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Gibson G-Node Manual

Audio interface
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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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Summary of Contents for Gibson G-Node

  • Page 1 Gibson G-Node ™ ™ Gibson G-Node Audio Interface Manual Audio Interface Manual copyright 2011 Gibson Guitar Corp. G-Node manual version 1.0d Page 1...

  • Page 2: Japanese Compliance

    FCC and IC Compliance FCC and IC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 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.

  • Page 3: Important Safety And Warranty Information

    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.

  • Page 4: Warranty Protection

    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.
  • Page 5 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.

  • Page 6: Chapter 1: Introduction

    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: ...

  • Page 7: G-Node-Related Accessories

     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).

  • Page 8: Overview: Basic Computer Setups

    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.).

  • Page 9: Chapter 2: G-Node Connections

    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.
  • Page 10 The plugs used with a stereo cable have tip, ring, and sleeve (TRS) connections.  Status LED: 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.  SD card slot and recorder controls: Reserved for future expansion.
  • Page 11 USB cable unless the battery discharges below 5V, after which USB power takes over.  USB 2.0 Type B port: This connects G-Node to an available USB 2.0 port on your computer. (Type B indicates that this is a physically smaller version of the standard USB connector.)

  • Page 12: Chapter 3: General Installation Instructions

    Audio requires much higher bandwidth than a peripheral like a USB keyboard or mouse. As expansion hubs can reduce bandwidth, plug G-Node into a USB 2.0 port on the computer itself, or a USB 2.0 card plugged into your computer. G-Node wants the most direct path possible to your computer.

  • Page 13: Chapter 4: Macintosh Installation

    4. Plug the smaller connector of the included USB 2.0 high-speed cable into the USB 2.0 port on the G-Node’s rear panel, and the larger connector into an available USB 2.0 port on your Mac (there's usually one on the Mac’s front panel; otherwise, check the rear panel).
  • Page 14 You’ll find X Series Guitar files in the following locations. Presets: Finder > Go > Home > Firebird X > Presets Editor: Finder > Go > Applications > Firebird G-Node Control Panel: Finder > Go > Applications > Firebird X Page 14...
  • Page 15 Do not click on FirebirdDFU; this program launches automatically to check your system firmware when you open the X Series Guitar Editor. Note: For quick access, click on the Firebird icon to highlight it, then go File > Make Alias. Drag the Alias to your desktop so you can double-click on it to open the Editor.

  • Page 16: Chapter 5: Windows 7 Installation

    DO NOT connect the Gibson G-Node to your computer’s USB 2.0 port yet. 2. If a previous G-Node Control Panel installation exists, uninstall the program as described in Appendix C. 3. Make sure there is at least 50MB of free disk space on your main system C: drive.
  • Page 17 Program Files folder. With 64-bit Windows 7, it will install to the Program Files (x86) folder. 9. The installer will ask you to connect your G-Node to your computer. Plug the smaller connector of the included USB 2.0 high-speed cable into the USB 2.0 port on the G-Node’s rear panel, and the larger connector into an available USB 2.0 port on your computer.
  • Page 18 Bin data and drivers: Start > Computer > C: Drive > Program Files (x86) > Firebird X G-Node Control Panel: Start > Computer > C: Drive > Program Files > Gibson > G-Node Do not click on FirebirdDFU; this program launches automatically to check your system firmware when you open the X Series Guitar Editor.

  • Page 19: Chapter 6: How To Update System Firmware

    3. Make sure that:  G-Node connects to your computer with the supplied USB 2.0 high-speed cable  The X Series Guitar is plugged in to the G-Node guitar input using the supplied stereo cable  The X Series Guitar is turned on with a fully charged battery.
  • Page 20 7. Updating will complete automatically. Follow any additional on-screen instructions (e.g., you may be asked to turn off the G-Node and turn it back on again so it can load the new firmware). When updating is complete, the editing screen will appear.
  • Page 21 3. A USB Type Mini-B connector is located in the Switchboard battery compartment. Connect the supplied USB 2.0 high-speed cable from your computer to this connector. The G-Node interface should remain unconnected. 4. Connect the AC adapter to the Switchboard.

  • Page 22: Chapter 7: The Control Panel Application

    G-Node digital audio-oriented functions. Here’s how to open the Control Panel. Windows (option 1): Click on the G-Node icon in the System Tray (you may need to “show hidden icons”) Windows (option 2): Start > All Programs > Gibson folder > G-Node > G-Node Control Panel Mac: Finder >...

  • Page 23: Guitar And String Input Level Controls

     The Analog Out 1 and Analog Out 2 bus faders toward the right control the master level going to G-Node’s two 1/4” line-level outs and headphone output. Think of these controls as the “master volume” as they affect everything being mixed to this bus.

  • Page 24: Daw Playback Controls

    0dB decreases the number of available bits, reducing the system’s potential dynamic range. While this doesn’t make too much difference due to G-Node’s overall high resolution (24 bits), for best results leave the Playback and Analog faders at 0dB. If you need to lower the level, do so at your monitoring system (mixer, level controls on powered speakers, the G-Node headphone level control, etc.).

