User Guide English 1
User Guide Introduction Box Contents HeadRush Gigboard USB Cable Power Adapter Software Download Card Quickstart Guide Safety & Warranty Manual Support For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit headrushfx.com. For additional product support, visit headrushfx.com/support.
Features Top Panel 1 5 2 3 4 1. Main Display: This full-color multi-touch display shows information relevant to the HeadRush Gigboard’s current operation. Touch the display (and use the hardware controls) to control the interface. See Operation > Main Screen to learn how it works. 2. Encoder: Turn this encoder to scroll through the available menu options or adjust the parameter values of the selected field in the display. Push the encoder to confirm your selection. 3.
Rear Panel 3 5 6 8 13 1 15 12 2 4 7 9 10 11 14 1. Guitar Input (1/4”/6.35 mm, TS): Connect your guitar to this input using a standard instrument cable. 2. Aux Input (1/8”/3.5 mm, TRS): Connect an optional audio source (e.g., smartphone, tablet, etc.) to this input using an 1/8”/3.5 mm stereo cable. 3. Expression Pedal Input (1/4”/6.35 mm, TRS): Connect an optional expression pedal to this input using a standard 1/4" (6.35 mm) TRS cable. 4. Expression Pedal Toe Switch Input (1/4”/6.
Setup Items not listed under Introduction > Box Contents are sold separately. IMPORTANT! In the Global Settings Menu, make sure you set the Outputs to send signal at amp level if you are using a traditional guitar amplifier, or line level (default) if you are using a full-range flat-response amplifier, mixer, PA speaker or audio interface.
Operation This chapter describes the HeadRush Gigboard’s functions. Main Screen Overview Tap to view setlists. Turn encoder to move through selectable items onscreen or to adjust parameters. Press encoder as an Enter command. Tap and drag this bar downward to view list of rigs. Rig name. Tap to save rig. This button toggles between the different routing options for a rig. This button enables or disables reverb and delay tails when switching to another rig.
To switch an amp and/or cab between a dual and single configuration, tap the 2X button next to it. To load another rig (preset), do any one of the following: • Tap the or next to the name of the current rig on the screen. • Tap the name of the rig on the screen and then turn the encoder. • Press a footswitch assigned to a preset when Gigboard is in Rig View. • Press a footswitch assigned to Prev Rig or Next Rig when Gigboard is in Hybrid View.
Signal Path You can easily reconfigure the path of your signal chain to split, which will create more complex routings. To reconfigure the signal path, tap toward the top right of the main screen. The icon will change to match one three possible signal paths (as shown below). This straight signal path is the default and the most common. This signal path splits in the middle and rejoins near the end.
Stereo vs. Mono The outgoing signal from the HeadRush Gigboard can be mono or stereo, depending on the models in your rig, the signal path, and which outputs you are using. An indicator near the end of the signal path indicates the current configuration. The signal will be stereo if you do any one of the following: • Use any stereo effect model in your signal chain. Even if you have placed mono effect models after it.
Views The four footswitches can be used to activate or bypass models (amps, cabs, or effects) as well as select scenes, rigs, or setlists. These footswitches are always in one of four views: Stomp View, Rig View, Hybrid View, and Setlist View. To change the view: 1. Press and hold Footswitch 1. Then select from the four footswitches which correspond to the four views: Stomp, Rig, Hybrid, and Setlist. 2. Press a footswitch to enter that view.
Rigs For the HeadRush Gigboard, a rig is a preset: the combination of assigned models—the amps, cabs, and effects—and the parameter settings for each of them. You can create, edit, save, and load rigs, making it easy to recall the perfect sound for each part of your performance. Each rig has 11 slots, each of which can have one model (amp, cab, or effect) assigned to it. An exception is when a slot is using an amp and/or cab in a dual configuration (when the 2X button next to it is enabled).
Optimizing Your Signal Chain The signal chain is the path that the audio signal follows from your guitar through your selected models and ends at the outputs of the HeadRush Gigboard. You can use the touchscreen to arrange your selected models in any sequence, but you may find that some configurations will sound better than others. Here are some common model placement suggestions for creating great rigs with the HeadRush Gigboard: • Dynamics (e.g., compressors), filters (e.g.
Deleting a Rig To delete the current rig, tap the button in the upper-right corner, and then tap Delete Rig, and then tap Yes to continue or No to cancel. Adjusting Settings To adjust the settings of an item in your rig, double-tap it to open its settings screen. You can adjust the settings of any model (amp, cab, or effect), the input (the In/Lock icon), the output (the Out icon), or mix (the Mix icon). Overview Tap to return to retain your changes and return to the main screen.
Parameters These are some of the parameters that you can adjust for each type of item in a rig. This includes amps, cabs, effects, input settings, output settings, and mix settings (if you are using a split signal path). See Saving a Preset to learn how to save your preset after adjusting its parameters. Amp The Amp category is a list of popular guitar amplifiers. Preset: This is the current amp preset, which includes the model, all of its settings, and its color assignment. Model: This is the amp model.
Effects There are several types of available effects. Their adjustable settings depend on the type of effect. In These input settings control the signal into the models of your rig: Preset: This is the current input preset, which includes its settings on the right edge of the display and its locked/unlocked state. Parameters: This menu determines whether these input settings are locked or unlocked. When unlocked, the settings will change to the new rig’s input settings each time you load a new rig.
