Professional 24-bit / 192 kHz USB Audio Interface with 8 separate high quality analog output channels User’s Guide
ESI - Copyright © 2020 Revision 1, February 2020 www.esi-audio.
ESI GIGAPORT eX INDEX 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Features ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 2. Installation .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 1. Introduction Thank you for your purchase of GIGAPORT eX, a product that is not like any other USB audio interface ... it's simply the multichannel playback solution with the best price value ratio on the market today! With its unique set of features providing 8 independent outputs (and full 7.1 surround sound support), 2 independent stereo headphone outputs and excellent audio quality supporting up to 24-bit and 192 kHz, GIGAPORT eX provides ASIO 2.
ESI GIGAPORT eX The rear panel has these connectors: - Line output 1 to 8 with unbalanced RCA connectors. Via these outputs, the main signals are being sent out. Each output channel is labelled / numbered accordingly.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 2. Installation 2.1 System Recommendation GIGAPORT eX is not simply a standard digital audio interface, but a high-resolution device capable of advanced processing of audio content. Even though GIGAPORT eX is built to have low-CPU resource dependability, system specifications play a key part in the GIGAPORT eXs performance. Systems with more advanced components are generally recommended. Minimum System Requirements PC - Windows 7 / 8 / 8.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 2.3.1 Installation under Windows The following text explains how to install GIGAPORT eX under Windows 10. If you use Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, the steps are basically the same. Do not connect GIGAPORT eX to your computer before you install the driver – if you have connected it already, disconnect the cable for now. To start the installation, launch the setup program, which is an .exe file that is inside a recent driver download from our website by double clicking on it.
ESI GIGAPORT eX Confirm it by clicking Install. After a while the installation then will be completed and the following dialog will appear: Once you see the window on the left, click Finish. In many cases, the window on the right appears then. We strongly suggest to select Yes, restart the computer now and then click Finish. You can connect GIGAPORT eX to your computer anytime now. Windows will automatically setup the system so you can use the device.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 2.3.2 Installation under OS X / macOS To use GIGAPORT eX under OS X / macOS, you need to install the control panel software from the download from our website. This procedure is basically the same for all the different versions of OS X / macOS. The control panel gets installed by double clicking on the .dmg file and then you will get the following window in Finder: To install the GIGAPORT eX panel, click and drag it with your mouse to the left to Applications.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 3. Windows Control Panel This chapter describes the GIGAPORT eX Control Panel and its functions under Windows. To open the control panel double click on the orange ESI icon in the task notification area. The following dialog will appear: The File menu provides an option called Always on Top that makes sure the Control Panel stays visible even when working in other software and you can launch the Windows Audio Settings there.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 3.1 Latency and buffer settings Via Config > Latency in the Control Panel it is possible to change the latency setting (also called “buffer size”) for the driver of GIGAPORT eX. A smaller latency is the result of a smaller buffer size and value. Depending on the typical application (e.g. for playback of software synthesizers) a smaller buffer with a smaller latency is an advantage.
ESI GIGAPORT eX With the - and + buttons next to the number for the playback channel, you can change this assignment. With the STEREO LINK button at the bottom of the dialog, you can make sure that channel assignments are always changed in pairs (perfect for stereo signals).
ESI GIGAPORT eX 3.3 Windows Audio Settings Via the Windows Sound control panel icon or by selecting File > Windows Audio Settings in our control panel software, you can open these Playback and Recording dialogs: You can see that in the Playback section, there are 4 devices, one for each stereo channel (GIGAPORT eX CH1&2, GIGAPORT eX CH3&4, GIGAPORT eX CH5&6 and GIGAPORT eX CH7&8).
ESI GIGAPORT eX 3.4 DirectWIRE Loopback GIGAPORT eX has a feature that we call DirectWIRE Loopback. It allows you to record the playback internally. For instance, you can use it to playback any audio signal in any application while you record it with a different software or you could record the main master output signal of a DJ mix on the same computer. There are many possible applications, i.e. you can record what you are streaming online or you can save the output of a software synthesizer application.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 4. OS X / macOS Control Panel This chapter describes the GIGAPORT eX Control Panel and its functions on the Mac. Under OS X / macOS, you can find a GIGAPORT eX icon in the Applications folder. Double click on this to launch the control panel software and the following dialog will appear: The File menu provides an option called Always on Top that makes sure the Control Panel stays visible even when working in other software and you can launch the macOS Audio Settings there.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 4.1 Latency and buffer settings Unlike under Windows, on OS X / macOS, the latency setting is depending on the audio application (i.e. DAW) and usually setup there inside the audio settings of that software and not in our control panel software. If you are unsure, check the manual of the audio software you are using. 4.
ESI GIGAPORT eX The two input channels listed here are used for internal Loopback recording as part of our DirectWIRE functionality (described in the next section). The Format option allows you to change the default sample rate and resolution. 4.3 DirectWIRE Loopback GIGAPORT eX has a feature that we call DirectWIRE Loopback. It allows you to record the playback internally.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 5. Specifications - USB 3.1 audio interface with USB-C connector ("type C" to "type C" cable included) - USB 2.0 compatible ("type A" to "type C" cable included) - USB bus powered - 8 independent output channels with -10dBV RCA connectors - 2 independent stereo headphone outputs - 1st output sends out mixed signal of all playback channels - 2nd output sends out different signal from playback channel 1/2 - both with 1/4" stereo TRS connector - max. output level +6.
ESI GIGAPORT eX 6. General Information Trademarks ESI, GIGAPORT and GIGAPORT eX are trademarks of ESI Audiotechnik GmbH. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The FCC and CE Regulation Warning This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
