All user reviews of 5/5 for the Fishman Aura Acoustic Imaging Pedal - Dreadnought

Beware my opinion on the nylon version, which I bought on Ebay United States for a price of $ 169 with shipping (approximately € 130). Anyway I found this pedal anywhere in France.

First approach an all-metal pedal, sturdy and beautiful. (It's tough!) That works in or with a 9v battery.

Aura pedals simulates a sound recording of the guitar with a microphone and "replaces" the sound of your guitar by an "image" that is, by the sound of a great guitar recorded with a super micro.
We can mix the piezo sound of his guitar with his "image" of our choice (there are 16 different in the animal (and more to download, but apparently I did not need) to get the setting that we are going well.

UTILIZATION

I have a guitar electro-Esteve nylon with a cedar top and Fishman piezo preamp. I found the sound that suits me perfectly (image number 12). Actually, I do not know how and what kind of guitar micro image is produced, but there is always that I a much more warm and round with my piezo pickup, more powerful, too, without the hassle a microphone in front of the rose ... knowing that I played up quite often. I find this quite natural, and his terrible anyway (probably a bit compressed)

The general config is super simple: a volume (that must be addressed with the preamp on the guitar not to saturate: a minimum of sound from the guitar and it is quiet), a large button selection of "images" ( like I said I is the image 12 which suits me) and a button "blend" that allows you to mix as you like the sound of the piezo with the image of the pedal. I forgot a small phase selector. (You can invert the phase apparently it can solve problems in particular of feedback).

SOUNDS

I found myself their super suits me really well, but we must find the picture that sounds good. For me there was only one "image" that worked really well on the 16 in the beast.

Apparently according to other opinions you can go and download new images (and with any luck the image made with his own guitar) with the software "image gallery" that is not provided in the box, (I think we must also go download it but I really know how to fit these new images in the pedal since I do not see any USB ????)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 months, I did two concerts. for the last concert, I used this pedal when I plugged directly into the sound system without going through an amp and the sound was stunning.
I have nothing else before trying this pedal (in any case is something that exists elsewhere in the same style?) I love this pedal for the price I paid, I would do this choice without hesitation.

Do not hesitate to see the reviews for the Dreadnought version is exactly the same pedal but with "images tailored" to each type of guitar. These include the view of Cuki79 which is very informative! https://fr.audiofanzine.com/effet-guitare-divers/fishman/Aura-Imaging-Pedal-Dreadnought/avis/

The electro-acoustic guitars equipped with a piezo sound a bit like always amplified. We hear so-called piezo quack, who is the buzz that corresponds to the nasal virata ropes. We hear very clearly with a sharp attack. This sound is typical of piezos mounted in the bridge (on the bone). Indeed, the piezo pick up only the vibration of the strings and not that of the table, or the air around. Image attached (To view, simply click on the little Mona Lisa next to the title of the notice and then see at the very end of the article) you can see the comparison between the recorded sound by SM58 and the sound of a piezo. The sound of the SM58 shows the vibration further and much wider resonance of the table while the piezo captures the violent vibrations of the strings (hence the nasal sound).

Aura pedal corrects this effect by simulating a sound recording by a microphone.

But beware, the Aura is much more than that. Indeed, pictures of the Aura have been produced from real guitars and real microphones ... By using the software Image Gallery III, you can download the image that corresponds to its own skyscraper. When you are lucky (like me) to find the image of his guitar, one can simulate the natural sound of his own guitar. On the second image (green), I compare a recording of my guitar SM57 and image of the Aura out of the pedal: It's not bluffing? It's almost like there are more and larger pics!

UTILIZATION

Usage is super simple. You just choose the level of mixing between the image and sound of the piezo as a function of your game

I have not managed to download the latest images to Picture Gallery but I do not care because my guitar was provided in the starting library.

Note: By entering, images that do not match your guitar can also be good surprises (even if 90% of the time it failed)

SOUNDS

it rocks. It's the sound of your guitar. Different microphones can have different EQ (which correspond to the responses of microphones: + / - warm, bright ...). It's very late.

NB: Personally, I will not use it as a pedal EQ ...

NB2: Like others, I feel we lose a little pattate (nothing serious). For treatment, they must also compress the sound, so we lose the momentum ... for the purists it may seem a crime. Folkeux for walks and other players ...

OVERALL OPINION

If the image of your guitar is in their database, it is really a pedal to have.

on the other hand, if you want to change the electro sound of your guitar: Go away. The Aura does not change the sound of your guitar. He makes a little flesh, a little body and the soft sound of piezos. This is not an effects pedal in the traditional sense.

If your sound piezo is rotten, well you'll always have a lousy sound. Then you need another mic, another guitar or a great equalizer ... If you want to use it as a "stomp" it must, in my opinion, have the sound the piezo + neutral as possible ... But in my opinion as to buy a Mama Bear at D-TAR.

PS: Nine is still expensive. I had a super price OCCAZ because the guy who sold it to me was super nice.