Blue Spark Digital User Manual
Studio Microphone for Mac/PC + iPad
USB &
LIGHTNING
CONNECTIVITY
TM
Congratulations on your purchase of Spark Digital from Blue Microphones. Spark Digital is a cardioid, solid-state condenser microphone that
features USB and LightningTM connectivity, designed to help you achieve professional studio-quality digital recordings in any environment.
We’ve designed Spark Digital’s acoustic performance to ignite your inspiration and passion for recording. And we think you’ll find its unique
design to be inspiring and easy to use anywhere you wish to create great recordings, whether you’re at home or on the road.
Spark Digital combines Blue’s unique condenser capsule with Class-A discrete electronics and advanced digital audio conversion circuitry
to produce stunning recordings. A feature found only on Blue’s Spark and Spark Digital microphones is the unique Focus Control, providing
two different modes: Normal mode (toggle switch OFF) providing increased low frequency sensitivity for recordings with great impact
and definition, along with Focus mode, (toggle switch ON) for even greater clarity and detail. In addition, Spark Digital ships with Blue’s
custom-designed shockmount stand, all necessary cables, and a convenient soft pouch for easy transport. With Spark Digital, your favorite
recording software and a computer, iPad, or iPhone, you’ve got everything you need to make professional recordings.
3
Setting Up
Spark Digital includes a uniquely-designed shockmount stand that is designed to help isolate your microphone (and, thus, your recordings)
from vibrations, bumps, and any low frequency noises you may have resonating through the recording area (air conditioning unit, nearby
computers, passing semi-trucks, or whales in your bathtub).
First, unpack the microphone and stand from the packaging. Loosen both knobs at the side of the stand, allowing the yoke to rotate
freely. Next, turn the yolk horizontally and thread the bottom of the microphone into the shockmount yoke by firmly holding the
microphone while grasping the knurled rotating ring at the base of the yoke and rotating clockwise. After the microphone is tightened
down against the shockmount yoke, you can adjust the angle of the mic so that the Blue logo and control knob (and address side of
the microphone) is facing your sound source, giving you easy access to the control knob. The yoke of the shockmount can be rotated
fully – once it is rotated to your desired angle, tighten both knobs at the sides of the stand to lock the yoke in place.
With the microphone set up in the stand, select the
appropriate y-cable for your use : USB cable to connect to
your computer’s USB port, or Lightning cable for use with
the iPad or iPhone. Plug the proprietary connector end into
the receptacle at the bottom of the Spark Digital microphone, and plug the appropriate cable into your computer’s
USB port or iPad/iPhone. If you are using headphones to
monitor your recording, plug your 3.5mm headphone jack
into the female headphone receptacle on the y-cable.
USB
4
Lightning
3.5mm Headphone Jack
Upon connection, the status lights on Spark Digital will light
up to indicate the microphone is ready for use.
Loosen knobs on yolk of shockmount.
Grasp mic in one hand & set into threads
at bottom of yolk. Tighten by turning ring at
base of yolk clockwise.
Rotate mic to desired angle and
tighten yolk knobs.
1
5 5
3
2
4
1
Microphone
2
Status Light
3
Level Indicator Light s
4
Shockmount Stand
5
Angle Adjustment Knobs
(address side)
6
7
6
Rotating Ring
7
Cable receptacle for
USB connector,
Lightning connector,
headphone output
Spark Digital Controls
All of Spark Digital’s advanced features are controlled with just two knobs: the large Control Knob at the front of the
microphone and the Focus Control toggle switch at the rear.
2
Control Knob
The Control Knob allows adjustment of headphone volume, microphone gain (sensitivity), and microphone mute. The
status LEDs at the front of the microphone will light and change color to indicate the selected function and level.
Headphone volume: By default, the status and level lights will illuminate blue, indicating the knob is controlling headphone
volume. Rotate the knob clockwise to increase headphone volume and counter-clockwise to decrease — additional status
lights will illuminate as the level is increased, or turn off as the level is decreased. Each time the microphone is unplugged
the headphone volume level will be restored to a moderate level.
Microphone gain: To access the controls for microphone gain, depress the Control Knob for 3 seconds. The status light
and level indicator lights will switch from blue to orange. To increase the gain (sensitivity) of Spark Digital, turn the knob
clockwise, and turn counterclockwise to reduce the gain (sensitivity). The orange level indicator lights will light to indicate
the increase or decrease in microphone gain.
To exit gain adjustment mode and return to headphone volume adjustment, simply depress the Control knob again for 3
seconds. The indicator lights will return to blue.
Muting: To mute the microphone, briefly depress or tap the control knob. The status light will flash to indicate that
microphone muting is engaged. To un-mute the microphone, simply tap the control knob again.
5
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