Behringer Ultra-G GI100 User manual

User Manual
ULTRA-G GI100
Professional Battery/Phantom Powered DI-Box with
Guitar Speaker Emulation

2ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
Thank you
Thank you for showing your condence in us by purchasing the ULTRA-GI GI100.
Table of Contents
Thank you ................................................................................. 2
Important Safety Instructions ................................................ 3
Legal Disclaimer....................................................................... 4
Limited Warranty ..................................................................... 5
1. Controls .............................................................................. 10
2. Connection examples ....................................................... 12
2.1 Conversion of guitar signals ..................................................... 12
2.2 Picking up a bass guitar or keyboard signal....................... 13
2.3 Converting a microphone signal from
high-impedance unbalanced to
low-impedancebalanced.................................................................. 14
2.4 Picking up a signal from a loudspeakeroutput ................ 14
3. Specications..................................................................... 15

3ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
Terminals marked with this
symbol carry electrical current of
sucient magnitude to
constitute risk of electric shock. Use only
high-quality professional speaker cables with
¼" TS or twist-locking plugs pre-installed.
Allother installation or modication should
be performed only by qualiedpersonnel.
This symbol, wherever it appears,
alerts you to the presence of
uninsulated dangerous voltage
inside the enclosure - voltage that may be
sucient to constitute a risk ofshock.
This symbol, wherever it appears,
alerts you to important operating
and maintenance instructions in
the accompanying literature. Please read
themanual.
Caution
To reduce the risk of electric
shock, do not remove the
top cover (or the rear section). No user
serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to
qualiedpersonnel.
Caution
To reduce the risk of re or
electric shock, do not expose this
appliance to rain and moisture. Theapparatus
shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing
liquids and no objects lled with liquids, such
as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
Caution
These service instructions are
for use by qualied service
personnel only. Toreduce the risk of electric
shock do not perform any servicing other than
that contained in the operation instructions.
Repairshave to be performed by qualied
servicepersonnel.
Read these instructions.
1. Keep these instructions.
2. Heed all warnings.
3. Follow all instructions.
4. Do not use this apparatus nearwater.
5. Clean only with dry cloth.
6. Do not block any ventilation openings.
Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
7. Do not install near any heat sources
such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,
orother apparatus (including ampliers)
thatproduceheat.
8. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the
polarized or grounding-type plug. Apolarized
plug has two blades with one wider than the
Important Safety
Instructions

4ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
other. A grounding-type plug has two blades
and a third grounding prong.The wide blade
or the third prong are provided for your safety.
Ifthe provided plug does not t into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement
of the obsoleteoutlet.
9. Protect the power cord from being
walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from theapparatus.
10. Use only attachments/accessories
specied by themanufacturer.
11. Use only with
the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, ortable
specied by the
manufacturer, orsold
with the apparatus.
When a cart is used, usecaution when moving
the cart/apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over.
12. Unplug this apparatus during lightning
storms or when unused for long periods
oftime.
13. Refer all servicing to qualied service
personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power supply cord or plug is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen
into the apparatus, the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, orhas beendropped.
14. The apparatus shall be connected to
a MAINS socket outlet with a protective
earthingconnection.
15. Where the MAINS plug or an appliance
coupler is used as the disconnect device,
thedisconnect device shall remain
readilyoperable.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND
APPEARANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
WITHOUT NOTICE AND ACCURACY IS NOT
GUARANTEED. BEHRINGER, KLARKTEKNIK,
MIDAS, BUGERA, ANDTURBOSOUND
ARE PART OFTHE MUSICGROUP
MUSICGROUP.COM. ALL TRADEMARKS
ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
OWNERS. MUSICGROUP ACCEPTS NO
LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSSWHICH MAY
BE SUFFERED BY ANY PERSONWHO
RELIES EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART
UPON ANY DESCRIPTION, PHOTOGRAPH
OR STATEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN.
COLORSAND SPECIFICATIONS MAY VARY
FROM ACTUAL PRODUCT. MUSICGROUP
PRODUCTS ARE SOLDTHROUGH AUTHORIZED
FULLFILLERS AND RESELLERS ONLY.
FULLFILLERS AND RESELLERS ARE NOT
AGENTS OF MUSICGROUP AND HAVE

5ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITYTO BIND
MUSICGROUP BY ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
UNDERTAKING OR REPRESENTATION.
THISMANUAL IS COPYRIGHTED. NO PART
OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED OR
TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY
MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL,
INCLUDINGPHOTOCOPYING AND
RECORDING OF ANY KIND, FORANY
PURPOSE, WITHOUTTHE EXPRESS WRITTEN
PERMISSION OF MUSICGROUPIPLTD.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© 2013 MUSICGroupIPLtd.
Trident Chambers,Wickhams Cay,
P.O. Box 146, Road Town, Tortola,
BritishVirgin Islands
LIMITED WARRANTY
For the applicable warranty terms and
conditions and additional information
regarding MUSIC Group’s Limited Warranty,
please see complete details online at
www.music-group.com/warranty.

6ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
Welcome to BEHRINGER!
In addition to the numerous advantages of an excellent DI box, the GI100 featuresan extremely
authentic, pure analog simulation of a 4 x 12" guitar speaker cabinet.
On stage and in the studio, it is often desirable to directly connect sound sources with
the console. Although this method has many advantages, it also has its technical hurdles.
Keyboards rarely oer balanced outputs, and it’s simply not possible to connect electric guitars
or basses directly to a console. Althoughcommon practice, placing a microphone in front of the
speaker cabinet is not really an ideal solution, since the mic tends to pick up signals from other
instruments and creates another potential source of feedback.
A DI (Direct Injection) box allows you to pick up a signal directly from an unbalanced,
highimpedance output, like that of an electric guitar, and inject it into the console,
withoutusing a microphone. There are of course several situations that call for feeding
an unbalanced sound source directly into a console—preferably in a balanced form.
That’sexactly what a DI box isfor.
Basically, there are two types of DI boxes: passive and active. A passive DI box contains
much simpler circuitry and requires no batteries, making it is less expensive. On the other
hand, itsperformance is dependent on the impedance of the connected gear. A change in
impedance on the output side will cause the input impedance to change. Among other things,
theimpedance ratings greatly eect the frequency response. A passive DI box only works
correctly when impedance specications are adhered to (in short: high-Z input, low-Z output).
Active DI boxes, which use an amplier to buer the input signal, are not subject to these
limitations. The ULTRA-G’s input impedance is extremely high, so it lets the input signal pass
through with virtually no coloring. At the other end, its balanced output has a particularly low
impedance, making the signal much less susceptible to hum and noise. The GI100 is an active
DI box and performs optimally regardless of the impedance ratings of the connected gear.
The ULTRA-G is based on the proven BEHRINGER OT-1 transformer, which ensures crystal-clear,
distortion-free sound and a wide, linear frequency response. Inaddition, it can be powered
by the console’s phantom power or by an internal battery. The battery is automatically
“disconnected” when phantom power is present to preserve battery life.
◊ In order to avoid damage to your loudspeakers, always mute the corresponding
channel on the consoles before connecting the GI100. The same applies when
switching between phantom and battery power.

7ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
The GI100 features a switchable speaker simulation, developed in collaboration with
renowned amp designer Jürgen Rath, which adds the sound of a 4 x 12" cabinet to your
direct guitar signal at the touch of a button. Analog speaker simulations, oering the
possibility to get a typical guitar cabinet sound to tape or to a PA without the necessity of
cabinets or microphones, have been available since the mid-80’s. Since then, the appeal of
“instantsound” via simulation as a means of reducing equipment and hassle has continuously
grown. Havingdeveloped a great deal of convincing guitar gear with various manufacturers,
Jürgen Rath was an obvious choice for us in developing our VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CABINET
speaker simulation. In the words of Germany’s top specialty publication GITARRE&BASS,
“The Virtual Cabinet delivers an authentic 4 x 12" simulation with impressive sound,
cuttingpower and clear reproduction.” (MichaelDommers,8/97)
1. Controls
(1)
(2) (3) (4) (8)(7)
(5)
(6)
Fig. 1.1: The GI100’s front and back panels
(1) The VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CAB speaker simulation can be switched on and o with the
SIMULATOR ON/OFF switch.
(2) When activated, the GND LIFT breaks the ground connection between input and output.
Depending on the grounding of the connected equipment, thiscan eliminate hum or
ground loops.
(3) OUTPUT TO MIXER is the GI100’s balanced, mic level output. Useahigh-quality,
balancedXLR (microphone) cable to connect the ULTRA-G toaconsole.
◊ You should never connect pins 2 or 3 with pin 1 or remove the shield from pin 1.
Otherwise, it will not be possible to operate the unit with phantom power.

8ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
(4) BATTERY COMPARTMENT. To install or replace the 9V battery, remove the screw and lift
the lid.
(5) The CLIP LED lights up when the input signal level is too high.
(6) The two -20 dB PAD switches noticeably increase the operating range of the ULTRA-G,
allowing it to accept anything from the low-level signal of a high-impedance microphone
or guitar to the loudspeaker output of a guitar amp. These switches have repeatedly
proven themselves in the BEHRINGER ULTRA-DI DI100. Pressing both switches results in a
gain reduction of 40 dB.
◊ Before using the PAD switches, be sure that the ULTRA-G is clipping, and not the
mic preamp on the console. You should only attenuate the input signal via the
GI100’s PAD switches if its CLIP LED lights up frequently or remains lit. If this is not
the case and distortion occurs, check the console settings. It is always best to avoid
attenuation of the DI input to ensure an optimal signal-to-noise ratio.
(7) INPUT. Use this ¼" mono jack to connect the signal source, e.g. your guitar,
with a high-quality standard instrument cable.
◊ The GI100 is switched on as soon as you insert a plug into the INPUT. The battery is
“disconnected” when the plug is removed. For this reason, the GI100 has no on/off
switch. To preserve battery life, always disconnect the input when the ULTRA-G is
not in use.
(8) The DIRECT LINK TO CABINET is a direct output of the input signal, allowingyou for
example to simultaneously run your instrument through theGI100 and complete your
normal signal path by connecting the DIRECTLINK to an amp or speaker cabinet.
◊ The Input and DIRECT LINK sockets are directly connected. When connecting the
speaker output of a tube amp to the input of the GI100, please be sure to connect
a guitar speaker or other appropriate impedance load to the DIRECT LINK socket in
order to avoid possible damage to your amplifier.

9ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
2. Connection examples
The following section illustrates various applications of the ULTRA-G GI100.
2.1 Conversion of guitar signals
VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CAB Simulation ON/OFF
VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CAB Simulation ON
Power Amp
DIRECT LINK
OUT
OUT
OUT
IN
IN
IN
Mic Inputs
TO CABINET
Fig. 2.1: 1. Guitar ➟GI100 ➟Console
2. Guitar ➟Tube amplier ➟GI100 ➟Loudspeaker/Console
This diagram illustrates two common applications in which unbalanced guitar signals are converted
into balanced signals. In the rst example the guitar is connected directly to the GI100, which in turn
feeds the console. No guitar amp isused. In this case, the PAD switches should be deactivated with
the VIRTUALCAB switched on or o depending on the sound desired.
The second example shows the GI100 being driven by the loudspeaker output of a guitar amp.
If you’re using a tube amp, it’s very important to connect an impedance load—preferably a
speaker—to the DIRECT LINK TO CABINET output in order to prevent damage to your amp.
Forthis application, start with one PAD switch depressed and the GND LIFT switch activated.
We also recommend using the VIRTUAL CAB speaker simulation for an authentic guitar sound.

10 ULTRA-G GI100 User Manual
2.2 Picking up a bass guitar or keyboard signal
VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CAB
Simulation ON/OFF
VIRTUAL 4 x 12" CAB
Simulation ON/OFF
Monitor Amp
Bass Amp
DIRECT LINK
DIRECT LINK
IN
IN
OUT
OUT
Mic Inputs
Fig. 2.2: 1. Bass guitar ➟GI100 ➟Amplier/Console
2. Keyboard ➟GI100 ➟Amplier/Console
This diagram illustrates two standard DI applications. The signal going to the amp via
the DIRECT LINK is unaected; it is simply picked up and additionally fed, as a balanced,
low-impedance signal, to the mic inputs of the mixing console. This is particularly
advantageous with bass guitars, since microphones that reproduce high-energy bass
frequencies in a halfway linear manner are rare—and expensive. When using eects or other
outboard processors, theseshould beconnected in front of the ULTRA-G in the signal path,
sothat its output includes these signals.
Few keyboards have balanced outputs. Here, a quality DI box such as the GI100 is indispensable
to ensure clean signals, especially when using long cables.