acus Phantasma User manual

ACUS SOUND ENGINEERING SRL
Via Remo Stortoni, 12D 62019 Recanati (MC) tel: [phone] fax: [phone]
Acus Phantasma
Acoustic Guitar Pickup and Preamp
USER MANUAL

insert the output jack from the inside through the
12mm hole (g. 4)
insert the piezo from the 2.5mm hole as shown
below (g. 5)
g.4
g.5
g.6
Use the supplied adhesive to
install the microphone
about 5mm from the
soundboard on the treble
side (g. 6).
Since the microphone is
adjustable, you can experi-
ment with other alternative
positions. After installation,
close the self-adhesive clips
of the microphone cable.

Acus Phantasma
Acoustic Guitar Pickup and Preamp
The "Acus Phantasma" is designed to reproduce the sound of your
guitar in the most natural way possible, including all of the harmoni-
cs of your instrument.
The nal sound is obtained by selecting and mixing the frequencies
produced by the two transducers (Microphone and Piezo) previously
installed inside your guitar ("Phantasma On Board kit").
These controls include two sections: AIR and DEPTH.
section 1 AIR:
- Physical control of the microphone volume,
- HPF control (high-pass lter).
These two controls manage the frequencies produced by the
microphone, allowing you to add natural harmonics to the sound,
making it possible to limiting any feedback issues.
section 2 DEPTH:
- Physical control of the Piezo volume,
- LPF control (low-pass lter).
These two controls manage the frequencies produced by the Piezo,
especially the LPF lter that eliminates the noise due to the release
of the vibrating string (buzz) and improves the often cold and
unnatural sound of the classic electric Piezo pickups, adding body
and depth without compromising the attack.
Phantasma On Board Kit
The "Phantasma On Board kit" allows you to
properly control the Phantasma preamp.
It is composed of an under saddle high sensibility
piezo of only 0.8mm of thickness and a high-qua-
lity microphone capsule both connected to a JFET
preamplier, that requires no battery and it is
powered by the external preamp through a stereo
output jack.
The Phantasma On Board Kit is shown in g. 1.
Here are the assembly instructions:
drill a hole that will be 2.5mm in diameter for the
piezo, just below the "E-rst” on the treble side
(g. 2)
for the output jack, drill 12mm hole.
To avoid splintering the wood, use a piece of
painter’s tape (g. 3)
g.1
g.2
g.3

Recommendations for use:
Below is a list of settings depending on the guitar you use:
Flat:
You should start with a at basic regulation.
(The Master must be adjusted according to the input volume of the
amplier to which it is connected).
Starting from here you can adjust the preamp controls according
to the characteristics of the connected guitar to get the best
perception of your instrument.
We suggest the rst two sets of adjustment based on the strings and
the soundboard of your guitar:
Acoustic Guitar with steel strings:
This adjustment causes the strumming sound to be very natural
with a good presence and projection of the low frequencies.
In Finger style you can try to reduce the LPF for greater intelligibility
and dynamics in the arpeggios.
Classical Guitar with nylon strings:
In this adjustment we advise you to act on the HPF lter positioning
it towards the “+” in order to cut the low frequencies of
the Mic, while positioning the LPF as shown in the gure, you will
return to an optimal percentage of mid-low frequencies particularly
eective on arpeggios and harmonies.
Flamenco Guitar with nylon strings:
Flamenco guitars require a greater amount of microphone signal for
a greater projection of the sound and a response to the touch
from the soundboard (Golpe).
With the adjustment shown in the gure, the HPF cuts some
sub-frequencies which are then returned by the piezo LPF making
the sound clear, minimizing the possibility of feedback.
Variations of the setting based on the material of the
soundboard:
Dierent soundboards generate dierent harmonics; here we oer
you some setting examples resulting from extensive tests on
dierent woods.
Usually, guitars with cedar tops (rosewood or mahogany back and
sides) tend to give a round sound emphasizing the medium bass
frequencies, while the guitars with spruce top (maple or sycamore
back and sides) tend to be more clear particularly in the high
harmonics.
In the "Phantasma" preamp the settings of the two HPF and LPF
lters allow you to optimize the acoustic image based on the woods
used on your guitar, either with steel or nylon strings.
Guitar with Spruce Top:
With the lter’s settings shown in the gure to the left, the mic
through HPF attenuates the mid-high frequencies while the piezo
through LPF is gives a greater depth, optimizing projection and
sound dynamics.
Guitar with Cedar Top:
This adjustment tends to give more denition and opening over the
high harmonics of the cedar top, which provides warm and round
sonority with emphasis on medium bass frequencies, to the advan-
tage of musicality, although it provides a lower sound projection.
Note:
A. When the output cable is inserted, the blue light conrms that the system is operating. If the
blue light does not light up by connecting the output cable, check the battery or power supply.
To prolong the life of the battery it is advisable to disconnect the output cable when not in use
(the blue light will be o).
B. You must connect the instrument to the input jack only using the supplied stereo cable (the
use of a mono cable will only activate the Piezo).
The Acus Phantasma will allow you to gradually enhance your musical style and the best
characteristics of your instrument. You will surely be able to customize the system's settings
and shape them to your musical taste. We advise you to experiment and exploit the full
potential of the system, to obtain complete timbre satisfaction and enhance your style.