Demo of Aura Sound Images Created Using Various Mics

[guitaniac]

https://youtu.be/djFfzUrt-rI

I thought this old vid might be interesting to the folks who are experimenting with different mics and mic positions to create ToneDexter WaveMaps. The demo player doesn't really get into how Aura sound images are created, but I strongly suspect that all of the sound images demoed are custom sound images created using the same guitar/pickup rig that the demo player is using. (To create a sound image, simultaneous recordings must be made of the pickup signal and the studio mic{s} signal.)

This demo vid makes no mention of the particular miking techniques used to create these sound images, be at least the listener gets a little sample of how different mics can influence the results.


When Aura was first introduced, I recall that the Fishman folks made a very serious effort to explain the technology. They seem to have given up on that effort. Listening to this vid, you'd never get the basic information that a specific instrument and pickup rig must be used in the creation of a sound image. You'd think they were recording off mics alone.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

https://youtu.be/djFfzUrt-rI

I thought this old vid might be interesting to the folks who are experimenting with different mics and mic positions to create ToneDexter WaveMaps. The demo player doesn't really get into how Aura sound images are created, but I strongly suspect that all of the sound images demoed are custom sound images created using the same guitar/pickup rig that the demo player is using. (To create a sound image, simultaneous recordings must be made of the pickup signal and the studio mic{s} signal.)

This demo vid makes no mention of the particular miking techniques used to create these sound images, be at least the listener gets a little sample of how different mics can influence the results.


When Aura was first introduced, I recall that the Fishman folks made a very serious effort to explain the technology. They seem to have given up on that effort. Listening to this vid, you'd never get the basic information that a specific instrument and pickup rig must be used in the creation of a sound image. You'd think they were recording off mics alone.

Having had all versions of the Aura, onboard and pedals, I think the original Fishman Aura Blender Pedal sounded the best.

[Petty1818]

I still think the Aura was a pretty incredible idea. I have always thought however that it sounded best when paired with a guitar that had an exact image recorded. For example, an OM-28 would sound incredible with an OM-28 image. Obviously this seems to be a pretty easy conclusion to come to but I just found it lacking whenever I had to settle for something close to what I had.

[Beagle1]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I still think the Aura was a pretty incredible idea. I have always thought however that it sounded best when paired with a guitar that had an exact image recorded. For example, an OM-28 would sound incredible with an OM-28 image. Obviously this seems to be a pretty easy conclusion to come to but I just found it lacking whenever I had to settle for something close to what I had.

+1 on that! I know Guitaniac has mentioned in the past about how the best Aura installs he's heard were ones where the guitar was actually sent off to Fishman to have them create a custom Aura image exactly for that guitar.

One of my Taylors has an Aura Onboard that replaced an ancient Fishman Prefix UST/Mic system. Unfortunately, there is no image for this particular Taylor model in the Aura database, and I've always struggled finding the right image that works for this guitar.

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I still think the Aura was a pretty incredible idea. I have always thought however that it sounded best when paired with a guitar that had an exact image recorded. For example, an OM-28 would sound incredible with an OM-28 image. Obviously this seems to be a pretty easy conclusion to come to but I just found it lacking whenever I had to settle for something close to what I had.

When Aura was first introduced, I corresponded with Harvey Reid about it. Harvey was an original Aura beta tester and he's an old acquaintance from the New England "acoustic" music scene. He was adamant in his belief that the best way to use Aura was with custom sound images created using the same guitar/pickup rig that you'd later be using in performance with the Aura preamp. He stated that you'd have to be incredibly lucky to find a stock sound image which works as well as a custom sound image. Not only does the stock sound image user's guitar need to be very similar to the original guitar used to create the stock sound image, but the pickup needs to be very similar and the pickup installation is a factor also. (This explains why Fishman Matrix users tend to have better results with Aura. Most of those stock sound images were made using a Matrix-equipped guitar.)

