Gibson G-Node User manual

Gibson G-Node
Gibson G-Node™
™
Audio Interface Manual
Audio Interface Manual
copyright 2011 Gibson Guitar Corp.
G-Node manual version 1.0d
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FCC and IC Compliance
FCC and IC Compliance
This device complies with Part 1 of the FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence.
L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes :
(1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage
(2) l'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible
d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 1 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference
to radio or television reception, which canbe determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by 1 or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the antenna
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or television technician for help
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Gibson could void the user’s authority to operate this
equipment.
Japanese Compliance
Japanese Compliance
This device has been granted a designation number by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications according to
the Ordinance concerning the Technical Regulations Conformity Certification etc. of Specified Radio Equipment
(特定無線設備の技術基準適合証明等に関する規則)
Article 2 clause (1) Item (19) (1)
Approval no: 202WWSM11 690412
This device should not be modified (otherwise the granted designation number will become invalid)
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Important Safety and Warranty Information
Important Safety and Warranty Information
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 Gibson’s G-Node™
Audio Interface, please read and follow all safety warnings and operating instructions
before using this product, and keep all documentation for future reference.
Environmental Factors
Environmental Factors
Heat and moisture can harm your Gibson G-Node™ Audio Interface. Please do not install or
operate 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 G-Node™
will be much happier if you store and operate this product under safe conditions.
Power Sources
Power Sources
Use only the power sources included in the 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 this is jostled loose, the G-Node™ USB 2.0 audio
interface may experience extreme power differentials, which can potentially harm you and
the product.
Service
Service
Please do not attempt to service G-Node™ yourself—let our expert technicians handle any
repairs for you.
Speaking of experts, always send the G-Node™ USB 2.0 audio interface to the factory for
servicing if any of the following occurs:
Any foreign object (especially liquid) has gotten inside the G-Node™
The G-Node™ have been exposed to water, dropped, or otherwise damaged
A marked change in the G-Node's™ performance
You hear anything rattling around inside if you shake the G-Node™ gently
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Warranty Protection
Warranty Protection
It is extremely important to us that you are satisfied with G-Node™. Register it and activate
your warranty protection by mailing the warranty card included with The X Series Guitar 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, the G-Node™ is 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 the G-Node™ 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 the G-Node™ 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 the guitar to
Gibson USA, Department W, P.O. Box 100087, Nashville, TN 37210-0087.
Warranty Limitations
Warranty Limitations
Unfortunately, your product warranty cannot cover :
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.
Factory installed electronics after more than one year following the original date of
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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
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, please contact Gibson directly:
US (Toll Free) 1-800-4GIBSON
US (Local) 1-61 -871-4 00
Email - [email protected]
Never send a unit in for repair before contacting Gibson. You will be advised of the proper
procedure for a quick and efficient repair, as well as provide information on where and how
to send your G-Node™.
Gibson® is a trademark of the Gibson Guitar Corp.
Windows® and Windows 7® are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
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Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction
The G-NodeTM USB 2.0 high-performance audio interface is a product of Echo Digital Audio,
which introduced its first computer audio interface 30 years ago. The company now makes
a line of pro audio interfaces for Mac and Windows computers. If you want to expand the
total amount of inputs and outputs, G-Node can run concurrently with other Echo Digital
Audio interfaces.
If You Own the ark Fire or usk Tiger
If You Own the ark Fire or usk Tiger
G-Node™ is not compatible with previous Gibson high-tech guitars. Please continue to use
the Robot Interface Pack (RIP) interface provided with those guitars.
G-Node™ Overview
G-Node™ Overview
G-Node™ can send the main X Series Guitar output and each individual string into a
computer for recording or live use. Setting up G-Node involves three main steps, done in
this order:
Installing Editor software on your computer. On Windows, this includes drivers—
small programs that let G-Node™ communicate with the computer. Mac OS X already
includes suitable drivers. For both computers, a Control Panel program—very much
like a hardware digital mixer—lets you adjust the G-Node’s levels and routing within
the computer.
Hooking Up G-Node™. G-Node™ transfers audio to the computer via an industry-
standard USB 2.0 high-speed cable (included; please use only cables designated for
USB 2.0 high-speed use). This physically connects G-Node’s USB 2.0 port to a USB 2.0
port on your computer. Most computers include a USB 2.0 port, but you can add USB
2.0 ports to desktop and laptop computers via accessory cards. G-Node draws its
power from the USB 2.0 bus and requires no AC adapter, but can also be battery-
powered for live use if no computer is available. Batteries also offer “cleaner” power
that may result in less noise with high-gain amp setups.
Customizing G-Node for your particular computer or application. This involves
making adjustments to the Control Panel, and/or assigning G-Node’s inputs and
outputs within a host program like Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition.
