Spark Mini Booster
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 Table of contents
Important Safety Instructions 1
EMC / EMI 2
About this manual 3
Introduction 4
Setup 5
Inputs, output, controls 6
1. Power input 6
2. Audio input 6
3. Audio output 6
4. Level knob 6
5. Footswitch 6
Working with a booster: setup examples 7
Setup examples 8
The sound of silence: True Bypass 11
Frequently asked questions 11
Technical Specifications 12
Getting support 12
a
Important Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions
1) Read these instructions.
2) Keep these instructions.
3) Heed all warnings.
4) Follow all instructions.
5) Do not use this apparatus near water.
6) Clean only with dry cloth.
7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
8) Do not install near any heat sources such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized
plug has two blades with one wider than
the other. A grounding type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The
wide blade or the third prong are provided
for your safety. If the provided plug does
not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician
for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10) Protect the power cord from being walked
on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the apparatus.
11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12) Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer,
or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is
used, use caution when moving the cart/
apparatus combination to avoid injury from
tip-over.
13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning
storms or when unused for long periods of
time.
14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture,
does not operate normally, or has been
dropped.
Warning
Do not expose this equipment to dripping or
splashing and ensure that no objects filled with
liquids, such as vases, are placed on the equipment.
Do not install this device in a confined space.
Service
All service must be performed by qualified personnel.
Caution
You are cautioned that any change or modifications not expressly approved in this manual
could void your authority to operate this device.
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 1
EMC / EMI
EMC / EMI
Electromagnetic compatibility /
Electromagnetic interference
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there
is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the equip-
ment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a cir-
cuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced ra-
dio / TV technician for help.
For customers in Canada
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est
conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 2
About this manual
About this manual
This manual will help you learn understanding
and operating your TC product.
This manual is only available as a PDF download
from the TC Electronic website.
Of course, you can print this manual, but we encourage you to use the PDF version, which has
both internal and external hyperlinks. For example, clicking the TC Electronic logo in the upper
left corner of each page will take you to the table
of contents.
To get the most from this manual, please read it
from start to finish, or you may miss important
information.
To download the most current version of this
manual, visit tcelectronic.com/support/manuals/
Enjoy your TC product!
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 3
Introduction
Introduction
“Size matters not. Look at me.
Judge me by my size, do you?”
(“Star Wars: Episode V –
The Empire Strikes Back”)
Yoda
Congratulations on your purchase of
TC Electronic’s amazing Spark Mini Booster!
Never judge a book by its cover –
or a booster pedal by its size.
Spark Mini Booster was designed by musicians
for musicians to give you an amazing extra tool
for your musical tool box. It’s an extremely versatile pedal that will help you get better sounds.
The possibilities with Spark Mini Booster are virtually endless:
– Leave it on all the time,
– punch it in from time to time when you need
a volume boost
or
– put it in front of your favorite overdrive / dis-
tortion pedal to add more tonal options to
your existing pedal board.
The choice is yours!
Ready for PrimeTime?
PrimeTime™ is a radical new feature that will
excite guitarists around the globe. Spark Mini
Booster instantly understands whether you want
the pedal to be permanently on when you hit the
footswitch, or just for as long as you hold the
footswitch down. Which totally rocks for both
“always-on” and “emphasizing passages” situations.
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 4
Setup
Setup
Ready…
The Spark Mini Booster box should contain the
following items:
– 1 Spark Mini Booster pedal
– 2 rubber feet for “non-velcro” pedalboard
mounting
– 1 TC Electronic sticker
– 1 leaflet about TC’s guitar FX product range.
Inspect all items for signs of transit damage. In
the unlikely event of transit damage, inform the
carrier and supplier.
If damage has occurred, keep all packaging as it
can be used as evidence of excessive handling
force.
Set…
– Connect a 9V power supply with the following
symbol to the DC input socket of Spark Mini
Booster.
! Spark Mini Booster does not come with a
power supply.
– Plug the power supply into a power outlet.
! Please note that Spark Mini Booster has no
battery compartment. A conventional power
supply is required for operating this product.
– Connect your instrument to the INPUT jack
on the right side of the pedal using a ¼“ jack
cable.
– Connect the OUTPUT jack on the left side of
the pedal to your amplifier using a ¼“ jack cable.
Play!
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 5
Inputs, output, controls
1
3
2
5
4
Inputs, output, controls
1. Power input
This is a standard 5.5 / 2.1 mm DC plug (centre =
negative). To power up Spark Mini Booster, connect a power supply to its power input socket.
Spark Mini Booster requires a 9V power supply
providing 40 mA or more (not supplied).
To minimize hum, use a power supply with isolated outputs.
2. Audio input
This is a standard ¼“ input jack (mono / TS).
Connect your guitar here using a regular ¼“
mono cable.
For other setups, see the “Setup examples” section of this manual.
3. Audio output
This is a standard ¼“ output jack (mono / TS).
Connect this jack to your amplifier using a regular ¼“ mono cable.
For other setups, see the “Setup examples” section of this manual.
4. Level knob
Use this knob to control the level change when
the booster is enabled.
