O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L POCKET BLENDER ® ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PREAMP
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER INTRODUCTION: THE BLENDER SYSTEM Thank you for your purchase of a Fishman product. Please read these instructions carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to call our product information line at (978) 988-9665. The POCKET BLENDER is a compact, 2-channel preamp that addresses the specific needs of acoustic stringed instrument players. The BLENDER System combines the sounds from a pickup and an instrument-mounted mini-microphone.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER PREPARING YOUR INSTRUMENT Before you begin using your Pocket Blender, you will need to have a pickup and microphone in place on your instrument. Here are four common scenarios: PASSIVE PICKUP AND MICROPHONE: If your instrument has a passive piezo pickup, it’s easy to connect it and a microphone to the same stereo endpin jack. Connect the pickup to tip, and the microphone to ring.
FISHMAN POCKET CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................2 PREPARING YOUR INSTRUMENT . . . . . . . 3 QUICK START . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 BLENDER QUICK START You don't have to read this manual to get up and running, but we recommend that you do in order to get the most out of your POCKET BLENDER. Here's what you need to do if you want to "plug in and play".
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER FEATURES FRONT PANEL REAR PANEL 1) BATTERY COMPARTMENT ( See Page 6 ) 2) MICROPHONE VOLUME ( See Page 7 ) 3) MICROPHONE BASS CONTROL ( See Page 7 ) 17) PHANTOM POWER SWITCH ( See Page 11 ) 18) 1/4” INPUT JACK (TRS) ( See Pages 6 & 11 ) 4) MICROPHONE TREBLE CONTROL ( See Page 7 ) 5) TRANSDUCER VOLUME CONTROL ( See Page 9 ) 6) TRANSDUCER BASS CONTROL ( See Page 9 ) 19) MICROPHONE EFFECTS SEND ( See Page 11 ) 20) MICROPHONE EFFECTS RETURN ( See Page 11 ) 7) TRANSDUCER TREBLE CON
FISHMAN POWER POCKET BLENDER A - BATTERY POWER Make note of the following precautions when using the POCKET BLENDER under battery power: The POCKET BLENDER has no ON/OFF switch. Under battery power, the POCKET BLENDER is turned on only when the STEREO IN jack is plugged in. Power is always on when using an AC Adapter To avoid excessive battery drain: a. Unplug the INPUT jack when the unit is not being used. b.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER FRONT PANEL MICROPHONE CHANNEL VOLUME CONTROL Controls the volume of the MICROPHONE channel. BASS AND TREBLE CONTROLS Control the BASS and TREBLE for the MICROPHONE channel. These are boost/cut shelving tone controls. Setting them at 12:00 yields a flat response. TRIM CONTROL Sets the MICROPHONE channel sensitivity for optimum signal strength before clipping. To attain the best signal to noise ratio, start with the control fully clockwise and play your loudest note or chord.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER HOW TO USE THE POCKET BLENDER'S PHASE SWITCHES 1. GET THE MICROPHONE PHASE ALIGNED WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM Determine your position on stage. Adjust the POCKET BLENDER Master Volume to 3:00 and the TRANSDUCER channel Gain fully counter-clockwise. Adjust the MICROPHONE channel Volume to just below the threshold of feedback. Play a sustained note or chord on your instrument while flipping the MICROPHONE channel Phase switch. Listen to and compare each position.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER FRONT PANEL TRANSDUCER CHANNEL VOLUME CONTROL Controls the volume of the TRANSDUCER channel. BASS AND TREBLE CONTROLS Controls the BASS and TREBLE for the TRANSDUCER channel. These are boost/cut shelving tone controls. Setting them at 12:00 yields a flat response. TRIM CONTROL Sets the TRANSDUCER channel sensitivity for optimum signal strength before clipping. To attain the best signal to noise ratio, start with the control fully clockwise and play your loudest note or chord.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER FRONT PANEL MASTER SECTION LOW BATTERY INDICATOR When plugging into the Input of the POCKET BLENDER, The Low Battery LED will flash momentarily, indicating that the power is on. When the Low Battery LED stays on with the Input jack plugged in, it is time to change the battery. MASTER VOLUME CONTROL Controls the overall volume of the XLR and 1/4" outputs. The Master Volume does NOT affect the level of the MICROPHONE or TRANSDUCER effects sends.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER REAR PANEL PHANTOM POWER SWITCH Pushing this switch IN turns the Phantom Power ON. The IN position provides 9 volts of phantom power to the Ring of the Input jack. Pushing this switch OUT shuts OFF the Phantom Power. Shut off the Phantom Power when using a dynamic microphone or pickup in the MICROPHONE channel. INPUT JACK The INPUT jack is a TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) input that can accept two discrete signals through a stereo instrument cable.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER EFFECTS LOOP APPLICATIONS • SENDS The TRANSDUCER and MICROPHONE Sends by themselves are excellent for use in cases when fixed level signals (regardless of changes in stage level) are needed. Typical applications for the Sends are: ELECTRONIC TUNER VIA TRANSDUCER SEND The TRANSDUCER Send provides a strong, clear signal for electronic tuners. Since the TRANSDUCER Send is not affected by the Mute switch, you may tune your instrument with the Outputs to the house system silenced.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER SUGGESTED INPUT OPTIONS 1) INTERNAL MICROPHONE AND PICKUP Pickup goes to Tip, microphone goes to Ring. Pickup and microphone signals are routed through a stereo instrument cable to the INPUT jack. Pickup signal is controlled by TRANSDUCER Channel. Microphone signal is controlled by MICROPHONE Channel. The Phantom Power should be turned on (switch pushed IN).
