Native Instruments Guitar Rig Session Application guide

HARDWARE REFERENCE

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is
subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication
may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments. All
product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
Manual written by Alexander Stamm
Document Version: 1.0 (09/2009)
Product Version: 4.0 (09/2009)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in
making this a better product.

Germany
Native Instruments GmbH
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Germany
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www.native-instruments.de
USA
Native Instruments North America, Inc.
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Los Angeles, CA 90028
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[e-mail]
www.native-instruments.com
© Native Instruments GmbH, 2009. All rights reserved.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – IV
Table Of Contents
1 WelcometoGUITARRIGSESSION!......................................................................................6
2 BeforeyouStart–ImportantNotes....................................................................................7
2.1 SerialNumbers&Nameplate...................................................................................7
2.2 UsingtheUnitSafely...............................................................................................7
2.2.1 Warning ........................................................................................... 7
2.2.2 Caution ........................................................................................... 8
2.2.3 Disposal Notice ................................................................................ 8
2.3 Disclaimer..............................................................................................................8
3 TheSESSIONI/OHardware.............................................................................................. 10
3.1 FrontPanel........................................................................................................... 10
3.2 TopPanel............................................................................................................. 11
3.3 RearPanel............................................................................................................ 12
4 InstallationunderWindowsXP/WindowsVista............................................................... 13
4.1 SoftwareInstallation............................................................................................. 13
4.2 HardwareInstallation............................................................................................ 16
4.3 Conguration........................................................................................................ 18
4.3.1 Conguring GUITAR RIG 4 ................................................................19
4.3.2 Using the SESSION I/O as your Default Audio Interface ....................... 21
4.4 AudioConnectionsandLevels................................................................................23
4.4.1 Connecting your Instrument and Adjusting the Input Level .................... 23
4.4.2 Connecting a Second Instrument ...................................................... 24
4.4.3 The Input Level of GUITAR RIG 4 ..................................................... 25
4.4.4 Connecting the Output ..................................................................... 25
5 InstallationunderMacOSX............................................................................................27
5.1 SoftwareInstallation.............................................................................................27
5.2 HardwareInstallation............................................................................................28

GUITAR RIG SESSION – V
5.3 Conguration........................................................................................................29
5.3.1 Conguring GUITAR RIG 4 ............................................................... 29
5.3.2 Using SESSION I/O as your Default Audio Interface ............................. 31
5.4 AudioConnectionsandLevels................................................................................32
5.4.1 Connecting your Instrument and Adjusting the Input Level .................... 32
5.4.2 Connecting a Second Instrument ...................................................... 34
5.4.3 The Input Level of GUITAR RIG 4 ..................................................... 34
5.4.4 Connecting the Output ..................................................................... 35
6 Troubleshooting..............................................................................................................37
6.1 AudioIssues.........................................................................................................38
6.1.1 No Sound or Low Volume ................................................................. 38
6.1.2 Distorted Signal .............................................................................. 38
6.1.3 Noise ............................................................................................ 38
6.1.4 Ground Loops ................................................................................. 39
6.2 Hardware-RelatedProblems..................................................................................39
6.2.1 Driver Issues .................................................................................. 39
6.2.2 USB Issues .................................................................................... 40
6.2.3 Using the SESSION I/O with a Laptop ................................................41
7 TechnicalSpecications.................................................................................................42
7.1 JacksandSockets................................................................................................42
7.2 AudioSpecications..............................................................................................42
7.3 PowerSupply........................................................................................................46
7.4 DimensionsandWeight.........................................................................................46
7.5 EnvironmentalSpecications.................................................................................46
7.6 SystemRequirements............................................................................................47
7.6.1 General System Specications .......................................................... 47
7.6.2 Supported Driver Formats ................................................................ 47
7.6.3 Supported Platforms ....................................................................... 47

