Setting Up Gio Devices in Xilica Designer

All Gio devices — USB, Bluetooth, and XLR follow the same workflow for initial configuration in Xilica Designer: discover the device on the network, give it a name, add it to your project, map it to the physical hardware, and go online.

When powered on and connected to the same local area network as your computer, Gio devices automatically appear in Designer's Network View alongside Solaro processors and other Dante-enabled devices.

If your Gio device doesn't appear, check:

• The device is powered on and the front panel LED is lit

• Your computer and the Gio device are on the same network/VLAN

• You have the latest version of Xilica Designer installed

To customize a Gio device's name (useful for identifying devices in multi-room systems):

1. Double-click the Gio device icon in Network View to open Device Setup

2. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Boardroom Gio USB", "Auditorium Gio XLR Stage Left")

3. Additional device information and configuration options are available in this same dialog

When working with multiple Gio devices of the same type, use the LED flash feature to physically identify which device matches which icon in software:

1. Right-click on the Gio device icon in Network View

2. Select "Flash Front Panel"

3. The front panel LED on the corresponding physical device will flash, confirming which unit you're looking at

1. Switch to Project View

2. Drag the appropriate Gio module onto the design screen

3. Double-click the module to access its configurable parameters

4. Draw Dante audio connections between the Gio module and other devices in your project (see Configuring Dante Networked Audio for Xilica Devices)

To link a virtual device in your project to the actual physical hardware on the network:

1. Ensure the physical Gio device is powered on and visible in Network View

2. In Project View, right-click on the Gio module

3. Select "Map Physical Device"

4. Select the correct device from the list, identified by its MAC address

Once mapped, you can load your design to hardware and go online.

Gio USB is a 2×2 USB-to-Dante / Dante-to-USB audio interface. It connects laptops, room PCs, and UC peripherals to the Dante network. Key points:

• Gio USB cannot be used as a generic USB extender — it transports audio only

• Supports bi-directional HID volume and mute sync with Microsoft Teams

• Mounts under tables, behind displays, or near the room PC

• Powered via PoE (IEEE 802.3af)

Gio BT provides wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for BYOD and background music:

• Supports smartphones, tablets, and other Bluetooth audio sources

• Bluetooth 5.0 Class 2 with extended range

• Configurable Bluetooth settings are available in Designer — see Gio Bluetooth Configurable Settings in Xilica Designer

Gio XLR bridges traditional analog XLR audio to the Dante network:

• Connects microphones, line-level sources, and powered speakers

• Ideal for legacy analog equipment in auditoriums, boardrooms, and multipurpose spaces

• Supports phantom power for condenser microphones (check power limits in Understanding Phantom Power Limitations)