Tascam Digital Audio Production Environment SX-1 Reference Manual

							 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 21
Part  II– Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
Chapter 3 – Monitoring Audio
Output Control
Monitor Section
This section houses controls for the Control Room 
and Studio monitor outputs (these connections are on 
the SX-1’s top panel).
CONTROL ROOM
This section provides controls for the Control Room 
monitor outputs.
SOURCE Select The SOURCE key allows you to 
choose the source signal that you want to monitor 
through your Control Room speakers. Multiple 
presses of this key allow you to toggle through the 
following sources:
 When the  LED is illumi-
nated, the source monitored is the Master L/R output 
(post the Master Fader).
 When the  LED is on, the source 
monitored is the Cue mix.
 When the  LED is on, the 
source monitored is the Aux 1 and 2 sends.
 With the  LED illuminated, 
the source monitored is the Aux 3 and 4 sends.
 When the  LED is on, the 
source monitored is the Aux 5 and 6 sends.
For the Aux sends, pressing once will select the odd-
numbered aux send of the pair (the light will flash in 
a single pattern) and pressing again will select the 
even-numbered aux send (the light will flash in a 
double pattern).
< 2 -TRACK/CD> When the  LED 
is on, you are monitoring the signal coming into the 
2TRIN stereo input (located on the unit’s top panel).
 With the  LED illuminated, you are 
monitoring the unit’s digital inputs (found on the 
unit’s rear).
Press once for 
D-IN 1 (the light will flash in a single 
pattern), and press twice for 
D-IN 2 (the light will 
flash in a double pattern). 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
22 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
TIP
When the Aux sends are linked for stereo operation, 
pressing 
SOURCE accesses both the odd and even Aux 
channels as a stereo pair. If the Aux sends are not 
linked, pressing 
SOURCE will first monitor the odd, 
and then the even Aux channels of a pair.
Monitor DIM Press the DIM key to momentarily 
lower the output level of your Control Room Moni-
tors by a set amount. The default is –12 dB, but this 
value can be as much as –50 db. The attenuation 
amount is adjusted from the LCD 
PREFERENCES screen 
(
SHIFT+SETTINGS/ PREFS). This is a “smart” key.
TIP
When monitoring at levels that make having a conver-
sation difficult, use 
DIM to get a quick word in without 
having to touch the master output levels.
MONO Select Press MONO to hear the source 
currently selected in mono (instead of stereo). The 
key is of a “smart” type.
Speaker Select The Speaker Select switch, 
labeled 
LARGE/ SMALL, lets you quickly switch 
between two different sets of speakers (for example, 
large and small control room monitors). The 
LARGE 
and SMALL speaker connections are located on the 
top panel of the SX-1.
Monitor LEVEL The LEVEL knob controls the 
volume of your control room monitors. You can pre-
set the control’s starting level (if for instance, the ini-
tial output seems too loud) from the LCD 
PREFERENCES screen (SHIFT+SETTINGS/ PREFS). 
The default output is +4 dBu.
STUDIO Section
This section provides controls for the Studio monitor 
outputs (which can be used to feed a set of speakers 
in the tracking room) and the Talkback mic.
SOURCE Select The SOURCE key allows you to 
choose the source signal that you want to monitor 
through your Studio speakers. Multiple presses of 
this key allow you to toggle through the following 
sources:
 When the  LED is illumi-
nated, the source monitored is the Master L/R output 
(post the Master Fader).
 When the  LED is on, the source 
monitored is the Cue mix.
 When the  LED is on, the 
source monitored is the Auxiliary 1 and 2 sends.
 With the  LED illuminated, 
the source monitored is the Auxiliary 3 and 4 sends.
 When the  LED is on, the 
source monitored is the Auxiliary 5 and 6 sends.
For the Aux sends, pressing once will select the odd-
numbered aux send of the pair (the light will flash 
slowly) and pressing again will select the even-num-
bered aux send (the light will flash quickly).
 When the  LED is 
on, you are monitoring the signal coming into the 
2TRIN stereo input (located on the unit’s top panel).
 With the  LED illuminated, you are 
monitoring the unit’s digital inputs (found on the 
unit’s rear).
