Gibson Dark Fire System User manual

Gibson Dark Fire
Gibson Dark Fire
Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 1

Important Safety Instructions
We value you as a customer—and want our products to give you an inspiring, and gratifying,
experience. So, to insure your safety and protect your investment in the Gibson Dark ire guitar,
please read and follow all safety warnings and operating instructions before using this product, and
keep all documentation for future reference.
Environmental Factors
Heat and moisture can harm your Gibson Dark ire. Please do not install or operate this guitar near
sources of moisture, such as sinks, damp basements, leaky roofs, etc. and never store it near heat
sources, such as heaters or radiators. Both you and your Dark ire will be much happier if you store
and operate this product under safe conditions.
Power Sources
Use only the power source included in the Dark ire package. Make sure any power supply cords are
not located where they are likely to be safety hazards, such as on the floor where people might walk,
or in locations where they may receive pressure from items placed upon or against them. Also, be
very careful with any power source connections, such as where the AC adapter connects to the wall
outlet. If these are jostled loose, the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box or RIP audio interface may
experience extreme power differentials, which can potentially harm you and the product.
Service
Please do not attempt to service Dark ire or any of its accessories yourself. Opening the case may
expose you to high voltages (besides, there are no user-serviceable parts), so let our expert
technicians handle any repairs for you.
Speaking of experts, always send the RIP to an authorized service technician if any of the following
occurs (contact numbers for service centers are at the end of this section):
Any foreign object (especially liquid) has gotten inside Dark ire or its accessories
Dark ire or its accessories have been exposed to water, dropped, or otherwise damaged
A marked change in Dark ire’s performance
You hear anything rattling around inside if you shake the Dark ire gently
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 2

Warranty Protection
It is extremely important to us that you are satisfied with Dark ire. Register it and activate your
warranty protection by mailing the warranty card included with Dark ire to Gibson USA, Department
W, P.O. Box 100087, Nashville, TN 37210-0087. If you encounter any kind of problem, contact us as
soon as possible so we can make things right.
Once you your warranty protection is active, Dark ire's electronic components are warranted to be
free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original
purchase. Your warranty covers the cost of both labor and materials on any repair deemed necessary
by our Customer Service Representative for the warranty period, subject to the limitations below.
Please note that our warranty belongs to the original retail purchaser only, and may not be transferred
or assigned to subsequent owners.
If Dark ire malfunctions as a result of faulty materials or workmanship, Gibson will determine
whether repair or replacement is more appropriate. In case the original materials are no longer
available for repair, Gibson reserves the right to use materials regularly utilized at the time of repair.
If we determine that replacing Dark ire best serves your interests, or in the unlikely event that it is
destroyed, lost, or damaged beyond repair while in our possession for repairs, we will replace the
product. If it is no longer available, it will be replaced with the most similar product whose value does
not exceed your original product’s purchase price.
Remember—as a necessary condition to the warranty coverage described in this section, you
must activate your warranty by mailing the warranty card included with Dark Fire to Gibson
USA, Department , P.O. Box 100087, Nashville, TN 37210-0087.
Warranty Limitations
Unfortunately, it is not possible for your product warranty to cover any of the following:
Any product that has been altered or modified in any way, or upon which any serial or
registration number has been tampered with or altered in any way.
Any product whose warranty card has been altered or contains false information.
Any product that has been damaged due to misuse, negligence, accident or improper
operation or storage.
Any product damaged during shipment. Inspect the package immediately upon receipt, and
notify the carrier immediately if there is damage.
Any product damaged as a result of extreme temperature, humidity, or the use of an improper
power source.
Any product not purchased through an authorized dealer, or any product that has had repairs,
modifications or alterations made by an unauthorized service technician.
Wear and tear based on normal usage.
actory installed electronics after more than one year following the original date of purchase.
Gibson makes no other express warranty of any kind. All implied warranties, including
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose that exceed the specific
provisions of the warranty, are expressly and specifically disclaimed and excluded from the
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 3

warranty. Note, however, that some states and/or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
implied warranties, so this paragraph may not apply to you. In particular, if you purchased your
product outside of the United States, contact your local distributor for the handling and resolution of
all warranty issues, as the warranty described here is not always applicable.
And of course, Gibson shall not be liable for any special, indirect, consequential, incidental or other
similar damages to you or to any third party, including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits
or business, or damages resulting from use or performance of the product, whether in contract or tort,
even if Gibson or its authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages,
and Gibson shall not be liable for any expenses, claims or suits arising from or relating to any of the
foregoing.
To obtain warranty service, contact the service center nearest you:
US (Toll ree) 1-800-4GIBSON
US (Local) 1-615-871-4500
Email - [email protected]
Europe 00800-4GIBSON1
Email - [email protected]
Japan 03-3434-5670
Email - [email protected]
China 800-820-8841 (in China only)
Email - [email protected]
Please do not send a unit in for repair before contacting your customer service center. They
will advise you of the proper procedure for a quick and efficient repair, as well as provide information
on where and how to send your Dark ire.
Gibson® is a trademark of t .he Gibson Guitar Corp
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 4

