The Hotone Omni AC is a compact acoustic simulator pedal from Hotone Audio, a pedal that reshapes the sound of an electric or acoustic instrument into an acoustic guitar voice. Hotone describes it as "a compact-sized acoustic simulator delivering organic, precise acoustic sounds," and Pedal of the Day's 2019 review describes it as "delivering precise, organic acoustic sounds to any rig"12. It sits among the acoustic simulator pedals covered on the site's Acoustic Pedals page, alongside units like the Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator and the Mooer Acoustikar.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Omni AC is built around a set of assignable parameters: Volume, EQ, Low/Mid/High Gain, Frequency and Presence. Pedal of the Day notes that these controls "make sure your sound is the best it can be, all accessible" through the pedal's interface1.
Its sonic options cover more than acoustic guitar. The review lists the instrument modes as1:
- Steel String
- Nylon String
- Acoustic Bass
- Fretless Bass
- Mandolin
- and more1
The single footswitch is assignable too, and can be set to work as Mute, Bypass, Preset +, Preset - or Mode functions, so the pedal can be operated in whatever way suits a player's setup1.
Presets and display
The pedal holds 15 user presets to create and choose from, cycled through with the preset rotation. Presets can be edited on the fly via what the reviewer called "an easy-to-use navigation screen buried in the backend"1. A hi-res OLED screen shows the preset position, and Pedal of the Day notes it "lets you instantly know where you are in the preset rotation"1.
Outputs and connections
For players who want to skip the amplifier entirely, the Omni AC has an XLR out for running directly into any mixer, which the reviewer called "perfect for live and studio use alike"1. Hotone's own description of the pedal says its variable I/O "makes it perfect for any live or recording scenario"2.
The pedal also includes a Lift/Gnd switch1, the kind of ground lift control used to separate signal grounds and address hum when connecting to mixers and PA equipment.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Omni AC in September 2019 and demonstrated it with an electric guitar: "We used an electric guitar for the demo below, to show how well the Omni AC adapts to electric instruments"1. The reviewer's verdict was that "the Omni AC Acoustic Simulator brings a whole new dimension to your sound, and will emphasize and expand your rig"1.
Videos
HotoneAudio
HotoneAudio
Brett Kingman
Questions
How many presets does the Hotone Omni AC have?
The Omni AC has 15 user presets that you can create and choose from. Pedal of the Day notes that you can edit the presets on the fly, thanks to what the reviewer called an easy-to-use navigation screen in the backend, and the hi-res OLED screen shows instantly where you are in the preset rotation.
Can the Hotone Omni AC make an electric guitar sound acoustic?
That is its main purpose as an acoustic simulator, and the reviewer at Pedal of the Day demonstrated it with an electric guitar to show how well the Omni AC adapts to electric instruments. The pedal is designed for both electric and acoustic instruments, and its modes cover steel and nylon string sounds among others.
Does the Hotone Omni AC have an XLR output?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes there is an XLR out so you can run the pedal directly into any mixer, which the reviewer called perfect for live and studio use alike. The maker also describes the pedal's variable I/O as making it suitable for any live or recording scenario.
What does the Lift/Gnd switch on the Omni AC do?
The Omni AC includes a Lift/Gnd switch, as noted in Pedal of the Day's review. A ground lift switch of this kind is typically used to separate the pedal's ground from the connected equipment to help with hum and ground loop noise, though the review names the switch without describing its use in detail.
What instrument modes does the Hotone Omni AC include?
Pedal of the Day lists the Omni AC's sonic options as Steel and Nylon String, Acoustic and Fretless Basses, Mandolin and more, so the pedal covers acoustic guitar voices as well as bass and mandolin simulations.
Sources (2)
- Hotone Audio Omni AC Acoustic Simulator, Pedal of the Day, 2019-09-24
- Omni AC by HOTONE, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