Minimum setting will leave the level of your signal
unchanged while the maximum setting will give
you 20 dBs of boost.
5. Footswitch
Using the footswitch as a
standard on / off switch
To turn the pedal on, tap the pedal’s footswitch
briefly. To turn the pedal off, tap the footswitch
again. This works as with any other pedal on
your board.
PrimeTime
Use the PrimeTime feature for brief solos and
licks that last only for a few seconds.
To engage PrimeTime, hold down the pedal’s
footswitch. To disengage, release the footswitch.
During PrimeTime, boost will be on. As soon as
you release the footswitch, boost will turn off
again.
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 6
Working with a booster: setup examples
Working with a booster: setup examples
Spark Mini Booster is an awesome and versatile
tool that can be used in more ways than just one.
1. Punch it in from time to time when you need a
volume boost.
2. Punch it in from time to time when you need a
gain boost.
3. Leave it on all the time to get the best out of
your tube amp.
Understanding the difference between scenarios 1 and 2 is essential when working with
Spark Mini Booster.
When playing with a distortion pedal or an overdriven amp, you know how turning down the volume knob on your guitar cleans up your guitar
sound?
Well – guess what happens if you do the opposite and turn up your signal even more with the
booster? Right: more drive is what happens!
“I want a volume boost!”
Awesome! Then you want to place Spark Mini
Booster after your distortion pedal(s).
If you use pedals for your distortion sounds, then
you will want to place your Spark Mini Booster
directly after those pedals.
If you use the distortion of your amplifier, then
you’ll need to place Spark Mini Booster in the FX
loop of your amp – otherwise you’ll end up with a
gain boost as explained in the following section.
“I want a gain boost!”
Rock on! Place Spark Mini Booster before your
drive pedals or distorting amp to use it as an extra gain switch for increased gain and sustain. If
you set up Spark Mini Booster this way, you can
use it to lift the volume of your clean sound when
drive is disengaged. In other words: If used correctly, this can transform an awesome sounding
single-channel amp into a ridiculously awesome
sounding two-channel amp!
“Wait – there’s more!?”
“Yep. Always on!”
In many configurations, driving your amp a bit
harder can give you better tone. So try leaving
Spark Mini Booster on all the time – and you
might find yourself addicted and wanting an extra Spark Mini Booster…
Refer to whichever scenario fits your requirements:
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 7
Setup examples
Setup examples
Using Spark Mini Booster as a volume booster
Modulation, delay &
reverb pedals
Input
Drive
pedals
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 8
Setup examples
Using Spark Mini Booster as a gain booster
Input
Modulation, delay &
reverb pedals
Drive
pedals
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 9
Setup examples
Using Spark Mini Booster in an FX loop
Pedals
FX Loop Send ►
Input ▼
Drive
Modulation, delay &
reverb pedals
◄ FX Loop Return
Combo
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 10
Frequently asked questions
The sound of silence: True Bypass
Here at TC, we have a simply philosophy: When
you are using one of our products, you should
hear something great – and if you don’t, you
shouldn’t hear it at all. This is why this pedal
sports True Bypass. When it is bypassed, it is
really off and has zero influence on your tone,
resulting in optimum clarity and zero loss of
high-end.
Frequently asked questions
“What are the input / output impedance values for Spark Mini Booster?”
Input Impedance is 1MΩ. Output Impedance is
100 Ω.
“Is Spark Mini Booster analog or digital?”
The entire signal path of Spark Mini Booster is
100% analog.
“Should I place my Spark Booster in front of
the amp, or is it better to run it in the amp’s
FX loop?”
The placement really depends on what you
are looking for. If you place it in front of the
amp, the Spark Booster will boost the preamp signal in your amp and create a more
overdriven sound. If you put it in the loop, you
will boost the volume of your amp as the pedal will be placed after the pre-amp section.
Check out the section of this manual called
Working with a booster / Setup examples.
“Does Spark Mini Booster have balanced or
unbalanced input / output?”
Spark Mini Booster has unbalanced I / Os. Use
cables with TS jack – i.e., standard instrument
cables.
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 11
Getting support
Technical Specifications
– Maximum Setting: 20 dB
– Minimum Setting: 0 dB boost (unity gain)
– Bypass mode: True Bypass
– Signal Circuitry: 100% analog
– Dimensions (Width x Depth x Height):
48 x 48 x 93mm / 1.9 x 1.9 x3.7“
– Input Connector Type:
Standard ¼“ jack – mono / TS
– Output Connector Type:
Standard ¼“ jack – mono / TS
– Power Input:
Standard 9V DC,
centre negative
> 40 mA (not supplied)
Due to continuous development, these speci-
fications are subject to change without no-
tice.
Controls
– Level Knob: Amount of boost
– Switch: Boost On / off / PrimeTime
– PrimeTime:
Holding down the footswitch for more than
one second will activate PrimeTime for boos-
ting essential passages. The boost will disen-
gage when you release the footswitch.
– Input Impedance: 1MΩ
– Output Impedance: 100Ω
Getting support
If you still have questions about the product after reading this manual, please get in touch with
TC Support:
http://tcelectronic.com/support/
Spark Mini Booster English Manual Version 2.1 12
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