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 6
SPRACHE IN Paragraph-Style “05 - STANDARD Fließtext” passend einstellen
1 Welcome to GUITAR RIG SESSION!
GUITAR RIG SESSION is the perfect recording solution for guitarists, bass players and song-
writers. It consists of two products: the compact audio-interface GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O
and the Essential version of the digital guitar studio GUITAR RIG 4.
The GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O is a high quality audio interface designed and optimized for
use with GUITAR RIG 4. It is a professional soundcard featuring a microphone preamplier
with phantom power and two inputs for connecting electric guitars and basses as well as
line-level sources. A two-channel line out connects to your monitoring system, a stereo jack
allows for headphone monitoring at an independent volume.
The compact and robust metal casing is built to last under any conditions, from your daily
desktop routine to the strains of on-stage use.
In the following chapters you will learn more about the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O and how
to make the best use of it. Please read this manual carefully in order to get acquainted with
the product.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 7
2 Before you Start – Important Notes
First things rst; before using GUITAR RIG SESSION, it is advised that you read this chapter
carefully.
2.1 Serial Numbers & Nameplate
GUITAR RIG SESSION comes with two serial numbers. The GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O serial
number can be found on the bottom of the hardware, along with the nameplate listing the
product model name and other technical information. The serial number for activating GUITAR
RIG 4 is located on the cover of the product disc.
2.2 Using the Unit Safely
Please read the following instructions thoroughly to prevent from health risks and damaging
the product.
2.2.1 Warning
To prevent hearing damage, always follow these important security advices:
• This Product, in combination with an amplier, headphones or speakers, can produce
sounds in decibel ranges that may cause hearing damage.
• For protection, set all volume levels to a minimum before using GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O.
Gradually raise the volume while music is playing to set the desired listening level.
• Do not operate it at high volume levels for long periods. If you experience any hearing prob-
lems or ringing in the ears, consult an audiologist immediately.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 8
2.2.2 Caution
To make sure that the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O or any device connected is not damaged
during usage or maintenance, it is important that you follow these instructions:
• Do not open the device or attempt to disassemble or modify the internal parts. The device
contains no user-serviceable parts. If it appears to be malfunctioning, discontinue use im-
mediately and have it inspected by qualied service personnel.
• Do not expose the unit to rain, use it near water or in damp or wet conditions.
• Do not allow any objects or liquids of any kind to penetrate the unit.
• Never use or store the unit in areas that are subject to temperature extremes (e.g. direct
sunlight in an enclosed vehicle or near heat-generating equipment) or high levels of vibra-
tion.
• Do not place the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O in an unstable position where it is possible the
unit could accidentally fall. Remove all connected cables before moving the unit.
• Before turning the power on or off for any component, set all volume levels to their minimum.
• Do not use excessive force on the knobs or connectors.
• When cleaning the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O, use a soft, dry cloth. Never use paint thin-
ners, solvents, cleaning uids or chemical-impregnated wiping cloths.
2.2.3 Disposal Notice
Should this product become damaged beyond repair, or if you wish to dispose it, please ob-
serve the regulations of your area and country that relate to the disposal of electronic products.
2.3 Disclaimer
Native Instruments GmbH cannot be held responsible for damage or lost or destroyed data
caused by improper use or modication to the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 9
The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing or
digital release. However, Native Instruments reserves the right to make changes to the speci-
cations at any time without notice or obligation to update existing units.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 10
3 The SESSION I/O Hardware
This section will give you an overview of the SESSION I/O hardware.
3.1 Front Panel
1 The Mic input accommodates XLR plugs (balanced). It connects your microphone to the
unit’s preamp for Input 1. Please enable phantom power for condenser microphones.
2 The socket for Input 1 (¼” jack, TRS balanced) will accept line level or instrument level
signals, depending on the position of the Line/Inst switch. Connect a guitar, bass guitar,
keyboard or the left channel of a stereo device.
3 The socket for Input 2 (¼” jack, TRS balanced) will accept line level or instrument level
signals, depending on the position of the Line/Inst switch. Connect a guitar, bass guitar,
keyboard or the right channel of a stereo device.
!
Note that this input has priority over the XLR input (1). When in use, the XLR input is
automatically disabled.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 11
4 This knob controls the gain of Input 1.
5 This knob controls the gain of Input 2.
