NUX NAI-5 Optima Air Acoustic Guitar IR Profile Pedal

NUX Optima Air is a dual-switch acoustic guitar simulator with a preamp for acoustic and electric guitar players. It simulates the acoustic guitar profiles with the best-optimized sound depending on your guitar and pickup type.

IR loader combined with a preamp which is equipped with 3-band EQ and Gain controls. And there is an additional one-knob-control Reverb effect. If you want to connect any effect pedal you can use the SEND/RETURN effect loop and add the Optima Air into the signal chain.

NUX Optima Air has a unique profile capture function, you can create your own acoustic guitar profile (IR file) by capturing your favorite acoustic guitar's sound.

There is an XLR DI output for direct line/mixer connection, headphones output for silent play and auxiliary input to connect a music player to play along.

Control Panel

• Reverb : One Knob Reverb effect control. It adjusts the Dry/Wet and Decay parameters. Or you can turn it OFF by tweaking to 0
• IR Level : Adjusts the simulated signal (Impulse Response file) LEVEL
• Select (Push to Save) : In manual mode, you can choose the IR file. And you can save your customized preset by pushing the knob
• Gain : Adjusts the signal input Gain level
• 3-Band EQ :
• Bass : Adjusts the low frequency level
• Middle : Adjusts the middle frequency level
• Treble : Adjusts the high frequency level
• IR Footswitch :
• Manual Mode : Engage/disengage the selected IR file. Acoustic guitar simulation ON/OFF
• Preset Mode : Bank DOWN
• Also, if you are editing a preset, you can push the IR footswitch to exit without saving
• AMP Footswitch:
• Manual Mode : Activates the pre-amp section. When you engage the AMP, you can use the Gain and the 3-band EQ
• Preset Mode : Bank UP
• Also, If you are editing a preset, while you changing the preset name you can push the AMP footswitch and move the cursor to the next selection area to choose a letter, number or symbol

I/O

• Input : 6.35mm (1/4-inch) jack input
• Output : 6.35mm (1/4-inch) jack output
• Send/Return : 6.35mm (1/4-inch) effect loop inputs
• Micro B USB Port : You can connect the pedal to your computer to use the Optima Air software to create, edit and save your presets. And update the pedal when a new firmware released.
• Power Input : 9V Negative TIP power adapter input
• 5mm (1/8-inch) Auxiliary Input : You can connect music player to play along with music
• 5mm (1/8-inch) Headphones Output : For silent practicing or recording
• XLR DI Output : For direct connection to mixer (or PA system)

Optima Air Pre-Amp

NUX Optima Air is equipped with a pre-amp that allows you to enhance your sound by using a 3-band equalizer.

The beauty of an analog circuit is that chaos makes the muse. While you tweak the knob, it affects itself and also other parameters.

Driven by NUX's white box algorithm (physical modeling) of Neve 1073, Optima Air can replicate the chaos in a compact size, while providing lots of features like USB audio stream, Reverb function, and IR Capture.

Capturing a Guitar Profile

Run the pedal in capturing mode; press the IR footswitch and hold, plug in the power cable.

You need to use a condenser microphone for better result. Connect the acoustic guitar to the Optima Air's input, place the microphone and connect to a microphone to a microphone preamp. And connect the microphone preamp's output to the Optima Air's Return (Please check the picture)

Make sure everything's connected, and you are all set to capture.