Although G-Node is designed and optimized for music programs, it can also provide
traditional “sound card” capabilities for Windows and Mac computers (see Appendix D).
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G-Node-Related Accessories
G-Node-Related Accessories
The X Series Guitar package contains the following components needed by the G-Node
interface system:
Gibson G-Node interface box
USB 2.0 cable
Bluetooth antenna for anticipated future applications
Certificate of Authenticity. This is required to download and authorize software.
Store this in a safe place!
Minimum System Requirements
Minimum System Requirements
Using G-Node requires a desktop or laptop computer with:
Available USB 2.0 port. USB 1.1 is not supported.
At least 1GB RAM (more RAM is highly recommended for audio applications)
If you plan to record audio, a fast, high-capacity IDE, SCSI, SATA or USB 2.0 hard
drive
Software capable of running at 48kHz (G-Node is fixed at that sample rate and
cannot be changed)
Mac: Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4 or higher (when available, Mac Lion
compatibility will be announced to registered users).
Windows: Windows 7, which provides superior performance for working with audio
than previous Windows versions. G-Node’s true 64-bit drivers are fully compatible
with 32- and 64-bit versions.
Users can try other operating system versions, but Gibson cannot provide support.
Guitar Rig 4 Pro and Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition
Guitar Rig 4 Pro and Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition
In addition to the Editor, two complimentary downloadable programs that work seamlessly
with G-Node are available to X Series Guitar owners.
Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig 4 Pro (full version) includes multiple amp models,
effects, and utilities. It works as a stand-alone processor, or as a plug-in with Mac
and Windows recording/editing software such as Ableton Live, Avid Pro Tools 9 (or
higher), Cakewalk Sonar, Apple Logic, MOTU Digital Performer, Steinberg Cubase, etc.
Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition provides innovative audio and MIDI
recording, sequencing, and editing; it can also host Guitar Rig 4 Pro as a plug-in. An
upgrade path is available for updating to the full version.
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Overview: Basic Computer Setups
Overview: Basic Computer Setups
Here's an overview of what the X Series Guitars can do when connected to a computer.
For a basic computer-based live performance setup, load Guitar Rig 4 Pro into a
laptop or other computer. his software turns your computer into a “virtual guitar rack”
with dozens of virtual amp and effect options, while the G-Node interface provides an
input for the guitar along with mono or stereo analog outputs for your mixer, PA, or
active speakers, and digital outputs for computers or other audio interfaces.
For a computer-based live performance setup that takes advantage of X Series
Guitar s individual string processing possibilities, load Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson
Studio Edition into a laptop or other computer. Again, G-Node provides physical inputs
and outputs for this “virtual rack.” All eight signals (main out and six individual string
outputs) are available in Ableton Live as eight individual channels, and you can load
plug-ins like Guitar Rig 4, or the plug-ins included in Ableton Live, to process these
signals. Live provides the routing and mixing for outputs, which then go to your
amplification system via G-Node's analog or digital outs.
For a computer-based studio setup, G-Node provides an interface between your
guitar and computer, sending all guitar outputs through the USB 2.0 connector
directly to your computer. Any modern DAW (digital audio workstation) program 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 G-Node
also acts as a high-quality computer interface/sound card, your host program will be
able to send its output through the USB 2.0 cable to the G-Node. From there, the G-
Node’s stereo output jacks can patch directly to a set of active monitor speakers (or
to a mixer, headphone distribution amp, etc.). You can also monitor the output via G-
Node’s headphone output.
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Chapter 2: G-Node Connections
Chapter 2: G-Node Connections
G-Node offers several types of connections. The input accepts the guitar's output. The
outputs are all available simultaneously.
The analog line outputs can connect to mixers, PAms, recorder analog inputs, etc.
The ADAT optical output sends signals to devices with ADAT-compatible inputs,
including audio interfaces and recorders.
The headphone output allows monitoring the X Series Guitar or your computer’s
output.
The USB connection provides bi-directional signal flow (input and output) between
the G-Node and Mac or Windows computers. Note: G-Node is a class-compliant USB
device, so it can be removed without having to safely eject.”
G-Node Front Panel
G-Node Front Panel
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X Series Guitar input: Plug the X Series Guitar output into this jack using the
supplied stereo (TRS) 1/4” cable.

The plugs used with a stereo cable have tip, ring, and sleeve (TRS) connections.
Status LE : Green indicates that the G-Node recognizes the guitar. Yellow indicates
the guitar is either not plugged in, not turned on, or not functioning properly.
S card slot and recorder controls: Reserved for future expansion.
String activity LE s: These indicate which strings are outputting a signal.
Headphone jack: Plug standard, 1/8” stereo headphones into this jack.
Headphone level control: This adjusts the headphone level, but not the level of the
rear-panel outputs.
Bluetooth antenna: Reserved for future expansion.
G-Node Rear Panel
G-Node Rear Panel
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