Basic interface question
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Greetings. I have just purchased a Spark and carry bag for $224 online today for my son. I have not received it yet but it will be here soon. He's also wanting an interface for his computer to be able to play guitar through his headphones and access his playlists on his computer to jam along. I'm thinking he's not going to need an interface also. If you interface Spark into your PC via USB is there a way to turn down or turn off the speaker so you're only hearing the headphones that you have plugged into your PC? Maybe he is overthinking this because there is probably a way to simply come into Spark via 1/8 with your outside music and plug your guitar into Spark and I'm assuming as soon as you plug headphones into Spark it shuts off the speaker. Okay-any thoughts appreciated for the 2 scenarios.
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@jeff-loven
The Spark has two Bluetooth Channels: one links directly with the Spark App, and the other can interface with a Bluetooth device like an iPhone or iPad. Once connected, the Spark Amp will “play” whatever is playing on the iPhone or iPad.You can play personal songs/jam tracks via the device player (Apple Music on the iPhone or iPad). You can play YouTube videos to jam along with the audio track. More importantly, you can play music from another app on the device.
No 1/8 cable required. You hear the music through the speaker if you don’t plug headphones into the Spark Amp Headphone Jack, or through the headphones if you do.
The Spark App also includes Music, which has a bunch of user created jam tracks (with auto-created chord charts) based on commercially available songs or YouTube videos.
Personally, I use an app called AnyTune on my iPhone and iPad to play songs/jam tracks. I load any song from a Playlist or audio file on the device, and I can quickly set up multiple practice loops, change the tempo (beats-per-minute), and even the song key (very useful when the song requires Eb tuning and you want to play in Standard tuning)
You can connect the Spark Amp to the computer to record, and therefore play along with music; however you will need a digital work station (DAW) program to do so. My Spark Amp came with a card to download a free one; however I haven’t personally set it up or tried it out yet; recording is not my interest (yet, at least)😎
Currently, I get everything I need from the Spark Amp, the Spark App and AnyTune.