6 The Inst/Line switch sets the input sensitivity for Input 1 and 2. When depressed, the
inputs will handle instrument signals such as a guitar or bass, when pressed, line level
signals are accepted. The selected input type is also indicated on the unit’s top.
7 This knob adjusts the level for Output 1/2.
8 The headphones jack connects your stereo headphones.
9 This knob adjusts the level for the headphones output.
3.2 Top Panel
1 This shows the selected input signal type (Mic, Instrument, Line) for Input 1.
2 This LED shows a present signal at Input 1 / Input 2.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 12
3 This LED indicates clipping at Input 1 / Input 2 and therefore should not be lit when you
play.
4 This shows the selected input signal type (Instrument, Line) for Input 2.
5 This LED shows whether phantom power is activated.
3.3 Rear Panel
1 These jacks transmit the signal received from your computer. The TRS outputs work with
balanced and unbalanced connectors. Make sure both are connected for stereo sound.
2 This port accepts a Kensington™-compatible security cable lock. Use this to secure your
unit from theft.
3 The USB port connects the unit to your computer. Your computer must support USB
2.0 in order to work with GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O. The unit also relies on the USB bus
power to function. Connect this unit directly to your computer’s USB 2.0 port and avoid
using un-powered USB hubs.
4 The 48V Phantom Power switch will apply phantom power to the XLR microphone input
(1). Condenser microphones rely on phantom power while other microphones don’t. Make
sure that phantom power is turned off before connecting a dynamic or ribbon microphone
is connected to prevent serious damage.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 13
4 Installation under Windows XP / Windows Vista
This chapter describes the installation of the SESSION I/O hardware under Windows XP and
Windows Vista.
For detailed information about the GUITAR RIG 4 software, please consult the Application
Reference. You can nd it on the product CD or in the GUITAR RIG 4 menu under Help >
Open Manual > Your Language.
4.1 Software Installation
Make sure that you are logged in with administrator privileges. Don’t connect the GUITAR
RIG SESSION I/O yet.
1. Browse the content of the product CD and locate the setup le. It is called “Guitar Rig
4 Setup”. If you are using a download version of GUITAR RIG 4, you need to extract the
setup les rst.
2. Double-click “Guitar Rig 4 Setup” to start the installation procedure.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 14
3. Follow the on-screen instructions that will guide you through the installation procedure.
4. You will be asked to specify the path to the plug-in folder of your DAW (Digital Audio
Workstation, e.g. your sequencer software). If you will use GUITAR RIG 4 exclusively in
standalone mode, or if you don’t know what a plug-in is, just use the standard setting.
5. You will be asked if you want to install drivers for the GUITAR RIG audio interfaces. Select
“Session I/O” and click on “Continue.”
6. During installation of the driver, several Windows security messages will show up, e.g. “The
driver has not passed the Windows Logo Test” or “Windows can’t verify the publisher of
this driver software”. Don’t worry, everything is ne here. Simply click “Continue anyway”
(Windows XP) or “Install this driver software anyway” (Windows Vista) to continue the
installation.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 15
7. Restart your computer upon completion.
The following applications have been placed onto your hard drive:
• GUITAR RIG 4 – the fully featured standalone application.
• GUITAR RIG 4 plug-ins – Use GUITAR RIG 4 as a plug-in for your Digital Audio Workstation
(DAW) of choice. On Windows computers, GUITAR RIG 4 supports the VST and RTAS®
plug-in formats.
• Native Instruments Service Center – this application handles product activation as well as
update management. Please refer to the Setup Guide for details.
• The drivers for the GUITAR RIG SESSION I/O audio interface.
%
If you have never owned a Native Instruments product, you will need to register by following
the on-screen instructions. More information about creating a NI User Account and about
activating GUITAR RIG 4 is available in the Service Center Quick Start Guide and manual located in the
Service Center installation folder.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 16
In case you want to install the hardware drivers only, a separate driver installer le is available
on the installation CD. You can also download its latest version from the Support section of
the Native Instruments website.
4.2 Hardware Installation
Use the supplied USB cable to connect the SESSION I/O directly to a USB 2.0 port on your
computer.
The SESSION I/O is powered via USB. Operation is guaranteed only with a USB 2.0 controller
as a single device or with self-powered USB 2.0 hubs. On Windows XP systems, Service Pack
2 or higher is required for the SESSION I/O to work – you can nd out about your Windows
version in the System Properties window.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 17
After successfully installing the driver, the SESSION I/O will be recognized automatically. If
not, start the software installation again as explained above.
Several driver modules will be assigned to the SESSION I/O now, each one causing a pop-up
window in which you are asked how you want to install the new device.
1. Choose not to connect to the “Windows Update Web site”.
2. Choose “Install the software automatically” (Windows XP) or “Locate and install driver
software” (Windows Vista).