In any event, when our mutual friend Cormac McCarthy toured thru our area using Aura with custom sound images, his impressive amplified guitar sound verified to me that Harvey is right and that custom sound images are the best way to go with Aura.

To my way of thinking, the very cool thing about ToneDexter is that it enables the user to create his/her own ToneDexter equivalent of Aura custom sound images (the ToneDexter WaveMap). That's the big reason why folks are getting such good results with ToneDexter (unless they accidentally use the wrong WaveMap).

[erniecaster]

Hi,

to me the whole Aura thing and the clons like Zoom and ToneDexter try to cure the sick sound of pickups.

I´d rather have a good sounding pickup in my guitar. Fishman - why don´t you do that instead of fixing the bugs afterwards?

cu

erniecaster

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

That's the big reason why folks are getting such good results with ToneDexter (unless they accidentally use the wrong WaveMap).

You Little Rascal, You!

By the way, I met Harvey Reid, here in Rochester. Harvey was in town for a concert, and whenever he is here he stops in for a visit at my favorite guitar shop, Stutzman's Guitar Center. Harvey was noodling around on several new guitars in the store, and I suggested he try a Huss & Dalton DS. I asked him what he thought of its tone and he said you couldn't do wrong by having this guitar! Needless to say that Harvey's noodling on guitar surpassed anything I could do on the guitar! A Nice Guy and gracious with his time!

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by erniecaster

Hi,

to me the whole Aura thing and the clons like Zoom and ToneDexter try to cure the sick sound of pickups.

I´d rather have a good sounding pickup in my guitar. Fishman - why don´t you do that instead of fixing the bugs afterwards?

cu

erniecaster

LR Baggs and other companies are taking their best shots at that. When it comes to live sound, I'm very high on the combo of a Baggs Anthem SL-equipped guitar and a Zoom A3 for EQ help. Fortunately, I only have one guitar/pickup rig which desperately needs ToneDexter's help.

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

You Little Rascal, You!

By the way, I met Harvey Reid, here in Rochester. Harvey was in town for a concert, and whenever he is here he stops in for a visit at my favorite guitar shop, Stutzman's Guitar Center. Harvey was noodling around on several new guitars in the store, and I suggested he try a Huss & Dalton DS. I asked him what he thought of its tone and he said you couldn't do wrong by having this guitar! Needless to say that Harvey's noodling on guitar surpassed anything I could do on the guitar! A Nice Guy and gracious with his time!

If you were unaware, Harvey won the first Winfield fingerpicking competition. He was also the harpsicord competition winner that year.

Harvey has a great deal of recording experience, so it really impressed me when he mentioned that he couldn't tell the difference between mic recordings and Aura (with custom sound images) recordings.

[Marty C]

Originally Posted by guitaniac

LR Baggs and other companies are taking their best shots at that. When it comes to live sound, I'm very high on the combo of a Baggs Anthem SL-equipped guitar and a Zoom A3 for EQ help. Fortunately, I only have one guitar/pickup rig which desperately needs ToneDexter's help.

Hi, don't mean to change the post, but what kind of guitar do you use with this setup? I current have a Martin D-16gt and I just put a Baggs Anthem SL in. It is workng great... when going direct to my mixer. I am using a TC Helicon Play Acoustic but I don't like the way it changes the tone. Even set flat, it just doesn't favor this pickup. I just ordered the Zoom A3 and hopefully I can use this for guitar processing/eq with a few effects (small chorus, delay and reverb). Would be interested to hear your comments. It's either this or add three more small, boutique pedals prior to my mixer.

[rb1591]

I own an old Blender that I haven't used for years … never did use it much because I never fouund a profile that matched my guitar/pickup combination. At any rate, does anyone know if Fishman or anyone else stills produces custom profiles … or if there a cache of them somewhere on the web.

BTW, I have a friend that uses Fishman matrix in his OM. He found just the right profile for his original blender. The result is as good as I've heard. In other words, when all the variants are right, the Aura, even the older blender works great, IMO.

