In this mode, the footswitch will operate playback controls such as start, stop, half speed, and rewind, giving you hands-free control over your backing tracks.Īs well as the pre-loaded scenarios, the Spark Control also allows you to customize and save your own functions, with the ability to recall them whenever you want. Playback mode is ideal for those who use their Spark to play along with backing tracks or take advantage of the clever Smart Jam functionality on the app. So, for example, you can’t have two chorus stompboxes in one scene. It’s worth noting that you can’t assign more than one pedal per pedal category. When set to Effects mode, the footswitch behaves more like a traditional pedalboard, permitting you to turn on and off individual stomps. Perfect for those looking to drastically switch up their sound in the middle of a song. As you’d expect, in Preset mode, the pedal allows you to toggle between the preset amplifiers. Straight out of the box, it comes loaded with four pre-programmed “scenarios” that are set to perform the most commonly requested functions. The beauty of the Spark Control is its ability to adapt to your playing style. If your phone or tablet goes into sleep mode, the footswitch will disconnect. On the note of the mobile application, we also have to mention that you need to keep the app engaged for the footswitch to work correctly. Okay, this isn’t a deal breaker for us, but it is something we’d like to see rectified in future releases. As both of the amps in the series allow you to operate them without the app connected, with four presets for the Mini and seven for the original Spark, it would have been beneficial if you could use the footswitch to scroll through the presets saved directly to the unit. Now, this may sound like a minor issue, but in reality, it does seem like a bit of an oversight. Unfortunately, the switcher must be connected to a mobile device to work - meaning you cannot use the Spark Control if the app isn’t running. Now, while it was very simple to set up with the app, that actually brings us to our biggest complaint with this state-of-the-art footswitch. In our test, we found pairing the device to be completely painless, with our device connecting straight away and ready to rock in a matter of seconds! Simply fire up the app and connect to your amp like you normally would, and you’ll be able to also pair with the footswitch at the same time. In true Positive Grid fashion, the Spark Control is incredibly easy to set up. Truthfully, this wasn’t an issue for us, but we could see it being a problem for others. While we are all for space-saving guitar accessories, we have to admit that for some players, this may stray into the ‘too small’ category - with the particularly large-footed player potentially having an issue switching channels without accidentally pressing two of the buttons. Measuring in at a mere 248 x 70 x 45mm, this really is a miniature footswitch and certainly wouldn’t look out of place on one of the Borrower’s pedalboards. Keeping to Positive Grid’s philosophy of producing well-made, undersized guitar products, the Spark Control feels sturdy, sleekly designed and satisfying to stomp on despite its small stature.
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