Introduction: Welcome to Dark Fire
Dark ire is the world's most technologically-advanced guitar. Its features include:
Second-generation Robot Tuning TechnologyTM for automatic, accurate tuning
Instantly selectable choice of tunings (standard and 18 alternate tunings)
Chameleon Tone TechnologyTM delivers iconic guitar sounds without digital modeling
Dark ire is equally at home in live performance or recording environments
The Master Control Knob (MCK) includes a sophisticated display to help you select different
tunings, sounds, and functions
The Dark ire package includes the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box/Charger (referred to from
now as simply the Breakout Box) that splits the magnetic pickup and Piezo pickup signals into
separate channels (useful for both recording and live performance), and can also charge Dark
ire's internal battery
Dark ire also comes with the Robot Interface Pack (RIP), a custom-designed, cross-platform
ireWire box that interfaces Dark ire to a computer for computer-based recording; it can also
charge Dark ire's internal battery
Multiple outputs available for recording: Magnetic pickups, Piezo pickup, individual string
outputs
The pickup switch toggle is also a knob (“Piezo blend”) that sets the blend of magnetic and
Piezo pickup sounds
Set up with Plek technology for exceptional playability
Bundled with Native Instruments' Guitar Rig 3 (full version) and Ableton Live Lite 7 Gibson
Studio Edition
User-updatable for additional functionality
User-replaceable, internal high-performance battery
Most importantly, Dark ire is an inspiring guitar that plays, looks, and feels both familiar and
comfortable.
Dark ire offers so much you'll need time to learn its features. This manual, written by Dark ire
owners for Dark ire owners, will help make that process as simple as possible.
All of us at Gibson hope that you get the same joy out of playing Dark ire that we've had in creating
and updating it. e appreciate your confidence in Gibson. Should you encounter problems, our
support staff is always ready to help you resolve any issues.
Welcome to the Gibson family, and to the ground-breaking world of Dark ire.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 5

Chapter : Dark Fire Essentials
Dark Fire's Power Source
Dark ire contains an internal, user-replaceable, rechargeable battery that must be charged to use
the Piezo pickup, Chameleon Tone Technology, or Robot Tuning Technology. Using only the
magnetic pickups does not require power. Please charge the battery fully when you first receive
Dark Fire. Chapter 4 tells how to use and charge the battery, as well as optimize battery life. The
Power Supply included with Dark ire is an international type (100-240V, 50/60Hz).
The Master Control Knob
The Master Control Knob (MCK), a sophisticated “push-pull” knob with an illuminated interactive
display, shows Dark ire's status and lets you select tunings, sounds, and more. The MCK has two
main modes:
When pushed in (closest to the guitar body), the MCK works like a regular tone knob.
Pulling the MCK out (furthest from the guitar body) activates it and applies power to Dark ire.
You can rotate the MCK to make various selections, and “enter” your choices in two ways:
Some functions require short, momentary presses on the MCK's Display Matrix, while
others require a sustained press of greater than 2 seconds (but don't press too hard, as
this will push the MCK all the way in to the off position).
The MCK has several distinct elements:
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 6

