V-TONE GMX110/GMX210/GMX212/GMX1200H
User’s Manual
Version 1.1 July 2004
ENGLISH
V-TONE GMX110/GMX210/GMX212/GMX1200H
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
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V-TONE GMX110/GMX210/GMX212/GMX1200H
FOREWORD
Dear Customer,
welcome to the team of BEHRINGER users, and thank you very much for expressing your confidence in us by purchasing the BEHRINGER V-TONE.
Writing this foreword for you gives me great pleasure, because it represents the culmination of many months of hard work delivered by our engineering team to achieve a very ambitious goal: to develop four outstanding guitar amps that are at the forefront of what is
technically possible and that can be used in many different applications. Our guitar amps offer you strong performance, their sound is amazingly clear, and they are easy to use both as direct recording amps as well as stage amps. The task of designing our new V-TONEs certainly meant a great deal of responsibility, which we assumed by focusing on you, the discerning user and musician. Meeting your expectations also meant a lot o6f work and night shifts. But it was fun, too. Developing a product usually brings a lot of people together, and what a great feeling it is when all who participated in such a project can be proud of what they’ve achieved.
It is our philosophy to share our enjoyment with you, because you are the most important member of the BEHRINGER team. With your highly competent suggestions for new products you’ve made a significant contribution to shaping our company and making it successful. In return, we guarantee you uncompromising quality as well as excellent technical and audio properties at an extremely reasonable price. All of this will enable you to give free rein to your creativity without being hampered by budget constraints.
We are often asked how we manage to produce such highquality devices at such unbelievably low prices. The answer is quite simple: it’s you, our customers! Many satisfied customers mean large sales volumes enabling us to get better purchasing terms for components, etc. Isn’t it only fair to pass this benefit on to you? Because we know that your success is our success too!
I would like to thank all of you who have made the V-TONE Series possible. You have all made your own personal contributions, from the developers to the many other employees at this company, and to you, the BEHRINGER user.
My friends, it’s been worth the effort!
Thank you very much,
Uli Behringer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................... |
4 |
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1.1 |
The concept .................................................................... |
4 |
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1.2 |
DYNAMIZER technology and analog modeling .............. |
4 |
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1.3 |
Before you get started ................................................... |
4 |
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1.3.1 |
Shipment ............................................................... |
4 |
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1.3.2 |
Initial operation ...................................................... |
4 |
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1.3.3 |
Warranty .............................................................. |
4 |
2. CONTROLELEMENTSANDCONNECTIONS ............. |
5 |
|
2.1 |
Front panel ...................................................................... |
5 |
2.2 |
Rear panel ...................................................................... |
5 |
3. APPLICATIONS .......................................................... |
6 |
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3.1 |
Practice setup with playback ......................................... |
6 |
3.2 |
Recording setup with an external effects device ......... |
7 |
3.3 |
Live setup with a MIDI foot controller ............................ |
7 |
3.4 |
Wiring the GMX1200H .................................................... |
8 |
4. EFFECTSPROCESSOR .............................................. |
8 |
|
4.1 |
FXT—effects tracking .................................................... |
9 |
4.2 |
The effects ..................................................................... |
9 |
4.3 |
MIDI control ................................................................... |
10 |
5. TUNER ...................................................................... |
12 |
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5.1 |
Tuning your guitar ........................................................ |
12 |
5.2 |
Setting up the “a” reference tone ................................ |
12 |
6. INSTALLATION ......................................................... |
12 |
|
6.1 |
Audio connections ....................................................... |
12 |
6.2 |
Speaker connection ...................................................... |
13 |
6.3 |
MIDI connection ............................................................. |
13 |
7. APPENDIX ................................................................ |
13 |
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7.1 |
MIDI implementation ....................................................... |
13 |
7.2 |
Effect presets ............................................................... |
14 |
8. SPECIFICATIONS ..................................................... |
15 |
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9. WARRANTY .............................................................. |
16 |
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WARNING!
