Positive Grid Spark Amp Recording - USB versus Headphone Output

[@markymac6079]

Good video sir. I clearly heard a difference between usb and head phone out. USB sounded slightly cleaner and effects were more subdued. Headphone out had a touch more gain sound (almost a pushed sound) and the effects were much more obvious. Also headphone out had a wider stereo mix. Thank you for comparison. Very helpful.

[@paulhudson4211]

Brilliant, exactly what i wanted to know, no irrelevant waffle and straight to the point.

[@cleverdood]

thanks!

[@eulman09]

Thank you for another thorough and thoughtful Spark Amp use case video. Positive Grid should put you on their payroll.

[@dereknoel6353]

Instablaster

[@rdisipio]

Thank you, this video finally clarified to me whether the USB output was equivalent to DI, or included FX. Looks like the lack of stereo-ness can be fixed during mixing.

[@AgentsofRush]

Brilliant thanks for making this vid. I love using the spark amp and wanted to record it in without USB. So you answered this. I have a headrush mx5 but prefere the spark (I'm probably not using it right though lol) 👍

[@YAZTEG]

First of all thank you for this video….. you helped me to take a decision on how i should do my routin chain …. The only thing i just notice kindda bad was that on the headphone out w/FX i notice a lot of hissin noise

[@theNextProject]

Great video and well packaged content. Giving me ideas and hope for using my spark directly to my garage camera for capturing workbench audio samples. Thanks for putting this out there for us!

[@cleverdood]

thanks!

[@The_Rude_French_Canadian]

When using the spark amp as an audio interface directly I get some cutting sound if I play too loud...I use the headphones jacks to plug the amp directly into my Scarlett focus instead...and then hook up a small fender champion amp if I want to play without headphones...

[@ScalerWave]

The PG ASIO driver is still broken so this is a good work around

[@keithdunn1394]

Thanks for a great video and it really saved me some time figuring out the same question!

[@ccostantyt]

Great video, great analysis, thanks for the 'scientific' approach and clarity

[@ChrisThompson-k9i]

I think the effects have some stereo that you can record via headphone. It sounds like it on my Spark. Also, you can see the channel levels diverging in your video when recording from the headphone jack to 2 channels, which would not happen if it were identical in both channels (like in your mono USB -> dual channel track), unless I am missing something.

[@stringbender57]

Nice work. You satisfied my curiosity...thanks!

[@geogoga]

Thank you Jason for your video. Now I know that my Spark have a problem with the earphones output. I tried to record from the earphone socket, I give up because of the huge amount of intermittent acute noise (which, curiously, I don't hear when I use headphones). And yes, on recording, the Spark headphone volume doesn't adjust anything. I am disappointed of the quality of this amp... (I use Roland UA-25 audio interface, same UGREEN 3.5mm to Dual 1/4 Inch Cable, FL Studio Signature.)

[@StevenParente]

Really good comparison, thank you. I'm finding the USB out from my Spark to sound very good to Logic Pro. I tried going out the headphone port with a 1/4" TRS to 3.5mm adapter to an XLR3M and then through my scarlet, but for some reason, I get tons of unwanted reverb. I do not hear this through a pair of headphones. With the XLR balanced interconnect, It sounded like it came out of a cave with a weak signal. I am going to order the headphone stereo splitter you have listed and also a single and see how it sounds. I sub'd and liked. Great channel.

[@roberthu2581]

Hi I encountered the exact same issue of that unwanted reverb. I wonder if anything improved after you purchasing the splitter cable. Thank you so much!

[@StevenParente]

It works really good with the splitter Robert.

[@roberthu2581]

thank you so much!

[@mywebfast]

That was great, sold me on USB thank you :)

[@thelonelymotorbikeradventu3524]

Very interesting video. I was looking for a solution to record my Boss Two channel amp. This seems for me the only way that works. Only the headphone output keeps the vocal and instrument effects. Thanks.

[@nedronez]

Can I plug headphones in the AUX whilst recording from the Headphone socket?

[@MrZerohour1967]

Hi Jason, thanks for the video, was really informative. Just wondering if that Y splitter cable you used is purely cable or if it has anything in it to level match from head phone to line? Would be grateful if you could let me know please.

[@cleverdood]

good question, the specs on the cable don't say one way or the other.

[@MrZerohour1967]

@@cleverdood Ok cool, thanks anyway. I have a Spark on the way, so I'll do some testing with a standard cable and see how it goes :)

[@LikeableSlinky]

Very helpful video, thanks. Need a link for a good splitter cable.