Position/String LEDs. These 10 LEDs surround the MCK's edge. After pulling the MCK out,
rotating the knob to a particular LED chooses a specific sound or function.
b# symbol. Rotate the MCK fully counter-clockwise to access this position, then access the
preset tuning banks.
Rotating arrow symbol. Activates String Up, String Down, and other modes desribed later.
Guitar symbol. Shows the status of the Piezo pickup, e.g., whether it's available to be blended
in with the magnetic pickup and whether its companion onboard EQ is on or off.
Pickup symbol. This indicates the status of Dark ire's magnetic pickups—whether they're
operating as standard pickups, using coil switching to obtain different sounds, and whether the
onboard EQ section is on or off.
Variable color Display Matrix. This provides feedback on several aspects of Dark ire: or
example, it changes color to indicate which bank of alternate tunings is selected, spells out the
name of the selected Chameleon tone, shows the battery charge, and much more.
Peg symbol. Activates tuning functions.
| symbol. Changes Piezo and pickup status.
Chameleon Tone symbol. Enters the mode for selecting Chameleon Tones.
Dark Fire Connections
Dark ire has traditional magnetic pickups, a Piezo pickup in the bridge, and individual outputs for
each string (hex pickup), all of which feed a tip-ring-sleeve (stereo) 1/4” output jack. There are
several ways to use these outputs.
As you familiarize yourself with the Dark Fire guitar, we suggest using either the “Traditional
Electric Guitar” or “Blended Electric/Piezo Sound” connections described next. The companion
RIP Computer Interface manual covers computer-based application in detail.
Traditional Electric Guitar
The magnetic pickups' output appears on the jack's tip. If you plug a standard mono guitar cable
into Dark ire and plug the other end into an amp, Dark ire (even when not powered-on) acts just
like a traditional electric guitar. When powered-on, you can use the Robot Tuning and Chameleon
Tone Technology, as well as mix in the Piezo pickup sound.
Blended Electric/Piezo Sound
1. Use a standard guitar cord to connect Dark ire to your amplifier.
2. Pull the MCK out, then turn it to the | position.
3. Press momentarily on the center of the Display Matrix (don't press hard enough to push the
MCK knob back in). Each press changes the color of the Guitar symbol, which indicates the
status of the Piezo output. Choose the blue Guitar symbol for now.
4. Dark ire's output carries a mix of the magnetic and Piezo pickup signals, with the balance
determined by the blend control (pickup switch toggle). Turn the toggle clockwise for more
Piezo sound, or counter-clockwise for more magnetic sound.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 7

Split Magnetic and Piezo Outputs
This requires the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box (included).
1. Do not connect the AC adapter to the Breakout Box—that's required only when charging Dark
ire's internal battery.
2. Using the supplied stereo (TRS) cable, plug Dark ire into the Breakout Box Stereo Input jack.
3. Connect the Amplifier jack to your guitar amp. This carries a mix of the magnetic and Piezo
pickup signals, with the balance determined by the blend control (pickup switch toggle) as
described above. Clockwise gives more Piezo sound, counter-clockwise gives more magnetic
sound.
4. Connect the Acoustic Out jack (which carries the Piezo signal) to a second channel in your
guitar amp, a second amp, PA system, etc. This carries the full volume Piezo signal, so levels
need to be adjusted at the amp. (If you want to control the Piezo Acoustic volume when
performing, insert a Volume pedal between the Acoustic Out jack and your amp's input.)
Gibson suggests starting off with the Piezo amp's volume at minimum, then adjusting to taste.
If you want isolated splits for the Piezo and magnetic pickups, set the blend control for
magnetic signal only out of the Amplifier jack.
Computer-Based Systems for Li e and Studio
Here's an overview to provide a hint of what Dark ire can do when connected to a computer. or
more information on the many possibilities offered by combining Dark ire with a computer, see the
companion RIP Computer Interface manual.
or a basic computer-based live performance setup, load Guitar Rig 3 into a laptop or other
computer. This software turns your computer into a “virtual guitar rack” with dozens of virtual
amp and effect options, while the RIP interface provides an input for Dark ire along with mono
or stereo outputs for your mixer, PA, or active speakers.
or a computer-based live performance setup that takes advantage of Dark Fire's eight
outputs and individual string processing possibilities, load Ableton Live Lite 7 Gibson
Studio Edition into a laptop or other computer. Again, the RIP provides physical inputs and
outputs for the “virtual rack.” All eight Dark ire signals are available in Ableton Live's eight
channels, and you can load plug-ins like Guitar Rig 3, or the plug-ins included in Ableton Live,
to process these signals (e.g., octave dividers on only the lower strings with magnetic pickups
going through an amp emulation, etc.). Live provides the routing and mixing for all these
signals, which then go to your amplification system via the RIP's stereo output.
or a computer-based studio setup, RIP provides an interface between your guitar and
computer, sending all guitar outputs through the ireWire connector directly to your computer.
Any modern “digital audio workstation” program such as Pro Tools, Live, Sonar, Digital
Performer, Logic, etc. will recognize these outputs, and allow you to route, process, mix, and
record them within the audio software you're using (called the “host program”). Because the
RIP also acts as a high-quality computer interface/sound card, your host program will be able
to send its output through the ireWire cable to the RIP. rom there, the RIP's stereo output
jacks can patch directly to a set of active monitor speakers (or to a mixer, headphone
distribution amp, etc.).
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 8

