Tascam Digital Audio Production Environment SX-1 Reference Manual

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 101
cally, after the specified amount of time has passed 
without being pressed. This field can be set from 0.5 
seconds to 10 seconds in 0.5 second increments.
Auto Revert Choices With Auto Revert Write 
(or Trim) enabled, the automation system stops writ-
ing (or trimming) switch events automatically on a 
per control basis without the need to end writing 
manually. That is, keys stop recording switch events 
at different times, depending on when they were last 
pressed and depending on the 
Control Sense Time Out 
value.In the case of control surface keys and knobs, writing 
ends when the Control Sense Time Out has expired 
without a key press or knob turn. Control Sense Time 
Out allows the control surface keys to respond as if 
they are touch-sensitive, even though they are not.
Writing switch events over a Static switch position 
simply adds the new switch events. When writing 
new switch events over previous ones, the SX-1 
automation system provides you with a high degree 
of flexibility over when writing will end.
Below is an example of writing new switch events 
over previous switch events with Auto Revert 
enabled:
8 sec
8 sec
8 sec
Control
Sense
Timeout
Control
Sense
Timeout
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-12
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
1 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
Existing Switch Events
New Switch Events
Resulting Switch Events
Switch ON
Switch ON
Switch ON
Switch ON
Switch OFFSwitch OFF
Switch OFF
Switch OFF 
						

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
102 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Disabling Auto Revert  allows you to manually 
stop writing switch events, either by stopping the 
transport, or by pressing the 
REVERT/ AUTO FADE 
key. In this situation, all controls that are writing will stop writing simultaneously when 
REVERT/ AUTO 
FA D E
 is pressed or play stops.
Below is an example of Writing new switch events 
over previous switch events with Auto Revert dis-
abled:
Disabling Control Sense Timeout
Control Sense Timeout is a subset of Auto Revert in 
that it only affects non touch-sensitive controls. By 
disabling Control Sense Timeout, it is possible to 
begin writing on a switch or rotary encoder and have 
that control continue writing, while new fader moves 
are performed with Auto Revert. It is necessary to manually revert controls that begin writing with Con-
trol Sense Timeout disabled.
It is possible to enable or disable Control Sense Tim-
eout on a single mix pass for flexibility in ending the 
write in the same way that Auto Revert can be 
enabled or disabled on a single mix pass.
Trimming Mix Moves
There may be times when a control has existing mix 
moves that are good, but the overall level of those 
moves needs to be raised or lowered. In this situa-
tion, Trim is used to offset existing moves.Before or after pressing PLAY, press TRIM (in the 
AUTO M AT IO N section) so that its indicator lights. 
Perform your desired Trim operation.
With the mixer in Trim mode, any movement of a 
control while timecode is running performs a Trim 
8 sec
8 sec
8 sec
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-12
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
1 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
Existing Switch Events
New Switch Events
Resulting Switch Events
Switch ON
Switch ON
Switch ONSwitch ON
Switch ON
Switch OFFSwitch OFF
Switch OFF
Press REVERT
Switch OFF 
						

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 103
operation on that control. The audio passing through 
the control reflects the previous mix moves, com-
bined with the offset created by the Trim operation.In the case of the touch-sensitive faders, trimming 
begins when a fader is touched. In the case of keys 
and knobs, trimming begins when the control is 
moved.
Revert Time
When a control stops trimming mix moves it 
“reverts” to reading any mix data that existed before 
trimming began. The previously existing data could 
be a dynamic mix move or a static control position. 
The amount of time it takes to move smoothly from 
the end of the trimmed mix move to the previously 
existing data is called the Revert Time.
A Revert Time is applied, even after stopping play-
back, past the point where the playhead stops, to 
ensure a smooth transition between the trimmed mix 
move and the control’s previous setting.
Auto Revert Choices With AUTO REVERT Trim 
enabled, the automation system stops writing trim-
ming mix moves automatically per control without 
the need to stop trimming manually. That is, controls 
stop trimming mix moves at different times, depend-ing on when they were released (faders) or when 
movement ended (keys and knobs).
In the case of the touch-sensitive faders, the revert 
starts when the fader is released. In the case of keys 
and soft knobs, revert starts when the Control Sense 
Time Out has expired without movement of the con-
trol. Control Sense Time Out allows the control sur-
face keys and knobs to respond as if they are touch-
sensitive, even though they are not.
When a Revert occurs, the control smoothly matches 
back to its previous data based on the amount of 
Revert Time set. Previous data could be a control’s 
Static position or a control’s Dynamic mix moves.
Below is an example of trimming fader moves with 
Auto Revert enabled:
8 sec
8 sec+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-12
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
1 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
Existing Fader Move
Mix Move
Raise Fader Release FaderRevert
Time
Hold Fader 
						

