Welcome to GroundControl Room #
GroundControl Room lets you patch between any audio devices available in your system (an audio interface, system sound, etc.) as well as GC virtual drivers.
With GroundControl Room you can Route your audio, process it with plugins, monitor, and mix – all in one place.
GroundControl Room features:
- Virtual drivers – allows you to get audio from system sound and other applications into your control room app.
- Remote control with Key Commands\ MIDI learn.
- You can set any of your audio interfaces as input\output.
- Easy way to toggle between 5 sets of monitors (including sub and headphones).
- Insert plugins on any input\output\main section.
- Volume control for each input\output and main out.
- Mute, mono, dim buttons on main out.
- Peak meter for input & output level.
- Cue mix for recording monitoring.
This guide includes basic instructions for operating GroundControl Room.
More info and “how to’s” are constantly updated on our website: www.gingeraudio.com
Please feel free to write us with any questions or inquiry to:info@gingeraudio.com
Getting started with GroundControl Room #
Download GroundControl Room #
Download the pkg file from http://www.gingeraudio.com/room
It is highly recommended to close your DAW and any audio applications before running the installer.
Run the installer #
Once finished you will have:
- GroundControl Room virtual audio driver installed – you should be able to see it in your AUDIO MIDI Setup and under your system sound preferences.
This virtual driver has 16 in and 16 out channels.
- GroundControl Room application under your Applications folder. For ease of access, you can use the GroundControl Room Tray bar Icon – located on your top tray bar.
Once you run the GroundControl room app for the first time it will ask permission to access your microphone – please make sure to allow this.
If the system hasn’t asked for this permission, go to your settings > Security > Microphone
Default inputs for GroundControl Room will be set up automatically.
Input A = GC Room 1-2
Input B = GC Room 3-4
Input C = GC Room 5-6
Input D = GC Room 7-8
Output A = Will be set automatically to the device that was used in your output system sound.
#
Routing system audio #
To send your system sound audio into the GroundControl Room application, select GroundControl Room driver as your output system sound device.
output system sound – from tray bar
output system sound – settings
By default, it will be routed GroundControl Room channels 1-2. If you want to change that you can configure it in settings> speaker preferences.
Routing audio to/ from DAW and apps. #
Application setups (Zoom, Discord, etc).
To route audio from Zoom/ Discord/ Twitch or any other sound source app-
Set the output (commonly named “Microphone”) to the GroundControl Room driver.
DAW with two audio engines
Most DAWs offer two audio engines, one for input and the other for output (Logic Pro, Studio One, and Garage band to name a few).
image- LogicPro audio settings.
In this case, keep your input device set as your audio interface and set the output device as GroundControl Room.
Aggregated device for DAW’s with one audio engine
Some DAW’s offer one audio engine (ProTools, Cubase etc).
For mixing and mastering purposes, when you don’t need physical inputs, just set GroundControl Room as your audio engine and output the channels to GroundControl Room.
For recording, when you use physical inputs from your audio interface, you will need to set up an aggregated device in AUDIO MIDI SETUP that combines your interface with GroundControl Room driver.
- Go to AUDIO MIDI SETUP
- Hit on the + button to add a new aggregated device
- Give this device a name
- Now choose you audio interface
- then choose GroundControl Room driver
- Make sure your audio interface is set as clock master for this aggregated device.
- Make sure the GroundControl Room “Drift correction” option is checked.
image – AUDIO MIDI SETUP with drift correction checked.
In ProTools you can now select this aggregate device as your audio engine.
image – Protools Playback Engine
You will see that outputs to the GroundControl room have been added.
image – Protools I/O setup
Menus: #
#
Settings: #
The settings menu includes some key features for the app.
Scaling #
You can rescale the application by choosing the scaling percentage. This will let you scale the app’s visual interface for your resolution needs. You can also rescale by holding the bottom right corner of the app and dragging it in and out.
Buffer Size #
You can adjust your buffer size from Very low latency to CPU efficiency.
Virtual Driver Setup #
You can add virtual audio drivers on the fly.
Here you can name the drivers, set their channel count, bypass, and delete.
These drivers can be used in the “Direct out” panel on every channel or in the main outputs.
Master Clock #
You can assign any of your audio devices to be the master clock for GroundControl Room. It is recommended to set as master, the same interface you are using for your DAW.
Preferences #
Launch on system startup – will launch the application on each system restart.
Always on top – similar to the pin button (in the top right corner), will keep the application window on top of all other applications.
Show Audio Engine Overload message – This will pop up a warning message if your system cpu is overloaded. When this message appears, it is recommended either to increase the application buffer size or remove some plugins.
One plug-in editor window at a time – You can choose to see only one plugin window at a time or multiple windows.
Enable keyboard input monitoring – This option will pop up an OS permission request to grant access to input monitoring. For this to take effect, the OS requests to restart the application. Once done, all key commands will work all the time, regardless if the application is in front or not. This option allows you to control the app, anytime even while working on your DAW, using key commands.