Chapter 2: Dark Fire Robot II Tuning Functions
To start playing, pull the MCK out. Dark ire defaults to being ready to tune to standard tuning. The
selected Chameleon Tone is Gibson Classic; to indicate this, the MCK Display Matrix alternates
between the letters “S” (Standard Tuning) and “G” (Gibson Classic).
Instantly Activated Tuning
Once Dark ire is in default mode from pulling the MCK out, here's how to tune to standard tuning
(A=440Hz).
1. Strum all six strings normally at the neck pickup position—not too hard or soft. Do not fret any
strings, or touch the neck, while tuning.
2. The Powerheads will turn robotically, and the MCK's String LEDs will shine various colors to
indicate tuning status. Here's what the colors mean:
Red (solid): String not in tune, or not yet tuned
Red (flashing): Measuring string frequency
Blue (solid): Signal is clipping (the strum was too hard; please strum more softly)
Yellow flashing: Powerheads turning to tune string. If the corresponding Powerhead is
not turning when its LED flashes yellow, there is a physical or electrical problem.
Purple solid: String frequency at extreme end of range
Green: Individual string in tune
All LEDs off, except one LED solid blue, green, or red: Tuning is complete
hite (blinking): Short circuit detected. Check if a string touches the tail piece, the
bridge, a fret, or another string; make sure that strings are cut close to the posts, and
that all strings are in the bridge saddle's center.
hite (solid): Tuning for this string is temporarily on hold; tuning will be completed after
the other strings are tuned, or after the next strum.
3. When the guitar is in tune, all LEDs will turn off except for the currently selected LED position
(either E, A, D, G, B, or e). This will shine solid blue, green, or red, depending on the selected
tuning bank.
4. If all the LEDs don't turn off as described in step 3, strum all six strings again. This may be
necessary if the guitar is considerably out of tune. It should take only one or two strums for
Dark ire to tune itself; pause briefly (2-3 seconds) between strums.
5. Push the MCK back in (unless you also want to use the Chameleon Tone select mode), and
you're ready to play.
Note: You can change your desired Instantly Activated Tuning (for example, to an alternate tuning),
and even the Calibration if you want “A” to be something other than 440Hz, as described in Chapter
7. You can also change the default Chameleon Tone; see Chapter 3.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 9

Manual Powerhead Tuning
You can tune Dark ire’s Powerheads by hand as well as use Robot tuning technology.
Caution: Never use a manual or mechanical string winding tool, as this can damage the
Powerheads. Also, never attempt to tune the Powerheads manually while they are operating
robotically as this can also damage the Powerheads permanently.
Unlike conventional tuning keys, Powerheads all turn in the same direction. The Powerhead tuner
posts have locking nuts to secure the end of each string during tuning operations.
Robot technology includes special options for changing strings (see Chapter 5), as this is much faster
than changing strings manually.
Alternate Tuning Function Basics
Dark ire has three banks (each with six presets) of alternate tunings. Dark ire comes with 18
factory presets loaded in these banks, but you can replace any of these with custom presets.
The three banks are indicated by the colors of the dots in the center of the Display Matrix:
Blue (the default bank when you first pull the MCK out)
Green (additional alternate tunings)
Red (special low tunings that are optimized for use with different strings than the standard
guitar set)
The Blue Bank is intended to be your main, “go-to” bank for alternate tuning presets. Therefore, it is
the easiest to access. However, accessing the other banks requires only slightly more steps.
Standard Tuning Shortcut for All Banks
While in any Bank, you can go instantly to the Robot standard tuning function (low string to high, E, A,
D, G, B, e).
1. Turn the MCK fully clockwise to the Peg symbol. It will show the color of the currently selected
Bank.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 10

2. Momentarily press the center of the MCK's Display Matrix.
3. Dark ire is now in the standard Robot tuning mode. Proceed as normal—strum the strings,
and observe the LEDs to know when Dark ire is tuned.
Selecting a Preset from the Blue Bank
To choose a particular tuning preset from the Blue Bank (“Robot Classic” bank as used in the original
Gibson Robot Guitar):
1. Pull the MCK out. The Blue Bank appears by default.
2. Turn the MCK to the string LED that represents the tuning you want (refer to the following
chart), then press momentarily on the center of the Display Matrix (but not hard enough to
push the MCK back in) to enter your choice.
3. Strum the strings, and the Powerheads will tune Dark ire to the pitches required for the
selected alternate tuning.
4. The string colors indicate the tuning status.
5. When Dark ire is tuned, the String LED you selected will shine solid blue and the other String
LEDs will turn off.
6. Push the MCK back in—you're ready to play.
Blue Bank Presets Reference
String LED
Name Tuning (low string to high)
E
E Major
E E G# e
A
DADAGAD
D A D G A D
D
Dropped D
D A D G e
G
Delta lues
D G D G D
E Flat
Eb Ab Db Gb b eb
e
Double Dropped D
D A D G D
Selecting a Preset from the Green or Red (Low Tunings) Bank
To use Presets in other banks, use the Bank Selection function. You'll also need to use Bank
Selection if you're in any Bank and want to go to any other Bank. Caution: hen using extremely
low tunings, such as the Red Bank “C” or “B” tunings, use heavier gauge strings (e.g., .013”
to .062”) for best results. However, do not use the Green and Blue Bank presets with heavy
gauge strings, as the extreme tension may damage Dark Fire.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 11