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
104 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Disabling AUTO REVERT  when TRIM is 
enabled, this allows you to manually stop trimming 
mix moves by stopping play or by pressing the 
REVERT/ AUTO FADE key. In this situation, all con-
trols that are trimming mix moves will stop trimming simultaneously when 
REVERT/ AUTO FADE is 
pressed or playback stops.
Below is an example of trimming fader moves with 
Auto Revert disabled:
Automating Library Recall
The SX-1 automation system is capable of including 
library recall events as part of an automated mix. 
These are treated by the automation system as Switch 
Events. All SX-1 libraries support automated recall 
for: Scene, EQ, Compression, Expanders, Gates, and 
the plug-in effects.
Because there may be differences between control 
settings recalled by a library and those being played back by the automation system, below are some 
important things to keep in mind in order to avoid 
unexpected behavior.
The basic rule is that automation data, whether a 
library recall or a dynamic mix move, only has prior-
ity until another mix event is played back.
Writing Library Recall Events Over Existing Static Control Positions
When a library recall event is written by the automa-
tion system which affects controls in Static, those 
controls become Dynamic. This ensures correct con-
trol position when locating the transport to a position 
prior to the first library recall event. This also means 
that if those controls need to be adjusted, INIT EDIT 
or Global Write must be used. If a dynamic move is 
written after a library recall, the control will Revert to the setting determined by the control’s Initial Sta-
tus, which may differ from the library recall immedi-
ately preceding the dynamic move.
If a library is recalled which affects controls in Static 
mode without the library recall event being written, 
the controls will update their static positions as if 
they had been directly adjusted.
8 sec
8 sec+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-12
+12
+6
+3
0
-3
-6
-121 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
1 sec
2 sec 3 sec
4 sec5 sec
6 sec7 sec
-9
Existing Fader Move
Mix Move
Touch Fader Release Fader Press REVERTFader
Movement
Revert
Time 
						

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 105
Combining Library Recall With Dynamic Mix Moves
Dynamic mix moves are treated in a way similar to 
continuous data by the SX-1 automation system. 
Library recall events are instantaneous scenes. If a 
library recall occurs while the automation system is 
reading dynamic mix moves, the affected controls will snap to the positions recalled by the library then 
snap to reading previous dynamic mix moves as the 
time code position crosses the previous data. While 
this can create some interesting effects when used 
purposely, it could also take you by surprise.
Automating Groups
There are several considerations and possibilities 
when using the SX-1 automation with grouped con-
trols:
• Creating a group with controls that don’t have 
dynamic automation.
• Creating a group with controls that have existing 
dynamic automation.
• Automating the Group Master.
• Automating group slaves.
• Removing slaves from an automated group.
Grouping Non-Automated Controls Create 
the group normally using the 
Groups module on the 
Channel screen. The group master or slaves within the 
group may then be automated. A Group Master may 
be automated just like any other control.Automation data is only written by the Group Master. 
Any group slave that is removed from a group no 
longer follows any mix moves written by the Group 
Master. However, it continues to read its own mix 
moves. Any group slave may be individually auto-
mated just like any other control.
Grouping Automated Controls If a group is 
created where any single control contains dynamic 
data, all like controls within that group will switch to 
dynamic, requiring further moves on those controls 
to be dynamically written (or modified using Init 
Edit) instead of being statically adjusted.
NOTE
When automating group slaves while the group master 
is moving, an incorrect revert destination on the slave 
control is possible. To avoid this, write dynamic moves 
on slaves between occurrences of dynamic moves on 
the slave’s master. 
						

							106 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Part V– Effects
Chapter 14 – Working with Effects
The Philosophy – how it works
The SX-1 has four slots in which to load effects, 
named quadrants. Each quadrant is capable of load-
ing any of the effects that come with the SX-1. The 
list of included effects includes delays, choruses, 
compressors, distortion, microphone and speaker 
simulation and reverb. In most cases the SX-1 has the 
ability to run four discreet versions of any of these 
plugins, reverb being the most obvious exception 
(you can run two TC Reverbs at once, along with two 
other plugins of your choice).Each effect comes with presets that allow you to use 
them more easily, and these presets can be recalled at 
any time. Double-clicking on a preset in the list will 
load that effect’s parent into the current quadrant, 
which means that double-clicking on the 
Metallic Tone 
preset will automatically load the Flanger plugin. 
All of the parameters for the effects are available for 
automation, both in real time as well as being drawn 
onscreen. 
VGA Effects Screens
From the MAIN DISPLAY MODES section, press 
EFFECTS. This takes you to the main VGA effects 
control screen. From here you can assign effects to 
one of the four effect busses, save and recall effects to the effects library feature, and change individual 
effect parameters (individual effect algorithms are 
covered in the next chapter). 
						

