Gibson G-Node User Manual

™

Gibson G-Node

Audio Interface Manual

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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. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes :

(1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage (2) l'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which canbe determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by 1 or more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the antenna  Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver  Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected  Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or television technician for help

Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Gibson could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Japanese Compliance

This device has been granted a designation number by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications according to the Ordinance concerning the Technical Regulations Conformity Certification etc. of Specified Radio Equipment

(特定無線設備の技術基準適合証明等に関する規則)

Article 2 clause (1) Item (19) (1) Approval no: 202WWSM115690412 This device should not be modified (otherwise the granted designation number will become invalid)

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Important Safety and Warranty Information

We value you as a customer—and want our products to give you an inspiring, and gratifying, experience. So, to insure your safety and protect your investment in Gibson’s G-Node™ Audio Interface, please read and follow all safety warnings and operating instructions before using this product, and keep all documentation for future reference.

Environmental Factors

Heat and moisture can harm your Gibson G-Node™ Audio Interface. Please do not install or operate near sources of moisture, such as sinks, damp basements, leaky roofs, etc. and never store it near heat sources, such as heaters or radiators. Both you and your G-Node™ will be much happier if you store and operate this product under safe conditions.

Power Sources

Use only the power sources included in the package. Make sure any power supply cords are not located where they are likely to be safety hazards, such as on the floor where people might walk, or in locations where they may receive pressure from items placed upon or against them. 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.

Service

Please do not attempt to service G-Node™ yourself—let our expert technicians handle any repairs for you.

Speaking of experts, always send the G-Node™ USB 2.0 audio interface to the factory for servicing if any of the following occurs:

 Any foreign object (especially liquid) has gotten inside the G-Node™  The G-Node™ have been exposed to water, dropped, or otherwise damaged  A marked change in the G-Node's™ performance  You hear anything rattling around inside if you shake the G-Node™ gently

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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.

Once you your warranty protection is active, the G-Node™ is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Your warranty covers the cost of both labor and materials on any repair deemed necessary by our Customer Service Representative for the warranty period, subject to the limitations below. Please note that our warranty belongs to the original retail purchaser only, and may not be transferred or assigned to subsequent owners.

If the G-Node™ malfunctions as a result of faulty materials or workmanship, Gibson will determine whether repair or replacement is more appropriate. In case the original materials are no longer available for repair, Gibson reserves the right to use materials regularly utilized at the time of repair.

If we determine that replacing the G-Node™ best serves your interests, or in the unlikely event that it is destroyed, lost, or damaged beyond repair while in our possession for repairs, we will replace the product. If it is no longer available, it will be replaced with the most similar product whose value does not exceed your original product’s purchase price.

Remember—as a necessary condition to the warranty coverage described in this section, you must activate your warranty by mailing the warranty card included with the guitar to Gibson USA, Department W, P.O. Box 100087, Nashville, TN 37210-0087.

Warranty Limitations

Unfortunately, your product warranty cannot cover :

 Any product that has been altered or modified in any way, or upon which any serial

or registration number has been tampered with or altered in any way.

 Any product whose warranty card has been altered or contains false information.  Any product that has been damaged due to misuse, negligence, accident or improper

operation or storage.

 Any product damaged during shipment. Inspect the package immediately upon

receipt, and notify the carrier immediately if there is damage.

 Any product damaged as a result of extreme temperature, humidity, or the use of an

improper power source.

 Any product not purchased through an authorized dealer, or any product that has had

repairs, modifications or alterations made by an unauthorized service technician.

 Wear and tear based on normal usage.  Factory installed electronics after more than one year following the original date of

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purchase.

Gibson makes no other express warranty of any kind. All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose that exceed the specific provisions of the warranty, are expressly and specifically disclaimed and excluded from the warranty. Note, however, that some states and/or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties, so this paragraph may not apply to you. In particular, if you purchased your product outside of the United States, contact your local distributor for the handling and resolution of all warranty issues, as the warranty described here is not always applicable.

And of course, Gibson shall not be liable for any special, indirect, consequential, incidental or other similar damages to you or to any third party, including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits or business, or damages resulting from use or performance of the product, whether in contract or tort, even if Gibson or its authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages, and Gibson shall not be liable for any expenses, claims or suits arising from or relating to any of the foregoing.

To obtain warranty service, please contact Gibson directly:

US (Toll Free) 1-800-4GIBSON US (Local) 1-615-871-4500 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 G-Node™.

Gibson® is a trademark of the Gibson Guitar Corp. Windows® and Windows 7® are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.

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Chapter 1: Introduction

The G-NodeTM USB 2.0 high-performance audio interface is a product of Echo Digital Audio, which introduced its first computer audio interface 30 years ago. The company now makes a line of pro audio interfaces for Mac and Windows computers. If you want to expand the total amount of inputs and outputs, G-Node can run concurrently with other Echo Digital Audio interfaces.

If You Own the Dark Fire or Dusk Tiger

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.

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:

 Installing Editor software on your computer. On Windows, this includes drivers—

small programs that let G-Node™ communicate with the computer. Mac OS X already includes suitable drivers. For both computers, a Control Panel program—very much like a hardware digital mixer—lets you adjust the G-Node’s levels and routing within the computer.

 Hooking Up G-Node™. G-Node™ transfers audio to the computer via an industry-

standard USB 2.0 high-speed cable (included; please use only cables designated for USB 2.0 high-speed use). This physically connects G-Node’s USB 2.0 port to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. Most computers include a USB 2.0 port, but you can add USB

2.0 ports to desktop and laptop computers via accessory cards. G-Node draws its power from the USB 2.0 bus and requires no AC adapter, but can also be batterypowered for live use if no computer is available. Batteries also offer “cleaner” power that may result in less noise with high-gain amp setups.

