Tascam Digital Audio Production Environment SX-1 Reference Manual

							Part III–Locate, Transport, & Surround
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 41
Chapter 8 – Surround
Setting Up Surround
The SX-1 has full surround mix capabilities. Switch-
ing from the default stereo mode of operation to a 
surround mode changes a number of screens and parameters. This chapter details these changes and 
explains how to select the surround mix mode that’s 
right for your project and setup.
Making the Change to Surround
Switching to surround can be done from both the 
VGA and the LCD screen.
From the VGA, go to the 
Global tab of the Tracks 
screen. Here, you will find a field labeled 
Surround Mode
. In this field you can choose the surround mode 
that matches your setup: 
Quad, LCRS Surround, or 5.1 
Surround
.
LCD Access to Surround
On the LCD there is a screen dedicated to choosing 
the surround mode. If you are not familiar with the 
speaker positions of the various surround modes, this 
screen presents a helpful illustration.To reach this screen, press the SETTINGS/ PREFS 
key in the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE section. Then, use 
the 
NEXT PAGE soft key to scroll to the SETTINGS screen 
labeled 
SURROUND. To change the surround mode, use 
the left and right arrow keys of the keypad.
Surround Modes Explained
5.1 Surround A panning/routing scenario where 
six speakers are used. Three speakers are positioned 
along the front wall, while two more are positioned 
along the back wall behind the mix position. In addi-
tion, there is also a subwoofer speaker. The five regu-
lar speakers refer to the “5” in 5.1, while the “.1” in 
the name refers to the subwoofer.
The speakers are labeled Left Front, Center, Right 
Front, Left Rear, Right Rear, and Boom (for the LFE/
subwoofer), and are normally arranged similarly to 
the setup on the LCD screen (pictured above).Quad A panning/routing scenario where four 
speakers are used. The speaker positions in Quad are 
basically the same as in 5.1, minus the center channel 
and subwoofer.
LCRS Surround A panning/routing scenario 
where four speakers are used. The speaker configura-
tion consists of three speakers on the front wall, with 
only one behind the mix position. “LCRS” refers to 
speakers arranged as Left, Right, Center, and Sur-
round. 
						

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42 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Understanding the Changes
VGA Channel
Several key adaptations are made to the mixer chan-
nels in order to accommodate the selected surround 
mode. These changes are reflected in both the 
Channel 
and the 
Mixer screens.On the 
Channel screen, the CONTROL and POSITION mod-
ules (pictured here) are updated. As well, on the 
Mixer 
screen, the pan and buss modules for each channel 
are also updated.
Surround Panner The Panner becomes a dot that 
can be pulled, using the mouse, in a 360 degree field. 
In traditional surround mixing for film, the center 
channel is reserved for dialog only. This ensures that 
the dialog is always easily understood, because no 
music or effects are sent to that channel. The 
Disable 
Center
 key removes the Center channel as a possible 
output (thus ensuring that none of your music or 
effects bleeds into your dialog channel). Once 
Disable 
Center
 is selected, the panning paradigm for the chan-
nel becomes Quad (with the exception that the Boom 
send still works).
There is a slider labeled 
Boom dB which is the send for 
the subwoofer or LFE (Low Frequency Extension). 
In theVGA 
Mixer channels, this slider resides immedi-
ately below the 
Surround Panner control.
The two sliders to the right and bottom of the pan 
field are for Vertical and Horizontal divergence. Taken individually, Vertical divergence sets the dis-
tance from the front speakers to the rear speakers, 
while Horizontal divergence sets the distance from 
side to side. It acts as if at a lower divergence setting 
you were physically moving the speakers closer 
together, and that at a higher setting you were physi-
cally moving the speakers further apart.
TIP
To illustrate this, set both the vertical and horizontal 
divergence to zero. You can pull the dot wherever you 
wish, but the actual signal moves nowhere.
Tracks Screen On the Tracks screen you’ll notice 
that the buss assignments are now surround mix bus-
ses. For example, the updated buss output assign-
ments for 5.1 Surround mode include the surround 
output, boom, and cue. 
						

