TC electronic SDN BHD Multi-effects Processor G-Natural User Manual

User’s Manual

G-Natural

1 Read these instructions.
2 Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance

with the manufacturer's instructions.

8 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat

registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.

9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or

grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched

particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.

11 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the

manufacturer.

12 Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or

table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the
apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when
moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over.

13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when

unused for long periods of time.

14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing

is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any
way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid
has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus,
the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does
not operate normally, or has been dropped.

• This equipment should be installed near the socket
outlet and disconnection of the device should be easily
accessible.

• To completely disconnect from AC mains, disconnect the
power supply cord from the AC receptacle.

• The mains plug of the power supply shall remain readily
operable.

• Do not install in a confined space.

• Do not open the unit – risk of electric shock inside.

Caution:

You are cautioned that any change or modifications not
expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to
operate this equipment.

Service

• There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

• All service must be performed by qualified personnel.

Warning!

• To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose
this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no
objects filled with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.

• This apparatus must be earthed.

• Use a three wire grounding type line cord like the one
supplied with the product.

• Be advised that different operating voltages require the use
of different types of line cord and attachment plugs.

• Check the voltage in your area and use the correct type.
See table below:

Voltage Line plug according to standard

110-125V UL817 and CSA C22.2 no 42.

220-230V CEE 7 page VII, SR section

107-2-D1/IEC 83 page C4.

240V BS 1363 of 1984.

Specification for 13A fused
plugs and switched and
unswitched socket outlets.

The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within
an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to

the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in

the literature accompanying the product.

a

EMC/EMI

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 residential
installations. 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 can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on. The user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving 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/TV
technician for help.

For Customers in Canada:

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian
ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la
norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Certificate of Conformity

TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240
Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own
responsibility that the following product:

G-Natural

- Effects Processor for acoustic guitars

that is covered by this certificate and
marked with CE-label conforms with
following standards:

EN 60065 Safety requirements for mains
(IEC 60065) operated electronic and

related apparatus for household
and similar general use

EN 55103-1 Product family standard for

audio,video, audio-visual and
entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional
use. Part 1: Emission.

EN 55103-2 Product family standard for

audio, video, audio-visual and
entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional
use. Part 2: Immunity.

With reference to regulations in following
directives:
73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC

Issued in Risskov, June 2007

Mads Peter Lübeck

Chief Executive Officer

EMC / EMI & CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY

b

TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [e-mail] Manual revision 1.1– SW – V 1.01

Prod. No: E60507612

English Version

INTRODUCTION

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a

EMC/EMI & Certificate of Conformity . . . . . . . .b

Table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

OPERATION

G-Natural – Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

G-Natural – Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

BASIC SETUPS

Guitar with piezo pick-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Guitar with piezo pick-up + microphone . . . . .12

Guitar with piezo pick-up

+ vocal microphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

G-Natural with a dedicated

acoustic guitar amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

G-Natural in a studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

MENUS

Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Boost Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

The Tuner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

EFFECTS

Compression

Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Stomp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

EQ and Noise Gate

EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Noise Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Boost

Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Modulation - mod

Detune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Vibrato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Tremolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Chorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Flanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Reverb Types

Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Delay Types

Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Analog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

PingPong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

APPENDIX

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on the purchase of your G-Natural. G-Natural is the world’s first multi-effects processor for the serious
acoustic guitar player.

With G-Natural you no longer have to put your guitar sound in the hands of the sound engineer or to put up with effects
designed for electric guitars to boost your performance. It goes without saying that effects for electric instruments do not
take the construction of a hollow body acoustic guitar into account.

G-Natural houses a suite of high quality effects fine-tuned for acoustic guitar. It’s all you will ever need to cut through to
your audience: Compression, EQ, Boost, Chorus, Detune, Vibrato, Tremolo, Flanger, Reverb and Delay.