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 18
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete this procedure.
4. The Windows security warning appears. Click “Continue anyway” (Windows XP) or “Install
this driver software anyway” (Windows Vista) to properly install the drivers.
On a Windows computer, the driver is associated with a particular USB port. If you plug the
USB cable into a different port than the one it was installed at, the driver assignment process
starts again – if this happens, just follow the steps described above.
If at any time the computer does not seem to recognize the SESSION I/O, disconnect the USB
cable, wait a few seconds, then re-connect it. If the problem remains, restart your computer
with the interface connected.
4.3 Conguration
This chapter explains how to use the SESSION I/O audio interface with Windows XP / Vista
and particularly with GUITAR RIG 4. It is assumed that you have already activated GUITAR
RIG 4 using the Service Center – please refer to the Setup Guide for help on this process.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 19
4.3.1 Conguring GUITAR RIG 4
We will now set up GUITAR RIG 4 to use the SESSION I/O audio interface. Start the software
before you proceed.
1. When the software is started for the rst time, you will be prompted with the Audio Setup
window automatically, where you need to make the following settings. To access these
settings later on, select File > Audio and MIDI Settings from the program menu.
2. On the “Audio” tab, choose ASIO as the “Driver” interface.
3. Select SESSION I/O from the “Device” dropdown menu.
If SESSION I/O does not appear in the list, something went wrong. Restart the installation
as explained above.
You can access the Driver Control Panel by clicking on “ASIO Cong”. In the Driver Control
Panel, two status elds on the bottom show whether the SESSION I/O hardware is connected
and ready to use.

GUITAR RIG SESSION – 20
The audio interface allows to be congured by the following parameters:
• Presets: Several presets for common types of usage are included, from minimal latency
suitable for fast systems with strong CPU power, to higher latencies suitable for slower sys-
tems. If you are experienced in setting up audio drivers and want to create your own custom
settings, select User Dened Settings (see next).
• USB Buffersize and Audio Buffersize: These parameters are grayed out, unless you have
selected User Dened Settings from the Presets Menu. Together, they dene the system’s
latency, i.e. the time that passes from the moment an audio signal is sent into the SESSION
I/O hardware until the moment you hear it in your headphones or your speakers. The value
for Audio Buffersize must always be at least twice as large as the USB Buffersize value. Note
that the USB Buffersize parameter has a direct impact on the CPU usage of the system.
The resulting CPU usage differs between computers, so it could make sense to experiment
with different settings.
• Sample Rate: Choose a sample rate that is compatible with your music application and
suited to your computing power. Per default, the sample rate is set to 44100 Hz (CD-Quality).
Higher sample rates may improve sound quality, but cause a higher CPU load as well.