1. Pull the MCK out and turn it fully counter-clockwise. The Display Matrix and the b# symbol will
shine blue, because Dark ire’s default Bank is the Blue Bank.
2. Press the center of the MCK's Display Matrix momentarily (don't press hard enough to push
the MCK knob back in). Each press cycles through the Banks in the following order: Green,
Red, Blue, Green, Red, Blue, etc.
3. When the Display Matrix shows the color for the desired Bank, turn the MCK to the string LED
that represents the tuning you want (please refer to the following charts).
4. Press the center of the MCK's Display Matrix once more to enter your choice.
5. Strum the strings, and the Powerheads will tune Dark ire to the pitches required for the
selected alternate tuning.
6. The string colors indicate the tuning status.
7. When Dark ire is tuned, the String LED you selected will shine the same color as the current
Bank, and the other String LEDs will turn off. Push the MCK in—you're ready to play.
8. To return to Standard Tuning, rotate the MCK to the Peg symbol and press momentarily on the
Display Matrix. Strum the strings, and Dark ire will return to the default tuning.
Green Bank Presets Reference
String LED
Name Tuning (low string to high)
E
Delta lues (G)
D G D G D
A
Delta lues (Ab)
Eb Ab Eb Ab C eb
D
Delta lues (A)
E A E A C# e
G
E Major
E E G# e
E Flat Major
Eb b Eb G b eb
e
Open D
D A D F# A D
Red Bank Presets Reference
String LED
Name Tuning (low string to high)
E
Eb
Eb Ab Db Gb b eb
A
D
D G C F A D
D
C#
C# F# E G# C#
G
C
C F b Eb G C
E A D F#
e
Dropped Db
Db Ab Db Gb b e
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 12

Chapter 3: Dark Fire Chameleon Tone Technology
About Chameleon Tone Technology
Dark ire uses pickup coil switching techniques (and onboard EQ) to create eight iconic guitar sounds
from the onboard magnetic pickups. Because Dark ire doesn't use digital modeling, the signal path
is all-analog. urthermore, the piezo pickup output can supplement the magnetic pickups for an
acoustic type of sound.
Note: The classic Chameleon sounds require that the pickup toggle switch be in the middle
(both pickups) position, with no Piezo sound blended in, and the tone controls full up. Of
course, one of Dark ire's advantages is that you can make variations on these classic sounds.
After choosing a Chameleon sound, you then exit Chameleon mode. Two things happen upon exiting:
Dark ire links the sound you chose with the current tuning, then stores the combination as the
default so it's available next time you turn on Dark ire.
The guitar electronics enter a power-saving state to extend the battery's charge.
You can activate Chameleon Tone technology and select sounds while in any tuning Bank (blue,
green, or red). The default Chameleon Tone setup is Gibson Classic with standard EADGBe tuning,
but Dark ire will always retain the the most recently-stored Chameleon magnetic pickup coil
configuration, even with no power. This is because Dark ire's Chameleon Tone technology uses
special latching relays that “remember” their most recent state.
Choosing Chameleon Tones
1. Pull the MCK out, choose a tuning Preset, and tune the guitar as described in Chapter 2. The
Chameleon Tone will be applied to whichever tuning you’ve selected. To indicate the default
Chameleon mode, the MCK’s Display Matrix alternates between the letters S (Standard
Tuning) and G (Gibson Classic).
2. After tuning Dark ire, rotate the MCK to the letter C and press down momentarily on the
MCK's Display Matrix to enter Chameleon Tone selection mode. Three things happen:
The C shines white. As long as the C LED is shining white, Dark ire is in Chameleon
Tone selection mode.
The Display Matrix spells the current Chameleon Tone setting as a scrolling marquee,
with one letter following another.
The MCK displays the current magnetic pickup coil configuration.
3. To choose a different Chameleon Tone setting, rotate the MCK to a different String LED, the
Rotating Arrow, or the b# symbol. Keep the MCK in that position for several seconds so that
the sound goes into Dark ire's temporary memory (you'll store the sound when you exit
Chameleon Tone mode, as described later). Each LED represents a different tone with
different coil switching:
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 13

