks. I just tried the demo and its grest for sure. Do you make up backing tracks or where do you obtain from? Grest playing. I subbed?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi Craig! fifty-fifty, if the backing track is available and the quality is good, is use it, if not, I do it myself. Regards!

[@dariogrijalba]

Excelente demostración viejo!! bestial como siempre! estoy pensando en comprar uno de los plugins de mercuriall pero no se si comprar el spark, el U530 o el reaxis, toco todo tipo de música, cual me recomendarías?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Gracias Dario, en mi opinión, el más versatil sin lugar a dudas es Spark. El U530 y el ReAxis están más pensados para Metal y derivados. El spark cubre todos los rangos. En cualquier caso, bajate los tres y pruebalos, tienes las mismas funcionalidades que la versión completa (con algún silencio cada rato y cosas así). Así te decides por el que más te guste.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Por cierto, si te pasas por la lista de reproducción que tengo de "Gear Demos" encontrarás también una demo del U530 y otra de ReAxis.

[@mikedonovan4768]

Just tried this Mercurial Spark VST out for the first time and because I am not used to guitar plugins all I am getting is too much background noise - sounds terrible. Thanks for this video - I'll look at the settings as those tones were really decent sounding (and good playing) . Btw even my crappy noobie settings in Spark sounded better than Amprack ! :)

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi Mike, what audio interface are you using? single coil guitars? Maybe you are on full gain mode and not using the embbeded noise gate!

[@mikedonovan4768]

@@Ale-Desafinados I use A Steinberg UR22 and Ibanez guitars (humbuckers) which have brilliant signal/noise ratio so in theory should be able to replicate more or less the noise levels you have in your videos. Thanks for your advice - i just need to keep on experimenting etc :)

[@brnuggets8605]

Cuando lo descargue quedé asombrado con lo real que suena este plugin. En tu opinión hay mucha diferencia en cuanto a un valvular ???

[@Ale-Desafinados]

No soy muy experto en valvulares, únicamente he tenido uno (mi tubemeister deluxe) y no he tenido la suerte de probar muchos más. De todas formas, para tocar en casa sin duda mucho mejor que un valvular!

[@estebanarchivos]

No conocia este plugin...entre el Bias fx 2 vs el Spark, con cual te quedas? y porque?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hola Esteban! Hace muchos años ya que no uso Bias FX, llevo usando los plugins de Mercuriall mucho tiempo y estoy encantado. No sé cómo irán ahora los de BiasFX.

[@shaique2384]

What input type have you used for di tracking in Focusrite? Line level or instrument level? Have you used any DI box?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

No DI Box, Instrument leve.

[@shaique2384]

@@Ale-Desafinados Thanks man! These are amazing tones

[@SajanKoley]

Sir how to save patch or presets in Spark ? Pls sir reply me

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi. Just copy the presets from the screenshots. I uploaded a while ago for reaper but the file is not longer available

[@gizemkayhan9245]

which song 4:24

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Andy Timmons - Hiroshima (Pray For Peace)

[@Bcwilderness]

its even better with a great preamp di like a designs p1, jaw on the floor good

[@Ale-Desafinados]

That is interesting, you should upload a demo!

[@SajanKoley]

Sit how to save preset ? Pls reply me

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Just copy the settings from the screenshots

[@lawsonrussell874]

What would be the best amplification method for this vst in a live performance/rehearsal??

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Direct signal to PA system?

[@TheLoner70503]

@@Ale-Desafinados 👍

[@vejichan]

Do u still use spark? What other amp sims do u use

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi David! Still using Spark 95% of the time! I might use also Reaxis or U540 (all by Mercuriall) if needed.

[@fatherjacques]

Please post a link to download the presets

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi, I think the presets depends on the DAW you are using. Anyway, you can copy all preset settings watching the video images. Thank you!

[@wikiyo]

Hola! He probado todos tus los tonos del Spark que haces con la Stratocarter en otra Strato (American Standard) y tengo un monton de ruido de fondo. Sabes a que se puede deber? Uso una cadena parecida a la tuya: Guitarra - Focusrite 6 USB interface - DAW Studio One - Spark. Me encanta el tono, pero el ruido me está matando....Ayuda! Gracias!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Qué tal Wikiyo! Yo con la strato siempre que tengo más ruido de lo normal (con single coil lo raro es no tenerlos) es porque me hace interferencia con algún aparato eléctrico de la habitación o similar (ventilador, monitor de pc, una lampara...). Para que te hagas una idea, con el primer preset (el de Nick Johnston/Strato), tengo ruido de fondo, pero es lo normal con una single coil en cuanto metes algo de ganancia o subes el master del ampli. Juega un poco con la puerta de ruido, el master y alejate del monitor del PC jaja 😂 Cuando quitas el pedal de overdrive y/o bajas el master casi no tienes ruido, ¿verdad?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Ah! revisa también que no te estés pasando de ganancia en la entrada de la interfaz. Yo por ejemplo tengo el PAD activo y el gain sobre las 11

[@wikiyo]

OK! Muchas gracias por responder! Esta misma tarde me pongo a revisarlo todo.Tengo varios transformadores enchufados a la misma regleta, y a ver la ganancia de entrada....

