#1
|
|||
|
|||
Fishman Aura, How Good Are They?
Been reading the reviews over a period of time and there seems to be a split for and against, do they really work well or is it best to look at some of the other offerings just coming on to the market. Id usually just buy one but here in the u.k. they are quite expensive.
Regards Rob |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Fishman aura does a specific task very well and that is make your ust-equipped guitar sound mic'd. One of the best gears I ever bought.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
__________________
Mike Taylor 114ce Epiphone AJ220SCE Epiphone IB64 Texan FT-79 Ibanez Artwood AW15 Ibanez AEG10NII Ovation CC44-4q Takamine EG440C STRQ (gone) Ibanez Artcore AG75 (gone) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Fishman Aura works really well (I have one), but If I was you, I'd wait for Tonedexter.
Here is a link of a previous post where I compare the Fishman Aura with a very early version of my DIY Impulse response process. The Tonedexter will probably sound much better than that. http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...6&postcount=17 Regards, Cuki
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003) Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999) Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet Yamaha FGX-412 (1998) Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013) Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014) http://acousticir.free.fr/ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I've got one that I run a K&k through for church and it has a very realistic tone. I couldn't be more pleased with the tone.
__________________
______________ ---Tom H --- |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I did a full review here on the AURA AST. The newest Fishman offering is the Spectrum D.I. Not the best for changing patches because you have to do it by hand. The AST has up/down footswitches for that. The biggest thing to get the AURA to sound right for your guitar is to dial down the image to its minimum blend & be sure the image you use matches your guitar as best as you can. I was going to chuck my AST until I found 4 different groups for my hard to EQ Ovation. 4 out of 20 images sounded good / acceptable. The Taylor Big Baby images also sounded good. Why that worked? I have no idea. I let my ears be my guide.
- If you like to tinker or experiment, then the AST is for you. The Spectrum has 128 images (I think) built into the box. You get 16 user storage patches, but can't accesses them via footswitch since it has none for that function. You'll have to change it by hand. That may or may not be important to you. The Spectrum has a built-in USB whereat the AST you need some kind of MIDI interface. Fishman supplies software to install new images for both units. The Spectrum has more current / new images than the AST. - The AST can also be used as a D.I. box /EQ - compression / limiter pedal, so it does more than just images. Has a feedback eliminator also (so does the Spectrum). Hope that helps.
__________________
Alvarez ABT60 Bari Nat/ABT60E Rust-burst Cordoba Flamenco GK Studio Zircote D'Angelico Lexington Dred Ibanez AC240 OM hog 2x Martin DSR Dred rosewood Martin DSM Dred hog Martin full Ovangkol Dred Martin D-35 (2019) Yamaha A5M Jap Cust Shop Dred Yamaha A3M Dred Yamaha A4K full Koa Dred Bose S1 Pro JBL Eon 1 original (2 each) Objects in the future are closer then they appear. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I think..
I think it can be the best acoustic sound if you really experiment with the correct downloaded sample. Just listen to Jason Isbell's acoustic guitar tone...that's what he does with his D-18 Authentic...and it sounds amazing!!!!
__________________
Collings, Martins, Gibsons, Taylor, Fenders, PRS's, a Takamine and MORGAN amps..love them all!!! |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
I use an Fishman Aura Spectrum and it has been wonderful. I use it with K & K minis. To my ear it sounds like a well mic'd guitar. Which is allot better than most real life situations where sound men poorly mic guitars. Open mic's I can walk on stage and plug a mic cable in it and I'm good to go.
And yes you do have to settle on the model sound you pick. For awhile I was using the 000 model for my 00 guitar. I think my ear wanted more bass. At some point I was dissatisfied so I clicked over to the 00 setting. It was perfect as it sounded more like what my guitar actually sounds like. The biggest problem I have with units like this is that there are too many choices. While listening to a PA or amp and picking your acoustic guitar sound is odd. It confuses my ear and my head. I am used to hearing the sound coming from the guitar.
__________________
Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini Follow The Yellow Brick Road |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I have an Aura Spectrum DI, and it works pretty well for my Seagull S6, but it took me a long time and a lot of effort to find the right "image" for it. Like Cuki, I would encourage you to wait for the ToneDexter.
