USER GUIDE
JERRY DOUGLAS SIGNATURE SERIES
AURA
®
IMAGING PEDAL
Quick start
Power – Install a 9V alkaline or lithium battery (not included).
Set the controls – Volume at minimum, select at #1 and blend at its mid-point.
Plug in – Use standard ¼-inch shielded instrument cables. Place any other pedals after the Aura.
Set trim – Play hard and adjust input trim (right side) so clip/batt LED fl ashes occasionally.
Select an Image – Raise the volume and audition the 16 Images with the
select knob.
Blend to taste – turn left for more pickup and right for more Image.
Kill feedback – If feedback starts, change the position of the phase switch.
Bypass – Step on the footswitch to alternate between blended Image sound and dry pickup (default setting).
Mute – To alternate between blended Image sound and mute, hold the footswitch down until the LED fl ashes. Repeat to return to bypass.
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A C O U S T I C I M A G I N G
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About this pedal
Larry Fishman developed the Signature Series Aura Pedal with a world-class team of professionals, including musician Jerry Douglas, recording studio engineer Bil VornDick, and reknowned resonator builder Paul Beard, to bring you the most realistic amplifi ed tone available. Night after night, or any time you record, this pedal lets you reproduce the tone that can only be created by such trade masters.
In order to fully realize the benefi ts of this pedal, we recommend using the
Nashville Series resophonic pickup to amplify your resonator guitar. For the best sound reproduction, connect your Aura Imaging Pedal to an acoustic instrument amp, a PA system, a powered monitor or other full-range system.
A word from Jerry Douglas
“After all these years of fi ghting microphones and feeling tied to one square foot of stage fl oor, I really believe we have the answer to every acoustic instrumentalist’s dreams: a realistic sounding system that empowers the voice of our favorite instruments.”
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A word from Paul Beard
“In the world of resophonic guitar amplifi cation, we fi nally have resolution! The
Fishman Nashville Series resophonic pickup is the result of new technology and innovative design. Use this pickup when playing with the Aura Imaging Pedal, select a microphone Image and turn it up. This new resonator pickup and Aura will make your microphone obsolete.”
A word from Bil VornDick
“We used Class A discreet mic preamps with vintage and artistically chosen microphones to create these Aura Images. The studio sounds that they conjure are accurate sonic representations of the instrument. I enjoyed working with
Larry Fishman, the master who has invented this incredible technology, to create these Images. The calls and emails I have received, from everyday musicians to those that are household names, state their praise for the Aura and how it has helped their instrument whether in concert, a Grand Ole Opry broadcast, or a small night club. These Images were recorded with the benefi t of over 25 years of studio experience recording Jerry, and I have taken extreme care to help secure precise Images for your performances. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy using
Aura.”
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Images
Image Microphone
1 Neumann U67
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3
4
5
6
7
8
Neumann U67
RCA 77
RCA 77
Neumann M149
Neumann M149
Crowley Tripp El Diablo
Shure SM81
Type
Large diaphragm tube condensor
Large diaphragm tube condensor
Poly-directional ribbon
Poly-directional ribbon
(Instrument drop tuned to CAFCAF)
Large diaphragm tube condensor
Large diaphragm tube condensor
Figure 8 ribbon
Uni-directional small condensor
Distance
12”
18”
12”
12”
18”
12”
12”
12”
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Image Microphone
9 Royer R-121
10 Neumann U47
Type
Figure 8 Ribbon
(Instrument drop tuned to CAFCAF)
Distance
12”
Lg. diaphragm cardioid tube condensor 12”
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Neumann FET 47
Neumann FET 47
Cardioid FET Lg. diaphragm condensor 12”
Cardioid FET Lg. diaphragm condensor 12”
(Instrument drop tuned to CAFCAF)
Crowley Tripp Soundstage Figure 8 Ribbon 12”
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Neumann KM84
Shure KSM 32
Shure SM-57
Small diaphragm cardioid condensor
Side-address cardioid condensor
Cardioid dynamic
12”
9”
12”
Fishman Transducers, Inc. is not affi liated with any of the forementioned companies, their respective trademarks, registered trademarks, product models or copyrights.
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Using effects
When using your Aura Imaging Pedal with other effects devices, place the Aura
Imaging Pedal fi rst in the chain after your guitar.
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A C O U S T I C I M A G I N G
If you have a pedal tuner, place it before the Aura Imaging Pedal.