+We would like to bring your attention to the fact that extremely loud sound levels may damage your hearing as well as your headphones. Please turn the MASTER control all the way to the left before powering up the unit. Always try to keep volume at appropriate levels.
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V-TONE GMX110/GMX210/GMX212/GMX1200H
1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for the trust that you have placed in us by buying your V-TONE. You have gotten your hands on a latest-generation guitar amp that sets completely new standards when it comes to analog modeling.
Our primary goal during development was to simulate the typical sounds of analog guitar amps, and at the same time give you a powerful sound tool that you can use flexibly. In doing so, we constantly strove to create a piece of equipment that is intuitive and easy to use.
The demands placed on a guitar amp are nowadays very broad. A guitarist should offer a wide array of sounds, but at the same time be able to quickly adapt to specific requirements of various applications—be it home recording, studio, live performances, etc. That’s why it is very important to us to be able to offer you a maximal sound diversity as well as diverse connection possibilities with our V-TONE. Fret not: you will quickly master the V-TONE and will be able to quickly learn how to use all of its capabilities easily and intuitively.
With its up-to-date circuitry, its digital signal processor (DSP) and its integrated tuner, the V-TONE features the functionality and dependability of a truly modern guitar amp. Yet it is userfriendly and problem-free as if it were a classic tube combo. We highly recommend taking your time to truly learn all of the V-TONE’s functions so you can reach its maximum potential.
1.1 The concept
The BEHRINGER company philosophy guarantees a perfectly thought-out circuitry concept, with components that were selected without cutting any corners. The operational amplifiers that BEHRINGER uses in the V-TONE are some of the most noisefree operational amps around, and are characterized by extreme linearity and low distortion. They are complemented by lowtolerance resistors and capacitors, high-value potentiometers and switches as well as additional select components.
The robust housing of your V-TONE, with its oversize power supply, gives you the peace of mind that the V-TONE will hold its own even under the most demanding stage conditions. The housing is made of high-grade, environment-friendly MDF wood consisting of multiply impregnated layers.
1.2 DYNAMIZER technology and analog modeling
When an electric instrument is amplified, that’s where you either make it or break it. Unlike the signals that have been mixed and mastered, the signals of electric instruments have extremely high signal peaks, placing the dynamic range of the amp’s circuitry under immense strain. How your amp reacts to these signal peaks is one of its most defining characteristics.
That’s why we’ve equipped all V-TONE Series amps with our unique DYNAMIZER preamplifier circuitry. It guarantees a lively sound with a lot of punch, even when the amp is pushed to its limits. Combine that with our V-TONE analog modeling, and not only do you have amazingly authentic tube sounds at your fingertips, you also get the dynamic performance typical of the respective amp type. Crystal-clear guitar tones come through with transparency, warmth and the compression typical of tube amps. Even as distortion increases, the sound remains lively and full of power, without losing any of its assertiveness.
All along, you have full control over the volume. Plainly talking, you can take the same sound you are used to at your practice room and replicate it in your bedroom at much more reasonable volume levels, or you can even record yourself while playing.
+The following user’s manual will familiarize you with the control elements of your new V-TONE and let you learn all of its functions. After reading this manual, store it somewhere where you can easily find in the future, should you need to look up some information.
1.3 Before you get started
1.3.1 Shipment
The V-TONE was carefully packed at the assembly plant to assure secure transport.
Should the condition of the cardboard box suggest that your V-TONE may have been damaged in transport, please inspect the unit immediately and look for physical indications of damage.
+Damaged equipment should NEVER be sent directly to us. Please inform the dealer from whom you acquired it immediately as well as the transportation company from which you took delivery. Otherwise, all claims for replacement/repair may be rendered invalid.
+To assure optimal protection of your V-TONE during transport, we recommend utilizing a carrying case.
+If the unit needs to be shipped, please always use the original packaging to avoid damage.
