ESI Gigaport Ex User’s Guide

Professional 24-bit / 192 kHz USB Audio Interface

with 8 separate high quality analog output channels

User’s Guide

ESI - Copyright © 2020

Revision 1, February 2020

www.esi-audio.com

ESI GIGAPORT eX

INDEX

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Features ................................................................................................................................................................ 4

2. Installation .................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 System Recommendation ..................................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Hardware Installation ........................................................................................................................................... 6

2.3 Driver & Software Installation ............................................................................................................................. 6

2.3.1 Installation under Windows .............................................................................................................................. 7

2.3.2 Installation under OS X / macOS ...................................................................................................................... 9

3. Windows Control Panel ............................................................................................................. 10

3.1 Latency and buffer settings ................................................................................................................................ 11

3.2 DirectWIRE Output Routing ............................................................................................................................. 11

3.3 Windows Audio Settings ................................................................................................................................... 13

3.4 DirectWIRE Loopback ...................................................................................................................................... 14

4. OS X / macOS Control Panel .................................................................................................... 15

4.1 Latency and buffer settings ................................................................................................................................ 16

4.2 OS X / macOS Audio Settings ........................................................................................................................... 16

4.3 DirectWIRE Loopback ...................................................................................................................................... 17

5. Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 18

6. General Information .................................................................................................................. 19

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ESI GIGAPORT eX

1. Introduction

Thank you for your purchase of GIGAPORT eX, a product that is not like any other USB audio
interface ... it's simply the multichannel playback solution with the best price value ratio on the market
today!

With its unique set of features providing 8 independent outputs (and full 7.1 surround sound support),
2 independent stereo headphone outputs and excellent audio quality supporting up to 24-bit and 192
kHz, GIGAPORT eX provides ASIO 2.0 drivers for professional audio mixing and playback under
Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. The hardware is also CoreAudio compatible and natively
works under OS X / macOS even without the installation of a special driver. This makes GIGAPORT
eX perfect for digital DJs on the road working with notebook computers. Simply use your favorite
DJ software and the eight outputs as up to 4 different stereo channels, enabling you to mix, cue and
add effects! Monitor and pre-listen to your signals via the two built-in headphone outputs.
GIGAPORT eX of course also works on your desktop computer and is compatible with all important
professional audio DAW software applications. The hardware also works with consumer programs
such as DVD playback software.

GIGAPORT eX is a USB-C device, optimized for USB 3.1 operation. It is also compatible with
standard USB 2.0 ports.

1.1 Features

The front panel of the GIGAPORT eX hardware has these main features from left to right:

- USB-C connector to connect the device to a computer or mobile device. Use this connector to

connect the unit to your Mac or PC or to a mobile device by using one of the two included USB­C connection cables. When the device is working, the power LED just right of the USB-C
connector will be on.

- 8 status LEDs to show activity on each corresponding playback channel. Here you can see when

audio data is being sent out to each output channel.

- Headphone output (1/2) with unbalanced 1/4" stereo TRS connector for channel 1 and 2. Via

this headphone output, you will always get the same signal that is also being sent to line outputs
1 and 2. This headphone output is used to check your signals independent from what is being
played via channels 3 to 8 for example, a feature that is very useful for DJ applications without
an external mixer.

- Headphone output (Mix) with unbalanced 1/4" stereo TRS connector for the down mixed

signal. Via this headphone output, you will always get the mix of all 8 (or 4 stereo) channels.
You can use this output for instance to control and check signals for all the physical output
channels.

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ESI GIGAPORT eX

The rear panel has these connectors:

- Line output 1 to 8 with unbalanced RCA connectors. Via these outputs, the main signals are

being sent out. Each output channel is labelled / numbered accordingly.

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ESI GIGAPORT eX

2. Installation

2.1 System Recommendation

GIGAPORT eX is not simply a standard digital audio interface, but a high-resolution device capable
of advanced processing of audio content. Even though GIGAPORT eX is built to have low-CPU
resource dependability, system specifications play a key part in the GIGAPORT eXs performance.
Systems with more advanced components are generally recommended.

Minimum System Requirements

PC

-

Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 or 10 (32- and 64-bit) operating system

-

1 available USB 2.0 or USB 3.1 port ("type A" or "type C")

Mac

-

OS X / macOS 10.9 or higher

-

1 available USB 2.0 or USB 3.1 port ("type A" or "type C")

2.2 Hardware Installation

GIGAPORT eX is directly connected to an available USB port of your computer. The connection to
your computer is done either via a so-called "type A" or a "type C" port. For each connection type, a
separate cable is included in the package. Connect one end of that cable with GIGAPORT eX and the
other one to the USB port of your computer.

USB "type A" port of a computer USB "type C" port of a computer

2.3 Driver & Software Installation

After the connection of GIGAPORT eX, the operating system automatically detects it as a new
hardware device. However, you should install our driver to use it with full functionality.

We strongly recommend to download the latest driver from www.esi-audio.com before installing
GIGAPORT eX on your computer. Only if our driver software is installed, all the functionality is
provided under Windows / OS X / macOS.

You can always find the latest drivers and software for both PC and Mac for your GIGAPORT
eX by going to this page in your web browser:

>>> http://en.esi.ms/110 <<<

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