Fishman Aura Spectrum DI

The Spectrum DI pedal provides a very unique effect for acoustic guitars. There really isn't anything else available to compare it with. After playing live with the pedal, I can't ever imagine plugging a piezo pickup directly into a PA system again. The pedal makes my guitar sound very smooth and airy, while also removing the harsh transient/attack of the piezo pickup.
The technology used is some really advanced digital signal processing. This might turn some people off who don't like 'modeling'. In my opinion, this kind of 'modeling' has come a long way since it is introduced. Although there is still room for improvement, the results are quite convincing at this point.
There are bunch of different 'models' or 'images' that come loaded on the pedal. Each sound a little different, and some work better with different guitars than others. The pedal can be connected with a computer to download more 'images' than what comes stock on the pedal. This is great if you want to load an 'image' specifically of you guitar model on the pedal to use. Honestly, I have never connected the pedal to the computer to download different 'images'. I tried out all the different ones that come on the pedal and liked number '1' the best. I have stuck with it ever since. In hindsight, I may have been better off just purchasing the less expensive Aura pedals with less features because I don't really make us of all the options on the Spectrum DI. This may be something to consider if you are looking at buying the different pedals.

UTILIZATION

Using this pedal is pretty easy. Plug in guitar, and send the signal out through XLR. Then you can switch between the 'images' to see what works for you. The EQ section is well suited for acoustic guitar, the frequency ranges of 'bass', 'mid', and 'treble' complement each other well. It usually doesn't take a whole lot of boosting/cutting to make a big difference. The compressor is a nice feature and helps glue the 'dry' signal' with the 'image' signal. The 'blend' control allows you to control how much 'dry' signal and 'processed' signal there is at the output. My preference for live performance is around 75% 'wet'.
The pedal is powered off a 9v battery or a typical guitar pedal power supply. I really wish they would have made the pedal powered off of Phantom Power. This would save a lot of hassle for setup. I have other fishman preamps that run off phantom power, but I guess its possible that the internal DSP chip needed more power than phantom power could supply.

SOUNDS

The sound quality of the aura pedals is amazing. I only own an intermediate level acoustic guitar (Martin DM), but I feel like the pedal makes my guitar sound really, really good. For a while I wanted to upgrade my guitar to something more expensive and top-of-the-line. However, after purchasing the Aura Spectrum DI, I think I can make do for a while long with my Martin.
For live performance, this thing is a no-brainer. Once you try it, you will scoff at anyone that plays guitar without one.
I also find that the pedal has a lot of utility in the recording studio. Although this wasn't what it was originally intended for, it is hard to argue with something that sounds so good. Granted, my recording setup is pretty humble (but there are probably a lot people that are in the same situation). I record in the spare bedroom of my apartment, and don't have an expensive microphone collection (I just own a pair of NT2s and some SM57/58s). Typically, I run the aura along with a couple microphones on my acoustic guitar. Mixing them together achieves some good results. Obviously if I was recording in a professional studio with great acoustic and amazing microphones the aura might not be worthwhile. However, if you are anything like me, adding the aura to your recording setup can make a huge difference for a cheap price.

OVERALL OPINION

The Fishman Aura Spectrum DI is a unique effects pedal for acoustic instruments. It was designed to transform the sound of a magnetic piezo pickup into the sound of a microphone.
For several reasons piezo pickups have become common and even the industry standard for live performance with acoustic instruments. Piezo pickups don't have the same same signal-to-noise ratio problems of a microphone on an acoustic guitar in the presence of much louder instruments like drums, amp'ed electric guitars, etc. Indirectly, this also alleviates any concerns about 'feedback' problems with a quiet acoustic instrument. More practically, if a microphone is used to capture the sound of an acoustic guitar in a live performance, the musician has to remain stationary. (It would be hard to imagine a Garth Brooks concert if he had to stand in front of a stationary microphone to pickup his acoustic guitar, ha)
However, there are also several reasons way piezo pickups are terrible for acoustic instruments. The sound of a piezo pickup is completely different than the sound of a microphone. This is because they are completely different transducers. The microphone depends on the vibrations of air, the piezo pickup depends on the vibrations of the solid body of the instrument and the bridge.
Enter - Fishman Aura signal processing to transform the sound of a piezo pickup into the sound of an acoustic guitar recorded by a microphone in a professional recording studio. It is like the best of both worlds!

Fishman is a company known for their pickups especially in acoustic guitars. Taylor guitars is one of the most famous and world renown acoustic guitar company's and they have exclusively used Fish man pickups and pre's in their acoustic guitar for years. With the relationship with the Taylor acoustic guitars this has formulated a huge impact for acoustic pickups and direct boxes for the FIshman company.

UTILIZATION

128 pre-loaded Images for use with the most popular acoustic instruments
One bank of 16 user-configurable Image locations
Volume, Blend, and Image Select controls
USB computer interface for Image downloading from
Aura Gallery (software included)
3-band EQ
1-knob compressor
Automatic anti-feedback with foot switch operation
Feedback-fighting Phase switch
Rugged, all-metal construction

Balanced XLR D.I. output for PA or recording
1/4" PA/amp output
1/4" high-impedance instrument input with Trim control and Clip/Low Battery indicator
Built-in Effects Loop
24 bit A/D/A; 32 bit internal processing
Built-in chromatic tuner with bypass/mute foot switch
Runs on 9V battery or optional power adapter
Dimensions: 5-1/4"W x 2-1/10"H x 5-3/5"D

SOUNDS

This is essentially a huge glorified direct box for an acoustic guitar. Most people who play acoustic guitars on stage or at a gig of some sort use a direct box because they sound of their pickup in their guitar isn't strong enough to amplify the sound of the instrument. Plus the ability to go direct into the house PA or sound system with added feature of controlling more of the sound.