With both a built-in mic preamp and standard line inputs you can choose between using a piezo or pickup system or
miking your guitar with a condenser mic. Or why not do both and mix the signals inside G-Natural to get the best of both
worlds?

G-Natural comes with 30 factory settings optimized for a wide variety of musical genres and playing techniques. The 30
user-customizable presets allow you to add that crucial personal touch to your sound.
G-Natural’s mic pre can also be used for vocal performance. Just put G-Natural in Vocal mode and you automatically get
a vocal strip EQ and compressor.

Topping an already packed feature list, a built-in tuner, digital I/O, expression pedal input and MIDI make G-Natural the
number one multi-effects solution for the serious acoustic guitar player – all you need is a fresh set of strings, a load of
killer tunes and you’re good to go.

Features

• Floor-based multi effects processor

• 10 high quality TC effects tuned for
acoustic guitar

• Mic preamp for vocals or guitar

• Built-in tuner and boost

• Road-ready and portable design

The current manual revision number is found at the bottom of page 3.
Latest manual revision can always be downloaded via www.tcelectronic.com.
To seek additional information and support please visit TC Support interactive
that also can be accessed via www.tcelectronic.com

5

OVERVIEW

6

1 - Effect Edit/Select buttons

Press once to enter edit mode for the current effect.
Press again to toggle between the different effect types.

2 - Variations

For each selected effect type, 4 instant variations can be
stored. When creating new presets this function makes is
very easy to combine your favorite reverbs with your
favorite compression settings etc.

Example:

- Press COMP edit to enter the compression block.

- Edit the compression settings using encoders A-D.

- Now press and hold VARIATION key #1 to save this
compression setting as one of your favorites. Note
that the preset is not stored at this point, you have
simply set up a favorite compression setting.

- Recall a different preset using the preset keys where
you would like to apply this compression.

- Press COMP followed by VARIATION key #1.

- Your favorite compression setting #1 is now recalled
into the current preset.

Each effect block can hold up to 4 variations!

3 - Factory Default

TC Electronic has predefined factory default settings for
each algorithm. Press FACTORY DEFAULT to recall the
default settings for the currently selected algorithm.

Example:
Assume that you have a very nice preset with a nice
combination of compression, EQ, mod and maybe delay
settings. However, you feel that you have edited the
reverb parameters to a point where you find yourself a bit
lost. - What would TC Electronic suggest?

- We assume that you are in reverb edit, thus the
REVERB EDIT LED is lit.

- Press FACTORY DEFAULT.

7

OPERATION

Note that there is a factory default setting for each
effect sub-type.

4- Subdivision

The subdivision parameter relates to delay effects only. It
is used to calculate the actual delay time in relation to
the tapped tempo.

Example:
Tapped tempo is often used with delay. Let us assume
the tempo of the song is 120 BPM. Tap 1/4 notes.

If the selected subdivision is set to 1/4 note the

actual delay time will be 500 ms.

If the selected subdivision is set to 1/8 note triplets
the actual delay time will be 166 ms.

5 - Edit knobs A, B, C, D

Turn to adjust the parameters currently displayed above
the knobs in the display.

6 - Numeric Display

The numeric display has three sections.

Lef

t - Indicates “U” for user bank or “F” for factory bank.

Only the user bank presets can be edited.

Middle

- Indicates the current preset bank.

A “dot” indicates that the preset has been edited.

Right - Tuner indication.

Presets - G-Natural has 30 factory presets and 30 user
preset locations.

7 - Store

Storing a preset can be done in two ways. We call them
“Quick store” and “Normal store”. “Quick store” is
typically used when you have made changes to a preset
and want to store the preset with the same name at the

same location. “Normal store” is used if you want to
change preset location and maybe the name as well.

Quick store

- press and hold STORE for 2 seconds. The

preset is now stored at the current location.

If you are trying to store a factory preset using
“Quick store”, you will automatically be directed to
“Normal store” mode.