Plugins menu order #
You can sort your plugins by Manufacturer/A-Z/Category.
Key Commands #
You can assign any keys to control the app knobs and buttons.
MIDI setup #
This will open a window to select your MIDI device. Once selected, right-click on any app parameter will open a menu:
Start MIDI learn/Cancel – if you are already in “learn” mode, a cancel option will appear instead.
Clear – will remove the assigned MIDI commands for the selected parameter.
Clear all – will remove all assigned MIDI commands for all app parameters.
The MIDI settings also include the option to connect with a Bluetooth device to control the app.
Click on MIDI settings :
choose “Bluetooth MIDI”, and the following window will appear:
ֿ
Choose your device and click on “connect”. You will also need to install a MIDI client app on your device, (for example – knob lab).
DEMO mode #
While in demo mode, the audio will momentarily stop every 10 minutes. You can evaluate our product as long as you want and purchase whenever you are ready!
Main Window #
Top Bar: #
- Close and minimize buttons
- DEMO MODE:
Trial period window– while in Trial mode. you will see the following window. you can select either “Buy now” or “Continue Trial” to keep going without purchasing the full license.
Still evaluating window- When the trial period finishes, you will be able to keep using the app in “evaluation” mode. The audio will stop every 10 minutes, and the following window will appear. you can opt to keep evaluating the app or to purchase the fully licensed version.
Purchase window– purchase the full software version.
Once you decide to purchase the licensed version, click on “Buy now” and you will see the following window. Here you will be asked to enter your email (so we can send you the license key) and your payment details.
- Always on Top button-
Clicking on the pin icon will keep GroundControl Room on top of your desktop.
Input section: #
- Assign input channel
- Input meters
- Input gain faders
- Input selector pad.
- Input led indication.
- Plugins insert slot.
- Lock option.
- Mix to Cue level knob
- Talkback input channel selector
- Latch/non-latch for Talkback
-
Assign input channel #
Select your input channel source.
2. Input meters #
Every input channel has its own peak meter.
3. Input gain faders #
Control the input level.
4. Input selector button #
Clicking on the button will activate the input for monitoring. by default, inputs are toggled so that each time you click on a selector button, the input is activated and monitored.
5. Input led indication #
When the LED is on, the input is selected. hover above the LED to see the assigned input channel.
6. Plugins insert slot #
Insert AU plugins. Once a plugin is selected, a bypass button will appear on this panel.
Hover above the plugin will show the plugin name.
7. Lock option #
Clicking on the lock icon will prevent the input from being toggled.
8. Mix to Cue level knob #
Each input can be sent to cue mix. use the cue knob to determine the amount that will be sent to the cue mix.
9. Talkback input channel selector #
select your talkback mic input source.
10. Latch/non-latch for Talkback #
The talkback input is routed to the cue mix only and has a latch/non-latch mode button.
Output section: #
- Assign output.
- Output gain faders
- Output selector pad
- Output led indicator
- Plugins insert slot
- Lock option
- SUB output – mono option
- Cue output channel selector
- Cue output level knob
1. Assign output channel. #
Select your input channel destination.
2. Output gain faders #
Control the output level
3. Output pad selector #
Clicking on the pad will activate the output channel for monitoring. By default, outputs are toggled so that each time you click on a pad selector, this output is activated and monitored.
4. Output LEDs indication #
When the LED is on, the input is selected. hover above the LED to see the assigned input channel.
5. Plugins insert slot #
insert AU plugins. Once a plugin is selected, a bypass button will appear on this panel.
6. Lock option #
Clicking on the lock icon will prevent the output from being toggled.
7. SUB output – mono option #
Assign the output sub destination, this output can be configured as Mono/Stereo.
8. Cue output channel selector #
Select your CUE output destination (headphones).
9. Cue output level knob #
Set the Cue mix level.
Main section #
- Main output Meter+ peak indicator
- Main level knob
- Dim button + dim knob
- Mute
- Mono
- Main input meter + peak indicator
- L\R\STEREO toggle
- Phase reverse
- Main plugin panel
1. Main Meter + Peak indicator #
Output meter. The peak indicator is on the bottom right corner.
2. Main level knob #
Control your main output level.
3. Dim button + dim knob #
Dim your audio. Use the adjustable dim knob to control the Dim amount. (Cue output not affected by dim).
4. Mute #
Mute all outputs (except cue output).
5. Mono #
listen to the mono sum of your output.
6. Main input meter + peak indicator. #
Main input meter. Shows the sum level for all the activated inputs.
7. L\R\STEREO toggle. #
Toggle between listening to L only, R only, or Stereo.
8. Phase reverse #
Reverse phase for L\ R.
9. Main plugin panel #
This plugin will process all the active inputs.