So this pedal is a direct box that allows the user to perform more Eqing task to the acoustic without having to mess with the EQing of the sound board as much. It also restores the sound of a miced acoustic which you would use to record an acoustic guitar in a real recording session. You would mic up the guitar by placing a mic in front of the sound hole of the acoustic guitar. Here this box attempts to replicate the sound of that interaction with the wood and the microphones.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these units come in right at around $329, which isn't bad for a direct box. Not to mention a direct box that is capable of producing this much versatility in a small tiny box. I would recommend any stage or music hall or even church who has to mic up acoustic use this to go through their direct box into the house sound system. This is a great tool for the sound man to have on hand.

This device combines four functions:

- Case of DI preamp settings including volume, bass, middle, treble and a compression ratio.
- Numerical simulations of different types of acoustic guitars from the parlor to the kind jumbos and various types of nylon guitar and resonator guitar. Parmet a cursor to select the type of guitar to simulate (dreadnough, orchestra, jumbo, etc ...) and a large dial to select the different type of guitar simulations (note that these simulations combine models given guitar with catches her with different specific combinations of microphones). Potentiometer mix called "blend" can mix the "dry" signal (gross micro instrument) and the "wet" signal (simulation); this mix can go 100% signal "dry" 100% "wet" signal gradually. Optionally allows software image management - I have not tested: with images that are available in "hardware" to turn on the unit, there is already plenty to do!
- Anti-feedback (not tested)
- Tuner (reliable)


I guess that includes two electronic sections: 1 analog (preamp), 1 digital (simulations)

Connectivity:
- Input: jack
- Output: jack or XLR
- Loop: jack

UTILIZATION

Ultra simple setup!

The manual is hardly necessary, except for some functions related to Antilarsen, parameterization tuner and various small device initialisation details (eg allocation of equalization dry signal only or signals dry + wet). For these points, the manual is very clear - I seem to remember that it is still in English.

Do you get a good sound? Hahahahahaha! I laugh! Tons of good sound gets! and I guarantee that you could spend hours looking treat yourself (and shaping) full of different sounds that you will pack!

SOUNDS

Given:
- The diversity of simulated images and
- The infinity of possible combinations with mixing signal between "wet" and "dry", given as
- The potential of most electro-acoustic guitars "treat" the signal on the guitar itself

I think I can say that Fishman should be able to meet all musical needs within the acoustic guitar. A small reserve, however: the purists who are "anti electroacoustic" and absolutely want an acoustic guitar captured with a microphone pro 2000 € in a room with perfect acoustics with a sampling frequency of 900,000 GHz 6000000 bits find not their happiness.

I play with Hanika Basis Cut, with an Epiphone EL-00 Pro with Admira. A treat to play electro. It sometimes happens to me to plug my Telecaster or my Gibson L4 and draw unusual sounds and fun!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 months. Before purchase, excellent advice and demos enticing views on the net had not pushed me to try other models.

This device is a marvel for the stage: a good preamp-DI (no noticeable breath) and especially for those like me who do not like too sound a bit "plastic" electro-acoustic amplified thanks to digital images you get in PA (or in electroacoustic amp) good sound good acoustic guitar captured with a good mic! In a mix, it's stunning! Purists will say: "a somewhat artificial side with digital images." Maybe! But in scene conditions, among other musicians, with the vagaries of room acoustics, the quality of the entire chain of sound, I put anyone with a normal ear to tell the difference between your electroacoustic and a good acoustic guitar that was captured by a super micro under the supervision of a great sound engineer!

I remain cautious, however, in my statements: Notice to Jejethefenek proves that other opinions may exist ... Oddly enough, unlike the latter, I prefer to use as part of a group rather than solo . Like what! Try and judge ...!

Value for money? I do not know. This is, I think, the stuff that seems super-strong. It is beautiful and it sends my taste very good sound! What does it say?

DI pedal with simulated acoustic sound mic'd, compressor, tuner, mute and auto EQ research and feedback suppression frequency (freq 3 possible)
Jack, jack and XLR output
Phase inverter
Standard 9V

A Swiss Army knife with everything you need for acoustic guitar

UTILIZATION

The config is simple and the manual is clear and sufficient, the finish is excellent brushed aluminum.
However an adjustment period is needed to properly learn to fly functions with switches
It remains for me still doubts about the ability to take the long rigors of the road and concerts in rehearsals?

SOUNDS

The sound is not bad, a point of view ... it's pure DI level standards of the genre (BSS AR-133), it is clean, the dynamics is observed.

The compressor is very gentle and very effective, although it had only one button, we feel that it was really designed for guitar

The EQ works well but can not choose the low frequencies, mid and high, however you can choose to affect the overall sound DI + DI or Image only.

The tuner is convenient but not super accurate, it helps out on stage

Mute: good bah is a mute, it works and it is convenient

Auto search frequency feedback, it works very well, but it can quickly "kill" the sound of the guitar

Phase inverter: RAS does it work

Images ... then, I'm really not convinced yet ... I spent hours and hours: to change from one image to another, trying to load other and test ... well ... a long, painstaking, eventually finding nothing really usable, let me explain, this solo is quite flattering, by group against it only brings frequency n ' interested person .. worst, it's even "disappear" guitar mix by providing a hand dug.
Maybe I did not find the adequate simulation ... and I'm a person who seeks the "plug & play"

OVERALL OPINION

In the end I prefer to use a basic DI, let them handle the EQ and compression sondier .. and stay frustrated not to find the "acoustic" sound of my guitar live. I sold this pedal after a year of research and use. Try not to purchase, see the store if possible try to config repeated, indeed considering the price, the pedal is very specific and may not appeal to everyone.