+Never let unsupervised children play with the V-TONE or with its packaging.
+Please dispose of all packaging materials in an environmentally-friendly fashion.
1.3.2 Initial operation
Please make sure that your V-TONE is provided with sufficient ventilation, and never place it on other amplifiers or in the vicinity of a heater to avoid the risk of overheating.
+Before plugging your V-TONE into a power socket, please make sure you have selected the correct voltage:
The fuse mount near the power cord connector has three triangular markings. Two of these triangles are facing opposite one another. Your V-TONE is set up for the voltage indicated near these markings, and can be altered by turning the fuse mount by 180 degrees. ATTENTION: This does not apply to export models built for 120 V, for example!
+If you use your V-TONE unit with a different voltage, you must change the fuses accordingly. The correct value of the fuses needed can be found in the section “SPECIFICATIONS”.
+Faulty fuses must be replaced with fuses of appropriate rating, without exception! The correct value of the fuses needed can be found in the section “SPECIFICATIONS”.
Power is delivered via the cable that was delivered with the V-TONE. All mandatory safety precautions have been adhered to.
+Please make sure that all your equipment is grounded at all times. For your own protection, you should never tamper with the grounding of the cable or the unit itself. The unit shall always be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.
MIDI connection is established using a standard DIN connector. Data transfer occurs via isolated opto-couplers. Additional information can be found in section 6 “INSTALLATION”.
1.3.3 Warranty
Please send the completely filled out warranty card within 14 days of purchase to us, as warranty claims may otherwise be rendered invalid. The serial number of your V-TONE is located on the rear. Alternatively, you may register online at www.behringer.com.
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1. INTRODUCTION |
V-TONE GMX110/GMX210/GMX212/GMX1200H
2.CONTROL ELEMENTS AND CONNECTIONS
Control elements of your V-TONE guitar amp are described in this section. All controls and connections are explained in detail, and we give you useful tips about using them. An illustration of the control elements with the corresponding numbering can be found on the separately included supplementary sheet.
Because models GMX210, GMX212 and GMX1200H each feature two identical MODELING CHANNELS, control elements 
through 
will only be described once in the following section.
2.1 Front panel
The connector labeled INPUT is the 1/4" jack input of your V-TONE. Use it to connect your guitar. Use a commercially available 1/4" jack mono cable (no DIY, better ask your specialized dealer), with good mechanical and electrical shielding to avoid unpleasant surprises during rehearsals or concerts.
On the GMX110, the CLEAN control modifies the volume of the CLEAN channel in relation to the MODELING CHANNEL.
Use the CHANNEL key to switch between the two MODELING CHANNELS (except for the GMX110). The channel LED 
of the active channel lights up. On the GMX110, the CHANNEL key switches between CLEAN and MODELING CHANNEL. CLEAN CHANNEL is active when the channel LED 
is not lit up. With all models you can also switch between channels using the provided footswitch. A long hit (approx. 2 seconds) on the CHANNEL key activates the guitar tuner.
The DRIVE control determines the amount of distortion in the respective MODELING CHANNEL. This way, the preamp of your V-TONE can be ideally adjusted to the output level of your guitar pick-up to achieve the desired amount of distortion (depending on the amp, mode and speaker combination you selected).
The CHANNEL LED indicates the currently selected channel.
Use the AMP switch to dial up the basic sounds of the three guitar amps that orient themselves on classic tube amps. You will surely recognize these classic amp sounds as soon as you hear them. Expect crystal-clear, transparent sounds with dynamic basses if you select TWEED. You get aggressive mids and pressure-rich, inescapable assertiveness and endurance when you select BRITISH. Rounder and more evened-out (yet still sophisticated) sounds can be dialed up if you select CALIF.(ORNIAN); it’s perfect for lead sounds.
Use the MODE switch to dial up one of three possible gain settings (CLEAN, HI GAIN and HOT) that you wish to use with the basic sound you selected using AMP.
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