Fishman LOUDBOX ARTIST User manual

www.fishman.com
USER GUIDE
LOUDBOX ARTIST

4
Read Me!
Before using Loudbox Artist, carefully read the Important Safety Instructions
and the Getting Started sections in this User Guide.
Save Your Packing Materials
The box and packing materials were specially designed to protect the amplifier
during shipping. Save all this stuff in case you need to re-ship the Loudbox Artist.
Hear This!
The Loudbox Artist amplifier is capable of cleanly reproducing the sound of your
instrument at very high volume levels. Prolonged repeated exposure to high
sound pressure levels (SPLs) without protection can cause permanent hearing
loss. OSHA has set guidelines and specified permissible sound-exposure limits
for those who work in high SPL environments.
Permissible noise exposures
Duration per day, Sound level dBA
hours slow response
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1½ 102
1 105
½ 110
¼ or less 115
To ensure against permanent hearing loss, wear hearing protection when you
perform with amplification.
LOUDBOX ARTIST
Tested to Comply
With FCC Standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
NOTE: Operate the amplifier only at the voltage indicated in
the check box on the rear panel. Do not defeat the ground
prong on the AC cable; the safe operation of this amplifier
depends on a proper ground connection.

6
Welcome
Thank you for making Fishman a part of your acoustic experience. We are proud
to offer the finest acoustic amplification products available; high-quality
professional-grade tools which empower you to sound your very best.

7
Getting Started
Here are some basic setup tips to help get you going. To operate the
Loudbox Artist safely, please read the entire manual, especially the Important
Safety Instructions on page 2.
If your amplifier has an operating voltage of 120V, plug the provided AC line
cord into the back of the amplifier.
If your amplifier operates at 230V, you must supply your own detachable power
cord. The cord you supply must have an IEC-style 320 connector at one end and
a male AC plug appropriate for your area at the other.
1. Locate the Power switch (above the rear panel power cord terminal) and switch
it off (down position), then connect the power cord.
2. Plug the Loudbox Artist into an electrical outlet with the appropriate AC
voltage.
3. Turn down the Master Volume control and turn on the Power switch.
4. Connect your instrument to the Channel 1 input with a shielded ¼” cable.
5. Play aggressively and raise Channel 1 Gain until the Clip LED (inside the Pad
button) flashes, then back off the Gain until no clipping occurs.
6. Set the tone controls “flat” as illustrated below.
7. Push the Mute switch (turning off its yellow light) and slowly raise the
Master Volume to the desired level.

8
Front Panel
Controls 1 through 10 are identical for both channels.
1. Channel 1 Input
The 1/4” input accepts all types of passive or active acoustic pickups.
Plug a balanced mic into the XLR input for vocal or instrument use.
2. 10dB Pad & Clip LED
If you have a high output pickup and the Clip LED (located in the center of the
Pad button) comes on at low Gain settings, push this switch in to put your pickup
level into a more useable range.
3. Gain
Use the Gain knob to set the level of the signal.
4. Low
Boost here to add weight to the sound. In general, boost bass at low volumes
and flatten it out (or cut) at higher levels. With the dial set at 12 o’clock, the
control is effectively out of the circuit.
5. Mid
This control affects how well the instrument blends in or stands out in the mix. At
loud volumes a midrange cut will achieve a more natural sound. With the dial set
at 12 o’clock, the control is effectively out of the circuit.
6. High
Boost highs to add “air” to the sound of the instrument. With the knob set at
12 o’clock, the control is effectively out of the circuit.
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Front Panel (cont.)
7. Anti-Feedback
If you encounter low-frequency feedback, sweep this control to isolate and
eliminate it. To learn more about acoustic feedback, see page 9.
8. Phase
Use the Phase switch in conjunction with the Anti-Feedback filter to eliminate
acoustic feedback. To read more about acoustic feedback, see page 9.
9. Effect A Level
Controls the amount of Effect A in the input channel.
10. Effect B On
When this button is lit, the input channel’s audio is processed by Effect B.
11. Effect A
Use this control to select one of four effects for Effect A.
12. Effect A “Time”
Determines the length of time for the delay or reverb effects.
13. Effect B
Use this control to select one of four effects for Effect B.
14. Effect B “Depth”
Adjusts the intensity of Effect B.
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Front Panel (cont.)
15. Aux Level
Use this to control the level of an audio device plugged into the Aux input. Note
that the Aux channel is independent of the Mute switch, so you can play pre-
recorded music on your breaks.
16. Master Volume
Set the overall level of the Loudbox Artist with the Master Volume. In general
put the Master Volume as high as possible (2 o’clock to 5 o’clock) to achieve the
cleanest sound.
17. Power
Lights up when the amplifier power is on.
18. Headphone Jack
When you plug in stereo headphones here, the speakers shut off. This output
monitors Channels 1 & 2 and the Aux input, so you can play along with
pre-recorded music through the headphones.
19. Channel Mute
The Channel Mute switch shuts off the signals from Channels 1 and 2 to the
speakers and all XLR outputs. The Channel Mute does not affect the Aux Inputs
or the effects sends. When mute is active, its button LED will be lit.
20. Tweeter Level
Turn this control to attenuate the tweeter’s output level to where it sounds best
to you.
21. Phantom Power
Provides 24V to the XLR input on each input channel to power a condenser
microphone. When phantom power is active, its button LED will be lit.
Most condenser and dynamic microphones, as well as some
preamps, can be used safely with phantom power.
However, phantom power can damage some audio devices including some
unbalanced mics, preamps or stompboxes that have been modified for
balanced XLR use. Whenever there is doubt, contact the manufacturer to
confirm compatibility.