[@gibson2623]

Hi. When I set it up via usb in reaper, i set the input to usb stereo 1+2. Fun thing is the ASIO4ALL crappy driver and control panel says the input is mono. It records in mono in repaer also. How can this mismatch be? there s clearly a stereo input in reaper, but the diver sees 1 mono input? What s happening here? Can someone explain this please? There s no way i can set up a stereo input in ASIO4ALL panel. Thank you

[@Guitarzan8]

I’m going through the many spark reviews to find out if anybody uses it in a live performance situation. My band uses in ears and hence I don’t need a powerful amp. I’m having trouble finding any videos that talk about this. Do you have any experience with that? When you plug in the headphones jack do the speakers shut off? When you plug in the USB do the speakers shut off? Is there such a thing as a USB to audio adapter? Of course I’m trying to plug directly into the stage snake from my amp. And of course I could just use a mic that the production team provides. I’m just wondering.

[@cleverdood]

If you use the headphone out, the speaker does mute. With USB it doesn’t so you could output via usb and use 2 adapters, but that might degrade the quality. There is a USB to 1/8 jack adapter, and then you’d need a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter to plug into the sound board. Although I’d assume the cable snake is an XLR patch?

[@timhurtado9023]

Would this cable work ok? Hosa HMX-003Y 3.5 mm TRS to Dual XLR Pro Stereo Breakout Cable

[@cleverdood]

It should, yes...obviously assuming your audio interface has XLR inputs!

[@planetcorey]

Good stuff! Do you know if it is possible to be able to record both a wet and a dry track using either of these methods?

[@cleverdood]

No, it won't work as far as I know. When connected via USB there's only 1 channel of audio sent. The THR sends two channels (wet and dry), but the Spark doesn't.

[@planetcorey]

@@cleverdood Thank you. I just purchased an ABY switcher pedal. That does the trick. :)

[@dkbryant67]

If I want to do a single channel input into my interface? Do I use headphone to quarter inch TS or quarter inch TRS cable?

[@cleverdood]

I’m not sure it matters, someone else posted here that using the headphone out could damage the interface but I don’t understand how that would happen. I’d just use the USB connection, there’s no difference as far as I could tell.

[@rontakabuda4474]

Thank you so much.

[@cleverdood]

You're welcome!

[@Noodles-sd9hb]

What is the recommended headphone impedance?

[@anonymousperson4363]

What is the DAC used? Do you have any videos on using a DAC versus not using one. The DAC in my computer sounds better than the sound coming from the amp when I am playing back music from them.

[@MiguelMakesMusic]

thanks for this video, do you think this applies to most amps like the spark? interested in how the new mustang micro would do in a test like this. if you do guitar videos it's so much more convenient being able to record from the headphone jack.

[@cleverdood]

I’d say yes, the same concept would apply. The quality of the cable, and headphone output would differ between devices so some would probably have a bit more noise than others. I think you can get great recordings with any new cheap device nowadays.

[@the_skating_dinosaur]

Hi there, I currently have some crackles and pitch shift issues when recording with the spark amp plugged in USB. Do you have any solution for this? I'm using Ableton Live btw.

[@helloxsw]

Thanks this video help me a lot！

[@cleverdood]

You're welcome!

[@omarkempkes5121]

I can´t find what´s the audio resolution from the USB audio output... anyone please?

[@sebastianstasiuk7729]

Hello Sir. May I ask one question. Do you know if would be possible to connect spark to looper pedal using the splitter cable so I could loop spark effects? The only problem I don't have studio monitors so Spark is my only source of sound. Is this possible? Or do I need speakers? Any help would be greatly appreciated

[@OneTakeSunday]

Hey Jason, do you know if you can do USB out and the through the Spark Speaker at the same time?

[@cleverdood]

From memory, no. I think as soon as you plug-in via USB, the speaker is disabled so you’d have to setup the output of your computer to be the Spark to hear it.

[@sureshsubramaniam8837]

Your videos are very useful and informative. Any advice on how to connect the Spark headphone out to a Aux input of another amp? Thanks

[@cleverdood]

you could use a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter. That might make for an interesting video to try! I could connect it to my JCM 800!

[@TheJoresh]

As I understood from another forum, if just use an adapter it could damage the amp. The recommendation was to use a hard to find (and expensive) summing cable which would combine stereo channels into mono and also have resistors to compensate for the low impedance. I am not technical so don't know if this true or just a marketing ploy. Any thoughts?

[@jerviso7195]

I have the same question as Suresh (above) about the summing cable, which I read about in the Positive Grid forum: smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSAID6I/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A3OXMIQ1ACN8PI&psc=1 Is it really necessary?

[@miketherock]

Hi Jason, can you explain how you set up the connection from the Focusrite to the Spark input? And is it possible, with your setup, to record both the dry signal and Spark wet signal (headphone out or USB, doesn’t matter) at the same time in the DAW? Thanks

[@cleverdood]

The Spark only has one input when connected via USB so the only way to record 'dry' is to shut off all the effects. The Yamaha THR actually has 2 inputs so when connected via USB you can record the wet and dry signals to different tracks which is cool. I used one of the outputs on the Focusrite and went straight into the Spark input with a regular patch cable.