Press once for 
D-IN 1 (the light will flash slowly), 
and press twice for 
D-IN 2 (the light will flash 
quickly).
TALKBACK Select
The TA L K B AC K key engages the Talkback mic 
located on the left side of the SX-1’s slanted front 
panel. Use the Talkback mic to communicate with 
musicians and other talent over the Studio outputs.
The 
TA L K B AC K key, together with the MONO and 
DIM leys, is a “smart” key. Press and release these 
keys briefly to latch them on and off. Press and hold them for longer before releasing to use them as non-
latching keys.
TIP
When the SHIFT key is held together with the 
TA L B A C K key, the TA L K B AC K key acts as a slate key.
Talkback Level  The TB LEVEL knob adjusts the 
volume of the Talkback mic. 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 23
Monitor Level
This LEVEL knob controls the volume of your Studio 
monitors.
SOLO Section
This section contains controls for the mixer’s Solo 
function. Pressing the 
SOLO key on the Master 
Fader engages the solo mode for the Channel Strip’s 
MUTE keys.
MODE Select The MODE key lets you choose 
how the SX-1s solo function will operate. There are 
three options:
 When the  LED is 
illuminated, the Pre-Fader solo feature is engaged. 
This lets you solo a source at its input, before it 
reaches a channel’s gain stages. The pre-fader output 
is sent out of the Solo buss.
 When the  LED is on, the 
In-Place solo feature is engaged. This feature allows 
a soloed signal to retain the same settings as heard in 
the main mix (this is accomplished by muting every-
thing going to the Master L/R buss except the soloed 
channel).
 In operating system (OS) Ver-
sion 1.0. when the 
 LED is on, 
the solo mode monitors signal directly after the fader 
(After Fader Level). Signal is fed to the Solo buss 
without effects. In future OS revisions, the User-
Defined feature will be expanded to include a num-
ber of enhancements.
Solo LEVEL This [level] knob controls the level of 
the Solo buss, and hence the volume of the Solo out-
put in PFL and AFL modes (pre-fader and after-fader 
levels).
HEADPHONES
This section contains level and source controls for 
the two separate headphone outputs found on the SX-
1’s top panel.
PHONES 1 The CTRL ROOM/ STUDIO key selects 
whether Headphone 1 receives the Control Room or 
Studio mix.
LEVEL 1 This LEVEL knob controls the volume for 
Headphone 1.
PHONES 2 This CTRL ROOM/ STUDIO key 
selects whether Headphone 2 receives the Control 
Room or Studio mix.
LEVEL 2 This LEVEL knob controls the volume for 
Headphone 2. 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
24 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
TRANSPORT SOLO
The keys in this section provide a way to globally 
solo individual components (like the HDR or the 
Sequencer) of your studio with a single button press.HDR Press HDR to hear just the hard disc recorder. 
All other audio inputs to the console will be muted.
SEQ Press SEQ to hear just the MIDI sequencer. 
The HDR tracks will be muted.
EXTERNAL Press EXTERNAL to hear an external 
device that is slaved and has its audio outputs con-
nected to the SX-1. 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 25
Chapter 4 – Metering & Indicators
Reading LED Meters
Master Meter Section
This section houses the main Time Code display, 
master L/R LED meters, and a variety of indicator 
LEDs illustrating the SX-1’s current state.
LED Time Code Display The Time Code dis-
play shows either hours:minutes:seconds:frames or 
bars:beats:ticks, feet:frames and samples.
Changing the Time Code Display’s readout can be 
done from the VGAs 
Main Menu Bar Time Code Display, 
or by holding the surface 
SHIFT key and pressing the 
MAIN DISPLAY button on the slanted front panel.
AUTO MODE These LED indicators reflect the 
SX-1’s current automation status.
 Indicates that automation will not be 
recorded.
 Indicates that the automation system is 
in Init Edit mode.
SYNC STATUS These LED indicators reflect the 
SX-1’s current synchronization state.
 Indicates that the SX-1 is chasing 
incoming Longitudinal Time Code (LTC).
 Shows that the SX-1 is chasing 
incoming MIDI Time Code (MTC).
 Indicates that the SX-1 is locked to 
incoming time code.
CLOCK These LED indicators reflect the SX-1’s 
current clock status.