  • Page 25: Hot Keys (Shortcuts)

    Settings Tab Settings Tab Click on the “Settings” tab to access G-Node’s system settings. Note: There are no user- adjustable settings for the Mac, although there is an About button that displays the Console (Control Panel) and Firmware version. Settings are edited within the Mac application, as described below.
  • Page 26 1024 samples. Fast multicore computers can often use latencies as low as 96 or 64 samples. Note: As of this writing, if you use G-Node with Avid Pro Tools 9 or higher, the buffer size should be a multiple of 64 samples. Earlier versions of Pro Tools cannot work with non-Avid interfaces, including G-Node.
  • Page 27 G-Node can operate without a computer, although battery power is necessary if the USB bus is not connected. This is called stand-alone mode. When you close the Control Panel, it saves all the G-Node mixer settings in G-Node’s flash memory. Simply set the mixer settings as desired in the Control Panel, then close the Control Panel.

  • Page 28: Chapter 8: Using G-Node With Music Software

    Windows: In Guitar Rig 4, go file > Audio and MIDI Settings. Click on the Audio tab; assign Guitar Rig 4’s audio driver to ASIO, and select ASIO Gibson G-Node as the device. Mac: In Guitar Rig 4, go Guitar Rig 4 > Preferences. Click on the Audio tab; assign the driver to CoreAudio, and Device to Gibson G-Node (the screen shot shows the Windows preferences, but the Mac is very similar).

  • Page 29: Interface G-Node With Host Software

    Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, Cakewalk Sonar, etc. so that you can record the X Series Guitar's output. You’ll also want to be able to send your host’s outputs to the G-Node so you can monitor them through headphones, monitor speakers, etc.

  • Page 30: Windows Host Software: Ableton Live

    G-Node. Live will now use G-Node as its audio interface. 4. Click on Input Configuration. 5. G-Node produces eight individual outputs: Outputs 1 and 2 are identical and represent the main guitar output. Outputs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are the individual string outputs, going from low E to high E.
  • Page 31 Ext. In from the top drop-down menu under Audio From, as the input is coming from an external source (the G-Node interface). Select the actual input from the second drop-down menu. Refer to the following screen shot: The Main track has Firebird outputs 1/2 (the main stereo pair) as its input.

  • Page 32: Mac Host Software: Ableton Live

    3. Click on the Audio tab. For Driver Type, select CoreAudio. For Audio Input Device, select Gibson G-Node (8 in, 2 out). For Audio Output Device, select Gibson G-Node (8 in, 2 out). Live will now use G-Node as its audio interface.

  • Page 33: Appendix A: Troubleshooting

    Problem: You hear pops and clicks when you play and record audio. Solution: Increase the buffer size. If this doesn’t help, make sure the G-Node is taking the most direct path possible to your compute and not going through a USB hub.

  • Page 34: Appendix B: Uninstalling G-Node Software

    Appendix B: Uninstalling G-Node Software Appendix B: Uninstalling G-Node Software There are few reasons to uninstall the G-Node software unless it is being replaced by a newer version, or somehow becomes corrupted (e.g., due to hard drive deterioration). Uninstalling can also do “brute force” troubleshooting: Uninstalling and re-installing the software may solve intermittent or unusual problems.

  • Page 35: Appendix C: Computer Latency And Recording

    The faster the processor, the lower the potential latency. Multicore processors can help tremendously in reducing latency. G-Node is compatible with ASIO for Windows and Core Audio for the Mac. Both of these are low-latency protocols. However, note that Windows machines have their own sound protocols, such as MME and DirectSound.
  • Page 36  Every millisecond of latency is approximately equivalent to moving 1 foot away from your speaker. So, if you wear headphones with a system that has 5 ms of latency, you’ll experience the same amount of delay as if your head was 5 feet away from your monitor speakers.

  • Page 37: Appendix D: Using G-Node As A Sound Card

    Sound. 2. Click on the Output tab. 3. Click on Gibson G-Node to highlight it. Note that you can adjust the output level from this tab (the headphone level control still affects volume too). 4. To use G-Node with applications that accept an audio input, click on the Input tab.
  • Page 38 Windows 7 1. Go Start > Control Panel. 2. Click on Sound. 3. Click on the Playback tab. Click on Speakers – Gibson G-Node, then click on Set Default. A check mark appears next to the speaker graphic. Page 38...
  • Page 39 4. To use G-Node with applications that accept an audio input, click on the Recording tab. 5. Click on Line – Gibson G-Node, then click on Set Default. A check mark appears next to the cable graphic. G-Node is now the default for system sounds and applications such as Windows Media Player.
  • Page 40  In step 3, click on Properties then click on the Levels tab. The fader adjusts output levels.  Open the G-Node Control Panel and use the Analog output faders  Adjust the G-Node’s front panel headphone level control. Note: All of these adjustments interact. For example, if the Control Panel analog output faders are all the way down, then there will be no sound, regardless of the Windows fader settings.

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