Normal S

tore - press STORE once:

Now the following controls are available:

- Encoder A selects preset location

- Encoder B selects preset name characters

- Encoder C changes characters

- Encoder D selects recall, delete or store mode

When selections are made press STORE to confirm.

8 - Levels

Output levels can be set for each preset. All other
parameters in the levels menu are “global” parameters
and do not change with presets.

9 - Menu

This menu holds important settings such as MIDI,
routing, pedal settings and utility parameters. Please
refer to the relevant manual sections for details.

10 - LEDs

The LEDs indicate the selected effect in each block.

11 - Comp

On/off switch for the compressor.

12 - Mod

On/off switch for the modulation block.

11+12

Press both switches at the same time to go up one bank.

13 - Delay

On/off switch for the delay block.

14 - Reverb

On/off switch for the reverb block.

15+16

Press both switches at the same time to go down one
bank.

15 - Preset 1

Press to recall preset #1 in the current bank.

16 - Preset 2

Press to recall preset #2 in the current bank.

17 - Preset 3

Press to recall preset #3 in the current bank.

18 - Boost / Tap Tempo / Hold for Tuning

Via the footswitch parameter in the utility menu this
switch can be set to act as either boost or tap tempo.

With the “Boost” function selected the entire signal can
be boosted up to 10 dB. Max boost level is set via the
levels menu. The boost level can be set for individual
presets within the set max boost.

With “Tap Tempo” selected, the global tempo can be
entered by tapping the switch.

Whether you are using tap tempo mode or boost mode
for this switch the tuner mode can be accessed by
pressing the switch for 2 seconds. In Tuner mode
G-Natural can be set up to mute the outputs for
convenient quiet tuning. This is setup in the Utility menu
via the Output parameter.

OPERATION

8

9

1 - Line Input

Input for line instruments such as keyboards etc.
Connection type: 1/4” jack.

2 - Instrument Input

Input for:

- Guitar pedal or preamp

- Active pickups (guitar with batteries)

- Acoustic guitar with preamp

- Keyboard output

Connection type: 1/4” jack.

3/4 - Balanced Outputs

Balanced outputs on 1/4” TRS jack. These outputs may
be connected directly to balanced mic inputs with
1/4”TRS to XLR adapters.

WARNING! When connecting the G-Natural
outputs to microphone inputs on a mixing console,
the phantom power for these channels MUST be
switched off! Otherwise you may damage the
G-Natural circuits.

REAR PANEL VIEW

UL60065
EN/IEC 60065
CSA file no:
LR 108093

MIC PASSTHRU

SERIAL NO.

TYPE: TFW001

MADE INTHAILAND

IN

THRU

IN

LINE

LEFT RIGHT

OUT

MIDIBALANCED INPUTS BALANCED OUTPUTS DIGITAL I/O PEDAL

DI

DO

S/PDIF

100-240V~AC
50-60Hz, 15W

R

CUS

THIS CLASS B DIGITAL DEVICE MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANADIAN INTERFERENCE­CAUSING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONSAND COMPLIES WITH PART15 OF THE FCC RULES.
OPERATIONSUBJECT TO CONDITIONS STATEDIN THE MANUAL.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC
SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE

AVIS:

RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS

OUVRIR.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

MIC INPUT

MIC LEVEL

MIC IN

SELECT

-20dB LIMITER +48V

INSTRUMENT

5 - Digital I/O - S/PDIF

Sends and receives digital audio to S/PDIF standards on
standard RCA connectors.

6 / 7 / 8 - MIDI In / Thru / Out

Standard MIDI interface.

9 - Pedal In

Several types of external pedals can be connected and
used to control parameters.

- Connect an expression or a volume pedal to control
e.g. volume
For perfect response when using an expression or a
volume pedal, the pedal must be calibrated. This is
done via the pedal menu

- Via the pedal menu you can set up what parameter
the expression/volume pedal should control