00:01Can I cut the cord to keep the tone?
00:06Now I'm no different from any other guitarist. To me, tone is essential, and it's factored into pretty much every
00:11gear purchase I make.
00:12When choosing wireless systems, things like dropout, latency, and signal loss are unacceptable.
00:16I can't do it.
00:17I've tried many wireless systems with different levels of success, but I'm very impressed with the Fishman Airlock.
00:26The Fishman Airlock claims to give you the convenience of a wireless setup without any tonal loss or interference.
00:34So today we're putting that claim to the test.
00:36I'll be using the Airlock wireless system in a couple real-world scenarios and doing some comparisons with physical cables
00:41so you can hear the truth for yourself.
00:48For other tone nerds like myself, here's the stuff you would care about.
00:52It has a 118 decibel dynamic range with real cable tone integration. Not simulated.
00:59It has a 3.5 millisecond latency with near zero delay.
01:05For me, it's imperceptible. Feels just like a real cable.
01:09Even at long ranges.
01:12It has interference remediation, so there's no annoying jittering while you're just trying to play.
01:16And one of the coolest functions for me is it has a USB output for direct recording.
01:20Meaning you can skip your interface, plug these right into your computer, and record wirelessly... wherever.
01:26So it's one less thing to pack when traveling.
01:28It's universally compatible with any instrument that has a quarter inch output.
01:31And it's a rechargeable system with over 9 hours of battery life.
01:35So for those of you playing 10 hour sets, you can just recharge it during the third intermission.
01:38The airlock has a bug style wireless form factor, but delivers quality and capabilities that have only been available in
01:44belt pack and pedal board options so far.
01:47I took it to a rehearsal with my band and was impressed that it lasted over 2 hours without any
01:51unwanted interruption.
01:54Which is important because technical issues can really interfere with your momentum.
01:58I then took the airlock to the park to see how it could handle range, while also getting some time
02:01away from my amp to appreciate nature.
02:03It's also been nice having the freedom to maximize my practice time while doing other small tasks around the house.
02:31And I even got a bit of free-roaming recording done this morning.
02:43I definitely think that the range, durability, and low profile of the airlock make it a great choice for live
02:48performance.
02:49So clearly I've been having some fun with these things, and to my ears they sound great, just like a
02:53regular cable.
02:54But I'm wondering how similar it actually sounds, like on a frequency level.
02:58My ears obviously have their limitations, so I think it would be cool to check out the EQ curves put
03:02out by both the airlock and by a real cable, and to see how they compare.
03:05We're getting super scientific here, so I'll be recording this guitar, through this looper pedal, going into this guitar amp.
03:12And I'm going to test this signal chain with both the cable and the airlock.
03:14The looper pedal is going to make sure the guitar parts are identical, with the exact same picking velocity and
03:18transient.
03:19And we're going to find out exactly how much the airlock is affecting our tone, or if it even is.
03:31So there's our lube.
03:33.
04:11I-I can't tell the difference.
04:17I think a good test for the airlock is to not only see how it handles electric guitars,
04:20but how it handles acoustic guitars as well.
04:22See, acoustic pickups are a bit of a different beast than electrics.
04:25Some acoustic pickup systems are sensitive to impedance matching.
04:28Some of them lose high frequencies, others lose low frequencies.
04:31So let's see if the airlock can handle an acoustic pickup in the same way a cable can.
04:51Still the same.
04:52So what are my final thoughts on the airlock?
04:54It's got the sound.
04:58It's got the features.
05:01One thing I find particularly special about it is the USB output, and that convenience
05:05of being able to open my laptop anywhere and just record wirelessly is great for my workflow
05:09and great for not losing ideas when they come to me.
05:12Because you never know when your interface is just going to stop working.
05:15Needless to say, I don't think I'm going to miss this cable.
05:17To learn more about the Fishman airlock, check out the link in the description, and let me
05:20know your thoughts in the comments, and I'll see you on the next one.
05:23I'll see you on the next one.
05:23I'll see you on the next one.
05:23I'll see you on the next one.
05:23I'll see you on the next one.
05:23I'll see you on the next one.
05:23Bye.
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