Spark Go with Garageband - USB input not working
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Afternoon all.
I'm trying to use a Spark Go as a USB interface for guitar with Garageband on a Mac Mini (Mac OS 12.6.4). The Go is recognised as a USB interface and is selectable as an input device in GB. There doesn't seem to be any signal coming through to GB however. I can see that the input sound level gauge bar in the general system sound settings moves when I play guitar through the Spark Go, so something is coming through, just not to GB.
I have tried the Spark Go out on BandLab on my Android phone and it works fine on that, so I assume that the unit is in working order.
Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
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Hey Lukekenny,
In mac OS I believe you need to make the Spark and aggregate audio device. An aggregate audio device will use multiple devices on different USB and thunderbolt ports to make one input device.
For instance, I have an audient ASP 800 mic pre and an Audient iD14 2 mic input. I also have a Helix Guitar Multi-effects Floor Processor that has a USB port. I can use either of the mic preamp units, or I can use the helix all at the same time. All three of them belong to one aggregate audio device. I have that aggregate, audio device selected in ProTools or logic x. You should be able to do the same in garage band, you just have to tell macOS that it is an audio device.
When I first bought the helix last year, I couldn't get it to work at all. Same as you're having right now. Once I added it as an aggregated audio device to the other two it worked fine.
Here's an article from Apple that'll walking through the process:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202000
Good luck!
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Thanks for the response Dinofond.
I just tried creating an aggregate audio device using the 2 listed Spark GO options (in and out), but it;s still not working. I don't have any other external audio devices to add. I tried using line-out to the Mac Mini, but that doesn't seem to want to work either.
I also tried the Go on Cakewalk on my windows PC, and whilst I do get sound, it's very distorted. Sound tests on the PC seem to suggest the audio output from the go via USB and Line-out is very low volume.
I've tried higher output pickups, but nothing seems to make a difference.
Think I might be selling my Go at this rate.
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@lukekenny I got mine working briefly, I just followed page 6 of the manual and turned the Go on when it was plugged in USB. Under systems settings / sound - the Spark Go came up as an input device. I selected the device and it worked fine until.... I changes a patch or touched the Big Gold volume when turns into output when in this mode.
Basically once I touched anything on the amp itself the go was gone as an input device. It's Janky and it needs a firmware update for sure. I can't connect without rebooting both my Mac and the Spark Go.