Fishman F1 AURA+ User manual

www.fishman.com
USER GUIDE
F1 AURA+

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Welcome
Thank you for making Fishman a part of your acoustic experience. We are proud
to offer you the finest acoustic amplification products available; high-quality
professional-grade tools to empower you to sound your very best. We are
confident F1 Aura+will both enhance and inspire your music making.
Despite its simple and clean appearance, F1 Aura+features a powerful set of
tone shaping controls and programmability. We urge you to read through this
user guide and spend some time getting familiar with its operation, so that you
may easily realize the system’s full potential.
Aura Acoustic Imaging Technology uses digital algorithms developed in
Fishman’s audio laboratories to restore a studio-miked sound to an acoustic
instrument. To achieve this, we’ve recorded this instrument using world-class
microphones and techniques to capture an “Image” of the natural sound that
it emits when miked in a professional studio. This Image, when recorded direct
or played through an amp, mixer or PA, blends with the undersaddle pickup to
produce an incredibly accurate recreation of the original recording.

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Quick Start
Before you begin, set the controls as shown:
1. Plug in • Use a ¼-inch instrument cable.
2. Tune up • Press and hold the Volume knob until the tuner comes on. When
engaged, the Tuner
mutes the output. Press Volume to exit Tuner.
3. Turn up • Raise the Volume to a desirable level.
4. Select an Image Preset • Press the Tone control repeatedly to select
presets 1, 2 and 3. Press again to select the dry pickup (which is displayed as “P”).
5. Adjust Tone • Turn the Tone control clockwise to blend in a “mid-scooped”
tone with emphasized bass & treble and reduced midrange.

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Mid
Scoop
Flat
& dry pickup
3 Image Presets
Tone Control Turn to adjust Volume
Press to toggle Phase
Hold for Tuner
press
Quick Start Controls

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Easy Mode
When shipped from the factory, F1 Aura+offers a simple set of user controls
called Easy Mode. This mode allows you to quickly get a feel for the tonal
possibilities of F1 Aura+while providing the most important features you’ll need
every day.
Volume: turn for volume
Tuner: press + hold 2 seconds
press to exit tuner
Phase: press to toggle
Tone: turn to adjust mid scoop
Preset: press repeatedly for
preset 1, 2, 3, dry pickup

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Multi-function Controls
With F1 Aura+, both the Edit and Volume knobs contain a momentary switch.
So, in addition to turning a knob, pressing down on the knob will gain access to
one or more features.
For this reason, this guide will refer to knob actions as: turn, press, or press+hold.
Refer to the chart on page 19 for a quick reference of the various features.
Press
Edit Volume
Turn
to adjust
Press + Hold

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Performance Mode
For the more adventurous player, we’ve created a much deeper control interface
called Performance mode. This mode gives you full access to an extensive
set of tone shaping controls. And to make things easier while you perform,
we’ve grouped some controls into Play and the rest into Edit. Play and Edit are
described on the following pages.
Entering Performance Mode
F1 Aura+is shipped from the factory to power up in Easy Mode (page 6). To
change the preamp to power-up into Performance Mode:
1. Press + hold the Edit knob (Tone control) while plugging in the guitar.
Continue to hold the Edit knob down when the tuner displays the letter “R” and
then the letter “P”.
2. While still holding the Edit knob, press the Volume knob. Release both knobs.
Performance mode is selected when the “P” stops flashing and the unit returns
to normal operation.

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Play vs. Edit
Play
Once in Performance Mode, plug in your instrument and it powers up into Play.
In Play, Volume, Blend and Phase can be adjusted. The chromatic Tuner and the
automatic Anti-Feedback circuit can also be activated. The Tone control is now
referred to as the Edit knob.
Edit
Press and release the Edit knob to enter Edit; the tuner’s green in-tune LED will
light solid. Once in Edit, press the Edit knob repeatedly to step through the
parameters. Each parameter is displayed using a single letter to represent its
function (see page 19). Adjust its value by turning the Edit knob. A number is
displayed and the tuner’s sharp/flat lights show positive or negative values.
Note: F1 Aura+is programmable and automatically saves your settings.
To exit Edit and return to Play, wait 15 seconds for the display to go dark, or press
+ hold the Edit knob for 2 seconds. You may also immediately exit by simultane-
ously pressing both the Edit and Volume knobs.

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Play Controls
More
Image
More
Pickup
Blend Volume: turn for volume
Tuner: press + hold 2 seconds
press to exit tuner
Phase: press to toggle
Measure – Press together to
start Anti-feedback search

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Volume
Turn Volume • For the cleanest noise-free sound, set Volume as high as possible
without causing your amp or mixer to distort.
Phase
Press and release Volume • Use the Phase setting to improve bass response at
low volume and suppress feedback at high volume. Press the Volume knob
several times and leave it in the position most pleasing to your ear.
Tuner
Press+hold Volume 2 seconds to turn tuner on.
Press Volume once to turn it off.
This digital chromatic tuner accommodates all
tunings and mutes the output when engaged.
It can be activated without an instrument cable
connected, in which case it will turn itself off
after 90 seconds of inactivity.
The tuner is calibrated to A=440.
“A” note
below pitch
“A” note
above pitch
“A#” note
in tune
note raised
1/2 step

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Play Controls (cont.)
Blend
Turn Edit • Turn the Edit knob without pressing on it and the balance between
pickup and Image is adjusted. A setting of P= 100% Pickup signal; 0= a 50/50
pickup/Image blend; I= 100% Image signal.
Suggestions
• For live performance try backing off the Image by setting Blend to
about 2 or 3 (about 65% pickup).
• For recording, try blending in more Image for a realistic acoustic sound.
Automatic Anti-Feedback
Use this search-and-destroy Anti-Feedback circuit in addition to Phase to
control feedback during a performance. F1 Aura+automatic Anti-Feedback
circuit can apply up to three separate notch filters, which are very precise tone
controls that reduce only a tiny piece of the audio band. When activated, the
filter locates and reduces the problematic resonances associated with feedback.

