Korg GEC5 User Manual
Korg GEC5 User Manual

Korg GEC5 User Manual

Using the korg gec5 in the classroom

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A Practical Guide to Using
the Korg GEC5 in the Classroom
1

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Summary of Contents for Korg GEC5

  • Page 1 A Practical Guide to Using the Korg GEC5 in the Classroom...
  • Page 2 A Practical Guide to Using the Korg GEC5 in the Classroom OVERVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM HARDWARE OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION TEACHER UNIT FRONT TEACHER UNIT BACK STUDENT INTERFACE UNIT FRONT STUDENT INTERFACE UNIT BACK SET UP OVERVIEW WIRED TEACHER WORKSTATION...
  • Page 3 The goal of this text is to provide teachers with the practical functionality of all aspects of the GEC5 from a teacher’s perspective. I hope it will serve as a teaching resource as you begin managing your class with the GEC5.
  • Page 4: Hardware Overview

    Hardware Overview The GEC5 lab system hardware consists of a single rack-mountable Teacher Unit and one Student Interface Unit per student workstation in your classroom. The Teacher Unit comes with an external power supply that you will plug into an electrical outlet and the Student Interfaces are powered by the Teacher Unit via Cat5 cables.
  • Page 5 Hardware Overview Teacher Unit Back: Volume Aux In 1 Power Examine the back of the Teacher Unit (see Fig. 2). You can connect up to 32 student stations to the back of the Teacher Unit using CAT5 cables (see #6). You do not need to connect all 32 stations; simply use as many student workstations as you have in your classroom.
  • Page 6 Be sure to connect to your wireless router through the wi-fi settings on your device. NOTE: The Apple AirPort Express and Apple AirPort Extreme are the recommended wireless routers for the Korg GEC5 system. See the Installation section of this manual for detailed instructions on setting up your AirPort Express/Extreme for use with the Korg GEC5.
  • Page 7 Teacher Unit network jack. TIP: Although I prefer to have both GEC5 access AND internet access on my device while working the GEC5, it is perfectly fine to use and operate the GEC5 as a stand-alone unit with no internet connectivity.
  • Page 8 TIP: Using headphones with a built-in microphone is highly recommended to improve communication with students in the room. TIP: Current standard iPhone style headphones that include stereo headphones plus a mic do work with the GEC5! Simply connect the 3.5mm headphone cable into the headphone input on the Student Interface unit and you can hear audio output and use the headset microphone for student/teacher communication.
  • Page 9 Hardware Overview Student Interface Unit Back: Examine the back of the Student Interface units (see Fig. 4). (Fig. 4) Aux In 2: Most commonly you will connect the audio output of your computer or audio interface to this jack. If you are going directly from a student computer to the Student Interface, you will need a stereo 3.5mm male (out of your computer) to stereo RCA male (into Student Interface unit).
  • Page 10 Hardware Overview Mic Out: This jack sends the headset microphone audio out to any device. Most commonly, teachers will connect the Mic Out to a computer’s Audio Input or Mic In so students can record their voice into audio software such as Audacity.
  • Page 11: Setup Overview

    Set Up Overview The GEC5 is a very flexible system that can be used in a number of different learning situations with any combination of digital instruments regardless of brand. Both with and without computers, below, are some common lab situations using the GEC5: Keyboard and Piano Lab, Guitar Lab, Language Lab, and Multi-Purpose Technology Lab.
  • Page 12 Set Up Overview Wireless Teacher Workstation: This is the most common way to setup the teacher station. This setup provides the opportunity to use both the Mac/PC and tablet applications. When utilizing the tablet application, you can connect teacher headphones to the tablet’s headphone jack OR the Teacher Unit for audio playback.
  • Page 13 Set Up Overview Once the Teacher Unit is set up, you are ready to connect the Student Interfaces to each station and corresponding instru- ment or computer, or both. Keyboard or Piano Lab: In this situation, you will connect the keyboard output to the Student Interface instrument input. See Fig. 12 for a detailed diagram.
  • Page 14 Set Up Overview Keyboard or Piano Lab with Computer: In this situation, you will connect the keyboard output to the Student Interface instrument input jack and the computer audio output to the Student Interface Aux In 2 jack. You could also use an audio interface for computer audio output and connect the output of your audio interface to the Student Interface Aux In 2 jack.
  • Page 15 Guitar Lab: Connect an electric guitar to the input of a stand-alone guitar processor/external amp simulator (such as the Korg PXmini). Then connect the output that device to the Student Interface Instrument In jack. See Fig. 14 for a detailed diagram.
  • Page 16 Set Up Overview Guitar Lab with Computer: Connect an electric guitar to the input of a computer audio interface and the output of the audio interface to the Student Interface Aux In 2 jack. In this situation you do not need to connect anything to the Student Interface Instrument In jack. See Fig.
  • Page 17 Set Up Overview Language Lab: Connect the Student Interface Mic Out to the input of the computer audio interface. If you computer has a mic input jack, you may connect directly to the computer and skip the computer audio interface. Use software such as Audacity on your computer to record the audio output of the student headset microphones.
  • Page 18 Set Up Overview Multi-Purpose Technology Lab: If your lab will be used for multiple purposes consider this setup. Essentially this is a combination of the 3 setups listed above and it would allow for the use of guitar, keyboard, and voice recording. See Fig. 17 for a detailed diagram. Front: Audio device (iPod, laptop, etc.) to Student Interface Aux In 1.
  • Page 19: Installing The Application

