Spark + Bias FX2 = Loads more FX!
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I love my Spark, but i also love BIAS FX 2 on my ipad/phone as it offers more in terms of effects, cabs, amps etc...i've been trying to figure out a way to use the BIAS FX modelling on my Spark and after a few attempts i finally managed to get it working. I also use Amplitube and the following works with this too.
I'm no expert and this took quite a lot of research to figure out the best settings to use apps through Spark. I was having issues getting the BIAS FX to sound right through my Spark Amp. The main issue was that in effect i was playing through 2 amps..BIAS FX 2 > Spark = Poor sound.
I also have a Blackstar HT5-r amp, and after researching that you can play BIAS FX through an amp by using an i-rig 2 and bypassing the amps pre-amp through the FX return loop, you could get loads of pedals, amps without having to spend loads on physical pedals. There's a few minor issues with this in that you can't control the volume using the amps volume control, but you can control it using your iphone volume/BIAS FX volume.
Obviously the Spark doesn't have an fx loop so i wondered if there was a way to bypass the Spark pre-amp and found that it's pretty simple to do. So...
- Using the i-rig 2 i connected my phone and a cable 'Amp out' into my spark
- I tried doing it using a clean amp in the Spark app and swiping up the stomp boxes to turn them off, connecting my phone. It sounded ok, but still sounded a bit 'Tinny' i guess because it was using the pre-amp in the clean amp in Spark
- I had no idea that you can swipe the 'Amp' up in Spark to turn it off and get a 'Clean' tone
- Once the Spark Amp is bypassed i had full control of what comes out of the amp using BIAS FX 2, including the output volume on the amp, which i didn't have on my Blackstar amp.
So i now have a load more stomp boxes, fx, looper that i can use through my Spark amp!
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@mattpearce79 Thanks for sharing how you were able to get things to work. Very ingenious!
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What do you mean cable out to spark?
I am using my spark as a sound output for bias fx 2 using the aux at the back of the amp
Basically it's like this:
Guitar - > irig nano amp - > Ipad - > spark amp (cable out from nano amp to aux in of spark amp)With this is just open bias fx 2 and the sound output goes out of my spark amp without the need of opening the spark amp app and swiping any effects/amps
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By ‘cable out’ I mean the guitar cable out of the irig into the input of the amp. I’ve also set the clean tone with no amp as a hardware preset so I don’t actually have to open the spark app.
I have also used the aux input on the back of the amp, I just find the music volume knob a bit small and fiddly.
Either method works great. I also upgraded to and I-rig HD 2 and it appears to be better at cutting out noise and feedback, a bit more expensive than the irig or irig 2 but it does make a difference.
