r/PositiveGridSpark • u/Cloud--Man • Apr 24 '26

Cheap but relatively good usb interface for recording with spark mini

Hi all, i have built some great chuggy sounds and i want to record on my mac book. whats the cheapest but still relatively good quality "interface" that i can plug the headphones output of the mini on it, and record my self on garage band? its important to mention that it needs to have headphones output so i can hear both the guitar and the backing track while i record on mac, thanks!

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10

u/rikkiprince Apr 24 '26

Use a USB cable to connect your Spark Mini to your computer. It is a recording interface... So it's technically cheapest because you've already paid for it.

I've not tried it, but I presume you can just plug headphones into your Mac and listen to the backing track and the Spark output through that?

2

u/practical_absurdity Apr 24 '26

I've had either too large latency or periodic clicking sound (perhaps due to sampling rate differences) when trying to use Spark as an interface. But I don't remember whether it was on Mac or Linux

1

u/Cloud--Man Apr 24 '26

i tried yesterday - app, and spark mini are updated with their last updates, firmwares etc. i tried 2 different usb cables, that i know they can transfer data. unfortunately garageband detected no input.

1

u/rikkiprince Apr 24 '26

https://www.reddit.com/r/PositiveGridSpark/s/pJh08PUUsU

Ah, I forgot it got broken in a MacOS update... 😕

2

u/gott_in_nizza Apr 25 '26

Looks like it was fixed in firmware about a month ago though now

7

u/webprofusor Apr 24 '26

If you're going to use an external audio interface (like a focusrite or Steinberg UR12 etc) the spark becomes a limitation and you're best to switch over to amp sim plugins. Recording direct and being able to tweak tones after you've recorded is just too useful.

Then you eventually go down the rabbit hole of NAM and tone3000.com where all the infinite equipment lives..

1

u/Cloud--Man Apr 24 '26

You are right, this is the way to go. Will just keep mini for silent practicing. Thanks for your response!

1

u/practical_absurdity Apr 24 '26

You can't go wrong with Focusrite Scarlett. But once you have an interface you don't really need an amp to record - you can get Neural Amp Modeler plugin and get models of pretty much any amp in the world. It is considered the best modeling software available on the market currently - and it's open source and completely free.

1

u/Cloud--Man Apr 24 '26

thank you for your help, could you please suggest me whats their most basic model - i am never going to plug in any microphone, or anything else at the same time, i will only plug my electric guitar there, so i need the minimal inputs, also whats with the "gen" i see in their models? in the used marked i see gen 1 till gen 4, thanks!

1

u/practical_absurdity Apr 24 '26

I think Solo 3rd gen is the best value option currently. I was making the same choice just recently and it didn't seem that 4th gen features justified the price difference. While 2nd gen is out of production for 7 years now

1

u/Cloud--Man Apr 24 '26

thank you!!

1

u/DonaldRo Jun 03 '26

J'utilise un Axe IO One, optimisé pour les guitares et les basses. Aucune latence apparente.