    Room Setup: Once you have the application installed on your device, you are ready to really begin using the GEC5. Be sure that all cables are securely connected (especially all CAT5 cables) and the Teacher Unit is powered on. Launch the application from your device.
  • Page 20 Software Control Application Student Interfaces: The system will automatically detect the number of student interfaces (see Fig. 19). Confirm the number of interfaces found in the system. If the number of Student Interface is correct, click “Yes.” If the number of Student Interfaces is incorrect, click “No,”...
  • Page 21 Software Control Application TIP: Setting a class up in split mode allows the GEC5 system to accommodate 2 students per station, sharing a single keyboard. For the best results, you’ll need keyboards that are programmed with Korg’s GEC5 Split programs. These presets split the audio from the keyboard down the middle so that only the student on the left will hear notes below Middle C, and the student on the right will only hear the keys above Middle C;...
  • Page 22 Now that the room setup is complete, you can setup teacher accounts and classes. Click “Add a Teacher” in the bottom right corner Enter a name and click “OK” (see Fig. 25). of the main GEC5 screen (see Fig. 24). (Fig. 24) (Fig. 25)
  • Page 23 TIP: In the Mac/PC application, you can press TAB to advance to the next student station. (Fig. 28) TIP: Alternatively, when using Mac or Windows software applications you can also use the “GEC5 Station Assignment Template.xlsx” file to create classes with students in your GEC5 Software Control Application.
  • Page 24 Software Control Application Click the Setup icon (see Fig. 29) in the upper right corner to modify your setup options (see Fig. 30). Teacher and Class: In this screen you can add, edit, or delete a teacher account. (Fig. 29) Click on “Edit”...
  • Page 25: Call Button

    (Fig. 35) The Call Button exists on each Student Interface Unit. When students press the Call Button, the student station on the GEC5 application screen will light up yellow (see Fig. 35). To answer the call, double-click twice on the student station. To remove the yellow tag, double-click again.
  • Page 26: Lecture Mode

    Students can share a completed project or piano song with their peers. Consider hosting a virtual recital using the GEC5…and record it with the Record Out feature on the back of Teacher Unit using a hand-held recorder or computer software! Note: Students can perform duets, trios, quartets, etc.
  • Page 27 Random Duet, Quartet, Group All, and Ungroup All). Duet: Groups are automatically created for stations 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, etc. Random Duet: Each time you click on Random Duet, the GEC5 groups different stations together. Quartet: Groups are automatically created for stations 1/2/3/4, 5/6/7/8, etc.
  • Page 28 GEC5 Modes of Functionality Click “New Group”. The students will now display a group icon and a red color. Each new group will have a different color (see Fig. 44). (Fig. 44) (Fig. 45) To add a student to an existing group, click and hold on a student in the group and then click and hold the new student(s).
  • Page 29 GEC5 Modes of Functionality All Call: (Fig. 46) All Call is available in Practice and Group mode (see Fig. 46). Press it to route signal from the teacher mic to every head- phone set connected in the studio or classroom. This is the quickest way to establish communication with the students in Practice or Group mode.
  • Page 30: Installation

    Position the room speakers so that the Teacher, as well as the Students can hear them Site Plan Checklist: Diagram the dimensions of the physical site where the GEC5 will be located. Make sure that the diagram is drawn to scale.
  • Page 31: Positioning Equipment

    The installer must check with the school regarding power requirements, use of extension cords, fire code, etc. to insure that the lab adheres to code. The GEC5 Student Interface Unit does not require an AC outlet, but instruments and computers will.
  • Page 32: Connect Cabling

    Installation Positioning the Teacher Unit: The Teacher Unit should be placed near the teacher instrument and close to external audio devices and the room amplifier, for ease of use. The unit can sit on a desktop or be rack-mounted. Connect Cabling: Once all equipment is in place, you are ready to lay down the wiring that will connect all lab equipment: Start with the AC cabling.
  • Page 33 Installation Setting Up the Apple AirPort Express/Extreme Wi-Fi Network: 1. Open the Wi-Fi settings on your device and select AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme (see Fig. 47). (Fig. 47) 2. Select Create a New Network and enter a name and password for your network. If asked to Extend this Network, choose Other Options and select Next (see Fig.
  • Page 34 Installation If you do not need access to the Internet and have not plugged an Ethernet cable into the WAN port of the base station select Next (see Fig. 49). Select Continue Anyway in the next screen (see Fig. 50) and then select Done (see Fig.
  • Page 35 Installation Open the AirPort Utility and select your AirPort Express/Extreme router (see Fig. 52). (Fig. 52) If you connected your AirPort to the Internet (step 2b), you may have a Double NAT status message. This is normal and can be safely ignored. (Fig.
  • Page 36: Troubleshooting

    Unit volume levels, audio connections, and communications connections. As with any computer or software driven product, rebooting can solve many issues. If after trying all these suggestions the issues are not resolved, contact your Korg- Authorized Educational Dealer or Korg U.S.A. Technical Support via email at support@korgusa.com...

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