[@victorbicudo1374]

where's a rithym tone? i can only tell if an amp sim is actually good when hearing some fuller chords.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi Victor! Yes, missing some rhythm on this video, sorry about that!

[@Maxim_Mortal]

only line or use preamp or dibox?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi Maxin,! guitar connected straight through Focusrite Scarlett input

[@Maxim_Mortal]

Thanks! Wait next video on spark or u530 )

[@Ale-Desafinados]

There you have it (U530 demo): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXzZfGaGbrWUn7s

[@Frostensen]

This is prolly a noob question, but what is the difference between plugging in straight into into mic input vs DI box? I know a little about impedance stuff, I was interested more in terms of sound quality if there is any.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi Frostensen, This interface (focusrite Scarlett 2i4) has both line and instrument level so in this case there is (in theory) no neede for a DI box. Anyway, I think using a DI box is a win/win situation. I'm far from an expert on this.

[@vejichan]

Could u share these presets

[@Ale-Desafinados]

I shared them a while a go but it looks that the file is not available. You can copy them easily looking at the video screenshots. Sorry! 👍

[@Alexhangman]

What is your audio interface?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4

[@Alexhangman]

What latency does it has?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hi! Sorry, I missed this response, no email received. There is no latency, at least I do not notice anything while playing or recording.

[@bucketofnoises7810]

I use a Clarett 2 Pre. The software reported 2,6ms at 128 samples. Total latency is maybe around 5ms. No difference to my Kemper.

[@pagl3120]

Oversampling x8 without clipping? I cant with 128 samples buffer

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Te contesto en español que veo por otro comentario que nos entenderemos igual (o mejor jaja). Utilizo una interfaz focusrite scarlett 2i4 y un PC con procesador i5. Con Spark no suelo tener problemas de CPU a no ser que le meta muchos plugins extra, en ese caso la latencia llega (mucha) y suena fatal. Hay otros plugins que si le metes x8 (el U530 por ejemplo) es imposible por que satura la CPU (sólo lo pongo a x8 para renderizar). No sé si te refieres a esto, yo por clipping entiendo saturación de ganancia de entrada, y eso ya depende más de la interfaz que del plugin, ¿no? Saludos

[@pagl3120]

@@Ale-Desafinados gracias por la respuesta! Si, me refería a eso. Yo con el spark no puedo pasar del oversampling x2 y sin tener ningún plugin adicional. Tengo tambien una focusrite y un i5. Un saludo!!

[@Ale-Desafinados]

@@pagl3120 Ostras, ¿qué raro, no? No sé por qué puede ser. Echa un vistazo al administrador de tareas, aunque está claro que será el plugin. ¿Qué DAW usas? No sé si tendrá algo que ver.

[@skybloom77]

Hello, can you send me the preset saved in an email? because iwhen i put same values the sound is totally different

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Hello! There must be another issue, maybe the audio interface settings? different guitar tone? Best regards

[@aiden_macleod]

Share with us your presets?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

I did it but the file is deleted. Check out the settings on the video. Cheers!

[@nickparas7170]

Know any chords?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

No

[@melodica5407]

Feel free to demonstrate your "chords"

[@fendercs]

Hi, do you record mono and stereo with the Scarlett 2i2?

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Always mono. Cheers!

[@poljakov13]

juicy :)

[@officialpoa3171]

*NO ONE EVER SHOWS YOU THEIR CPU METER WHEN THEY ARE DEMOING THESE PLUGINS....! THIS COMPANIES STUFF WILL HAVE YOUR SYSTEM CHUGGING!*

[@Ale-Desafinados]

I am able to use more than 5 Spark instances at the same time without performance degradation (Intel i5 6500)

[@misstress1928]

Excellent playing and great demo. Sounds very good, yet there is something artificial about Mercurial that doesn't feel right. Maybe it's a lack of punch, dunno.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Thanks for the comment Miss Tress. Just curious, are you more comfortable with any other digital sims? Check out the reaxis plugin for some punch tones ha ha 😄

[@misstress1928]

Desafinados I consider digital amp sims as temporary stand ins for the real thing. But they are easier to tweak in the mix and don't require hassles of reamping. I use quite a few amp plugins, ReValver being my favorite and first call, as it feels most natural and very close to the tube gear. Other plugins also get some use.

[@misstress1928]

Desafinados I have tried reaxis and feel that it lacks punch. Not my cup of tea, I guess.

[@Ale-Desafinados]

Agree 100%, I really hate reamping ha ha. Regards

[@PainterDans]

Lack of a real amp, but it’s the best amp sim I’ve ever used !