Apogee GiO Guitar Interface

Studio-quality interface and controller for GarageBand, Logic, and MainStage

Apogee GiO is a compact, professional-quality USB microphone and music interface designed exclusively for the Mac. It's an all-in-ONE solution for making great-sounding recordings in GarageBand, Logic, or any Core Audio-based music application.
  • Plug your guitar into the professional Instrument Input
  • Easily navigate presets with the "Next" and "Previous" buttons
  • Turn on and off effects with your feet
  • Completely hands-free recording with five transport controls
  • Noise-free PureDigital signal for ultimate tone
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Questions & Answers

25 Questions + 27 Answers

3.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 6 reviews

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Purchase Information

$399.95

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Features

Apple Recommends For

Incredibly easy to use with GarageBand, Logic and virtually all Mac compatible software, this one device gives you professional-quality instrument input, stereo output, expression pedal input all with dynamically lit transport control buttons and more.

GiO is a revolutionary guitar interface featuring the award-winning sound quality that made Apogee Electronics famous. Designed to work easily with GarageBand, Logic, Final Cut or any Core Audio compliant application, GiO is the perfect addition to your guitar or bass.

Take full control

Designed to work with the new Logic Studio 9 and MainStage 2, GiO allows you to control recording functions, preset changes and plug-ins like Amp Designer and Pedalboard, along with new Playback and Loopback features in MainStage. With GarageBand, GiO is truly plug-and-play. It lets you quickly connect your guitar, select and control built-in Amps and stompboxes, and record.

Truly accurate sound

The 1/4-inch instrument input features Apogee's world-class instrument preamp and converters. Hear and record your guitar's true tone straight into GarageBand, Logic and MainStage without compromise. GiO is optimized for all pickup configurations.

Input for pedal control

On-board Expression control pedal input allows access to traditional effects like wah-wah and volume. You can also control effects parameters like the length of a delay or the speed of a tremolo. (Expression Control Pedal not included.)

Convenient USB power

GiO is fully powered by the USB connection to your Mac, eliminating the need for an external power source. Simply plug into an available USB port on any Mac and you're ready to go.

Superb quality output

Hear your guitar and recording like never before thanks to GiO's 24-bit audio at sample rates of 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz for pristine, better than CD sound quality. Just connect your headphones, powered monitors or instrument amplifier to Apogee converters via GiO's 1/4-inch stereo output.

Highlights

  • Unbalanced 1/4-inch high impedance instrument input
  • 1/4-inch MIDI Expression pedal input
  • Line-level, 1/4-inch stereo output for headphones, powered monitors or an instrument amplifier
  • Five Stompbox buttons, dynamically color coded to match software effects
  • Five transport control buttons, dynamically lit when engaged
  • Two "Previous/Next" preset selection buttons
  • Control built into GarageBand 11, Logic Pro 9, and MainStage 2 software
  • Compatible with any Core Audio compliant audio application
  • Plug-and-play ease with GarageBand and Logic—no setup required

Did You Notice?

Revolutionary design offers complete control of all presets, effects and a transport control - all at the tips of your feet. And your instrument will sound recording studio perfect.

Technical Specs

General

  • Input Type: 1/4 Inch Mono

Connections

  • Number of Channels: 2

Dimension

  • Weight: 6.5 lb./2.95 kg
  • Height: 2.5 in./6.4 cm
  • Width: 7.0 in./17.8 cm
  • Length: 18.0 in./45.7 cm

Compatibility

Mac

  • Mac OS X v.10.5.7 or later
  • 2 GB RAM
  • Mac PowerPC G5 or Intel processor

What's in the Box?

  • Apogee GiO
  • USB cable (16.4 ft./5 m)
  • 1/4-in. Stereo to left/right RCA cable (9.8 ft./3 m)
  • Apogee software and documentation CD
  • Quick start guide

Manufacturer Information

Warranty

  • Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.
  • Warranty: One year warranty

Part Number

  • UPC or EAN No.: 805676300801
  • Mfr. Part Number: GiO
 

Ratings & Reviews

3.5

Based on 6 reviews

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Most Useful Reviews

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Perfect for Logic recording

    • Written by from Marina del Rey

    I'm a songwriter and I compose on guitar as well as keyboard and bass. When I first saw Gio I thought it would be a great way to record and get to the guitar sounds in Logic but had no idea it would change my entire workflow. Actually it made it just flow.. no work!

    Gio eliminates tons of mouse clicking and trips between the computer and the instrument. Truly hands free recording as advertised. It's totally intuitive to guitarists especially if you’ve used a pedal board... a great extension to bring the virtual power of Logic’s amps and pedals back into the musician’s world. I even had it tucked under my synth to use the transport... didn’t have to turn around to the computer.
    It just all works when you plug it in and the sound output is absolutely pristine.
    Even my acoustic sounds delish through it. This is obviously because of Apogee conversion and pre. The led’s are totally useful to associate with what’s on the screen. Next/Previous buttons work contextually to step through different setups or tracks... Ingenious. It’s also beautiful to look at. Almost too beautiful to step on.

    Seems like there are endless possibilities to assign the buttons to be useful for other things. Computing with your feet... awesome! Makes me wish it worked with iTunes, Photoshop and other programs I use.     …More

    111 of 118 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    It works and it doesn't.

