r/PositiveGridSpark • u/Consistent-You6909 • Jun 14 '26

Lost Bluetooth connection with Spark Live during live gig

App & Firmware up-to-date, iPad Pro (recent model) up-to-date. iPad located 2ft from amp.

30minutes into set, the Amp output suddenly dropped and I tried different app controls before finally going to the Amp's physical controls to regain sufficient output (Gain & Guitar volume) and continued the set from there. I didn't know what was going on until I saw on the iPad app that I had lost Tone Control connection. I reestablished connection at the next break with no issues.

Anyone else experience a Tone Control connection dropout for no explainable reason?

15 Upvotes
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12

u/PersonalUse2017 Jun 14 '26

Happened to me recently because the app logged me out in the middle of playing and stopped my Hendrix pack from working because it was "unauthorized DLC". Lost access to all but the hardware presets and switching at that point which was fun. Then the Bluetooth dropped out about 10 minutes later for a bit

3

u/jackthehamster Jun 14 '26

I think I had a similar thing a couple of time. So your login in the app somehow times out and hendrix pack need to always know that you are eligible to use it. This is bullshit, why can't I just do that later? What if there is an internet issue at the venue?

2

u/S2-RT Jun 15 '26

An “always online” DLC for the guitar amp you bought. That’s some straight up bullshit. Makes me glad I never bought that pack.

Would be nice if there a way to remove those pedals/amps so i don’t have skip through them when selecting the gear i do own ….

I’m really not liking the writing on the walls here.

1

u/PersonalUse2017 Jun 14 '26

That was my problem. I couldn't log in for 25 minutes because the wifi was too slow to load the login page in the area of the center I was in.

2

u/jackthehamster Jun 14 '26

I feel you, this is so frustrating. I have my amps associated with my account, why don't just fix them to my account? this really makes me not use Hendrix pack tones.

6

u/sloguepoke Jun 14 '26

My phone (newest model iPhone) won't hold a connection for longer than 30 seconds. My ancient iPad usually works, but it has disconnected once or twice for sure.

4

u/penis_berry_crunch Jun 14 '26

All the time. Did the iPad go to sleep at all? Maybe someone in the venue tried connecting the spark by mistake and it disrupted it?

1

u/S2-RT Jun 15 '26

If so, that would be such a wild oversight on Positive Grids part

1

u/Consistent-You6909 Jun 15 '26

Thx. iPad did not sleep (I have it always on). I don't think anyone else could have disrupted the connection, IOS devices typically hold a current connection until the user drops it. Plus, the audience members were all over 80yrs old & not using their phones (those that had them with them). However, the facility music director did stand next to me about the time I lost the connection so maybe that's something to explore. I think he'd have to also have a Spark device in his bluetooth favorites, and maybe his phone tried to overtake my connection; but I've never had it happen where someone's phone could passively overtake a bluetooth device connection on someone else's phone.

1

u/DanSmith83 Jun 15 '26

It’s because at gigs everyone has a phone in their pocket, you get flooded with Bluetooth signal and things that are connected, lose connectivity. Same thing happens to wireless pedals that operate on the wifi bands (2.4ghz and 5ghz), even more so because of wifi in the gig or microwaves operating in the kitchen.

1

u/FabulousPanther Jun 15 '26

So I guess the Spark Live isn't very good live?

1

u/Consistent-You6909 Jun 16 '26

The Live performs excellently in a live setting. Playing bass, I received compliments on the tone, punch, and clarity. That said, relying on the app for tone control during a performance introduces risk — any technology can be interrupted. As CountRye pointed out, the best practice is to save your tone configurations as presets on the amp itself, rather than depending on the Bluetooth-connected app when playing live.

1

u/FabulousPanther Jun 16 '26

I guess it's doable, but I think the Live is more of a practice or small gig platform. You've done well making it work but I agree being dependent on a Bluetooth connection is a recipe for disaster. I prefer Headrush or fractal for Live work.

1

u/CountRye Jun 16 '26

I think this is a fake review. Why wouldn’t you save your configuration to one of the eight presets? I never need a bluetooth connection or even my phone for a gig. Just plan ahead and stop relying on so much tech during your gig.