East Sound Research CARL MARTIN ACOUSTIC GiG User manual
Manual
Congratulations on your choice of the Acoustic GiG and welcome to the Carl Martin family! We
would like to thank you for choosing Carl Martin and trusting us as the supplier for your new profes-
sional acoustic multi-fx unit.
With the Carl Martin Quattro being so popular throughout the years, Carl thought to himself, "I could
really use that same sort of high quality, straight forward, simple to use package for my acoustics as
well".
Quick Start Description:
The Acoustic GiG begins with Carl Martin's award winning Compressor/Limiter circuit. Individual
controls for compression and level allow for simple and easy operation.
Next, is the well known and highly respected Vintage Style Echo with controls for level, tone, repeat
and tap-tempo, plus the 'Dotted 8th Note' switch for the most beautiful musical echo.
The Reverb is a new Analogue/Digital Hybrid, tailored after the vintage-style spring reverbs so
suitable for guitar. A beautiful, shimmering, yet warm reverb with the added bonus of becoming a
more modulation/chorus/reverb texture at higher settings.
The Boost simply allows you to cut though the mix with a crystal clean volume increase of up to
15dB for your solos. No change in your tone, and no increased 'quackiness' from your piezo pickups!
To gain maximum EQ shaping, we found it necessary to include a high quality semi parametric EQ.
We incorporated this section directly from Carl Martin’s famous 3 Band Parametric Pre-Amp which
allows for the specific shaping of tone from your guitar and pickup.
To avoid potential feedback, practice has show the use of a phase inverter circuitry to be very
efficient... so of course the Acoustic GiG has a Phase Shift switch.
To complete the Acoustic GiG, we have incorporated a tuner and a overall mute switch.
On the back panel are all the needed connections,1/4” input, unbalanced ¼” output, high quality
balanced XLR out with ground lift, an insert section placed right after the boost and before the EQ
section, and 9V DC input with a direct DC output if you find the need for an extra pedal.
Compressor/Limiter:
Compression is a very good effect for overall use. It smoothes out your uneven dynamics, increases
sub tones which otherwise would stay too weak in the overall sound, and it also gives more depth,
body and sustain for a fuller sound. Engage the effect by pressing the Compressor switch....the
effect is active when the LED is lit up. For more compression turn the Comp knob clockwise, and
adjust your Level clockwise to match the bypass level.
Echo:
The Echo effect is designed to emulate the old vintage tape echo units, with all that they had in
low-fidelity noise and distortion. It has extremely musical and warm echo, so don't expect any clean,
sterile, digital delay here! To enter the Echo mode, press the Echo switch. Turn the Echo knob clock
wise for more effect. Adjust the number of repeats by turning the repeat knob clock wise for more
repeats, and counter-clockwise for less. The mini Tone knob works like a filter
with clear crisp echo's in the full clock wise position and warmer vintage style echo when turned
counter clockwise. The echo time is set by the conveniently located Tap-Tempo switch and it goes up
to 1000 milliseconds. An added feature to the Echo is the dotted 8th note, which basically converts
the echo into the 8th of the note faster than the actual tapped tempo. It sounds a bit unorthodox, but
once you have included this special feature into your sound, you will discover how useful and musi-
cal it can be!
Reverb:
The Acoustic GiG Reverb could not be easier to use, and it comes with a bonus feature. Press on
the Reverb switch to engage the effect and increase the amount of Reverb but turning the control
clockwise. At higher settings, the sound changes from pure reverb to a more complex texture, with
added modulation/chorus. Not what we expect from the normal Reverb circuit, but musical and
interesting in the right piece of music!
BOOST:
One of the most popular features in the Carl Martin line of effect units is Carl's crystal clean Boost
circuits. Just press the Boost switch and turn the control clockwise for 0-12 dB of clean volume for
solo's or just that stand-out piece. Increases to volume almost always change the sound to some
degree, but the Acoustic GiG Boost keeps those changes to a bare minimum... so you keep exactly
the same sound and tone, you just get louder!
EQ Section:
To gain maximum EQ options we found it necessary to include a high quality 3 Band semi- parame-
tric EQ. So what is Carls' advice on the simplest and the easiest way to operate a parametric EQ?
Say you want to change the tone in the middle. The best way to locate the frequency you need to
change, is simply to turn up the Level knob in the EQ section, then tweak back and forth the Middle
Freq knob till you find the note you’re looking for, then either turn up or down all depending on your
needs. Do the same with the Bass & Treble. With a little practice, you will find this method very easy
and convenient. One piece of advice though; to avoid feedback while tweaking the knobs, make sure
not to play too loud!
Phase Shift:
This switch sets the PHASE (or polarity) of the Acoustic GiG to all outputs. Depending on how your
instrument’s pick-up/microphone is wired, it can be either in PHASE or out of PHASE. If the signal
from your instrument and the signal from the speaker are of the same polarity, feedback can become
an issue. Set this switch to the position that produces the minimum tendency for feedback before
attempting to use the EQ for feedback issues.
TUNER:
The onboard chromatic tuner is engaged by the Mute switch for silent tuning. This is a very handy
feature for tuning between songs, or for checking your tuning after a break.
INPUT:
1/4” unbalanced mono jack. The input sensitivity of this input buffer amp is compatible with all
common pickup levels and impedances (input impedance is approx. 1M ohms).
OUTPUT:
This output jack is unbalanced and can deliver a +4dBu (line level) signal with a maximum output
level of about +6dBu... enough to drive any of the standard MI-type power amplifier inputs on the
market today, including all amplifier Input jacks, power amp Input jacks, and FX Return power
section inputs.
DI Output:
In the centre of the Rear Panel is the 3-Pin male XLR jack BALANCED DIRECT OUT. Connect your
XLR cable from here to your mixing console, preamps or even converters. The DI has a
GROUND/LIFT switch which allows you to lift the BALANCED DIRECT OUT XLR’s PIN 1
(GROUND) from the Circuit and Chassis Ground. In many cases this can remove annoying ground
loops that can occur from a “grounded” device that has it's own different ground reference when
interfacing to consoles
INSERT:
A serial FX LOOP is provided (FX SEND and FX RETURN jacks) for connecting both Line Level
outboard effects, devices and pedals. The FX LOOP’s RETURN jack contains a “normal switch” that
interrupts the signal whenever a plug is inserted into the RETURN jack, and automatically bypasses
the FX LOOP when the plug is removed. Because of this, the FX SEND jack may be used as
another pre-EQ, pre-MASTER volume Output.
POWER REQUIREMENTS:
Battery: The Acoustic GiG does not run on battery.
Power consumption: max. 500mA.
Power supply: 9 V DC (regulated), 600 mA minimum, 2.1 mm female plug, center negative (-)
ATTENTION: Please Use DC Power Supply Only! Failure to do so may damage the unit and void
the warranty.
WARRANTY:
Carl Martin Research warrants the manufacturing, material and proper operation for a period of one
year from date of purchase. Carl Martin will replace defective parts, make necessary repairs or
replace the unit at the discretion of our technicians. The warranty applies only to the original
purchaser of this product, and excludes any damage or faulty operation resulting from misuse,
neglect or unauthorized service.
Made by East Sound Research Denmark
SPECIFICATIONS:
Input……..........……........ 1M Ohm
Output 1/4” unbalanced... 600 Ohm
Output DI Balanced......... 200 Ohm
S/N Ratio......................... 60dB
Compression range......... from 1:1 to 1:00
Gain range compressor... +-20dB
Echo time max................ 1000 m.sec
Tone Echo....................... Cut filter (low pass)
Gain Boost max................+12dB
Bass............................ +-15dB 20-500Hz, 6dB Oct.
Middle......................... +-15dB 220Hz-5,1kHz, 6dB Oct.
Treble...........................+15dB 1,5-16kHz, 6dB Oct.
Send impedance loop. 200 Ohm
Return impedance...... 1M Ohm
Dimensions ................ 365 (W) x 120 (D) x 60 (H)mm
14,37” (W) x 4,7” (D) x 2,36” (H)
Weight......................... 1,25kg / 2,75lbs
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