12
Rear Panel
1. Power switch
Lower the Master Volume before you turn on the amp. Flip the power switch to
the up position.
2. AC power
Operate the amplifier only at the voltage indicated on the rear panel.
For 120V amplifiers purchased in the USA, Canada and Mexico, plug in the
supplied detachable AC power cable.
For 100V and 230V amplifiers purchased outside the USA and Canada, you will
need to supply your own detachable AC cable. This cable must have an IEC-
style 320 connector at one end, and a male AC plug appropriate for your region
at the other.
Disconnect device is AC inlet or power switch.
3. Mute Foot Switch
Plug a Fishman dual foot switch into this jack for remote access to Channel Mute
and Effect B Mute.
4. Aux Input - 1/4” & 1/8”
Plug in a line level stereo audio source such as a CD or MP3 player in either
input. Both inputs may be used at the same time. They are stereo (TRS) inputs,
however the left and right signals are mixed to mono.
5. Mix D.I. (Post)
Plug in here when you wish to send signals from both Channel 1 and 2 to a
mixing console or a slave amplifier. This post-EQ output is always ground
isolated to prevent ground loop hum.
1
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4

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Rear Panel (cont.)
6. Channel 2 Effects Loop (serial)
Patch an external effect through these jacks. Use a standard ¼” shielded
instrument cable to connect the Channel 2 Send to the input of the effect.
Connect the Channel 2 Return jack to the output of the effect. The Channel 2
loop is located post-EQ and is compatible with battery-operated stompbox-
style effects processors.
7. Channel 2 D.I. Out (Pre-EQ)
Use this output when you want a flat D.I. signal to send to a mixing console. This
pre-EQ output is always ground isolated to prevent ground loop hum.
8. Channel 1 Effects Loop (serial)
Patch an external effect through these jacks. Use a standard ¼” shielded
instrument cable to connect the Channel 1 Send to the input of the effect.
Connect the Channel 1 Return jack to the output of the effect. The Channel 1
loop is located post-EQ and is compatible with battery-operated stompbox-
style effects processors.
9. Channel 1 D.I. Out (Pre-EQ)
Use this output when you want a flat D.I. signal to send to a mixing console. This
pre-EQ output is always ground isolated to prevent ground loop hum.

