O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L ACOUSTIC BLENDER ® ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PREAMP ACOUSTIC BASS BLENDER ® ACOUSTIC BASS PREAMP
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM INTRODUCTION: THE BLENDER SYSTEM Thank you for your purchase of a FISHMAN product. Please read these instructions carefully. If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to call our PRODUCT INFORMATION LINE at 978-988-9665. The Acoustic BLENDER is a dedicated 2 channel preamp that addresses the specific needs of acoustic stringed instrument players. The BLENDER System combines the sounds from a pickup and instrument-mounted mini-microphone.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM P R E PA R I N G YO U R I N S T R U M E N T Before you begin using your 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.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER CONTENTS QUICK START .......................................................4 SYSTEM Q U I C K S TA R T You don't have to read this manual to get up and running, although we recommend that you do in order to get the most out of your BLENDER. Here's what you need to do if you want to "plug in and play". FEATURES............................................................5 POWER COMPONENTS 1) ACOUSTIC BLENDER INPUT JACKS .......................................................
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM F R O N T PA N E L R E A R PA N E L F E AT U R E S FRONT PANEL 1) BATTERY COMPARTMENT: ( See Page 6 ) 2) MICROPHONE GAIN: ( See Page 7 ) 3) MICROPHONE BASS CONTROL: ( See Page 7 ) 4) MICROPHONE TREBLE CONTROL: ( See Page 7 ) 5) PHANTOM POWER OFF SWITCH: ( See Page 7 ) 6) BASS CUT SWITCH: ( See Page 7 ) 7) MICROPHONE PHASE SWITCH: ( See Page 8 ) 8) MICROPHONE TRIM CONTROL: ( See Page 8 ) 9) AUX / MIC IN: ( See Page 6 ) 10) STEREO IN: ( See Page 6 ) 11) TRANSDUCER GAIN CONTROL: (
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM Make note of the following precautions when using the BLENDER under battery power. BATTERY POWER The BLENDER has no ON/OFF switch. Under battery power, the BLENDER is turned on only when the STEREO IN jack is plugged in. Power is always on when using an AC Adapter (See Page 11). 1) To avoid excessive battery drain (Battery life is an estimated 15 hours continuous use): a. Unplug the STEREO IN jack when the the unit is not being used. b.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM FRONT PA N E L MICROPHONE CHANNEL GAIN CONTROL Controls the volume of the MICROPHONE Channel. BASS and TREBLE CONTROLS Controls the Bass and Treble for the MICROPHONE Channel. These are boost / cut shelving tone controls. Setting them at 12:00 yields a flat response. PHANTOM POWER OFF SWITCH Pushing this switch IN shuts OFF the Phantom Power - for applications that use a dynamic microphone or pickup. The OUT position provides 4.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM PHASE SWITCHES Compensate for Phase differences that often occur between instrument, microphone, pickup and speaker. HOW TO USE THE BLENDER’S PHASE SWITCHES 1. GET THE MICROPHONE PHASE ALIGNED WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM Determine your position on stage. Adjust the BLENDER output Level to 3:00 and the Transducer Channel Gain fully counter-clockwise. Adjust the MICROPHONE Channel Gain to just below the threshold of feedback.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM FRONT PA N E L TRANSDUCER CHANNEL GAIN 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.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM FRONT PA N E L MASTER SECTION BATTERY LOW SWITCH / INDICATOR With the STEREO IN jack plugged in, push this switch IN to check your battery. If the LED lights up when you push the switch in, you should replace your battery. HEADPHONES OUTPUT This sends a line-level mixed signal to 32Ω headphones or a power amp input. This is the BLENDER’s only line level output. This output will send a mono mixed signal to a pair of headphones.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM REAR PA N E L AC ADAPTER INPUT USE ONLY the FISHMAN Model 910-R or the ROLAND PSA Series Regulated AC Adapters. The BLENDER is turned on at all times when using the AC adapter. Use of the AC adapter will prevent any battery drain. WARNING: DO NOT daisy-chain your AC adapter in parallel with other devices. The BLENDER will malfunction in this manner. MIX OUTPUTS The 1/4” MIX output provides an unbalanced, instrument-level signal of the two channels combined.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM SUGGESTED INPUT OPTIONS 1) INTERNAL MICROPHONE AND PICKUP Pickup goes to Tip, microphone goes to Ring. Pickup and microphone signals are sent through a stereo instrument cable to the STEREO IN jack. Pickup signal is controlled by TRANSDUCER Channel. Microphone signal is controlled by MICROPHONE Channel. The Phantom Power should be turned ON (switch pushed OUT).
