Gibson Dark Fire Owner's Manual
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Gibson Dark Fire Owner's Manual

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Gibson Dark Fire
Gibson Dark Fire
Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 1

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  • Page 1 Gibson Dark Fire Gibson Dark Fire Owner's Manual Owner's Manual Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 1...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Instructions

    Both you and your Dark Fire will be much happier if you store and operate this product under safe conditions.
  • Page 3 Gibson reserves the right to use materials regularly utilized at the time of repair. If we determine that replacing Dark Fire 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.
  • Page 4 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.
  • Page 5 Dark Fire owners, will help make that process as simple as possible. All of us at Gibson hope that you get the same joy out of playing Dark Fire that we've had in creating and updating it. We appreciate your confidence in Gibson. Should you encounter problems, our support staff is always ready to help you resolve any issues.

  • Page 6: Chapter 1: Dark Fire Essentials

    Please charge the battery fully when you first receive Dark Fire. Chapter 4 tells how to use and charge the battery, as well as optimize battery life. The Power Supply included with Dark Fire is an international type (100-240V, 50/60Hz).
  • Page 7 The magnetic pickups' output appears on the jack's tip. If you plug a standard mono guitar cable into Dark Fire and plug the other end into an amp, Dark Fire (even when not powered-on) acts just like a traditional electric guitar. When powered-on, you can use the Robot Tuning and Chameleon Tone Technology, as well as mix in the Piezo pickup sound.
  • Page 8 Computer-Based Systems for Live and Studio Here's an overview to provide a hint of what Dark Fire can do when connected to a computer. For more information on the many possibilities offered by combining Dark Fire with a computer, see the companion RIP Computer Interface manual.

  • Page 9: Chapter 2: Dark Fire Robot Ii Tuning Functions

    Chapter 2: Dark Fire Robot II Tuning Functions To start playing, pull the MCK out. Dark Fire defaults to being ready to tune to standard tuning. The selected Chameleon Tone is Gibson Classic; to indicate this, the MCK Display Matrix alternates between the letters “S”...
  • Page 10 Alternate Tuning Function Basics Dark Fire has three banks (each with six presets) of alternate tunings. Dark Fire comes with 18 factory presets loaded in these banks, but you can replace any of these with custom presets.
  • Page 11 Display Matrix (but not hard enough to push the MCK back in) to enter your choice. 3. Strum the strings, and the Powerheads will tune Dark Fire to the pitches required for the selected alternate tuning.
  • Page 12 6. The string colors indicate the tuning status. 7. When Dark Fire is tuned, the String LED you selected will shine the same color as the current Bank, and the other String LEDs will turn off. Push the MCK in—you're ready to play.

  • Page 13: Chapter 3: Dark Fire Chameleon Tone Technology

    Chameleon mode, the MCK’s Display Matrix alternates between the letters S (Standard Tuning) and G (Gibson Classic). 2. After tuning Dark Fire, rotate the MCK to the letter C and press down momentarily on the MCK's Display Matrix to enter Chameleon Tone selection mode. Three things happen: The C shines white.
  • Page 14 Changing Piezo and Pickup Functions 1. Before or after choosing a Chameleon Tone, or when Dark Fire is not in Chameleon Tone select mode (but before storing the Tone or exiting Chameleon mode), you can choose different magnetic and Piezo pickup options.
  • Page 15 To change the Piezo pickup settings, rotate the MCK to the | LED. Pressing momentarily on the top of the MCK toggles between three states, as shown by the MCK's guitar symbol. If Dark Fire connects to the Robot Guitar II Breakout Box (or is in traditional electric guitar mode): Green: Piezo pickup output blend is on, Piezo EQ is off.
  • Page 16  Additional Display Matrix Indications After you've auditioned a tone In Chameleon Tone mode, Dark Fire no longer takes the time to spell out the full name if you select it again before exiting Chameleon Tone mode. Instead, the Display...
  • Page 17 5. Press the MCK in to resume playing, or choose other MCK functions. Note: One of the Chameleon Tones is called Gibson Classic, but this isn't quite the same as the Les Paul mode. With Gibson Classic, the P90H neck pickup is wired as a single coil pickup but EQ is enabled for both the magnetic pickups and the Piezo.
  • Page 18 This introduces a delay that players often find disconcerting.) The placement of the pick up coils and their construction allows Dark Fire to reproduce phase and other tone modifying affects.

  • Page 19: Chapter 4: Battery And Power Management

    (moving), charging is occurring. If they only stay lit at a low level, Dark Fire is not charging. In this case, disconnect Dark Fire's stereo cable and reconnect. You will see one of the following:...
  • Page 20 At this point you must recharge the battery. If Dark Fire was charged when you put it away but the yellow dots appear the next time go to play it, then it was not shut down properly—please read the following section carefully.
  • Page 21 300 times and charge it back up again before its useful life is over. If you play Dark Fire and discharge it 50% during a concert, then charge it to full capacity, that is only half of a charge/discharge cycle.