[@miketherock]

@@cleverdood Thanks for your reply! Would it be possible then to plug the guitar directly in the Focusrite, routing to one dry track in the DAW, and output the same signal from the interface to the Spark and get the wet signal via USB back to the DAW in another track?

[@jkusnier]

When you record your guitar "dry" from the Spark 40 what settings are you using? I'm trying to get the Spark 40 to act as a dry direct in.

[@cleverdood]

I turn off everything in the app and that passes a direct signal through. Sometimes l use very light compression depending on what I’m playing.

[@georgesweezy7710]

According to your diagram and the video, when you were testing the USB mode you brought a pre-recorded dry guitar signal out of your Focusrite, into the guitar input of the Spark, and back into your DAW via the Spark USB interface. This implies that you were using two audio interfaces which I assume are both ASIO. It's my understanding that Windows can only access one ASIO interface at a time. I was wondering how you overcame this limitation. I'd like to use the Spark USB interface in a recording session along with my Behringer UMC404 audio interface. I've been assuming that using both at the same time would be impossible. Thanks.

[@cleverdood]

I'm using a Mac, it doesn't have that limitation. You can route audio however you want without any extra drivers.

[@georgesweezy7710]

@@cleverdood Thanks for responding. I know there are some generic Windows ASIO drivers out there that will aggregate multiple ASIO drivers into one, but then there's the clocking issue within the DAW. Does the Mac have a way to synchronize your DAW with the clocks on two different audio interfaces?

[@cleverdood]

@@georgesweezy7710 The ASIO 4 ALL driver should get you the same level of flexibility to route audio with multiple input/output sources. I have a Scarlett and Clarett and the Focusrite software allows you to set the clock master. The audio/midi utility on the Mac also allows you to do that.

[@ricardrb6386]

Moltíssimes gràcies!!!

[@tombrown732]

Aren’t you eliminating the latency inherent with USB connection by using headphone connection?

[@berlymahn]

wondered also. splitter cable arrived yesterday. going that route. not sure that post-processing a mono track will achieve the same result. the effects used by Spark are certainly taking advantage of the stereo field, even if presently there are no dials on the software effects.

[@allens7476]

Phew! I was worried they sounded the same to me and everyone else heard a huge difference! But did you consider miking the cabinet?

[@cleverdood]

I will for another test, wanted to just compare the outputs since I saw some vids claiming headphone out is better...they sounded exactly the same to me...and Match EQ showed the signals were exactly the same too...maybe years of drumming have ruined my ears!

[@edoardopalombo24]

Hi, I tried to record with spark and garage band but I can't get my guitar signal through the amp in the apple device. I'm using my guitar straight into the amp, that is connected via USB to the iPad (I'm using a USB b to type c cable). Is there something that I am missing?

[@cleverdood]

From memory...on the bottom left part of the screen in track view, there should be a button to toggle to 'usb' audio source.

[@edoardopalombo24]

@@cleverdood thank you very much, I now can record with this setup

[@davidwolfe9391]

digital recording from an earphone output on usb equipment why?

[@tommaxwell429]

I’m working through this very issue now. Perhaps I misunderstood you but if you are recording your guitar clean every time, is that not defeated the very purpose of the Spark? If you want a clean signal, plug the guitar directly into the interface. No?

[@cleverdood]

Correct. The main point was that if you have a Spark and no audio interface, you don’t need one because the output quality over USB and headphone out is the same.

[@joebloggs8636]

haaaaa,"haters" they are just simple minded worms...just saying....nice job Jason....i kind of pretty much agree with you....it really sounds pretty nice overall.

[@RockstarMindTV]

What type of cable did you use with the 1/8" to 1/4" adapter?

[@cleverdood]

this one: amzn.to/2MwvTSC

[@RockstarMindTV]

@@cleverdood - thanks for the reply! I was actually referring to the little adapter you said you tried at 1:59. What type of cable did you use to connect to one channel on your interface? I have a Scarlett 2i2 and was hoping to get something going using only one channel (since my mic is plugged into the other one). Tried a TRS to TS cable and a TRS to TRS cable and neither sounded good using one channel.

[@cleverdood]

@@RockstarMindTV ah, I used this: www.primecables.ca/p-317319-cab-7135-35mm-stereo-plug-to-635mm-14-inch-stereo-jack-adaptor-gold-plated-monoprice?from_pla=google&sku=317319&gclid=CjwKCAjwzMeFBhBwEiwAzwS8zP0BfFSR0sdtBfrakaZ67aYbtCg5_PNjvLkaFUv3XZagpGfBLuGSIRoC828QAvD_BwE#sku317319

[@RockstarMindTV]

@@cleverdood - ok thanks! I got it working, but the volume is low and the Spark headphone volume doesn't adjust anything. Did you find the same thing? Did you have to boost the signal in your DAW? Thanks again Jason.

