Nollykin Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Review Very interesting read. I'm currently downloading an MP3 of how it's supposed to sound on my crappy 56k connection as we speak. It's an interesting concept - it's not an acoustic modeler as such - Rather it takes the sound from the pickup you have (you apparently program in what model of guitar and pickup you use?) and it models the sound of an acoustic being miced up with a variety of different mics. Essentially it makes your direct out signal sound like it's been miced up in the studio. From customer reviews, people LOVE or HATE it. It either works REALLY well with their guitar, or REALLY badly. Anyone had any experience? I'm intruiged - it's the first of its kind - and new gadgets always amuse me "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 Surprised noone's replied to this. Is this just old news? I couldn't find another post about it... but if there already was one a few weeks back, I apologise "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FULLREFUSAL Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Here's a link to a post about it on the Acoustic Guitar forums, where I do a detailed review of the box..I'm SVENTVKG. http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/018431.html Here's what I wrote: I finally talked one of the singer songwriters in town into getting one so I could put it through it's paces. He's great but not a tech head when it comes to gear and knows I am so he asked for help. He plays a D28 and had initiall set the Aura on the stock Dread model and tried tweaking it. Got decent results. Came over here to my studio, we downloaded the custom models and reloaded his Aura with all the cool Models he and I would need to test this thing out with our guitars. Obviously, I loaded the D28 in there with various Mic configurations and I loaded some 00, and OM small bodied Martin images on his unit to use with my Alvarez MF90(has Fishman PU specifically installed to use with the Aura). I also loaded a corresponding Taylor Model that would match my 714CE. First we did his 70's D28..Pluged it in and i began tweaking the unit. In about 5 minutes we had a killer sound!!! NO NO NO sign of any quack and sounded almost exactly like a Miced acoustic. Satisfied, we then Plugged in my taylor..Oh, by the way let me state we were monitoring through my Yamaha flat response studio monitors...Anyway, I have a Fishman Blender in my Taylor and I set it all the way to pickup and began tweaking the Aura 414 image...For all test we agreed that we liked the mix of Aura to PU about 60-70% Aura..mostly 70%...It didn't take long to get a killer studio grade Miced Acoustic sound out of the Aura..NO Quacking ducks to be found! I went back in forth bypassing the Aura and Blending the Mic back in on the Taylor and as Good as Sound as I get, The Aura was as good or better! We are just amazed!..Next I plugged in the Alvarez, loaded up a Martin OM with Rosewood Back and sides and went to work...In about 2 minutes I again had a killer tone...We would play and listen to the Aura blended in about 70% and then bypass and hear NASTY Quacky Piezo harshness...Then engage the Aura and It sounded like a studio mic was in front of it..Our Mouths were agape, to say the least..Satisfied with the Technology and the sound we were getting out of the Aura, we decided to set up my trusty Rode NT1000 mic and compare Aura to a nice large Diaphram on the sweet spot of the acoustic. I know what i'm doing in a studio so I got some nice Miced sounds..we strummed and listened..Hit single notes, arpeggios, licks etc etc..Then we would mute the mic and enguage the Aura and in every case, on every guitar the Aura sounded just about as good as the studio Mic..I used it as a reference while tweaking the EQ of the images for Jared's Marting and my Acoustics... Anyway, to sum up this is an insanely killer box and you would be stupid not to pick it up....Now as far as ease of set up and use, I found it simple but I can get around any piece of gear in studio or live with ease. If you can tweak an EQ, and blend an acoustic blender like the Fishman on a Taylor and you have ears, you can set up this Aura with any guitar in a few minutes....That simple. As far as the features we found the tuner exellent but the compressor was really only usable to my taste, for fingerpicking..Strumming didn't cut it for me, but no auto comp cuts it for me for my agressive strumming. I need one where I can manually set up the attack, threashold, relase, etc etc for my style...That said I will only state one more thing. GO GET AN AURA RIGHT NOW!..If you are looking for a natural acoustic live tone...I'm out. Here's Some more: As far as a soundclip goes, I don't believe it will truely prove anything. I believe that you have to hear it for yourself in real live 3D to get it. We decided it was a moot point to record it as we were more then satisfied and weren't out to try to prove anything to anyone. I heard all the soundclips and saw the video but I still wanted to tweak an Aura and really hear one in person before I came to a conclusion. Sorry about being overly "Glowing" In my report but those are truely mine and Jared Woods' experiences. This is not some AD stomp like "Effect"; it's totally different and really needs to be evaluated in person. Some people are just no good at setting up and tweaking electronic gear and will plug in and not like the sound..In my opinion if you do not have the skill take the unit to a studio where someone knows, EQ, Blending, Compression etc, and have them help you set it up because you would have to have no ears to not like the unit. Is it perfect...no..Is anything perfect..No..It's a HELL of a lot better then ANY UST through ANY effect I have ever heard though. Tunedaguitar, I don't think it matters that your guitar has a laminant top. Just find a guitar soud image for the aura, and I recommend downloading the custom images and NOT using the stock images, that corresponds to the shape of your guitar.. If you have a dread, try the D28, the Lowden Dred, or something else. I'm pretty sure you'll find that one of them sounds like a nice dread Miced up....The key is the size type matching..That's really it as far as what we have found. By the way, I should mention that I used the unit to play a couple sets with last month while gigging with the same singer songwriter that owns the Aura and it was great. Can't wait to get one. Basically the Aura is incredible..I feel the people who do not like it don't know what the hell they are doing as far as being able to EQ and Blend signals correctly. Also, You should try to match the guitar shape and size of the Image, to the one you are playing. www.seanmormelo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Yamaha flat response monitors? Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FULLREFUSAL Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Originally posted by bpark@prorec.com: Yamaha flat response monitors? BillLOL, yea well kinda!! www.seanmormelo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 Awesome. Sounds sweet. I'd love to try one out sometime. But it's not something I can see myself justifying having. But still - sounds awesome to me. "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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