BTW, I loved the form factor and user interface of the old blender. I never thought it was difficult to use.

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by Marty C

Hi, don't mean to change the post, but what kind of guitar do you use with this setup? I current have a Martin D-16gt and I just put a Baggs Anthem SL in. It is workng great... when going direct to my mixer. I am using a TC Helicon Play Acoustic but I don't like the way it changes the tone. Even set flat, it just doesn't favor this pickup. I just ordered the Zoom A3 and hopefully I can use this for guitar processing/eq with a few effects (small chorus, delay and reverb). Would be interested to hear your comments. It's either this or add three more small, boutique pedals prior to my mixer.

My usual gigging guitar is an old cedar/mahogany Samick OM cutaway. I pulled out the factory-installed Fishman electronics long ago, and have experimented with various after market systems over the years, the Anthem SL being the most recent and best of the aftermarket systems (for my taste).

Regarding the EQ with the A3, I use the two digital EQs (graphic and parametric) in series. (I'm afraid that doesn't leave any room for adding additional effects, but you may only need one digital EQ device or none, if you're already happy with your tonal balance. The A3 also has a manual three band EQ which may be adequate for your needs and doesn't take up an effects block.) My guitar is naturally muddy in the low mids, so I cut a lot there. I also suspect that the Anthem SL is a little strong around the crossover frequency (250 Hz) and that probably adds to the excessive low mids.


In any event, I adjust the SL's mic level control for the best (to my ears) balance of UST/mic, and EQ after that. In the case of my rig, I need to EQ down both some muddy low mids and some overly harsh highs.

My EQ adjustments are:

Graphic EQ: 160Hz, -6db / 400Hz, -3db / 800Hz, 0db / 3.2KHz, -1db / 6.4KHz, -4db / 12KHz, -1db / I'd guess that the cut bandwidths are about an octave.

Parametric EQ: 1.2KHz, -3db, Q = 1 (about 1.4 octaves bandwidth) / 80Hz, -2db, Q = 1

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by rb1591

I own an old Blender that I haven't used for years … never did use it much because I never fouund a profile that matched my guitar/pickup combination. At any rate, does anyone know if Fishman or anyone else stills produces custom profiles … or if there a cache of them somewhere on the web.

BTW, I have a friend that uses Fishman matrix in his OM. He found just the right profile for his original blender. The result is as good as I've heard. In other words, when all the variants are right, the Aura, even the older blender works great, IMO.

BTW, I loved the form factor and user interface of the old blender. I never thought it was difficult to use.

I thought I saw a link to the Aura Custom Shop recently, but I'm having trouble finding it this morning, I'm sure that Fishman support would help you.

https://www.fishman.com/support/

[Petty1818]

I teach at a fairly new school that has a pretty impressive sound system. Every second week on Friday, we hold a talent show at lunch for the students to participate in and watch. One of the teachers here plays quite a lot at it to accompany students on guitar. He has a D-28 cutaway with the barn-door, Aura system. Honestly, it sounded incredible. If I closed my eyes and listened, I would have thought I was listening to a mic'd guitar. It does go to show that the correct image/guitar match can achieve amazing results.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I teach at a fairly new school that has a pretty impressive sound system. Every second week on Friday, we hold a talent show at lunch for the students to participate in and watch. One of the teachers here plays quite a lot at it to accompany students on guitar. He has a D-28 cutaway with the barn-door, Aura system. Honestly, it sounded incredible. If I closed my eyes and listened, I would have thought I was listening to a mic'd guitar. It does go to show that the correct image/guitar match can achieve amazing results.

I think that's the Aura Plus system. I had that system in the Martin HD28E retro and my brother currently has it in his Martin GPCAuraGT. I have this strange aversion to USTs, otherwise, the tone of these pickups is the excellent. The custom images are spot on.