    • Written by from Murrieta

    It's a very good product. I have used it about 2 months now. It works great with Logic and Garageband, but not at all with Mainstage. After spending about 45 minutes on the phone with an Apogee tech support person and another 20 minutes with an apple tech, they just couldn't figure out why it didn't work with Mainstage. I removed and re-installed Mainstage, re-installed the drivers for the Gio and still, it just didn't work. Like I said, though, it works like a charm in Logic and Garageband. Biggest adjustment I've had to make is to keep my hands off the computer and use the Gio for what it's made for. Which is to c control the software. Very rugged construction. All in all, I can live with it not working on Mainstage since I'm much more comfortable working with Logic. It may work for you, I just happened to get one that didn't. …More

    47 of 58 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic!

    • Written by from San Antonio

    I love this pedal. I works great with GarageBand and MainStage. Currently using it with MainStage 1 which requires a bit more setup, but works like a charm. The I/O processing in the pedal is amazing. I never had any latency issues even when I really push it. Running it off a Unibody MacBook Pro 2.53 ghz with 4 GB of RAM. Getting great tone out of MainStage and have at this point abandoned my previous amp setup. Wish it had a built in expression pedal but will be buying M-Audio Midi expression pedal soon. …More

    39 of 44 people found this useful

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Most Recent Reviews

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Doesn't work

    • Written by from Deux Montagnes

    My GIO no longer controls play/record in garageband but simply turns the effects pedals on/off. It suddenly stopped working and no matter what I do, reboot etc won’t start working. In addition to the problems (originally) described below when I try play/record it ‘bounces’ on for a second then shuts off as if the switch just cycles on /off . It will not come on and stay on, very frustrating!

    Do I just have a defective Unit or are there others in the community experiencing problems with GIO?

    What are the reviews on this product? Does it work ( with GarageBand ). My Unit is brand new and I have a new iMac and all the latest software.

    I must send this Unit back it it’s defective!!

    Please read below my initial problems with the Unit….


    My GIO hangs up and no longer responds to Garageband.

    Especially if I leave it plugged in. If I leave it plugged in it will jam up other apps.

    Upon startup it doesn't respond if I plug it in and press OK in the 2 dialogs. I have to quit garageband and re-open garageband, this cannot be normal.

    Expected behavior would be to have the GIO control and respond to garageband if they are both up and running. THis is not the case, I have to plug the GIO Unit in and out and reboot Garageband to get it working. If I leave it for awhile it loses connection as well.

    My Software is all current my iMac is new but I haven't done any software updates for the GIO.

    GIO Firmware = v1.00
    GIO ser# = GPAP006868
    GIO MIDI Driver = v1.0.1
    GIO Daemon = v1.6.15

    GarageBand (11) = v6.0.4(427.84)

    Mac OS X i7 = v10.7.5

    What can we do to get GIO to operate as it should, it's very frustrating since it's supposed to be a device that controls garageband therefore should be easy to engage and startup.

    Do I need to update any software? Why does the GIO freeze up and fail to start after pressing OK on the 2 driver dialogs?     …More

    3 of 3 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Dissapointing

    • Written by from Doha

    It would be good if it worked as it shall. But it does not. I get constant problems with contecting to my Mac Pro - one time it is not switching the patches, one time it is not doing anything etc. And there are permanent cracks in the sound output that are very annoying. This apparently happens to few more people as I read on the net. I ditched it. Next time I will want to waste 400 bucks I find a toilet instead ... …More

    3 of 3 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The greatest

    • Written by from connersville

    If you are recording guitar on your Apple this is what you want. I am currently using it on garage band and I can do everything with my feet. It works great and is plug and play. There is no latency in my recordings and it is easy to use. Didn't even have to read the manual and I am certainly not a tech kind of guy. It is kind of pricey but I think it is worth it. Apogee says it will work with all of the Apple based recording software. …More

    14 of 16 people found this useful

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Questions & Answers

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Most Interesting

Recently Answered

  • will i be able to use my apogee GIO with the new FRETLIGHT guitar and garage band?
    • Asked by Michael M from Bennington
    • Jan 18, 2011

    1 Answer

    Answer

    The Fretlight has a standard 1/4" (6.3mm) instrument interface just like any other electric guitar/bass, so in theory it should work just as well with GiO and GarageBand as any other electric guitar/bass. As with any other electric guitar/bass, you would connect the 1/4" instrument cable to an amp, or to a computer via a DAC such as Apogee's GiO, ONE, or Duet. …More

    • Answered by Kenneth D from Ottawa
    • Jan 19, 2011
  • Are there any differences between the D/A converters in the apogee duet or the Gio?
    • Asked by Michael M from Bennington
    • Dec 19, 2010

    1 Answer

    Answer

    I can't find the reference just now, but I believe Apogee has indicated in the past that the DACs in their "One", Duet, and GiO are all similar in output quality. One notable difference is the Duet has a sample rate of 96 kHz, while "One" and GiO are 48 kHz (all three are 24-bit).

    See the "Compare Apogee Interfaces" link on the Apogee web site's main product page.     …More

    • Answered by Kenneth D from Ottawa
    • Dec 19, 2010
  • Can I use this with Pro Tools ?
    • Asked by Manuel R from Calexico
    • Oct 22, 2010

    1 Answer

Featured Question

So do you use your guitar and amp and then through this to record? Or just guitar? Or do you have the option to do either?
  • Asked by Jesse B from Castleton
  • Feb 25, 2013
Answer
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