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A C O U S T I C I M A G I N G
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Left side panel
Output
Use a standard ¼-inch instrument cable to connect the output to your amplifi er, mixer or effects devices. You can also connect this output to an unbalanced input on a recording system.
9vdc
See Power section.
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Right side panel
Input
Plug in your guitar here with a standard ¼-inch instrument cable. If you have a passive undersaddle pickup (no battery onboard), always plug into the Aura
Imaging Pedal fi rst, even if you use a pedal tuner.
Trim
Raise or lower the trim to optimize the input level for your pickup. Play hard and adjust trim so clip/batt LED fl ashes occasionally. Use your thumb or a pick to turn the trim control.
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Control set
Phase switch
Use the phase switch to improve bass response at low volume or to control feedback at high volume. Play your guitar and toggle the phase switch back and forth until you achieve the desired result.
Volume
For the cleanest signal, set the volume as high as possible without clipping the next device in the signal chain. If you hear distortion and the clip/batt light is not fl ashing, reduce the volume.
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Select
The 16 Images you can choose with the select knob are hand picked for your type of guitar. Try all 16 and pick the ones that compliment your playing style and sound good in the room. For example, dark/deep sounding Images may add impact to a solo performance. Brighter/lighter Images may compliment an ensemble. There are no rules; try them all and decide which works best for you.
Blend
Position the blend knob straight-up at 12 o’clock and you’ll hear a 50/50 mix of
Aura + pickup. Turn the blend all the way right for just Image; all the way left for just pickup. Most performers blend in some pickup with the Image for clarity and defi nition.
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Blend (continued)
Suggestions
• To fi nd a good mix of Image and pickup, turn the blend knob to about 8 o’clock, then step on the footswitch. Compare the Image/ pickup mix to the dry pickup signal. Slowly move blend clockwise and then switch between the two until you are happy with the
Image/pickup blend.
• For live performance try backing off the Image by setting blend to about 10 or 11 o’clock or about 65% pickup. You won’t need too much
Image blended in to achieve a great live sound. If feedback occurs, fl ip the phase switch.
• For recording, try blending in more Image for a realistic acoustic tone.
Set the blend to taste. Again, you’ll often get good results with a little bit of pickup blended in with the Image for clarity and defi nition.
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Footswitch
Step on the footswitch to bypass the Aura effect. When you stomp, you’ll hear the dramatic difference between the Image blend and the dry pickup. When the light above the footswitch is on, the Image is active. Note when the effect is bypassed, your guitar signal remains buffered. Also, if the blend knob is set to
7 o’clock, you will hear no difference between active and bypass states.
Mute (optional mode)
You may set up the footswitch to alternate between the Image blend and muted output. To enable the mute option, hold the footswitch down until the LED fl ashes. Repeat to return to bypass.
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Power
Power may be supplied by either a 9V battery (battery compartment under pedal) or an approved 9V adapter. Insert a plug into the input jack, and the Aura
Imaging Pedal powers up. To conserve the battery, remove the plug from the
input when not in use.
For AC power, use the Fishman 910-R (for 110V) or other suitable 9V adapter. The adapter must be fi ltered, regulated and rated for at least 200mA. It should also accept AC power appropriate for your country. Power Plug requirements: 5.5mm
O.D., 2mm I.D., tip = negative.
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Battery replacement
The clip/batt indicator will light steadily when it is time to change the battery.
Open the battery door underneath the pedal and install a fresh 9V alkaline or lithium battery. When the clip/batt LED comes on you have approximately one hour of remaining battery life.
clip | batt
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Specifi cations
Digital signal path:
A/D, D/A conversion:
Signal processing:
Power supply:
Typical in-use current consumption:
Typical 9V alkaline battery life:
24-bit
32-bit
9V alkaline battery or 9VDC adapter
18mA
27 hours
9V adapter:
Input impedance:
Fishman 910-R (for 110V) or suitable fi ltered and regulated,
200mA type, tip = negative
10M Ohm
Nominal output impedance:
Input trim gain range:
3.5k Ohm
-10dB to +2dB
Maximum output level (onset of clipping): +2.4dBV
Baseline noise: -92dBV (A-weighted)
Dynamic range:
Phase switch:
94dB (A-weighted)
Left position = non-inverting
All specifi cations subject to change without notice.
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513-300-146 Rev B 7-08