 Customizing G-Node for your particular computer or application. This involves

making adjustments to the Control Panel, and/or assigning G-Node’s inputs and outputs within a host program like Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition.

Although G-Node is designed and optimized for music programs, it can also provide traditional “sound card” capabilities for Windows and Mac computers (see Appendix D).

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G-Node-Related Accessories

The X Series Guitar 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 software.

Store this in a safe place!

Minimum System Requirements

Using G-Node requires a desktop or laptop computer with:

 Available USB 2.0 port. USB 1.1 is not supported.  At least 1GB RAM (more RAM is highly recommended for audio applications)  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).

 Windows: Windows 7, which provides superior performance for working with audio

than previous Windows versions. G-Node’s true 64-bit drivers are fully compatible with 32- and 64-bit versions.

Users can try other operating system versions, but Gibson cannot provide support.

Guitar Rig 4 Pro and Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition

In addition to the Editor, two complimentary downloadable programs that work seamlessly with G-Node are available to X Series Guitar owners.

 Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig 4 Pro (full version) includes multiple amp models,

effects, and utilities. It works as a stand-alone processor, or as a plug-in with Mac and Windows recording/editing software such as Ableton Live, Avid Pro Tools 9 (or higher), Cakewalk Sonar, Apple Logic, MOTU Digital Performer, Steinberg Cubase, etc.

 Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition provides innovative audio and MIDI

recording, sequencing, and editing; it can also host Guitar Rig 4 Pro as a plug-in. An upgrade path is available for updating to the full version.

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Overview: Basic Computer Setups

Here's an overview of what the X Series Guitars can do when connected to a computer.

 For a basic computer-based live performance setup, load Guitar Rig 4 Pro into a

laptop or other computer. This software turns your computer into a “virtual guitar rack” with dozens of virtual amp and effect options, while the G-Node interface provides an input for the guitar along with mono or stereo analog outputs for your mixer, PA, or active speakers, and digital outputs for computers or other audio interfaces.

 For a computer-based live performance setup that takes advantage of X Series

Guitar's individual string processing possibilities, load Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson

Studio Edition into a laptop or other computer. Again, G-Node provides physical inputs and outputs for this “virtual rack.” All eight signals (main out and six individual string outputs) are available in Ableton Live as eight individual channels, and you can load plug-ins like Guitar Rig 4, or the plug-ins included in Ableton Live, to process these signals. Live provides the routing and mixing for outputs, which then go to your amplification system via G-Node's analog or digital outs.

 For a computer-based studio setup, G-Node provides an interface between your

guitar and computer, sending all guitar outputs through the USB 2.0 connector directly to your computer. Any modern DAW (digital audio workstation) program will recognize these outputs, and allow you to route, process, mix, and record them within the audio software you're using (called the “host program”). Because G-Node also acts as a high-quality computer interface/sound card, your host program will be able to send its output through the USB 2.0 cable to the G-Node. From there, the GNode’s stereo output jacks can patch directly to a set of active monitor speakers (or to a mixer, headphone distribution amp, etc.). You can also monitor the output via GNode’s headphone output.

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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.  The ADAT optical output sends signals to devices with ADAT-compatible inputs,

including audio interfaces and recorders.

 The headphone output allows monitoring the X Series Guitar or your computer’s

output.

 The USB connection provides bi-directional signal flow (input and output) between

the G-Node and Mac or Windows computers. Note: G-Node is a class-compliant USB

device, so it can be removed without having to “safely eject.”

G-Node Front Panel

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 X Series Guitar input: Plug the X Series Guitar 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 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.  String activity LEDs: These indicate which strings are outputting a signal.  Headphone jack: Plug standard, 1/8” stereo headphones into this jack.  Headphone level control: This adjusts the headphone level, but not the level of the

rear-panel outputs.

 Bluetooth antenna: Reserved for future expansion.

G-Node Rear Panel

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 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. If the G-Node connects to USB, battery power will override power coming from the 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.)

 Bluetooth antenna and Bluetooth pairing switch: Reserved for future expansion.  MIDI out: Reserved for future expansion.  SD card slot and recorder controls: Reserved for future expansion.  ADAT output: Optical connector that carries the two main guitar outs and individual

outputs for each string (eight outputs total).

 Line outputs: Standard balanced or unbalanced, line-level, 1/4” phone jack outputs

that can patch to analog mixers, other audio interfaces, PA systems, etc. These outputs are available simultaneously with the ADAT output, and signals traveling over USB.

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Chapter 3: General Installation Instructions

Check the Gibson Website for Updates

Gibson is committed to enhancing G-Node’s performance. For the latest G-Node updates and updated documentation, go to the Visionaries Club at http://fbx.gibson.com. You’ll also find update for other X Series Guitar system software, free patches, and more.

Installing from a Downloaded File

All X Series Guitar software is available as a convenient download rather than from physical media. When downloading new software, note where your computer stores downloads. If you’re not sure, create a text file with a distinctive name (e.g., Downloadtestfile.txt), email it to yourself as an attachment, then download the attachment. Use your computer’s search function to find the file after it’s downloaded, and note the folder that contains it. This folder is where you will find any other files you download.

Caution:

Never force a USB connection. If the USB plug does not slide easily into its matching connector, rotate the plug 180 degrees and try again.

Connect Directly to a USB Port on Your Computer, not through a Hub

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.

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. Restoring these connections restores the Control Panel’s GUI.

USB 2.0 Connector Orientation

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+ 28 hidden pages

Gibson G-Node User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual