Tascam Digital Audio Production Environment SX-1 Reference Manual

							Part I–Manuals & Conventions
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 11
an explanation of different editing features, how to 
use the audio editing tools, and selecting and display-
ing waveforms.
VII, “MIDI Sequencing” (page 133) The SX-
1’s onboard MIDI sequencer is as comprehensive as 
a dedicated software-based MIDI sequencer (like the 
type you might install on a desktop computer). This 
Part covers all of the MIDI sequencer’s features and 
addresses working with and editing MIDI note and 
continuous controller data.
VIII, “Data Entry, System & File 
Management” (page 166) 
Different applica-
tions require different system setups: sample rates, 
bit depths, synchronization, storage, and the like. This Part covers the SX-1’s system parameters as 
well as backing up and project management.
IX, “Connections and Ports” (page 192) 
There are a variety of jacks and connectors located 
on the top and back of the SX-1. There are also sev-
eral expansion ports on the units rear. This part of 
the manual explains the purpose behind each of these 
connections.
X, “Specifications, etc.” (page 195) All the 
specifications you need to know about the SX-1 are 
found in this Part: reference diagrams, keyboard 
commands and shortcuts, and technical specs.
Documentation Conventions
The names for all of the SX-1s keys, knobs, and con-
nections are printed in this manual exactly as their 
labels appear on the SX-1 itself. They are set apart 
from normal text with brackets. For example, the 
Play button is written 
PLAY. In the case where a key 
has more than one function (for example, a main and 
shift function—the Shift function is explained in 
“Multi-Function Keys” on page 12), it is written as, 
ENABLED/ ALL INPUT (the main function is listed 
first and the shift function second).
The SX-1s face is organized into different areas for 
each of its various functions. These areas are labeled 
and their names also appear in this manual exactly as 
they are printed on the SX-1 (for example, 
EDITING).
Areas of the SX-1 that are not labeled, but have a 
specific purpose, are written in conventional title 
form (such as, Faders).In order to differentiate LED labels from area and 
control labels, LED names are in angle brackets (for 
example, 
). To distinguish software buttons 
and menu names that appear on the LCD or the exter-
nal VGA displays from their hardware counterparts, 
these names are in a lighter typeface (like, the 
LOAD 
key or the 
EQ LIBRARY screen).
All the manuals and guides for the SX-1 adhere to 
these documentation conventions. Diagrams and 
illustrations are presented whenever possible to aug-
ment the manuals text descriptions.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 
Mac and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Com-
puters. 
Be is the trademark of Be Incorporated. 
All other trademarks mentioned here are the property 
of their respective owners. 
Tips
Important notes, that are in addition to general 
instructions and definitions, are set apart from the 
manual’s normal text titled TIP (see the example 
here). These important tips call your attention to spe-
cial situations and offer helpful operating 
suggestions.TIP
While reading the SX-1 Owner’s Manual, keep your eyes 
peeled for special operating tips and helpful sugges-
tions like this. 
						

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12 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Chapter 2 – Operating Conventions
Front Panel
Multi-Function Keys
Some keys have multiple functions. A key’s primary 
function is accessed by simply pressing the key. Sec-
ondary functions are accessed by entering Shift 
mode. Press the 
SHIFT key on the Numeric Keypad, and then press the multi-function key to reach its sec-
ondary function. Think of the 
SHIFT key just like the 
shift key of a standard PS/2 keyboard—it serves a 
similar purpose.
Data Entry
Only the Keypad is actually labeled DATA ENTRY. 
The Keypad is used for entering numbers and letters 
directly into a text field, and enabling the Shift func-tion (as described above), up/down and left/right cur-
sor navigation, and entering MIDI step record note 
values.
Keypad
The Keypad has four distinct uses, which change 
according to the LCD’s current display screen and 
selected text or number field. These are: cursor con-
trol (navigation), numeric, note value, and alphabet 
character entry. Four ancillary keys support these 
uses: 
NUM LOCK, SHIFT, CANCEL, and ENTER.
Numeric Entry When the cursor is in a value field 
(in the LCD screen only), the Keypad enters 
numbers.
Navigation Function For the LCD screen, the 
Keypad’s navigation keys (the up/down and left/right arrows) let you move the cursor between text 
fields, scroll through menus, and select objects.
Note Value Entry In the MIDI Step Record 
mode, in both the LCD and VGA Step Record 
screens, the keys with notation marks let you quickly 
assign note values to your stepped MIDI notes.
Character Entry On the LCD screen, when the 
cursor is in a text field, the Keypad enters letters 
(like a push-button telephone, where subsequent key 
presses cycle through the letters listed on the keys). 
After entering a letter, the cursor will, after a small 
delay, autoadvance to the next space. 
						

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Ancillary Keys
NUM LOCK Use the NUM LOCK key to fix the 
Keypad’s operation to only enter numbers.
SHIFT For front panel keys that have a Shift func-
tion, press the 
SHIFT key to enable this function. The 
Shift key is also a part of a number of special multi-
ple-key commands (see “PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse 
Shortcuts” on page 195).
TIP
An example of a handy multiple-key command is the 
ability to copy your main mix to the cue mix. By holding 
down 
SHIFT and pressing the CUE key (to the right of the Virtual Channel knobs) you can copy the Master L/R 
mix to the Cue layer. This move can save valuable time 
when you need to quickly create a mix for an overdub-
bing musician.
CANCEL Use the CANCEL key to terminate an 
action. This key is also part of a number of multiple-
key shortcuts. For example, holding down 
CANCEL 
and touching a fader or other control will set that 
control to default.
ENTER Use the ENTER key to complete an action.
Jog/Shuttle Wheel
The Jog/Shuttle Wheel is used for moving the trans-
port back and forth. 
Jog Dial Jogging is controlled by the inside dial of 
the Jog/Shuttle control. Spin the dial clockwise to 
play audio and MIDI forward, and spin the dial coun-
terclockwise to play audio and MIDI backwards. 
Playback speed is determined by how fast you spin 
the Jog Dial. (The Jog Dial is sometimes referred to 
as the Scrub Wheel, and similarly, jogging is some-
times called scrubbing.)
Shuttle Wheel Shuttling is controlled by the out-
side ring of the Jog/Shuttle control. Turn the wheel to 
the right to shuttle audio and MIDI forwards in time, 
and turn the wheel to the left to shuttle audio and 
MIDI backwards. How far you push the wheel, left 
or right (backwards and forwards, respectively), 
determines the speed of playback. The wheel is 
spring-loaded, and upon release it pops back to cen-
ter position and normal play speed.
Virtual Channel Pots
The knobs at the top of the channel strips (above the 
faders) are multi-function, infinitely rotating potenti-
ometers (pots for short).
Depending on their currently selected mode 
(accessed by the 
PAN/ VIRTUAL CHANNEL or CUE 
keys), these controls serve as pan pots for all chan-nels, EQ, Aux sends and pan for a selected channel, 
or pan for the Cue Mix. The virtual pots are sur-
rounded by a ring of LEDs, which indicate their cur-
rent setting. For example, a pan pot that is hard left 
will have its far left LED illuminated, or an AUX 
send that is full open will have all of its LEDs lit. 
						

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14 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Fader Banks
It’s important to remember that the SX-1’s faders 
control more than just one group of levels. Besides 
the first 16 mixer channels, at default the faders also 
control: inputs 17-32, the cue mix, MIDI tracks, 
sends, returns, and busses. Different groups of faders, called fader banks, are accessed by the keys in the 
FADER BANKS section on the SX-1’s slanted front 
panel, and the cue mix bank is reached via the 
CUE 
key to the right of the virtual channel strip.
LCD Display
VGA or LCD
You have a choice of using the LCD or an VGA dis-
play as your main screen. The LCD display always 
follows the selection keys in the 
MAIN DISPLAY 
MODES
 section. To have an external VGA follow these keys, press the 
MAIN DISPLAY key above the 
LCD ACCESS section (on the SX-1s slanted front 
panel). The 
 LED should light.
LCD Navigation
The LCD display is surrounded by several knobs and 
buttons. The function of these controls change 
according to the display on the LCD. We refer to 
these controls as “soft” knobs and keys because their 
functions are directly related to the SX-1s software.The soft knobs and soft keys line up with onscreen 
knobs and keys to indicate their current function. 
Each of the LCD’s screens has a different set of these 
virtual controls. Some keys are single function while 
others are of a pop-up menu style. Most of the soft  
						

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knobs, upon turning, display a selection of choices in 
a pop-up style menu.
To scroll up/down and left/right in an LCD window, 
use the up/down and left/right arrow keys of the Numeric Keypad. And to adjust the viewing angle 
and contrast of the LCD, use the small   knob to 
the top right of the LCD.
Common Soft Knobs & Keys
There are several soft knobs and keys which are 
common to many of the LCD screens. How these 
controls operate are always identical, even if the 
parameters they adjust, or select, are different.TIPHOT TIP! — 
Explaining the common virtual knobs and keys here 
means that not every soft key and knob is explained for 
every LCD menu. If you are looking at an LCD menu and 
don’t see all the items explained next to the manual’s 
illustration, the missing controls are likely explained 
here.
Soft Keys
Soft Knobs
VGA Display
Screen Navigation
Getting around on a connected VGA Display is just 
like using a regular computer because the same 
mouse and PS/2 keyboard rules apply. For example, 
use the mouse to click on a field and open a pull-
down menu, or enter names and values in text fields 
with the PS/2 keyboard.NOTE
Where Windows machines typically use the Control key, 
and Macintosh systems use the Comand key with other 
keys as keyboard shortcuts, the SX-1 uses the Alt key 
together with other keys for this purpose.
ACTIVE MENUThis virtual key toggles the LCD screen’s soft key menu bar on and off in order to expand the visible screen area (this 
is not necessary for all screens). 
ACTIVE MENU is always tied to the MENU soft key (the very bottom soft key).
Arrow IconWhen you see an arrow icon on a virtual key, pressing its associated soft key will open a menu.
NAMEOpens a dialog for naming the currently selected field.
DELETERemoves last entry.
OK or ACCEPTEnters current field’s new value.
COMPAREPress this key to compare your current settings with your last saved settings.
CANCELEscapes current action.
CLEARClears entire field.
SELECTOpens parameter selection menu.
CURSOR -->Moves cursor right.

						

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A Main Menu Bar at the top of the VGA display 
allows access to all of the SX-1’s screens and many 
primary functions. Just like with a wholly computer 
based application, you can use the Main Menu Bar to 
change windows, select editing tools, save projects, and set preferences. But unlike a wholly software 
based computer device, the SX-1 also gives you real 
world hardware control of its software right from its 
front panel.
Tracks Display
The SX-1 has many different VGA screens that you 
will use over the course of a project. However, the 
Track screen (pictured here) is possibly the most com-
monly accessed screen. Here, you will find a number 
of essential elements for working with and managing 
your project. You can get a clear picture of all the 
tracks in your project and perform a variety of tasks including: creating audio and MIDI tracks, assigning 
takes, selecting regions for editing, arming and solo-
ing mixer channels, and choosing editing and prefer-
ence tabs.
TIP
To see the other nine main VGA screens, press ALT plus 
a number key from 0-9 on the connected PS/2 keyboard.
Mouse Conventions
Pop-Up Menus Click on the arrow icon ( ) 
next to a control (this might be anything, from a text 
field to a button) to display pop-up menus.
TIP
If clicking normally on an arrow only selects the control, 
but doesn’t let you edit it, try right-clicking on it.
Resizing Windows The Tracks and tabs areas 
can be resized by clicking and dragging on the three 
dots on the divider bars (as shown above). Click and 
drag horizontally to resize the Tracks area, and click 
and drag vertically to resize the tabs area. 
						

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Ta b s
To reach the various layered operations windows in 
different screens, click on their labeled “tabs” (just 
like flipping through folders in a file cabinet).Tabs without a label are unassigned.
Main Menu Items
To open the main menu items on the menu bar, click 
once on an item.
Then drag the mouse downward over the pop-up 
menu to make your selection. The menu items’ 
respective commands are covered throughout this 
manual (for example, the 
SX-1 commands, which are system oriented, are addressed in “System Settings” 
on page 182, while the 
Edit commands are covered in 
the chapters on editing audio and MIDI regions—
“Audio tracks” on page 122 and “MIDI Sequencing” 
on page 133).
Zoom & Scroll
Right click and drag over the gray horizontal bar 
above the timeline (in the 
TRACK and AUTOMATION 
screens, and respective 
Waveform and Audio Track tabs) 
to zoom in or out. Left click and drag the gray bar to 
scroll, horizontally (in time), through the project. 
And, left clicking to the left or right of the gray bar moves the playhead back or forward, respectively, by 
one screen.TIP
You can zoom in or out on the VGA screen by pressing 
Alt and the [ ] keys. Additional key commands and 
shortcuts are listed in Appendix 2.
Main Menu Bar Elements
Transport & Record Keys
These keys mirror the SX-1’s hardware Transport 
and Record Keys.They can be used in place of their hardware counter-
parts if desired.
MIDI Panic
Use this button or the hardware PA N I C key 
to clear stuck MIDI notes and other such 
MIDI log jams (it sends All Notes Off mes-
sages, and then Note Off messages on all 
channels) as well as dimming the audio outputs by 20 dB and stopping the transport. This is a latching 
button, and the front panel 
PANIC indicator pulses 
while the panic mode is active. Press either the soft 
PANIC button or the hardware PANIC key to exit the 
panic mode.
Tool Select
Press this button to choose a cursor selec-
tion tool. There are four choices: Region, 
Event, Pencil, and Curve (the tools’ func-tions are explained in “Essential Tools” on 
page 122). 
						

