KENTON electronics GS-8 MIDI Guitar Effects Switcher User Instructions
Introduction By Arthur Dick, session guitarist. At last, an affordable unit which enables you to control all your effects (pedals and MIDI) as well as amplifier switches (channel/overdrive/graphic etc.) without having to do a tap-dancing routine each time a new sound is required. The GS-8 is wonderfully flexible, allowing you to tailor make your own system - it is the key to managing your guitar sounds. No more signal loss either; when a circuit is not enabled, the signal path is clear.
1, Channel and System Settings To be in Channel edit mode, the yellow `CHannel` LED must be lit. If the `PATch` LED is lit, press the `PATCH/CHAN` key. The display will now show the current MIDI channel number 1 to 16.
2, Patch Edit Mode Selecting patches; To be in patch edit mode, the green `PATch` LED must be lit. If the `CH` LED is lit, press the `PATCH/CHAN` key. The display will now show the current patch number 1 to 128. As the GS-8 only has a two digit display, a special method is employed to display numbers larger than 99.
3, Controller Assignment Mode This is an `advanced` programming mode is for those who wish to control each of the pedal loops and amplifier foot-switches individually (as opposed to all at once within a patch) from their sequencer or other MIDI device. Each device can be activated by its own MIDI controller (or several MIDI controllers at once). This mode is not likely to be used live by a guitarist, but used within a studio or home set-up being controlled by a computer sequencer.
Configuring Loops 1 to 4 as Foot-Switchers Should you need more foot-switch controls than the two provided as standard and the two that can be configured from the front panel (loops 5 and 6), then any of the remaining four effects loops 1 to 4 can be configured as foot-switches. Please read the following very carefully. If you have any doubt whatsoever, contact Kenton Electronics before proceeding.
Example Set-Ups These are only suggestions. The GS-8 has 6 effects loops (all of which can be configured to be switchers), and two amplifier switches. Any combination of these can be utilised depending on what works best for your rig. Basic (Default) Configuration The following diagram shows what the GS-8 can control; Guitar Amp Audio in Effects pedals (upto 6) To foot-switch inputs (e.g. Overdrive and EQ on/off) x 2 - upto 8 by using loops.
Amplifier A/B switching To switch the guitar plus effects between two or more amplifiers; Guitar Amp A Guitar Amp B Effects pedals (upto 4) Effects loops send/return x 4 Guitar Audio In Audio In Audio In Loop send 5 Loop send 6 GS-8 MIDI In MIDI Thru Digital Effects MIDI In MIDI out MIDI pedal board
Multiple Guitar Set-ups Several Guitars each with their own sound (timbre) can be plugged into your rigged, then you can select which you want to play - ideal for live use where you want to use a different guitar for each song or section. Guitar Amp Effects pedals Audio In Guitar A To foot-switch inputs (e.g.
Parallel Processing Allows you to have two audio paths for processing.
Parallel Processing Allows you to have two audio paths for processing.
GS-2/8 System Exclusive Information The first five bytes are always the same for all data types; [ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] F0h 00h 20h 13h 11h 0dddnnnn - Sysex command - Company identity first byte - Company identity second byte - Company identity third byte - Product code - where nnn = MIDI channel & ddd = data type if ddd = 000 = set system parameters if ddd = 001 = set output relays if ddd = 010 = information request if ddd = 011 = memory request if ddd = 100 = switch `Thru` to `Thru` if ddd = 101
ddd = 011 = memory dump [ 7] [ 8] 000000bb 00yyyyy - where bb = memory area as per info request - where yyyyy = number of bytes [ 9] [10] 0000xxxx 0000zzzz - where xxxx = low 4 bits of data - where zzzz = high 4 bits of data Note that bytes 9 & 10 are repeated the number of times specified in 8.
30h = Store front panel patch settings in current patch 31h = Store system settings (MIDI channel, Mom, Amp status only) Note that for GS-2, A=B & B=A [8] F7h - end of exclusive ______________________________________________________________ General Notes; A, Following an information request (ddd = 010) and assuming the MIDI Thru socket is switched as an Out (ddd = 101), the GS-8 will save the memory area specified, formatted as per a dump (ddd = 011).
Controller Numbers Controller Number Control Function Decimal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-15 16-19 20-31 32-63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70-79 80-83 84-90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102-120 121-127 Bank switch MSB Modulation wheel/lever Breath controller Undefined Foot controller Portamento time Data entry MSB Main volume Balance Undefined Pan Expression controller Undefined General purpose controllers (1-4) Undefined LSB for values 0-31 Damper pedal (sustain) Portamento Sostenuto Soft pedal Undefined H
Specifications Power; 240V, 50Hz Note; The GS-8 has a built in mains transformer factory set to 240 volts AC 50Hz unless otherwise marked. The transformer also has tappings for 220/120/110 volts AC, but these adjustments must only be made by qualified service personnel. There are two internal fuses fitted but replacement of these should also be confined to qualified service personnel.