[@dr.omarguerrerosoto5486]

Could i use spark like monitor With my Bias FX ipad pro

[@cleverdood]

good question! My guess would be yes, but over bluetooth. I would imagine if you had an iRig plugged into the iPad, ran BIAS FX mobile and then set the output to bluetooth that would work. Haven't tried it myself though.

[@wickedtoneproduction6642]

@@cleverdood I am also interested about this aspect. Using Spark as frfr with other amp sims. You mentioned output via Bluetooth, is there not auxiliary input on Spark? For example, you have Neural DSP amp sim loaded on your computer and use the Spark auxiliary in as output speaker. Would that work? I would definitely buy one if that would be an option. If anyone could chip in I would be grateful to know if that work with good results. Thank you.

[@cleverdood]

@@wickedtoneproduction6642 yes, that would work. I just tried it yesterday actually, making a video about combining software sims/pedals with the Spark and THR.

[@wickedtoneproduction6642]

@@cleverdood Great. I am looking forward for this video. Thank you for your time.

[@hallmanifold]

Hey when I plug my guitar into Spark and then the Spark into my computer via USB, I notice that the sound quality that is being recorded by my computer is significantly worse than the straight output of the amp. Does anyone have any idea what is causing this or how I can fix it?

[@hallmanifold]

However, the headphone sound out of the amp sounds fine. Maybe I can route the headphone input to my audio interface? The problem is I have a Focusrite 2i2 and so it does not have two guitar inputs on it

[@hallmanifold]

I'll try doing a 3.5mm to 1/4 inch cable. Thanks for the idea

[@juliantuinhof1298]

@@hallmanifold did it work out? Having the same problem...

[@sullyy2k3]

me too the pitch seems to shift as if it's out of tune. You can also hear it in the demos on youtube (including this one) but no one ever sems to comment on it???

[@RenderMyBalls]

@@juliantuinhof1298 Yes it works although I'm still not super impressed by the tone I get. I did this a while ago and I do think it alleviated the pitch wobble that you get from just the USB connection alone

[@salahbaker4089]

The usb connection, by itself is MONO, period. The usb has less noise, period.

[@glenclarkchidley3637]

Of the 7,830,458,560 current occupants on earth, maybe .001% could tell the difference... probably far fewer.

[@jegl1012]

Nice video man. Very informative...you don't sound canadian.

[@MrStevo3210]

I couldn’t tell any difference whatsoever

[@ThomasMejerHansen]

Use headphones my friend 👍 crazy that the audio output using USB is mono given the great stereo reverb on the amp..

[@paulweddle9250]

I hear no or not much of a difference. I plug my spark from headphone jack directly into my Tascam DP-006 recorder for instant success!

[@jeffleister9793]

USB sounded cleaner, but I can see where both could be used...depending on the sounds you're going for.

[@PeterSchuett]

Sorry to say, but I think your video is potentially dangerous, as it does not warn users to better not use the Spark's headphone out with a line input. The headphone amp in the Spark is build to support devices like headphones with a higher impedance. Most of the line ins in other electronics have a much lower impedance. That leads to much higher currents which can blow the headphone amplifier. I know that it sometimes works nonetheless, but only if you are lucky. Otherwise it will damage the Spark, in this case, but is true for most other headphone outs. (That is also the reason why better amps have both: a headphone out and a line out.) There is a workaround: Some high priced split cables have extra resistors in the cable to increase the impedance up to a save level. Unfortunately also the Spark USB out is not a perfect solution for everybody, as it requires a defined ASIO driver on Windows, which does not support all DAWs, e.g. not Cubase. For me, this ended in using a microphone in front of the Spark for recording.

[@MarkPayneAudio]

Hi Peter. Your comment is technically wrong. Headphones do vary in impedance from maybe 16-32 Ohms which would be considered "low" for a headphone to maybe 100ish ohms which would be "high". The line input of a mixer or audio interface is typically in the region of 10KOhms (10,000 ohms). This is VERY high compared to the drive capability of any headphone output circuit. A low impedance drive circuit is super happy driving a high impedance load. Now, if you are driving into a mic input (balanced XLR for example) then you may be facing a load between say 600Ohms and 1KOhm. This is STILL way higher than the headphone drive capability and is an easy ride. ONE WARNING... if you are driving into an XLR mic input using some kind of convertor/split cable... MAKE SURE you do NOT have phantom power applied to the mic channel of your sound interface. This can fry headphone drive circuits. So sorry to say Peter, your premise is fully the wrong way around.

[@jdallison7061]

Headphone out was much more live sounding the USB was more like a studio quality sound. The USB COULD BE MIXED TO FIT IN THE MIX EASIER. But I prefer the phone out best .