14
Tone Tips
Set up
For reference, start with the tone controls flat (straight-up, twelve o’clock). In this
position, there is no equalization applied to your sound. Begin at a very low
volume and work your way up. As you turn up, try adjusting the Loudbox Artist’s
tone controls as recommended below.
1. Low volume
At a low volume (just above conversation level) our ears are not very sensitive to
bass and treble, so give the Low and High controls a good boost.
2. Medium volume
At intermediate levels, when you need to raise your voice to be heard over the
music, the human ear is quite sensitive to midrange. Cut the Mid control to
about ten o’clock or to your taste. At this level our perception of bass and treble
starts to catch up to the rest of the tonal spectrum, so you can back off the Low
and High controls slightly for good tonal balance.
3. High volume
At loud levels, when you must shout to be heard over the music, your ears (and
your audience) will benefit from a deep midrange cut. Set the Mid dial between
nine and seven o’clock. Our perception of bass and treble “flattens out” at high
volumes, so you won’t need much, if any, Low or High boost. Set the Low and
High knobs to between twelve and one o’clock.

15
About Acoustic Feedback
Feedback usually occurs in the lowest octave of your instrument, generally with
two notes about a half step apart. The lower type of feedback (cavity resonance)
starts when the sound pressure coming out of the speakers excites the resonant
air chamber inside your instrument. We have found that it is effective to tune out
an instrument’s cavity resonance feedback with the Anti-Feedback (notch filter)
in the Loudbox Artist. For acoustic guitar this occurs at G# on the low E-string, or
at about 100Hz. Turn the Anti-Feedback knob to about 11 o’clock to dial out this
resonance. Note that the circuit can be effectively defeated by moving the dial
to the Off (7 o’clock) position.
The higher range of feedback (top resonance) usually starts about a half or whole
step above cavity resonance of the instrument. Top resonance feedback
happens when the sound pressure coming off the speakers excites the resonant
frequency of the soundboard of your instrument. For acoustic guitar, this occurs
at A and above on the low E-string. Push the Phase switch in and out until you
find the position that subdues top resonance feedback.
Lower
Feedback Range
(E to G#)
Upper
Feedback Range
(A and above)
Anti
Feedback
Phase

16
Block Diagram
Master
Volume
Mix D.I. Output
(bal., mic level)
Effect A
Reverb, Delay
Ch 2 Effect B
Level
Ch 1 Effect A
Level
Ch 1
Effect B On
Ch 2
Effect B On
Effect B Mute
Foot Switch
Effect B
Chorus, Flanger, Slap Echo
1/4”
Stereo Aux
Inputs
Tip = Left Ring = Right
1/8”
Pre-EQ D.I. Output
(bal., mic level)
Mic
Input PhaseChannel Mute
Foot Switch
Mic
Preamp
Phantom
Power
+24V
Limiter 100Watt
Power Amp
Gain
Anti-feedback
Notch Filter
Effect
Send
Effect
Return
Tone Controls
Low, Mid, High
HPF
40Hz
Tweeter
Woofer
LPF
Limiter
Tweeter
Level
20Watt
Power Amp
HPF
Instrument
Input
Channel 1 Channel 2
Phase
Aux
Level
Pad
10dB
Pre-EQ D.I. Output
(bal., mic level)
Mic
Input PhaseChannel Mute
Foot Switch
Channel
Mute
Foot
Switch
Mic
Preamp
Phantom
Power
+24V
Gain
Anti-feedback
Notch Filter
Effect
Send
Effect
Return
Tone Controls
Low, Mid, High
HPF
40Hz
Instrument
Input Phase
Pad
10dB

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Technical Specifications
Input Impedance:
1/4” Input 5MOhm
XLR Input 2.4kOhm Balanced
Aux Input (stereo) 10kOhm
Phantom Power
XLR Input 24VDC / 1.2kOhm DC source impedance per pin
Tone Controls and Anti-Feedback:
Low ±12.5dB @ 50Hz (resonant)
Mid ±10.5dB @ 750Hz (resonant)
High ±12.5dB @ 15kHz (shelving)
Anti Feedback range -14dB @ 15Hz – 330Hz (Hi-Q resonant notch)
Channel 1 & 2 D.I. Output:
Output Impedance 440Ohm balanced
Phantom power tolerant, ground isolated
Channel 1 & 2 Effects Sends:
Output Impedance 2.2kOhm
Operating Level -10dBV Nominal
Channel 1 & 2 Effects Returns:
Input Impedance 28k Ohm
Input Voltage -10dBV Nominal
(Sends and returns are compatible with battery operated effects processors)
Mix D.I. Output:
Output Impedance 600Ohm balanced
Phantom power tolerant, ground isolated