 Indicates that the SX-1’s internal 
clock is the master clock source.
 Shows that incoming Word Clock is the 
master clock source.
 Shows that incoming video sync is the 
master clock source. 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
26 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
 Indicates that the digital input con-
nected to one of the rear digital input ports is the 
master clock source.
 Indicates that a device connected 
to an optional card installed in one of the Option 
Slots is the master clock source.
 Shows that incoming ADAT 
Optical (on the rear panel) is the master clock source.
SAMPLE RATE These LED indicators reflect the 
SX-1’s current sample rate.
 Indicates that the current sample rate is 
44.1 kHz.
 Indicates that the current sample rate is 
48 kHz.
 Shows that the current sample rate is one of the 
two high sample rate settings (88.1 kHz or 96 kHz). 
For example, at 88.2 kHz, both the 44.1kHz and 2X 
indicators will light. High sampling rates will be 
available in Version 2.
HDR RECORD These LED indicators reflect the 
Hard Disk Recorder’s resolution, input and record 
monitoring states.
 Indicates that the SX-1 is set to record at 
24-bit resolution.
 Shows that the All Input monitor 
mode is selected.
 Shows that the Auto Monitor 
mode is selected.
ACTIVITY These LED indicators display hard disk 
and MIDI activity.
 Indicates that the hard drive is accessing.
 Indicates the existence of incoming or outgo-
ing MIDI data. The actual operation depends on the 
MIDI LED setting on the LCD 
Preferences page.
Master Stereo Meter The Master Stereo Meter 
provides a visual cue of your master output buss. It is 
a 30-segment LED that goes from –60 to 0 dB and 
features peak LED indicators to show digital “overs.”
TIP
To see discrete meters for each mixer channel, go to the 
Overview screen by pressing OVERVIEW in the MAIN 
DISPLAY MODES
 section. 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 27
Chapter 5 – Selecting Screens
Screen Controls
You have a choice of using the onboard LCD or a 
connected VGA display as your main screen.
Main Display Key
The MAIN DISPLAY key selects between the SX-1’s 
onboard LCD screen or an external VGA monitor as 
your main display. The LCD always follows the 
selection keys in the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion.
To have an external VGA follow these keys, press 
MAIN DISPLAY and make the associated 
 LED light. The LED indicator set-
tings are as follows:
 When the  LED is illu-
minated, the screens recalled by the keys in the 
MAIN 
DISPLAY MODES
 section appear on the LCD . If an 
VGA screen is connected, its display will not follow 
the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE keys.
 When the  LED is on, 
the screens recalled by the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODES 
keys appear on both the LCD and the external VGA 
display at the same time.
TIP
VGA screens can also be changed, independently of the 
LCD, by pressing ALT and a number key on a connected 
PS/2 keyboard.
This option is available regardless of the 
MAIN 
DISPLAY
 key’s setting.
The LCD also has its own set of dedicated controls in the 
LCD ACCESS section.
Main Display Mode Section
The controls in this section recall different screens. 
These screens appear on both the LCD and a con-
nected VGA display (when the 
MAIN DISPLAY key 
is set to 
EXTERNAL).
TRACK The TRACK key recalls the TRACK screen, 
where tracks are created and edited.
MIXER The MIXER key recalls the MIXER screen, 
which shows a full console view on the VGA, along 
with a channel-at-once view on the LCD.
CHANNEL The CHANNEL key recalls the MIXER 
CHANNEL
 screen, which shows all of the parameters 
for a selected channel. 
						

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28 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
OVERVIEW The OVERVIEW key recalls the 
OVERVIEW screen, which can be used as a graphic 
meter bridge.
AUTOMATION/MIX The AUTO M AT IO N/ MI X 
key recalls the 
AUTOMATION screen, and pressing 
SHIFT+AUTOMATION/ MIX recalls the MIX screen.
MASTER/BURN The MASTER/ BURN key recalls 
the 
MASTER screen where backup CD-Rs can be cre-
ated and managed. 
EFFECTS The EFFECTS key recalls the EFFECTS 
screen, where plug-ins are assigned to the SX-1’s 
four effect quadrants.
ROUTING The ROUTING key recalls the ROUTING 
screen.
SETTINGS/PREFS The SETTINGS/ PREFS key 
recalls the 
SETTINGS screen which holds all of the con-
trols for clock reference, and pressing 
SHIFT + 
SETTINGS/ PREFS recalls the PREFERENCES screen 
where a number of other settings can be stored (such 
as meter ballistics).
PROJECT/BACKUP The PROJECT/ BACKUP 
key recalls the 
PROJECT screen, and pressing SHIFT + 
PROJECT/ BACKUP recalls the BACKUP screen.
TIP
The VGA screen can also be switched by pressing ALT 
and a number key on the PS/2 keyboard. This option is 
available regardless of the 
MAIN DISPLAY key’s 
setting.
View Menu
The VGA display’s menu bar also provides a View 
menu, which mirrors the hardware keys of the 
MAIN 
DISPLAY MODE
 section. Zoom commands are also 
available if you prefer an alternative to the click-and-
drag zoom method.
Screen Recall Commands Each command 
recalls its associated screen for the VGA. Explana-
tions of these screens are found in the relevant chap-
ters (such as, the 
Automation screen is found in the 
chapter that addresses automation, Chapter 12).
Zoom In Magnifies (zooms in) data horizontally, 
relative to time, on the 
TRACK and AUTOMATION 
screens, and “
Waveform” and Auto Track tab views.
Zoom Out Expands (zooms out) data horizontally, 
relative to time, on the 
TRACK and AUTOMATION 
screens, and 
Waveform and Auto Track tab views.
TIP
Another way of zooming in and out is the ALT + [ ] PS/2 
Keyboard command. Waveform height can also be 
changed with SHIFT+ALT+[ ].
Zoom All Zooms all the way out to show the entire 
project in the 
TRACK and AUTOMATION screens, and 
Waveform and Auto Track tab views.
Master Channel Recalls the Master stereo output 
CHANNEL screen. This command is identical to press-
ing 
CHANNEL from the MAIN DISPLAY MODE sec-
tion and then selecting the Master fader channel (by 
pressing its 
SEL key).
TIP
Each command’s associated PS/2 keyboard shortcut is 
listed in the menu (right after the command’s title). 
						

							Part II–Monitoring Signals and Selecting Screens
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 29
LCD ACCESS Section
The controls in this section recall screens for the SX-
1’s LCD display. Many of these screens reflect the 
tabs of the VGA screens (for example, the 
Track 
screen’s tabs).
DELAY/TRIM The DELAY/ TRIM key recalls the 
Delay/Trim screen, which houses individual channel 
delay and level trim controls.
GROUPS/LINKS The GROUPS/LINKS key recalls 
the 
Groups/Links screen, where fader groups and linked 
parameters and channels are managed.
BUSS ASSIGNMENT The BUSS ASSIGNMENT 
key recalls the 
Buss Assignment screen, which handles 
all buss routing for the console.
TIME/TEMPO The TIME/ TEMPO key recalls the 
Time/Tempo screen, where a project’s Tempo and met-
ronome settings may be modified.
WAVEFORM The WAVEFORM key recalls the 
Waveform screen, where a selected channel’s sample-
accurate waveforms can be viewed and edited on the 
LCD.
MIDI TRACK The MIDI TRACK key recalls the 
MIDI Track screen which contains a Piano Roll display.
EVENT LISTS The EVENT LISTS key recalls the 
Event Lists screen where individual events may be 
viewed and edited.
TRANSPORT The TRANSPORT key recalls the 
Transport screen where external devices are controlled, 
locate points are managed , and parameters like 
frame rate are set on the LCD.
LCD Screen
The onboard LCD provides access to all the neces-
sary operating screens. In situations where an exter-
nal VGA display is not available, the SX-1’s software components can be reached directly through 
the LCD. The LCD can also work in tandem with the 
VGA to provide a second display. 
						

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30 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
LCD Contrast This knob  adjusts the viewing 
angle and contrast of the LCD screen.
Soft Keys The functions of these keys change 
according to the current LCD screen.
MENU The MENU soft key is dedicated to turning 
the soft keys’ 
ACTIVE MENU on and off.
Soft Knobs The functions of these knobs change 
according to the current LCD screen.