User manual FISHMAN PREFIX STEREO BLENDER

[. . . ] Our goal is to provide you with the finest acoustic amplification products - systems that simply let you sound your best. With our long-standing commitment to quality, you can feel confident that your Fishman gear will provide great sound and trouble free performance for years to come. If you have any questions, please contact us on the web at tech@fishman. com; or by telephone at 978-988-9665. Featured for the Stereo Blender is the acclaimed Acoustic MatrixTM under-saddle pickup. [. . . ] For stage use, the Microphone's interior location affords you unprecedented freedom of movement as well as minimal bleed through from other instruments. QUICK START We recommend that you preset the system EQ to locate and eliminate microphone feedback before you mix in the under-saddle pickup. Set all controls as follows: · Notch and Volume fully counter-clockwise · All EQ sliders at center position · Blend slider at full left position (A = microphone) 2. Slowly increase the volume and play the notes from the open low E, up to the fourth fret G sharp until the instrument starts to rumble or howl with feedback on one or more of these notes. Adjust the Notch control until this feedback is eliminated (usually between one and two o'clock on the dial). Increase the volume some more and play (on the low E string) the fifth fret A and above. Flip the phase switch to the position that eliminates feedback in this region. 3 Prefix - Stereo Blender Quick Start Cont'd . . . Slowly increase the Volume again, until you start to hear a high squeal. Lower the Contour Slider (level) all the way down and adjust the Frequency slider until the squealy feedback is eliminated. Raise the Contour slider (if possible) to just below the threshold of feedback. See diagram on page 9 SETUP Battery Compartment Pull the small tab at the top of the Onboard BlenderTM toward you. The body of the preamp will swing out, revealing the battery compartment. Observe the polarity marks on the battery clip and install a fresh 9V alkaline battery accordingly. 9 Volt Battery Stereo Blender Microphone Trim Control A small circular potentiometer is located on the underside of the preamp just below the battery compartment. Use it to initially calibrate the microphone balance in relation to the pickup. Set the Blend slider to the center position and with a small slotted screwdriver, adjust the Trim Control until both the microphone and pickup levels are balanced to your taste. 4 USER GUIDE Microphone Trim Control Mono/Stereo Switch A small slide switch, located on the underside of the preamp (across from the Notch control pot), lets you choose between mono and stereo operation. Leave the switch in the factory set Mono position when you use a standard instrument cable. Mono / Stereo Switch MONO / STEREO If you wish to split the pickup and microphone signals for separate external processing (such as with a Fishman Acoustic Blender), move the switch to the Stereo position and use a stereo cable or a stereo "Y" cable to carry the two signals to separate destinations. In the stereo mode, the pickup goes to the tip output and the microphone goes to the ring output. Mono MIC MIC Stereo Microphone & Pickup Signals Tip Pickup Ring Microphone MONO CABLE STEREO CABLE Note that the microphone signal at the ring output is affected only by the Volume, Blend and Phase controls. 5 Prefix - Stereo Blender Endpin Jack When you plug into the endpin jack, the Stereo Onboard BlenderTM switches on. To conserve the battery, remove the instrument cable from the endpin jack when the system is not being used. It is a good idea to turn down your amp or mixer input before you plug into the endpin jack. Doing so will protect your speakers (and your ears) from loud pops. Battery Low LED Plug into the endpin jack and the Low Battery light will flash momentarily, indicating that the power is on. [. . . ] Conversely, cutting the Treble will mellow and subdue your amplified tone. Blend Control This control determines the balance between the two pickups. Move it right to hear more of the Pickup (B). 8 USER GUIDE SUGGESTED EQ SETTINGS Anti-feedback See Quick Start on Page 3 50 Hz 900 Hz STEREO BLENDER QUIET LOUD 10 kHz PHASE + 12 dB - 12 dB + 12 dB - 12 dB + 12 dB - 12 dB BATTERY A B LOW 250 Hz STEREO BLENDER 50 Hz 900 Hz QUIET LOUD 10 kHz Brilliance If you are playing through a limited range amplifier (like an electric guitar amp) or have dead strings on the instrument, you can brighten up your sound by setting the Frequency slider to 10 kHz and raising the Contour level to taste. If you plan to play at high stage volume levels, dial in more pickup than microphone to avoid feedback. PHASE + 12 dB - 12 dB + 12 dB - 12 dB + 12 dB - 12 dB BATTERY A B LOW 250 Hz 9 Prefix - Stereo Blender Suggested EQ Settings Cont'd . . . Mid-Cut You can scoop out harsh midrange by setting the Frequency slider slightly above center with the Contour (level) cut to taste below the center detent. Often the desired mid-cut will fall into the same frequency range as potential microphone feedback. [. . . ]