  • Page 22: Chapter 5: String Changing With Robot Ii Technology

    Also, do not use any strings which have frayed wraps at the ball end (Dark Fire will not function if any part of the string touches beyond its insulated holder), and don't let steel bottleneck slides contact the strings during tuning operations.
  • Page 23 (Dark Fire is in the Blue Bank). 2. Press the MCK momentarily twice; the Display Matrix shines red. Dark Fire is in the Bank. 3. Turn the MCK to the Rotating Arrow position. 4. Press on the MCK's Display Matrix, and hold it in until the string LEDs start to flash and the Powerheads start to unwind.

  • Page 24: Chapter 6: Advanced Tuning Options

    Creating Custom Alternate Tuning Presets To create a custom alternate tuning preset: 1. With the MCK pushed in, tune Dark Fire manually to the pitches you want (remember: all Powerheads turn in the same direction). Caution: Make sure the guitar is in tune—if you happen to save this as the default “Instantly Activated Tuning,”...
  • Page 25 (Dark Fire is in the Blue Bank). 2. Press the MCK momentarily 2 times, and the Display Matrix center will shine red. Dark Fire is now in the Bank. 3. Turn the MCK to the Peg LED position. Press the Display Matrix and hold it in until the Peg LED shines orange.
  • Page 26 1. Activate Dark Fire, and it will be in Standard EADGBe tuning. 2. Fret the low E at the 1st fret and pluck only that string. Dark Fire will tune the low E string to 3. Fret the A string at the 1st fret and pluck only that string. Dark Fire will tune the A string to Ab.

  • Page 27: Chapter 7: Setup Mode

    You are now ready to select a function. Selecting a Function Once Dark Fire is in setup mode, rotating the MCK will let you select a number from 0-9. We'll use an example to show how this process works; the procedure is similar for any setup function.
  • Page 28 Startup tuning is the last completed tuning 2 § 2 § Note: With value = 2, if you tuned to E major for example and turned off Dark Fire, it will start up with E major tuning Function 3 Piezo out status: Sets up Piezo signal status...
  • Page 29 Shows a sound's name when selected in Chameleon mode 13 § 1 § Note: When you select a Chameleon sound preset, Dark Fire normally spells it out but you can turn this behavior off. Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 29...
  • Page 30 Blue Bank E=1, A=2, D=3, G=4, B=5, e=6; Green Bank E=7, A=8, D=9, G=10, B=11, e=12; Red Bank E=13, A=14, D=15, G=16, B=17, e=18. Function 99 Display software version: Shows Dark Fire's current software Result Clickstream Show current Dark Fire software version 99 §...
  • Page 31 Rotate MCK to the “Enter” sign, then press the Display Matrix momentarily Step 5 Push the MCK back in, and the Powerhead speed/accleration data has been reset Note: If you change your mind about resetting, in Step 3, choose “N” (“No”) instead of “Y.” Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 31...
  • Page 32 Rotate MCK to the “Enter” sign, then press the Display Matrix momentarily Step 5 Push the MCK back in, and all configuration data has been reset Note: If you change your mind about resetting, in Step 3, choose “N” (“No”) instead of “Y.” Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 32...

  • Page 33: Appendix A: Setup Mode Service Procedures

    § band number § gain data Example: To configure the left channel, PEQ Band1 gain for the Gibson Classic sound, use the clickstream 22 § 0 § 1 § 0. You need the Dark Fire Configuration Tool to calculate the correct gain data.
  • Page 34 § band number § gain data Example: To configure the left channel, PEQ Band1 gain for the Gibson Classic sound, use the clickstream 24 § 0 § 1 § 0. You need the Dark Fire Configuration Tool to calculate the correct gain data.

  • Page 35: Appendix B: Dark Fire Electronics Block Diagram

    Appendix B: Dark Fire Electronics Block Diagram This diagram indicates signal flow within Dark Fire's electronics. Note that the magnetic pickups and Piezo pickup have their own equalizers, and that the Piezo blend circuit is post-equalizer. In Hex Mode, the RIP Computer Interface does sophisticated analog signal multiplexing in order to have the Piezo pickup and the individual hex pickups available on a single conductor (i.e., the stereo...

  • Page 36: Appendix C: Troubleshooting

    Appendix C: Troubleshooting If you encounter problems with Dark Fire, Gibson recommends that you take it to an authorized service center. Although there are some procedures you can try yourself, be careful—if you have any doubt about your ability to do any of these fixes, please consult Gibson tech support.
  • Page 37 The A, G, and high e strings carry a positive voltage and data. By removing those three strings, there was no way for the tuning system to provide data on how to tune the strings. Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 37...
  • Page 38 (bridge, tailpiece, even a fret bar) or another string, the tuning system won't work. Also note that if the Gibson "G" on the neck electronic cover does not start flashing once you activate the system, it is most likely that there is also a white LED on the MCK flashing to indicate there's a short circuit, and therefore, no power going to the neck electronics.

  • Page 39: Appendix D: Dark Fire Cheat Sheet

    12 tuning 18 Arrow LED single string all strings up all strings down B# LED each press steps through the banks – blue, enter setup mode green, red, blue, green, red, etc. Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 39...

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