String LED Tone urstbucker P90H Phase with both on
E
Gibson Classic
both coils
north coil
in phase
A
lues
both coils
north coil
in phase
D
Funky
both coils*
north coil
in phase
G
Twang
both coils**
north coil
in phase
Acoustic
south coil
north coil
out of phase
e
L5
both coils
north coil
in phase
Rotating arrow
Hard Rock
south coil
both coils
out of phase
b#
Metal
both coils
both coils
in phase
* out of phase ** in parallel
MCK Coil Switching Symbols
When you rotate the MCK to the C position to enter Chameleon mode, the MCK shows how the coils
are set for the currently-selected sound.
The Burstbucker pickup symbols appear at the bottom of the MCK (i.e., closest to the Guitar and
Pickup symbols), while the P90H symbols appear toward the top of the MCK. Each pickup is
represented by two lines (one for each coil). The north coil is the upper line, and the south coil is the
lower line.
A line's color indicates the status of the associated coil:
Green = switched on
Red = switched off
hite = out of phase
Blue = parallel
Note that just because different Chameleon tones have the same coil wirings doesn't mean they
sound the same. or example, although Gibson Classic, Blues, and L5 have the same coil wirings,
the EQ settings for for the magnetic pickups (blue Pickup symbol turned on) are different and shade
the tones differently. Sometimes these differences are more obvious when you set the pickup toggle
switch to the P90H or Burstbucker position, and of course, turning the Piezo pickup output all the way
down makes it easier to hear any differences in the magnetic pickup sounds.
Changing Piezo and Pickup Functions
1. Before or after choosing a Chameleon Tone, or when Dark ire is not in Chameleon Tone
select mode (but before storing the Tone or exiting Chameleon mode), you can choose
different magnetic and Piezo pickup options. Note: If you make these changes after choosing
a Chameleon Tone, when you rotate the MCK to select the Peg or | LED, rotate rapidly past
the String LEDs—if you pause on a String LED, the associated sound will load into memory.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 14

2. To change magnetic pickup options, rotate the MCK to the Peg LED. Press momentarily on
the MCK's Display Matrix to toggle between two states:
Magnetic pickup parametric EQ active. The Pickup symbol is blue, Peg flashes
blue.
Magnetic pickup parametric EQ off. The Pickup symbol will be unlit if the Gibson
Classic tone is selected (I.e., no coil switching is used), or green to show that coil
switching is in play.
To change the Piezo pickup settings, rotate the MCK to the | LED. Pressing momentarily on
the top of the MCK toggles between three states, as shown by the MCK's guitar symbol.
If Dark Fire connects to the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box (or is in traditional electric
guitar mode):
Green: Piezo pickup output blend is on, Piezo EQ is off. The Acoustic output from the
Piezo pickup is constant. The Amplifier out (magnetic pickups) level depends on the
blend control in the pickup toggle: Turn clockwise to reduce the level, counter-clockwise
to increase.
Blue: Piezo pickup output blend is on, and Piezo EQ is on. The Acoustic output from
the Piezo pickup is constant. The Amplifier out (magnetic pickups) level depends on the
blend control in the pickup toggle: Turn clockwise to reduce the level, counter-clockwise
to increase.
Unlit: Piezo pickup output blend is off (magnetic pickups only)
If Dark Fire connects to the RIP computer interface:
Green: Piezo pickup output blend is on, Piezo EQ is off (“Live” mode).
Blue: Piezo pickup output blend is on and Piezo EQ is on (“Live” mode).
Light blue (cyan): Hex outputs are enabled (“Recording” mode). You must enable Hex
Output Mode for RIP to see the hexaphonic string inputs.
Storing the Tone and Exiting Chameleon Tone Mode
1. While still in Chamelon Tone mode (C string LED lit white), press on the MCK Display Matrix
for more than 2 seconds to store the selected sound with the current tuning preset, or press
momentarily on the MCK to load the sound (you can store it later if you want). Either action
takes you out of Chameleon Tone mode.
2. After exiting Chameleon Tone select mode, push down on the MCK until it's all the way in.
Dark ire is now in Play mode, and several things happen:
The sound settings (main Chameleon Tone, Piezo settings, EQ settings) are linked to
the current tuning preset, and stored in Dark ire’s onboard memory. The Display
Matrix will spell “S-T-O-R-E-D” in green letters during the storing process.
The selected tuning preset, with the associated sound, becomes the default
preset. When you activate the system later on, Dark ire pre-loads this sound—just
strum the strings and play.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 15

