TEST: Positive Grid Bias Mini

 The market for small and very small amplifiers is booming like no other. One could think that in times of in-ear monitoring systems and volume-limited club gigs, no one is willing to drag the 100 watt all-tube bolides, which can only show off their power on large open-air stages, unless you have the necessary means to pay backliners or to contractually oblige appropriate stage hands with the organizer. The company Positive Grid, which has made a name for itself in the modeling amp sector in recent years, would also like to benefit from this trend and is launching the Positive Grid Bias Mini, a tactile, slimmed-down version of the Positive Grid Bias Rack, each in a guitar and a bass version. Let's have some happy editing.

The concept of the Positive Grid Bias Mini

The world of guitarists has changed a lot in the last few decades. While the live performance in a band context was the highest of all feelings until the establishment of YouTube, many musicians avoid this rocky path, which is characterized by low salaries, constant discussions with the other band members and large investments of time and money, and play a video game prefer to be alone in the living room at home.

The other side of the coin, professional or semi-professional musicians are confronted with increasingly precarious cost/benefit analyzes below the stadium bands, which makes the transport of high-quality, but also heavy and large equipment no longer appear economical. In addition, a classic rock band is ALWAYS too loud in terms of stage volume, so that amplifiers of the 20 watt class or less are very popular, especially in clubs, at least from the FOH.

Therefore, amps with minimal dimensions, a "real" speaker out for live shows and a USB port for virtual sound management on the computer or mobile device are very popular. The Positive Grid Bias Mini is just such an amplifier, which also has what is currently by far the most visually appealing app when it comes to sound editing.

The construction of the Positive Grid Bias Mini

With a weight of only 2.5 kilograms and dimensions (W x H x D): 26.6 cm x 4.6 cm x 24.8 cm, the Positive Grid Bias Mini largely meets the expectations of the "Traveling Musician". . The product, which is one U high and a little more than half a 19" rack wide, fits in any suitcase or backpack and can therefore be easily taken to any air show. However, the 7 potentiometers protrude forward without any protection and run the risk of being kinked off without another soft bag or rack if handled improperly. On the side of the case there are already four holes per side for the corresponding rack wings, but unfortunately I couldn't find any commercially available accessories anywhere.

Said 7 controls are very intuitive to use, apart from the preset and output controls. The remaining five controls generate a standard head, which has a gain control, a three-band tone control and a master volume control. Said output control should not be confused with the master volume control. Depending on the modeling amp, the master volume control also has massive sonic effects on the sound in addition to the volume, while the output control only makes it "loud".

The preset controller, on the other hand, which was designed as an endless controller, allows access to 16 presets, which change between green and red depending on the preset degree of distortion. The presets can later be assigned your own sounds. In addition, there is a headphone out on the front, unfortunately only in a mini jack for reasons of space, and an on / off switch.

On the back there is an FX loop next to the IEC connector, a TRS footswitch socket with which you can connect the Positive Grid footswitch (not included in the scope of delivery), a USB port for connection to the computer, a Bluetooth switch for management via iOS and an XLR line Out to be able to play live without a box, for example. The amp also has MIDI In / Out, but unfortunately both sockets are also designed as mini jacks. Although the appropriate adapters are included with the product, it is only a matter of time before the mini-jack sockets generate the first wobbles in the signal transmission due to the leverage effect when the MIDI cables are hanging down. I know every millimeter counts with lunchbox amps, but this solution is not practical, at least for live use.

Of course, small amps are also often used with smaller boxes from the 1x12" or 2x12" range, which brings us to the output power of the Positive Grid Bias Mini. Yes, Class D power amps cost almost nothing and have huge amounts of power, but what may still make some sense in the bass sector (although who the hell needs a 1000 watt bass amp?) still makes sense for the guitar in the worst case counterproductive. The Positive Grid Bias Mini delivers 300 watts at 4 ohms, which is not only an unbearable volume for guitars, it can only be delivered without damage by a few 4x12 cabinets with at least 75 watt speakers or more.

Due to the transistor design, this is still around 200 watts even with cabinets with 8 ohms, and almost 150 watts with 16 ohms. Imagine an 8 ohm 1x12" cabinet with a 60 watt speaker, the same shoots through the head in seconds if handled improperly. Therefore, be extremely careful when using small cabinets and always pay attention to the "paper drag"!

The Bias Amp Pro 2 software for the Positive Grid Bias Mini

Rarely do you get such visually appealing software for a modeling amp as with Positive Grid. The Bias Amp Pro 2 software can be downloaded from the Positive Grid website, a download code is included with the product.

Hardly any other software offers the user such extensive design options as the Bias Amp Pro 2. Preamp tubes, output tubes, bias settings and even transformers can be swapped out at will and yes, the sound changes accordingly. BUT, even the most optimistic user secretly knows that the sonic result cannot be compared with a corresponding hardware solution, it is merely an emulation of the same.

So anyone who thinks that they can just change the transformer for a product with a three-digit sales price with the JTM, with a result like in the "real" world, is really going through life very naively. This is not to say that the Positive Grid Bias Mini has to sound bad in any way, it just doesn't sound identical as if a corresponding building block had been changed in haptic form.

