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Gibson Firebird X User Manual

G-node audio interface
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Gibson Firebird X
Gibson Firebird X
G-Node Audio Interface Manual
G-Node Audio Interface Manual
copyright 2011 Gibson Guitar Corp.
G-Node manual version 1.0
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Summary of Contents for Gibson Firebird X

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

  • Page 2: Important Safety And Warranty Information

    Both you and your Firebird X will be much happier if you store and operate this product under safe conditions.
  • Page 3 Warranty Protection Warranty Protection It is extremely important to us that you are satisfied with Firebird X. Register it and activate your warranty protection by mailing the warranty card included with Firebird X 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 4 Email - service@gibson.com 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 Firebird X.

  • Page 5: Chapter 1: Introduction

    If You Own the Dark Fire or Firebird X Guitar Firebird X is a totally new design, so 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.
  • Page 6 G-Node-Related Accessories G-Node-Related Accessories The Firebird X 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 Firebird X- related software.
  • Page 7 G-Node interface provides an input for Firebird X along with mono or stereo analog outputs for your mixer, PA, or active speakers, and digital outputs for computers or other audio interfaces.

  • Page 8: 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 Firebird X output. The outputs are all available simultaneously. ✗ The analog line outputs can connect to mixers, PAms, recorder analog inputs, etc.
  • Page 9 ✗ Firebird X input: Plug the Firebird X 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 LED: Green indicates that the G-Node recognizes Firebird X. Yellow indicates Firebird X is either not plugged in, not turned on, or not functioning properly.
  • Page 10 ✗ Battery on-off switch: Push in to enable G-Node’s internal battery (the battery door is located on G-Node’s bottom panel). Note: Battery power is "cleaner" than USB power, and may reduce noise when the analog outs connect to a high-gain guitar amp.

  • Page 11: Chapter 3: General Installation Instructions

    G-Node Automatic Fault Detection G-Node Automatic Fault Detection G-Node can detect faulty cables or bad USB 2.0 connections. If you open the Gibson G-Node Control Panel and its GUI (Graphic User Interface) does not appear, check your connections. If the Control Panel disappears for no apparent reason while the application is open, the USB 2.0 cable has likely been unplugged or become unseated from its connector.

  • Page 12: Chapter 4: Macintosh Installation

    6. The Standard Install window appears. This notifies you of the free space required on your hard drive for installation, and gives the option to change installation to a drive other than your main system drive. Gibson strongly recommends using the default installation path. Click on Install.
  • Page 13 Close. You’ll find Firebird X files in the following locations. Firebird X Presets: Finder > Go > Home > Firebird X > Presets Firebird X Editor: Finder > Go > Applications > Firebird G-Node Control Panel: Finder > Go > Applications > Firebird X...
  • Page 14 Do not click on FirebirdDFU; this program launches automatically to check your system firmware when you open the Firebird X 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 FBX Editor.

  • Page 15: Chapter 5: Windows 7 Installation

    “Administrator” account or any other account with administrative privileges. Otherwise, you will not be able to install the G-Node software. Caution! 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.
  • Page 16 Gibson strongly recommends using the default installation path. Click on Install. Note: With 32-bit Windows 7, FBX Editor will install to the Program Files folder. With 64-bit Windows 7, it will install to the Program Files (x86) folder.
  • Page 17 You’ll find Firebird X files in the following locations. Firebird X Presets: Start > Computer > C: Drive > Users > Owners > Firebird X > Presets Firebird X Editor, additional icons for Presets and Licks, and uninstall: Start > All Programs >...

  • Page 18: Chapter 6: How To Update System Firmware

    Do not have the pedals powered-on when updating the guitar and G-Node. 5. Open the FBX Editor. It will query Firebird X and G-Node for their firmware versions (this will take several seconds), and if all devices are up-to-date, will display a screen showing the firmware versions and then open the FBX editing screen.
  • Page 19 Confirm that you do, and be patient—updating all components can take several minutes. Caution! Do not do anything with your computer, Firebird X, or G-Node until updating is complete. 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).
  • Page 20 4. Connect the AC adapter to the Switchboard. 5. Turn on the Switchboard by pushing and holding the Upper Left footswitch. It is not necessary to have Firebird X turned on. 6. Open the FBX Editor software. It will search your computer’s USB ports, locate the Switchboard, and check the firmware version.