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER SUGGESTED INPUT OPTIONS, Continued 4) PIEZO AND MAGNETIC PICKUP A) Signal from piezo is routed through a mono instrument cable to the TIP jack of a stereo "Y" cable (available from Fishman). This signal is controlled by the TRANSDUCER channel. B) Signal from magnetic pickup is sent through a mono instrument cable to the RING jack of a stereo "Y" cable (available from Fishman). This signal is controlled by the MICROPHONE channel.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER SUGGESTED OUTPUT OPTIONS 1) 1/4" UNBALANCED OUTPUT CONNECTED TO AN INSTRUMENT AMPLIFIER Connect the 1/4" Output to the input of your instrument amplifier. The amp will see a blended signal of both microphone and pickup. 2) XLR OUTPUT JACK CONNECTED TO PA SYSTEM Connect the XLR output to the input of your PA system. The PA will see a blended signal of both microphone and pickup.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER OUTPUTS / EFFECTS USING MULTIPLE OUTPUTS All the POCKET BLENDER's outputs can be used simultaneously. This offers a basic combination of signal routing and interfacing options to accommodate most performance and recording situations. EFFECTS LOOPS The POCKET BLENDER has two Effects Loops for Microphone and for Transducer signals. The SENDS can be used as additional outputs. The RETURNS can be used as alternate inputs.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER TROUBLESHOOTING SYMPTOM DISTORTED OR NO MICROPHONE SIGNAL WITH ACTIVE PICKUP (BATTERY ON INSTRUMENT) NO SIGNAL WITH BATTERY POWER NO SIGNAL WITH AC POWER MICROPHONE CHANNEL DEAD WITH MINI-MICROPHONE CONNECTED TO INPUT JACK MICROPHONE IS DEAD AND PICKUP APPEARS IN MICROPHONE CHANNEL NOISE OR DISTORTION FROM EITHER CHANNEL DISTORTION FROM EXTREMELY ‘HOT’ SIGNALS SUCH AS EXTERNAL PICKUP TYPICAL CAUSE SOLUTION MICROPHONE IS GROUNDED-OUT BY THE INSTRUMENT’S ONBOARD PREAMP INST
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES SPECIFICATIONS • A/C ADAPTER: FISHMAN 910-R regulated 9V power supply. Nominal Input Level: -20 dBV • CROWN GLM-200 MINI-MICROPHONE: Ships without jack; ready to be wired to the jack of your choice. Soldering and assembly required. Input Overload: (20Hz-20kHz) -8 dBV • UNIVERSAL MICROPHONE MOUNT: Allows you to mount a mini-microphone to your instrument. Input Stage Impedance: Transducer: 10 M Ohms Microphone without phantom power: 1.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER APPENDIX I: MICROPHONE A variety of microphones can be used with the POCKET BLENDER. However, the Crown GLM-200 is Fishman's microphone of choice for the BLENDER system. It is a mini-electret condenser microphone with a hyper-cardioid response pattern. Its high SPL rating (130 dB), small size and crystal clear "rising" frequency response make it ideal for close mic'ing acoustic stringed instruments. Fishman offers the GLM-200 optimized specifically for use with the BLENDER System.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER APPENDIX I: MICROPHONE Continued USING OTHER MICROPHONES The POCKET BLENDER is also compatible with other manufacturers' minielectret microphones. Consult the manufacturer for specific minimum power requirements, wiring configuration and instrument mounting systems (the Fishman microphone mounts are dedicated to the Crown GLM series). Dynamic microphones (such as the SM 58) may be used with the POCKET BLENDER.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER APPENDIX II: PHASE WHAT IS PHASE? Phase is the relationship between two signals or sound waves, originating from the same instrument. For our purposes, Phase relationships are expressed as being either "in phase" or "out of phase". In phase tends to enhance, while out of phase tends to suppress the natural characteristics of an instrument. A simple way to determine the quality of Phase (in or out) of two sounds is to compare phase switch settings at low volumes.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER APPENDIX II: PHASE Continued 1. ACOUSTIC PHASE In any situation where the mic'ed instrument faces a loudspeaker, there will be an interactive phase relationship between the two. This usually occurs with stage amps, side fill and floor monitors at close distances. LOW VOLUME AMPLIFICATION At low volumes, when a mic'ed instrument and speaker are at similar levels and are in phase, the sound is full and solid, with the lower frequencies emphasized.
FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER APPENDIX III: SMART SWITCH If your instrument has an active pickup/preamp and you are going to route electret microphone and pickup signals through a single stereo cable, you may need to install a SMART SWITCH for the system to operate. WHAT IS A SMART SWITCH? The SMART SWITCH is a voltage sensing electronic switch. A SMART SWITCH must be installed with certain pickup/preamp/microphone configurations due to the physical limitations of the stereo (TRS) jack used on the instrument.
L I M I T E D W A R R A N T Y The FISHMAN POCKET BLENDER is warranted to function for a period of One (1) Year from the date of purchase. If the unit fails to function properly within the warranty period, free repair and the option of replacement or refund in the event that FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS is unable to make repair are FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS’ only obligations. This warranty does not cover any consequential damages or damage to the unit due to misuse, accident, or neglect.