They seem to work on similar principles. They both use a complicated algorithm to change your guitar's piezo signal in real time to be much more like a mic'd guitar. The difference is that the Aura ships with dozens and dozens of pre-made "images" (they call them), while ToneDexter creates its own image using your guitar, your pickup and your microphone. If one of the pre-made Aura images is the same as your guitar, you're in luck, and it will probably work pretty well. If not, then you need to hunt through dozens of them to find a good match. The ones that aren't will probably sound pretty strange. The only real advantage of the Aura is that you don't need a microphone to train it. But (I'm pretty sure) all of its images were made using an under-saddle transducer, and even though there are a bunch of images, there are many, many, many guitars that aren't on that list. If your pickup is a soundboard transducer—or if none of the guitars is a good match—you're out of luck. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Fishman came out with a trainable Aura to compete with ToneDexter at some point in the future, but for now, everything I've seen about the ToneDexter suggests that it's a clearly superior product. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I always felt as though the Aura thinned out my tone a bit. The images tend to have a more hi-fi quality to them. I have also found Fishman preamps to be a bit more hi-fi so the combination can be overkill. I did find that switching to global eq on my spectrum made a big difference but I could never dial in a great sound.
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
You can also try if you have an audio interface with a good latency
This is a dropbox link from people who have extracted the Impulse responses https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f2qdh9jtc...V4YwMY7Wa?dl=0 Install LAconvolver (Mac) http://audio.lernvall.com/ or NadIR convolver (Windows, Mac) http://www.igniteamps.com/en/audio-plug-ins You'll get an idea.... If you like it, buy the pedal. If you want an idea of a personal IR, send me a PM and I'll make you an IR. For me there is no doubt a personal IR is better. I've just tried those IR on Mischief recordings and the IR I did for him is night and day better. And this IR comes from a very early stage of developpement of my process!! So I am pretty sure Tonedexter is the way to go. Regards, Cuki
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003) Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999) Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet Yamaha FGX-412 (1998) Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013) Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014) http://acousticir.free.fr/ |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
I have owned two different models over the years: the big first-generation one, and later the small stomp-box type (different versions for steel vs. nylon-string, etc. -- I had the nylon one).
I felt they were okay, but as opposed to using a modeling pedal to emulate a really good mic'ed sound while plugged-in, I eventually settled on actually getting a much better plugged-in sound (via the guitar, pickup, and pre-amp combos). In the end, the Auras were not for me. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
I'd say the Fishman Aura is just "okay". I owned one, and though I was generally satisfied with the performance, I was certainly not "Wow'ed" by it.
At less than 1/3 the cost, I'd recommend looking at the TC Electronic BodyRez. It's not only less expensive, it's smaller, lighter, and easier to use. Plus, I think it provides better real-world results than the Aura. In addition, it works equally well with soundboard transducers and soundhole pickups. Try to demo one before committing to the Aura. Here's a review of the BodyRez written by AGF member Doug Young.
__________________
2017 Alvarez Yairi OY70CE - Sugaree c.1966 Regal Sovereign R235 Jumbo - Old Dollar 2009 Martin 000-15 - Brown Bella 1977 Gibson MK-35 - Apollo 2004 Fender American Stratocaster - The Blue Max 2017 Fender Custom American Telecaster - Brown Sugar Think Hippie Thoughts... |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
I have used and loved Aura since it came out, still use the Spectrum and like it so much I bought the Martin D18E Retro with inbuilt Aura system and that is just stunning - the sound images derived from a vintage 30s D18, vol, eq, 9 images from different mics, tuner etc...plug and play any PA with a professional sound of a mic'd Martin in a top Nashville studio! That is the plug and it is very good but some people don't like it, some prefer a Baggs straight in to a tube amp...fully pox to me but you know....
I have the Body Rez thing in my TC vocal thing, bit of a joke compared to the complete Aura system. BluesKing777. BluesKing777. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Yeah, its brilliant. Been using the Aura Spectrum DI for 6 years on all my gigging guitars with great results.
__________________
The Big Fat Lady 02' Gibson J-150 The Squares 11' Hummingbird TV, 08' Dove The Slopeys 11' Gibson SJ (Aaron Lewis) The Pickers 43' Gibson LG-2, 09' Furch OM 32SM (custom) , 02' Martin J-40 The Beater 99' Cort Earth 100 What we do on weekends: http://www.reverbnation.com/doubleshotprague |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
I've owned all versions of the Fishman Aura pedals and onboard systems, and feel they're a boon for getting a good amplified tone out of a UST-generated signal.
I have a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI Pedal I'd be willing to sell for a reasonable price. With my current pickup/preamp systems, I have no use for it, and it's like new and has only been used sparingly at home.
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |