ESI GIGAPort AG User manual

8 output USB Audio Interface
User’s Guide

ESI - Copyright © 2002 - 2006
Revision 2, December 2006
www.esi-audio.com

ESI GIGAPort AG
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INDEX
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
Features......................................................................................................................................................................4
2. Installation....................................................................................................................................5
System Recommendation...........................................................................................................................................5
Hardware Installation.................................................................................................................................................5
Driver Installation......................................................................................................................................................5
3. Setting in Applications.................................................................................................................8
ASIO Control Panel...................................................................................................................................................8
Reason........................................................................................................................................................................9
Reaktor.....................................................................................................................................................................10
Fruity Loops.............................................................................................................................................................10
Traktor .....................................................................................................................................................................11
BPM Studio..............................................................................................................................................................11
4. Specifications..............................................................................................................................12
5. General Information..................................................................................................................13

ESI GIGAPort AG
1. Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the ESI GIGAPort AG.
GIGAPort AG is a USB audio interface, that provides 8 analog output channels and a stereo digital
output. It is very easy to use, small and powerful. With our ASIO driver support GIGAPort AG
works perfect with all current recording and sequencer applications. The USB connection makes
installation extremly simple.
Just plug it in and it works!
Features
GIGAPort AG is connected to the computer with a fixed USB connection cable. In addition the
product has these features:
1. S/PDIF optical output plus headphone output (channel 1 and 2)
2. every channel has ist own LED, showing activity on the correspoding channel
3. 8 analog outputs
The cool compact design allows you to take GIGAPort AG with you, wherever you go. As
companion to a notebook computer, you can take your projects with you. GIGAPort AG is simple
to install and even easier to use. Working with samples, as a DJ or with software synthesizers has
never been easier, with the help from GIGAPort AG. The hardware works perfectly with important
ASIO compatible software applications such as Cubase, Reaktor, Reason or Live.
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ESI GIGAPort AG
2. Installation
System Recommendation
GIGAPort AG is not simply a standard digital audio interface card, but a high-resolution device
capable of advanced processing of audio content. Even though GIGAPort AG is built to have low-
CPU resource dependability, system specifications play a key part in the GIGAPort AGs
performance. Systems with more advanced components are generally recommended.
Minimum System Requirements
PC
- Intel Pentium II 300MHz CPU or comparable AMD CPU (or equivalent) – we recommend at
least a Pentium III CPU with 600 MHz
- Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP operating system
- 1 available USB port
- at least 64MB RAM
- high quality audio software with ASIO support recommended
Mac
- Power Macintosh G3 or higher
- 1 available USB port
- at least 64MB RAM
- Mac OS 9.0 to 9.2X -or-
- Mac OS X 10.1 or higher
Hardware Installation
GIGAPort AG is simply connected to an available USB port of your computer. A separate power
supply is not required, as GIGAPort AG is a USB powered device. Simply install the hardware by
plugging it into your computer.
USB port of a computer
Driver Installation
After the connection of GIGAPort AG, the operating system automatically detects it as a new
hardware device. Modern operating systems like Windows XP or Mac OS X usually detect the
hardware directly and are installing the correct USB audio drivers automatically.
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ESI GIGAPort AG
You can use GIGAPort AG already now in typical consumer audio applications that do not need
special professional ASIO driver support. Under Windows XP this could be for example programs
used for DVD playback or more simple DJ applications that don’t require ASIO. Unter Mac OS X
this could be applications like Garageband.
The following section descrives the installation of our spezial driver software under Windows XP.
The procedure is similar with other versions of Windows.
Installation under Windows XP
Unplug the device before you start the installer. Then launch setup.exe from the ESI/GIGAPort AG
folder of the included driver CD or from a download of a recent driver from our website. You can
select the language used for installation, then the following dialog appears:
Choose Install the driver. The following window appears:
Accept the license agreement and then click on Instal. Now 1:1 follow the instructions on screen
through out the installation process.
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ESI GIGAPort AG
The installer will instruct you to plug-in the USB device to the computer. The detection can always
take a moment.
If you are told to do so like seen above, please unplug the device again, before you will be told to
plug it in again. If that happens, please wait again until the detection (like described above) is
completed.
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ESI GIGAPort AG
The completion of the installation can be confirmed on the screen above with Exit.
Congratulations! You have now completed the installation of the spezial ASIO driver successfully
and the installation of GIGAPort AG has been completed now.
With the installer, you can also remove the driver again. If you want to do that, launch setup.exe
again and then choose the option Uninstall the driver. This can be required if you want to use the
standard functionality of Windows to use GIGAPort AG without ASIO drivers.
3. Setting in Applications
This chapter contains basic configuration examples for some popular software applications. Please
always also refer to the manual of every audio software you use for detailed information.
ASIO Control Panel
Nearly all ASIO applications provide a button labeled ASIO Control Panel in the audio device
settings dialog that allows you to open the control panel window of the ASIO driver. The settings
done there are used for all ASIO applications, even though the dialog is only opened directly from
within an application:
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ESI GIGAPort AG
Under Devices you can select the Samplerate. In the Ditherung area, the record resolution can be
selected. An important setting is under System performance, it covers the output latency that is
critical for many applications such as software synthesizers.
Reason
Launch Reason and go to Edit > Preferences > Page > Audio, then choose the GIGAPort AG ASIO
Driver.
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ESI GIGAPort AG
Reaktor
Launch Reaktor and go to System-Menu > Audio Settings. Select the GIGAPort AG ASIO Driver in
the device selection list.
Fruity Loops
Launch Fruity Loops and go to Options > Audio settings. Then select the GIGAPort AG ASIO
Driver for output.
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