  • Page 21: Chapter 7: The Control Panel Application

    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 > Go > Applications > Firebird folder > G-Node Control Panel Note: The following illustrations show the Windows version.
  • Page 22 Similarly, the Mute buttons mute the output completely. Note: Although Firebird X’s output is mono, the main out includes this mono signal in both the left and right outputs. With DAW software, this allows Firebird X to be compatible with either mono or stereo tracks.
  • Page 23 ✗ Channel label. You can edit and save this if you want to change the name. For example, to make it easier to remember which gauge strings you use, you can enter the diameter in the string field instead of the note names. ✗...
  • Page 24 Windows 7: Sessions are stored in the User’s Documents folder, in a sub-folder named “G- Node sessions” and have a .G-Node session suffix. An example file path is C:\Users\[user name]\Documents\G-Node sessions. Mac: Sessions are stored in the “Documents” folder, in a sub-folder named “G-Node sessions.”...
  • Page 25 Buffer Size Settings (Mac) Buffer sizes (see the description of buffering in the previous section) are set within the application, not with the Control Panel. For example, with Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition: 1. With Live open, click on Live in the menu bar and select Preferences. The Preferences window opens.
  • Page 26 Simply set the mixer settings as desired in the Control Panel, then close the Control Panel. The next time you turn on your Gibson G-Node (or move it to another computer), those settings will automatically load into the G-Node’s internal mixer. This is useful for live performance if, for example, you’ve created a perfect mix of all the Firebird...

  • Page 27: Chapter 8: Using G-Node With Music Software

    The following assume that the Playback and Output level controls are at 0dB except as noted. You want to practice Firebird X without any processing, and be able to listen to any of the string and pickup options through a monitoring system (including headphones plugged into G-Node’s front panel).
  • Page 28 Guitar Rig. As the guitar signal is passing through the computer, you may notice some latency. You want to play Firebird X through the processors in your computer and blend in the direct string sounds.
  • Page 29 6. Live gives you the choice of treating each input signal as a single, mono signal or part of a stereo pair (e.g., Firebird X outputs 1 and 2 can be two mono signals, or one stereo pair; the E and A strings could be two channels of a stereo pair, or individual mono channels;...
  • Page 30 E string output) being selected for the high E track. 9. Now the track inputs are listening to the Firebird X outputs, so they can be recorded. But we also want to be able to hear what we record, so in the Audio To field, select Master. This send all track outputs to Live’s Master out, which terminates in the G-Node’s Analog...
  • Page 31 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 32: Appendix A: Troubleshooting

    Problem: Firebird X appears not to connect with the G-Node. For example, a notice says the firmware version isn’t recognized, or can’t be read. Solution: Unplug the stereo cable from Firebird X, wait a few seconds, then plug it back in again. This solves most connection problems.

  • Page 33: Appendix B: Uninstalling G-Node Software

    Uninstalling can also do “brute force” troubleshooting: Uninstalling and re-installing the software may solve intermittent or unusual problems. Macintosh: Drag the Gibson G-Node Control Panel icon out of the Applications folder and into the trash. Windows 7: Go Start > All Programs > Gibson G-Node > Uninstall.

  • Page 34: Appendix C: Computer Latency And Recording

    Control Panel control these levels. This results in no latency, but the tradeoff is that you will no longer hear Firebird X through any of your computer’s plug-ins, or stand- alone applications like Guitar Rig 4 Pro.
  • Page 35 ✗ 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 36: 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 37 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 37...
  • Page 38 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 39 Adjusting Levels in Windows 7 Adjusting Levels in Windows 7 There are several ways to adjust output levels: ✗ Click on the Speaker icon in the system tray, and adjust the slider. ✗ In step 3, click on Properties then click on the Levels tab. The fader adjusts output levels.

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