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18 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
TIP
You can use the PS/2 keyboard’s Escape key to choose 
the tool.
Grid Select
Use this button to toggle the “snap-to-grid” 
feature on and off. The grid is represented 
by vertical lines that intersect the tracks in 
the 
Tracks screen (they also appear in other 
related screens, such as the VGA 
Waveform tab). When snap-to-grid is on, events (audio and MIDI) will 
always align to the nearest grid intersection when 
moved by the mouse. When the grid is off, events are 
not constrained to the grid lines.
Nudge & Grid Settings
The top field (designated by N) adjusts your nudge 
amount. Select an event (audio or MIDI) and use a 
connected PS/2 keyboard’s +/- keys to move the 
event forward or backward in time by the Nudge 
value. The bottom field (designated by G) sets your “snap-
to” grid size (as described above). Both values can be 
either SMPTE, hours:minutes:seconds, 
bars:beats:ticks, feet:frames, or samples.
Edit Length Grids
The left displays show a selection’s Edit In and Out 
points. The top right display shows the selection’s 
sync point, while the bottom right display shows the selection’s length. Readouts for each display can be 
in SMPTE, hours:minutes:seconds, bars:beats:ticks, 
feet:frames, or samples.
Time Signature Selector
The top value represents the number of divisions in a 
bar (the beats per measure). Almost any value can be 
entered directly into this field from a connected PS/2 
keyboard. The bottom value represents the type of 
note assigned to the bar divisions (the note that equals one beat). This value is chosen from the pull 
down menu (click on the arrow). Note values range 
from a whole note (semibreve) to a 64th note (hemi-
demisemiquaver).
Tempo & Click Management
These buttons are for adjusting the project’s tempo 
and click, and enabling or disabling MIDI echo and 
merge. 
Use this button to toggle the current 
project’s Conductor track on and off. The 
Conductor track contains the project’s tempo map and can be viewed and edited (using the 
appropriate function—“Tempo Change” on 
page 164). When the button is depressed, the 
project’s tempo follows the Conductor track. When 
the button is up, tempo follows the Main Menu Bar’s  
						

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 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 19
tempo setting (the field to the left of the “-/+” keys, 
pictured to the left and described below).
This button turns the MIDI metronome on 
and off.
This button turns MIDI echo on and off.
This button turns MIDI merge on and off.Use these buttons to adjust a project’s 
tempo when the Conductor track is not 
enabled. A value can also be entered 
directly into the adjacent tempo field from the PS/2 
keyboard.
TIP
To learn more about MIDI functionality, see Part VII.
Project & Mix Menus
The top field displays the name of your current 
project. If you click the arrow in this field you can 
display the remaining record time (for the drive that 
the current Project is loaded on). The bottom field shows the name of your current Mix (the SX-1 
allows multiple mix files to be associated with a 
project). Mixes are managed from the VGA’s 
Mix Ta b  
in the 
Automation screen.
Main Time Code Display
This Time Code display mirrors the SX-1’s main 
LED Time Code display on its slanted front panel. It 
can display time in SMPTE, hours:minutes:seconds, 
bars:beats:ticks, feet:frames, and samples.
NOTE
Changing this field changes all of the registers in both 
user interfaces - except the Nudge and Grid values. You 
can think of this control as a sort of “master display type” if you wish. After changing the view type to 
another of the choices, you can always change any of 
the individual fields to display whatever you like.
This parameter can also be changed by holding the sur-
face 
SHIFT key and pressing the MAIN DISPLAY key 
on the slanted front panel - repeated pressings will 
scroll through the available four choices 
						

							Part I–Manuals & Conventions
20 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Common buttons
There are several virtual keys (buttons) that are com-
mon to many of the VGA screens and tabs. How 
these controls operate are always identical, even if 
the parameters that they adjust, or select, are differ-
ent.NOTE
Explaining the common VGA buttons here means that 
not every virtual key is explained for every VGA screen 
and tab. If you are looking at an VGA display and don’t 
see all the items explained next to the manual’s illustra-
tion, the missing controls are likely explained here.
Name fieldDisplays the name of the currently selected parameter or item. You can also change an item’s name by 
entering text directly into this field and pressing 
ENTER on the Keypad.
NEWCreates a new entry for the currently selected parameter or item.
RECALLRestores from memory the currently selected (highlighted) parameter or item.
STORESaves to memory the currently loaded parameter or item.
DELETEDeletes the currently selected (highlighted) parameter or item.
DONEThis key is found in all Edit Operations screens. Press the key to complete the edit operation.
EDIT NAMEEnables you to change the name of the currently selected patch or preset.
LibraryA field where the names of the Library presets appear.
NotesA text field where notes can be saved along with the preset.
COMPAREPress this key to compare your current settings with your last saved settings.
IMPORTOpens an import dialog from which you can bring settings from other projects into your current project.
SET TO DEFAULTThis sets the associated controller’s value back to its factory default value.