Out These output settings control the signal sent to the HeadRush Gigboard outputs: Preset: This is the current output preset, which includes its settings on the right edge of the display. Rig Output: This level meter indicates the current level of your output signal after the output controls shown on this screen. You can set which outputs will send this signal in the Global Settings screen. See Global Settings to learn about this.
Hardware Assign The Hardware Assign screen enables you to customize how HeadRush Gigboard’s footswitches and an expression pedal control each rig. To open the Hardware Assign screen, tap the button in the upper-right corner of the main screen, and then tap Hardware Assign. To return to the main screen, tap the button in the upperleft corner. Important: The Hardware Assign settings are all part of the overall rig, so remember to save your changes you want to keep.
Footswitches The 4 boxes in the lower-left corner represent the 4 footswitches of the HeadRush Gigboard. You can assign any switch-based parameters (ones with only two states) to any of the footswitches—regardless of their location in the signal chain. To assign a parameter to a footswitch: 1. Tap a box. indicates an empty box. 2. In the list that appears, tap the model with the parameter you want to assign. 3. In the list that appears, tap the parameter you want to assign.
Scenes The Scene feature allows you to turn multiple models on or off in each rig. When you press the footswitch assigned to that scene, all models included in that scene will turn on or off, depending on how you assign them. This is a great way to create multiple tones in the same rig. For instance, you may want a particular reverb model to be on anytime a particular distortion model is also on. Alternatively, you may want to turn one delay model off when you turn another one on.
Expression Pedal You can connect an optional expression pedal (sold separately) to control two parameters (in Classic Mode) or two sets of parameters (in Advanced Mode). If your expression pedal has a toe switch, you can use the toe switch to switch between them—Expression Pedal A or B. The column of four boxes represents the expression pedal settings. You can assign one or more continuously adjustable parameters (ones with a range of values) to the expression pedal.
Setlists You can use setlists to organize your rigs. A setlist is a saved collection of rigs, which you can save and recall at a later time. This is useful, for instance, if you only need some of your rigs for a performance; you can save a setlist of just those rigs so you don’t have to spend time searching through all of your rigs before playing the next song. To view your setlists, tap the ≡ button in the upper-left corner of the main screen. The Setlists screen will appear.
Hands-Free Mode Hands-Free Mode enables you to adjust any of the settings on your models by using just the footswitches and/or an optional expression pedal. (sold separately). To enter Hands-Free Mode, press and hold footswitch 2 for over one second. While in Hands-Free Mode, the screen will show a single parameter and its currently selected value. To change the value, press footswitch 1 (down) or footswitch 2 (up). You can also change this by moving an external expression pedal.
Looper The HeadRush Gigboard has a built-in looper that you can use to layer your performances. While the looper’s operation is shown in the display, you can control most of it conveniently with the footswitches. The looper can hold up to 20 minutes of audio at a time across a maximum of 100 layers. Rig name. This meter indicates your current location in the loop during recording or playback. This controls how much of the looper’s signal you hear in the outputs.
To reverse looper playback, tap the button next to the Playback field and then turn the encoder. Tip: Create eerie effects by recording layers in reverse then switching back to normal playback. To set the looper’s location, tap the button next to the Playback field and then turn the encoder to place it before (Pre) or after (Post) the signal chain. Moving the looper to the Pre position enables you to edit your rig without having to play the same riff over and over again.
USB Audio Settings: Important note for Windows users: Before connecting the Headrush Gigboard to your computer, download and install the necessary drivers from headrushfx.com/support. Sample Rate: This setting determines the sample rate of the USB audio signal: 44.1 kHz, 48.0 kHz or 96.0 kHz. Remember to select the same sample rate as the one in your DAW. Also, set it before opening your DAW.
Assignments: Auto Assign: This setting determines how models are assigned to the switches. Tap On if you want models to be automatically assigned to the next available switch when you load them. Tap Off if you want models to load without being assigned to a switch; you will have to assign them manually in the Hardware Assign screen. Global EQ: These settings on Page 2 determine if/how equalization is applied for your outputs. This equalizer is a four-band parametric equalizer.
USB You can use the HeadRush Gigboard’s USB connection to your computer for Transferring Files & Settings (e.g., rigs, setlists, presets, etc.), Recording (to a digital audio workstation [DAW]), or Reamping. Transferring Files & Settings Over a USB connection, you can transfer rig, setlist, model preset, and/or impulse response (IR) files between your computer and the HeadRush Gigboard. We recommend creating a backup copy of your files to your computer before you make any changes.
Recording When the HeadRush Gigboard’s USB port is connected to your computer, you can select and use the HeadRush Gigboard as a 24-bit audio interface, enabling you to play audio through it or to send its audio signal to the computer. It can use sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz. Important Note for Windows Users: Before connecting the HeadRush Gigboard to your computer, download the necessary drivers from headrushfx.com/support and install them.
Appendix Technical Specifications Footswitches (4) footswitches with color LEDs Knobs (1) 300° master volume knob (1) 360° navigation/data encoder Display (1) full-color LED-backlit display with touch interface 6.9” / 176 mm (diagonal) 5.9” x 3.7” / 150 x 93 mm (width x height) Connectors (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) TS input (guitar) (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS input (expression pedal) (1) 1/4” (6.35 mm) TS input (expression pedal toe switch) (1) 1/8” (3.5 mm) stereo input (auxiliary device) (1) 1/4” (6.
Manual Version 1.