All LEDs (except for the Pickup and Guitar symbols) switch off, and all unneeded
hardware powers down to save energy.
The MCK reverts to being a standard tone control.
The RIP (if used) will communicate with Dark ire, if Dark ire is not tuning itself.
Additional Display Matrix Indications
After you've auditioned a tone In Chameleon Tone mode, Dark ire no longer takes the time to spell
out the full name if you select it again before exiting Chameleon Tone mode. Instead, the Display
Matrix shows a single white character in the display:
White Character Tone Setting
G
Gibson Classic
lues
F
Funky
T
Twang
A
Acoustic
L
L5
R
Rock
M
Metal
If a blue, red, or green character alternates with the white character, the character indicates the
selected tuning preset (E, A, D, G, B, e; S is the standard EADGBe tuning), while the color indicates
the tuning bank.
Example: Creating a “Hendrix”-Type Sound
Let’s create the kind of sound often associated with Jimi Hendrix. We’ll tune to the E lat Major tuning
that Hendrix often used, enable the magnetic pickups with EQ, enable the Piezo without EQ, and
choose the “Twang” sound.
1. Pull the MCK out, rotate it to the B position (the blue tuning bank), press down momentarily on
the MCK, and strum the strings. Dark ire is now tuned to E lat Major (assuming you haven't
overwritten the factory presets). Also, you have now selected (and tuned) the preset to which
the Chameleon Tone will be applied.
2. Rotate the MCK to the C position and press down momentarily on the MCK to enter
Chameleon Tone selection mode.
3. Rotate the MCK to the Peg position, then press down momentarily on the MCK (repeatedly if
necessary) until the Pickup symbol shines blue. This shows that the EQ is processing the
magnetic pickup signal (when using the Beakout Box, the Amp jack carries this signal).
4. Rotate the MCK to the I position, then press down momentarily on the MCK (repeatedly if
necessary) until the Guitar symbol shines green. This indicates that the Piezo signal is
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 16

switched on and its EQ is switched off. If you’re using the Breakout Box, the Acoustic jack
carries this signal.
5. Rotate the MCK to the G position to select the “Twang” tone. The Display Matrix alternates
between showing a white T (for “Twang”) and a blue B (for the blue tuning bank, preset B).
6. Push down fully on the MCK to store the sound and start playing.
About Les Paul Mode
In addition to the Chameleon Tone possibilities, there is also a mode that causes Dark ire's pickups
to work like a Les Paul: The Burstbucker's coils are wired in series and humbucking, while the P90H
uses the north coil only.
As this is such a common mode that guitarists may want to access at any time, it can be selected
while you're in any Bank and is not part of the Chameleon Tone selection process.
1. Pull the MCK out.
2. Rotate the MCK to the Rotating Arrow symbol.
3. Press momentarily on the MCK's Display Matrix.
4. The display will spell out L-E-S-P-A-U-L.
5. Press the MCK in to resume playing, or choose other MCK functions.
Note: One of the Chameleon Tones is called Gibson Classic, but this isn't quite the same as the Les
Paul mode. With Gibson Classic, the P90H neck pickup is wired as a single coil pickup but EQ is
enabled for both the magnetic pickups and the Piezo. With Les Paul mode, although the P90H neck
pickup is also wired as a single coil pickup, the EQ and Piezo default to being off.
About the Wiring in Les Paul Controls
The volume controls in a classic Les Paul interact with each other when the pickup toggle is in the
middle position (i.e., selecting both pickups). Due to this interaction, if either the neck or bridge
volume control is at “0” (all the way down), the signal is grounded and you will not hear any output—
regardless of the other control's setting.
If you want to change the mix of the magnetic pickups with the pickup toggle in the middle position,
start with both magnetic pickup volume controls on “5” (up halfway), then adjust to taste.
Other Factors Affecting Chameleon Tone
There are very significant differences in each Dark ire Chameleon Tone setting. The tones were
worked on for some time in studio settings to match vintage guitars.
However, note that a guitar's tone results from a combination of factors. or example, putting a single
coil in a guitar does not necessarily make it sound like the classic guitars that use single coil pickups.
The four main factors influencing tone are:
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 17

The position of the transducer (pickup) between the nut and bridge
The pickup characteristics (coil windings, wire, magnets, etc.)
Guitar construction details, including wood type
Post-processing of the guitar (e.g., the amp you use, or adding effects in the studio)
The guitar construction imparts a characteristic tone by altering the vibrating string's frequency
response. It's possible to re-create this characteristic frequency curve by using very precise equalizer
circuits; Dark ire does this primarily by using two 4-band parametric equalizers to mold the
frequency response. (The reason for using analog technology is that digital processing requires
converting analog signals into digital streams, and then converting back to analog. This introduces a
delay that players often find disconcerting.)
The placement of the pick up coils and their construction allows Dark ire to reproduce phase and
other tone modifying affects.
inally, remember that the classic Chameleon sounds require that the pickup toggle switch be in the
middle (both pickups) position, with no Piezo sound blended in, and the tone controls up full. But with
so many options available to change tone in addition to the Chameleon Tones, it's possible to stray
from the original, classic sounds. This makes it easy to create useful variations on these classic
sounds for even more tonal possibilities, but if Dark ire doesn't sound quite like the guitar you're
trying to emulate, make sure you have the pickup switch, Piezo blend, and tone controls set properly.
Also, remember that any post processing you use (i.e., anything the modifies the tone after the signal
leaves the guitar, like your amplifier) impacts the sound. Some “classic” guitar sounds result from
combining the guitar sound with a particular amplifier—for example, a Les Paul going through a
British stack will sound very different compared to going through an American combo amp.
The bottom line is that each Chameleon Tone setting is very different, and factors other than the
guitar itself can change these sounds even further.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 18