							Part V–Effects
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 107
Routing Effects Screens
The effects routing displays let you select, configure, 
and route the effects plugins.
VGA EFFECTS SLOT/ROUTING Module
This module is part of the Effects screen. It houses the 
controls for assigning the effects algorithms to the 
processor slots, and routing the audio inputs and 
outputs.
Effect Slot Selects the placement of the effect 
algorithm in the DSP chain. The selections are:
Internal FX 1-4 The four available native DSP 
quadrants.
Current Effect Selects an effect algorithm.
Input Routing Click on the arrow for the Left In and 
Right In fields to select the input source for the effect 
displayed in the 
Current Effect field.
Output Routing Click on the arrow for the Left Out 
and 
Right Out fields to select the output destination for 
the effect displayed in the 
Current Effect field.
LCD Effects Routing Screen
The LCD Effects screens mirror the VGA Effects 
screen.
EFFECTS The EFFECTS screen’s ROUTING page houses 
controls for assigning the effect algorithms to a DSP 
quadrant, the effect algorithm’s input source, and 
output destination.
From the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODES section, press 
EFFECTS. The 
ROUTING CURSOR soft knob can be used to select 
the routing node, and 
SELECT ROUTING is used to bring 
up all possible destinations for the routing.
PREV SLOT Skips back to select the previous effects 
slot.
NEXT SLOT Skips forward to select the next 
effects slot.
ROUTING This screen’s default page.
CLEAR SLOT Removes the effect algorithm from the 
currently selected slot. 
						

							Part V–Effects
108 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
LOAD PLUGIN Pressing the LOAD PLUGIN soft key 
opens a dialog where you select from a menu of 
effects algorithms.TIP
You can use the arrow keys on the keypad to step 
through the effects plugins. Then, with the one you 
want to load highlighted, press 
ENTER to load the plu-
gin to the selected slot.
Effects Controls Displays
The effects controls screens house the effect plugin’s 
parameters.The controls that appear in these screens change 
according to the effect plugin selected.
VGA EFFECTS CONTROLS Screen
The EFFECTS CONTROLS module is part of the Effects 
VGA screen. From the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE sec-
tion, press 
EFFECTS.Below is an example of the module with a chorus 
effect selected in the 
EFFECT SLOT module (the EFFECTS 
CONTROLS
 module follows the effects selection in the 
EFFECT SLOT module).
TIP
When you turn the LCD screen’s soft knobs that are tied 
to the parameters in the 
EFFECTS CONTROLS module, 
these controls reflect the soft knobs’ movements. You 
can also use the mouse to directly move the 
EFFECTS 
CONTROLS
.
LCD EFFECTS Control Screen
This screen mirrors the VGA EFFECTS CONTROL mod-
ule. Like the controls of the 
EFFECTS CONTROL module,  
						

							Part V–Effects
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 109
the LCD EFFECTS screen’s controls change according 
to the selected plugin.
From the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODES section, press 
EFFECTS. Then press FX PARAM PAGE 1 to reach the 
first page of the effects parameters.
PREV SLOT Skips back to select the previous 
effects slot.
NEXT SLOT Skips forward to select the next 
effects slot.
ROUTING Opens the EFFECTS screen’s routing page 
(the default page for this screen).
F X  PA R A M  PA G E  1  Since the LCD has limited 
space, the screen cannot show all effect parameters at 
the same time. The 
FX Parms Pages let you skip forward 
and back through the selected effect plugin’s 
controls.
TIP
To record automation for an effect plugin from the 
LCD, use the LCD screen’s soft knobs for the selected 
effect.
Effects Library Displays
Every effect plugin can have its settings saved as a 
patch in the Effects Library. A single plugin may 
have dozens of associated presets. Most plugins come with a set of factory presets—if not, you can 
always create your own.
VGA EFFECTS LIBRARY Screen
The EFFECTS LIBRARY module is part of the Effects VGA 
screen. In this module you can name, store, and recall 
effect plugin patches.
COMPARE Press this key to compare the current 
settings of a selected plugin with the last saved set-
tings of that same plugin.
IMPORT Opens the Effect Plugin Import dialog where 
you can bring effect plugin presets from other 
projects into your current project.
Filter This feature allows you to view effect presets 
by category—either generic effect type or specific 
effect plugin. For example, if you are just looking for 
reverbs, select view only reverb patches. Or if you 
only want to see the patches associated with a partic-
ular effect plugin (such as TASCAM Chorus, as in 
the screenshot here), select to filter out all other plu-
gin presets.
TIP
The recall of effects presets can be automated. See 
“Automating Library Recall” on page 104 for details. 
						

							Part V–Effects
110 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
LCD FX LIBRARY Screens
The FX LIBRARY screens mirror the EFFECTS LIBRARY 
module found in the VGA 
Effects screen.
Press the 
FX key in the LIBRARY section and then 
press the 
LIBRARY soft key to reach this screen.
TRANS TIME The amount of time it takes to move 
from the current effect settings to a setting that has 
just been recalled.
IMPORT From the FX LIBRARY screen, press the 
IMPORT soft key. This opens the Import dialog where 
you can bring effect plugin presets from other 
projects into your current project.
FILTER This feature allows you to view effect pre-
sets by category, either generic effect type or specific 
effect plugin.
Turn the soft knob below 
FILTER to reach these 
dialogs.
BY EFFECT View presets only by effect plugin type.
BY CATEGORY View presets only by effect algo-
rithm type.
SHOW ALL View all effect presets.