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM 4) PIEZO AND MAGNETIC PICKUP A) Signal from piezo pickup is sent through a mono instrument cable to the STEREO IN jack. This signal is controlled by the TRANSDUCER Channel. B) Signal from magnetic pickup is sent through a mono instrument cable to the AUX / MIC IN jack. This signal is controlled by the MICROPHONE Channel. Phantom Power must be turned OFF ( switch pushed IN ). NOTE: Both signals may be routed through a stereo instrument cable.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM SUGGESTED OUTPUT OPTIONS 1) 1/4" MIX OUTPUT JACK CONNECTED TO INSTRUMENT AMPLIFIER Connect the 1/4” MIX output to the input of your instrument amplifier. The amp will see a blended signal - both microphone and pickup. 2) XLR MIX OUTPUT JACK CONNECTED TO PA SYSTEM Connect the XLR MIX output to the input of your PA System. The PA will see a blended signal - both microphone and pickup.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM 4) USING MULTIPLE OUTPUTS All of the Acoustic BLENDER’s outputs can be used simultaneously. This offers virtually any combination of signal routing and interfacing options to accommodate a wide variety of performance and recording situations.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM EFFECTS LOOPS EFFECTS LOOPS The BLENDER has three Effects Loops; one each for the MICROPHONE, TRANSDUCER and MIXED signals. The Sends can be used as additional outputs and the Returns can be used as alternate inputs. The TRANSDUCER EFFECTS Send provides a perfect output signal for electronic tuners.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOM TYPICAL CAUSE SOLUTION NO SIGNAL WHEN USING AUX / MIC IN JACK ONLY WITH BATTERY POWER STEREO IN JACK MUST BE PLUGGED IN FOR POWER TO BE ON WHEN USING BATTERY POWER INSERT A 1/4” PLUG OR UNUSED INSTRUMENT CABLE INTO THE STEREO IN JACK DISTORTED OR NO MIC SIGNAL WITH ACTIVE PICKUP MIC IS GROUNDED-OUT BY THE INSTRUMENT’S ONBOARD PREAMP INSTALL A FISHMAN SMART SWITCH OR USE SEPARATE CABLES FOR MIC AND PICKUP MUTE SWITCH IN SET MUTE SWITCH TO O
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES SPECIFICATIONS • A/C ADAPTER: FISHMAN 910-R regulated 9V power supply. • CROWN GLM-200 MINI-MIC: Ships without jack; ready to be wired to the jack of your choice. Soldering and assembly required. • UNIVERSAL MIC MOUNT: Allows you to mount a mini-mic to your instrument. • INTERNAL MIC MOUNT: Allows you to mount a mini-mic to the X-brace of your guitar. • GUITAR MIC ASSEMBLY: Mounts to the X-brace of your guitar.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM APPENDIX I: THE MICROPHONE A variety of microphones can be used with the Acoustic 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.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER USING OTHER MICROPHONES The BLENDER is also compatible with other manufacturers’ mini-electret 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 BLENDER. You'll need a low to high impedance adapter in the AUX/MIC IN jack.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM APPENDIX II: PHASE HIGH VOLUME LEVELS 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.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM APPENDIX III: THE FISHMAN 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 DOES THE SMART SWITCH DO? The Smart Switch takes over the preamp power switching duty and frees up the RING terminal on the output jack for the microphone signal.
ACOUSTIC BLENDER SYSTEM NOTES 23
L I M I T E D W A R R A N T Y The FISHMAN ACOUSTIC BLENDER ® and ACOUSTIC BASS BLENDER ® is warranted to function for a period of 90 days 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.
