ADA GCS-3 GUITAR CABINET SIMULATOR USER MANUAL Page 1
The GCS-3 is a Direct Injection (DI) box with user adjustable guitar cabinet simulation and a headphone output. Designed for studio and stage use, the GCS-3 is an allanalog circuit that runs from a standard 9-volt AC adapter or a pedal board supply. Internally it runs at 18 volts for better headroom. Turn any full-range passive or powered monitor speaker or sound system into a dynamic guitar cabinet, loaded with your choice of drivers.
signal to a stage amp or speaker cabinet and send “cabinet simulated” signal to the house sound system to increase the volume, widen the sound field and fatten-up your guitar tone as a multiple cabinet array would. The GCS-3 is inserted between the output of your preamplifier, power amp or effects pedal chain and a mixing or recording console to replace the close proximity microphone which is typically placed in front of a guitar speaker cabinet.
other cabinet simulators is the NATURAL RESONANCE filters at the low-end that resonate of “ring” like a real sealed cabinet. You can select an open-back cabinet or a sealed cabinet with the OPEN-BACK / SEALED switch. It’s like a travel machine that takes to back and forth between the UK and the US.
Balanced OUTPUT at LINE LEVEL with a GROUND LIFT switch for Pin 1 ¼” HEADPHONE OUTPUT with a VOLUME control for 32 to 600 Ohms.
can also be connected to the INPUT of the GCS-3 when the -30dB INPUT PAD is switched out. The GCS-3’s HEADPHONE output has a VOLUME control so you can listen to the cabinet simulation in total isolation. Be sure to USE ONLY STEREO HEADPHONSES rated at no less than 25 ohms impedance to ensure proper performance. Headphones with impedances ranging from 32 ohms to 600 ohms work best.
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There are many ways to use the ADA GCS-3, and the following are the most common. 1. Go direct to the house sound system from your pedal board for live performances. Take your guitar signal straight off your pedal board and skip the need to use speaker cabinets and power amps and run it through the GCS-3. No need to haul a combo amp or a head and stack around because you can achieve the same response, feel and power by using a house sound and monitor system.
1. The GCS-3 allows you to go to your monitors and house sound system with the full tone that a guitar speaker and cabinet delivers.
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3. Get the same guitar feedback from a stage monitor as from your combo or stack Full-Range C bi Diagram 3: The GCS-3 has been carefully voiced and balanced to get the same dynamics and frequency response as your stack or combo, so the feedback will be at the same intensity and frequencies. You will find that getting feedback from your monitor is more controllable than moving around your stack while performing.
4. Record in silence while listening through headphones. The sound in your headphones is so dynamic and realistic that your inspiration will allow you a wholesome freedom of expression. Diagram 4: Guitar to pedal board to GCS-3 to the recording or PA console.
5. Using a head amp and sending the preamp out or effects send to the GCS-3 for feed to the live sound reinforcement system. From Preamp Out Diagram 5: Guitar to amp head to GCS-3 to sound reinforcement system – no stage amps.
6. The ADA GCS-3 Pedal Preamp with the GCS-3. The ultimate tone with a very small footprint. Diagram 6: guitar to GCS-3 to GCS-3 to headphone mix and to studio monitors.
7. Listen to what your pedal board will sound like through a speaker cabinet. The sound in your headphones is very dynamic and realistic. Diagram 7: Guitar to pedal board to GCS-3 to your headphones.
USING THE BALANCED OUTPUT The GCS-3 has both single-ended ¼-inch phone jack and balanced XLR outputs, and both work at the same time. For most sound systems, the balanced output is preferred because it avoids common audio problems such as ground loops, signal bleed and degradation. The GROUND LIFT switch, which is located on the back panel, is used to isolate the signal ground of your equipment coming into the GCS-3 from the signal fed to the console. This avoids line frequency hum in your audio signal.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT 1. What are some quick tests to troubleshoot my unit? Sometimes a few quick tests at home can be the difference between thinking your unit is broken and getting it working properly. Here is a list of quick trouble-shooting steps to test your gear and unit. As basic as these sound please run all the tests. Check simple signal chain: Plug your cable from your guitar into your amp. If you have a direct connect tone go to step 2. If not you have a bad cable, guitar or amp.
2. What do I do if my product is not working? If your product is not working we STRONGLY suggest that you run a series of quick tests to troubleshoot the unit (see above). They may sound very basic, but it can save you time in getting your unit working and you back to playing. If you are an international (non-USA) customer, you must contact your local dealer and/or your national distributor for repair. If you are in the USA and the unit truly does not work, email support@adaamps.
SERVICE If your unit requires service, please go to our website’s SERVICE page for information to help you find a solution to the problem you are having with your GCS-3. We have provided you with a step-by-step troubleshooting procedure to get you back up and running if you are experiencing a simple problem. RETURNING UNITS FOR SERVICE If you still need to send in your ADA product for service, YOU MUST FIRST GET A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER (RA) BEFORE YOU SHIP TO OUR SERVICE CENTER.
WARRANTY Your ADA GCS-3 is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of three-hundred and sixty five (365) days from date of purchase. This warranty is to the original owner and is non-transferable. During the warranty period, ADA or its agent will, at its sole option, repair or replace defective parts and make necessary repairs to the product which is defective at no charge.
PART NUMBER: 701418 rev 0.