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While the Anti-Feedback control is very effective, it’s best if you spend some
time while setting up before a performance and catch any issues before you
begin to play. With some practice, you’ll find you can also use it to “fix” any
resonant notes that may stand out in a particular venue.
Using the automatic Anti-Feedback control:
1. Press + hold both Edit and Volume for 2 seconds. The tuner display will flash
a “1” to indicate it is searching for the first feedback.
2. Turn up the Volume, then either dampen the strings while tapping the body or
play the troublesome note until the feedback begins. The filter will automatically
identify and eliminate the feedback. The “1” in the display will now light solid.
3. At this point, you may continue to turn up your Volume as in step 2 to identify
up to two more problematic resonances. Each is indicated via a flashing “2” or
“3” during the search, in turn lighting solid when the resonance has been
identified.
4. You may press the Volume knob at any time to cancel the search. The circuit
will hold the notched frequenc(ies) in memory until the process is repeated.

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Edit Controls
Press Edit knob to enter Edit; the tuner’s green in-tune LED will light solid.
Once in Edit, press the Edit knob repeatedly to step through the parameters.
Each parameter is displayed using a single letter to represent its function.
Adjust its value by turning the Edit knob. A number is displayed and the tuner’s
sharp/flat LEDs indicate positive/negative values.
Note: F1 Aura+is programmable and automatically saves your settings.
To exit Edit, wait 15 seconds for the display to go dark, or press + hold the Edit
knob for 2 seconds. You may also immediately exit by simultaneously
pressing both the Edit and Volume knobs.

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Image
Select
Pickup
Treble EQ
Pickup
Mid EQ
+1
0
-3
1. Press to enter Edit.
Press Press Press
Press Edit repeatedly to select next parameter.
The sharp and flat LEDs indicate + or - values.
3. To exit Edit, wait 15 seconds, or press + hold Edit for 2 seconds. You may also
immediately exit by simultaneously pressing both the Edit and Volume knobs.
2. Turn Edit to adjust
parameter value.

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Edit Controls (cont.)
Image Select
F1 Aura+is factory loaded with Images created especially for this instrument.
Each Image corresponds to a different microphone type and position. Contact
the guitar’s manufacturer to identify the microphone associated with each Image.
Pickup EQ
Bass, Mid and Treble controls allow you to fine tune the pickup signal. The
pickup tone controls are designated by the capital letters T, M, B, corresponding
to Treble, Mid, and Bass respectively.
Blend
Blend adjusts the balance between the pickup and Image and is represented
by the letter X. A setting of P= 100% Pickup signal; 0= a 50/50 pickup/Image
blend; I= 100% Image signal.

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Compressor
The Compressor (C) parameter adjusts several settings within a sophisticated
automatic leveling circuit. As you increase the value, your overall playing
dynamics become increasingly limited, making softer notes louder while
controlling loud spikes in your playing. This can be helpful in performances
where you desire a more even level to your playing. At its maximum setting,
there may be some overall increase in the output level.
Anti-Feedback
This parameter, indicated with the letter A, allows you to temporarily disable the
automatic Anti-Feedback filter if desired. O= Off, I= On. See page 12 for details
on how to use the Anti-Feedback circuit.

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Edit Controls (cont.)
Image EQ
You can program unique EQ settings for each of the Images. Unlike other Edit
parameters, unique tone settings are automatically saved with each Image and
recalled when an Image is selected. In order to prevent dramatic or unwanted
changes, the Image EQ’s Treble, Mid, and Bass controls are separated from the
Pickup EQ and located “under” the Volume knob in Edit. They are identified by
a lowercase t, m, b, corresponding to Treble, Mid, and Bass respectively.
To EQ an Image:
1. Adjust the Blend control so that you are hearing 100% Image (page 12)
2. Press Edit knob to enter Edit and select an Image
3. Press the Volume button to select the Image Treble EQ (t)
4. Turn the Edit knob to boost or cut the Image Treble EQ
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 to adjust the Image Mid (m) and Image Bass (b)

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Edit Parameters
Pickup Bass EQ
Pickup Mid EQ
Pickup Treble EQ
Image Select
Pickup/Image Blend
Compressor
Anti-Feedback
Image Bass EQ
Image Mid EQ
Image Treble EQ

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Power
Plug in the guitar, and F1 Aura+switches on. To conserve the battery, remove
the instrument cable from the guitar when the system is not in use.
The tuner display will flash at power-up to tell you the preamp is on.
Low Battery Indicator
When the tuner flashes “L” once every three seconds, you have approximately
1.5 hours before the battery is exhausted. Change it at the next opportunity.