Chapter 4: Battery and Power Management
Dark ire’s power source is an on-board, rechargeable, Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) 7.4V battery. Dark ire
can tune itself up to 500 times on a single charge, and recharges in about 70 minutes. Caution:
Because this battery is a precision device, please follow these instructions carefully on charging,
storage, and optimizing performance.
Charging Dark Fire’s Battery
To charge Dark ire’s battery:
1. Connect the Dark ire AC adapter to the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box's Power jack.
2. Using Dark ire’s stereo cable, connect Dark ire’s output jack to the Breakout Box’s Stereo
Input jack.
3. When charging begins, the Breakout Box’s blue LED shines brightly.
You may play Dark ire while it charges; patch a standard guitar cable from the Breakout Box’s
Amplifier output to your guitar amp or monitoring system. Note: The Piezo pickup out and hex
outputs are not available while charging—only the magnetic pickups. However, Gibson
recommends shutting down the system (see later in this chapter) while charging to decrease the
charging time and increase battery life.
After the Battery is charged fully, the charging circuit switches to trickle charge mode to prevent
damage to the battery. The blue light remains on while trickle charging.
You can also charge Dark Fire with the RIP Computer Interface. Refer to its manual for details.
Monitoring the Charging Process
To monitor the charging process while in any Bank with the charger connected:
1. If the MCK isn’t already pulled out, pull it out and turn it to the C LED (to help remember this,
think “Charging”).
2. Press on the MCK’s Display Matrix for more than 2 seconds.
3. Observe the Display Matrix. If the red / yellow / green bars are scrolling up (moving), charging
is occurring. If they only stay lit at a low level, Dark ire is not charging. In this case,
disconnect Dark ire's stereo cable and reconnect. You will see one of the following:
Scrolling two red bars = continue charging because the charge is still low
Scrolling two red / two yellow bars = continue charging, charge is mid to low level
Scrolling red-yellow-one green bar = continued charging optional, level is high to full
already
Scrolling red-yellow-two green bars = fully charged, disconnect and switch off Dark ire
All red-yellow-green bars stay lit = fully charged, disconnect and switch off Dark ire.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 19

Charge Strength Display
Disconnect power from the charger. To check the battery charge while in any Bank:
1. If the MCK isn’t already pulled out, pull it out and turn it to the C LED.
2. Press on the MCK’s Display Matrix for more than 2 seconds. The Display Matrix shows the
battery level:
1 or 2 red bars = low charge
2 red bars plus 1 or 2 yellow bars = medium charge. Charging is not essential, but will
improve performance because all six Powerheads will be activated only if the charge is
50% or above. With charges below 50%, the Powerheads will take longer to tune
because all six can't be active at once.
2 red bars, 2 yellow bars, one or 2 green bars = high charge (recommended for best
performance)
Low Battery Warning Indicator
The MCK Pickup symbol (next to the Guitar symbol):
Shines orange when the battery has about 30 minutes of charge left
Turns red when the charge level is too low for Dark ire to operate properly. In this state Dark
ire switches off the Piezo out and onboard EQ, and Powertune switches into hibernation
mode. If the red charge level symbol appears, begin charging Dark ire immediately.
If you turn on Dark ire and the Display Matrix shows nothing but yellow dots (or if this appears
during the course of playing), then the battery is fully discharged. At this point you must recharge the
battery. If Dark ire was charged when you put it away but the yellow dots appear the next time go to
play it, then it was not shut down properly—please read the following section carefully.
System Shutdown
Proper shutdown prevents draining the battery pack. The shutdown procedure depends on the
current status.
MCK pulled out: Turn it to any position other than the Peg symbol LED, then push the MCK
all the way in.
Chameleon Mode active: Exit by pressing briefly on the Display Matrix, then push the MCK
all the way in.
MCK pushed down, and any symbol lit: Pull out the MCK. Turn it to any position other than
the Peg symbol LED, then push the MCK all the way in.
MCK pushed down, and no symbol lit: Dark ire is already shut down.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 20