The Hotone Omni AC is a compact digital acoustic simulator made by Hotone. It takes the signal from an electric or acoustic instrument and shapes it into an acoustic-style tone: RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as delivering "organic, precise acoustic sounds", and it combines several jobs in one small box, acting as a preamp, equalizer, modulation effect and DI1. For a player who wants an acoustic sound from an electric guitar on stage, or a tone-shaping front end for a piezo-equipped acoustic, it covers the ground that would otherwise take separate preamp and EQ pedals.
What it does
The Omni AC is built for both acoustic and electric instruments1. Pedal of the Day's 2019 review found it "works wonders as an always-on tone shaper for acoustic instruments as well", and the reviewer ran the demo with an electric guitar specifically to show how well the pedal adapts to electric instruments2. In that role it sits at the front of a board as a permanent tone shaper rather than an effect you stomp on and off.
"delivering precise, organic acoustic sounds to any rig"
Controls and connections
The pedal carries a set of assignable parameters covering level, tone and the character of the acoustic simulation2:
- Volume
- EQ
- Low/Mid/High Gain
- Frequency
- Presence
A hi-res OLED screen shows the preset position at a glance, so you always know where you are in the preset rotation2. For connection to a PA or recording setup, there is an XLR output for running directly into any mixer, which Pedal of the Day called "perfect for live and studio use alike"2. A Lift/Gnd switch is also on board, the usual tool for dealing with ground-loop hum when connecting to a PA or console2.
Power
The Omni AC runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 200mA1. That draw is well above what a typical daisy-chain supply output delivers, so it needs its own supply output or a dedicated port on a pedalboard power supply.
Where it sits among acoustic simulators
The Omni AC belongs to the acoustic simulator family, alongside pedals like the Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator and the Mooer Acoustikar. What sets it apart within that group is the combination of functions: it is not only a simulator but also a preamp, equalizer, modulation effect and DI in one unit, with an XLR output and a Lift/Gnd switch that most simple simulators leave to a separate acoustic DI box12.
Videos
HotoneAudio
HotoneAudio
Brett Kingman
Questions
Can the Omni AC be used with an electric guitar?
Yes. Hotone designed the Omni AC for both acoustic and electric instruments, and Pedal of the Day demonstrated it with an electric guitar to show how well it adapts to electric instruments. The reviewer also found it works well as an always-on tone shaper for acoustic instruments.
Can the Omni AC run directly into a mixer?
Yes. The pedal has an XLR output so it can be run directly into any mixer, which Pedal of the Day called perfect for live and studio use alike. A Lift/Gnd switch is also on board for dealing with ground hum in those situations.
Sources (2)
- Omni AC by HOTONE, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Hotone Audio Omni AC Acoustic Simulator, Pedal of the Day, 2019-09-24