That's why I'm always very skeptical about the factory designations of the respective presets. No matter how often the original name is artfully rewritten due to trademark rights, the original sound is still worlds away. Again, to be safe, this does NOT mean the Positive Grid Bias Mini has to sound bad in any way, but the amp always loses when compared directly to the real thing. That's why I won't add the name of the emulated amplifier later in the practical part, but consider the sounds as independent positive grid sounds.

The Positive Grid Bias Mini in action

As already mentioned, the great advantage of the Positive Grid Bias Mini is its flexibility. With the three major areas of application, the amp offers the flexibility of traditional live (operation with cabinet and microphone pickup for PA), modern live (operation with cabinet and sound emulation via line out for PA) and home recording (directly via line out or USB into the DAW), that many guitarists want these days.

To make it a bit harder for the Positive Grid Bias Mini, I took the line out sounds with speaker emulation as a starting point. The same sounds sent over a 412 300W Marshall Cabinet sounded a bit fresher, more direct and more dynamic, but did not differ to the extent that one is used to from other amps with speaker emulation.

When it comes to sound variety, you can spend days tweaking your favorite sound with the Amp Pro 2 software. A really pretty toy, but this only changes the basic sound in some tiny details. Nonetheless, a nice thing to personalize your sounds with.

Sonically, both the clean and the distorted sounds offer a solid base of tones that cover most of a normal guitarist's life. However, the amp suffers somewhat from the problem of the latent "musty" basic sound that almost all modeling amps call their own. The distinctive overtone waves of the originals are missing, which comes at the expense of the transparency of the sound.


Conclusion

With the Positive Grid Bias Mini you get a very flexible and portable mini amplifier, which is particularly useful for working musicians who travel a lot. The amp offers a wide selection of passable sounds, which can also be personalized with the very appealing Bias Amp Pro 2 software. Very well suited for cover bands or projects that require a wide range of sounds and pickup options.


Additional Informations:

Comprehensive Report on Positive Grid

1. Introduction:
Positive Grid is a leading technology company specializing in audio software and hardware for musicians, producers, and music enthusiasts. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in California, USA, Positive Grid has become synonymous with innovation and excellence in the music industry. This report provides a comprehensive overview of Positive Grid, including its history, product range, technological advancements, market impact, and commitment to musical creativity.

2. Company Background:
Positive Grid was founded by Dr. Albert Liu, an avid guitarist and software engineer, with the vision of leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the music creation process. The company's initial focus was on developing software solutions for guitar and bass amplification simulation, leading to the creation of the critically acclaimed BIAS Amp and BIAS FX software.

3. Product Range:
Positive Grid offers a diverse range of software and hardware products tailored for musicians and music producers. The company's product lineup includes:

a) BIAS Amp: BIAS Amp is a groundbreaking software that allows guitarists and bassists to create their own custom amplifier models, offering unparalleled flexibility and tone-shaping capabilities.

b) BIAS FX: BIAS FX is an innovative software that simulates a wide array of guitar pedals and effects, enabling users to craft their signature sounds for recording and live performances.

c) Spark Amp: The Spark Amp is a revolutionary smart amplifier that combines high-quality sound with advanced technology, including intelligent features like Smart Jam and Auto Chord, enhancing the practice and creative process for musicians.

d) Pedals and Audio Interfaces: Positive Grid offers a line of hardware products, including guitar pedals and audio interfaces, designed to seamlessly integrate with their software offerings and provide musicians with superior sound quality and performance.

4. Technological Advancements:
Positive Grid has been a pioneer in audio software development, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology. Some notable technological advancements by Positive Grid include:

a) Realistic Amp and Effect Simulation: Positive Grid's software utilizes advanced algorithms and machine learning to provide highly realistic and responsive amplifier and effect simulations, setting new standards for tone accuracy.

b) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration: The Spark Amp's AI-powered features, such as Smart Jam and Auto Chord, demonstrate Positive Grid's commitment to harnessing AI for creative music-making experiences.

c) Cloud-Based Collaboration: Positive Grid introduced cloud-based collaboration features in its software, enabling musicians to collaborate on projects remotely, breaking down geographical barriers.

5. Market Impact and Global Reach:
Positive Grid's software and hardware products have gained widespread popularity and recognition worldwide. Musicians, producers, and audio professionals from various genres appreciate the company's commitment to high-quality sound and user-friendly interfaces. The company's products are available through authorized dealers and digital marketplaces, reaching customers across the globe.

6. Empowering Musical Creativity:
One of Positive Grid's core values is to empower musical creativity through accessible and innovative tools. The company's software solutions cater to both beginners and seasoned musicians, encouraging experimentation, and inspiring musical expression.

7. Awards and Acclaim:
Positive Grid's dedication to excellence has been acknowledged with numerous awards and accolades. The company's products have received recognition from industry experts and musicians, solidifying Positive Grid's position as a leading audio technology provider.

8. Community Engagement:
Positive Grid fosters a vibrant and engaged community of musicians through online forums, social media channels, and user-driven content. The company actively listens to customer feedback and incorporates suggestions into product updates, ensuring that users' needs are at the forefront of their development process.

9. Conclusion:
In conclusion, Positive Grid has made a significant impact on the music industry, providing musicians and music producers with innovative software and hardware solutions that enhance the creative process and redefine sound possibilities. With its commitment to technological advancement, musical creativity, and community engagement, Positive Grid continues to be a trailblazer in the audio technology space, inspiring musicians worldwide and shaping the future of music production and performance.