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 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 43
Master Fader The Master Fader 
normally controls the output of the 
Master L/R Buss.
However, in surround the Master Fader 
controls the six surround mix busses. 
With all the surround busses ganged to 
the Master Fader, overall level can be 
controlled for stem recording and, if 
necessary, surround monitoring (for 
example, if you don’t have a dedicated 
surround monitoring box).
Mixdown Mode With Surround 
Mode enabled, Mixdown take names 
will reflect six tracks (or four for 
Quad). For example, the files of a 5.1 
Surround mixdown will have the fol-
lowing designations: 
FL (Front Left), FC 
(Front Center), 
FR (Front Right), RL 
(rear Left), 
RR (Rear Right), and BM 
(Boom). Mixdowns are partially man-
aged from the 
Global tab of the VGA 
Tracks screen (for more on mixing 
down, see “The SX-1 and Mixdown 
Mode” on page 170). 
						

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44 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Routing Surround Busses
The surround busses can be assigned to any available 
output (for example, an Option Slot, Aux Send jack, 
Control Room, Studio, SPDIF, etc.). 
All the routing pages and menus will update to 
reflect the currently selected Surround Mode. The 
image here shows how the Fader Bank Mixer Buss 
screen appears in 5.1 mode (notice there are 6 busses 
where there were previously 8 in stereo mode). The 
surround busses are also reflected on the LCD screen (pictured here). To reach this screen, with surround 
enabled, press 
OVERVIEW and then the BUSS softkey. 
						

							 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 45
Part IV–Mixer Controls
Chapter 9 – Channel Control
Front Panel
Channel Strips
There are 16 Channel 
Strips, each with its 
own fader and asso-
ciated control keys. 
The Channel Strips 
are fully assignable, 
allowing them con-
trol over any of the 
mixer’s 40 inputs as 
well as groups, mas-
ter faders, MIDI 
tracks, and busses.
Channel Fader 
Fader for controlling 
the channel’s level. 
The SX-1’s faders 
are motorized and 
touch-sensitive for 
dynamic automation.
REC Use this key to 
arm a track for 
recording. This can 
be an HDR or a 
MIDI track, depend-
ing on what the strip 
is assigned to.
SEL The SEL key 
selects the mixer 
channel for editing of 
its individual parameters (such as, EQ, effects, and 
automation).
MUTE The MUTE key works either as a channel 
mute or a solo button. If the 
SOLO key on the Master 
Fader is not lit, then the 
MUTE key mutes the chan-
nel. If the 
SOLO key on the master fader is depressed 
(and glowing red), the 
MUTE key solos the channel 
(the Master Fader 
SOLO key is described here).
 The  LED indicators glow solid 
red to show Write automation Ready. They blink red 
when writing automation data for their associated 
channel strip.
 The  LEDs light green to 
indicate that a signal is present at the channel’s input 
and red on peaks.
NOTE
When turning on the SX-1, the faders move as they are 
automatically calibrated. Make sure that nothing is rest-
ing on the surface, and that the faders are free to per-
form their “fader dance” as the SX-1 starts up.
Master Channel There is one Master Channel for 
controlling the mixer’s main stereo output. The Mas-
ter Channel’s keys also dictate how the Channel 
Strips’ associated keys and the Virtual Channel Strip 
will function.
Master Fader The Master Fader controls the level 
for the master stereo buss output (and the busses in 
surround modes).
TIP
The Master Fader Channel screen can be recalled on the 
VGA or LCD by pressing the 
CHANNEL key (from the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE section). Then select the Mas-
ter Fader by pressing its 
SEL key.
ALL SAFE Use the ALL SAFE key to disable the 
REC key on all channels. This prevents the record 
arming of audio and MIDI tracks.
TIP
The All Safe mode here refers to the recorder, and is not 
to be confused with the All Safe automation mode 
(“Automation” on page 80). This recorder All Safe 
mode is ideal for safeguarding a project from accidental 
erasures and changes.
SEL This SEL key selects the Master Fader channel 
for editing of its individual parameters (such as, EQ, 
effects, and automation).
SOLO The SOLO key determines the mode of the 
channel strips’ 
MUTE keys. When depressed, the key 
lights red to show that the Solo mode is active. This 
causes the 
MUTE keys to function as solo keys. 
						

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46 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
 This LED indicator lights solid red to 
show Write automation ready for the Master Fader. It 
blinks red when writing automation data for the Mas-
ter Fader.
Virtual Channel
The Virtual Channel is the horizontal row of 16 
knobs (called “virtual pots”) above the Channel 
Strips.
Virtual Pots These pots are multi-function, infi-
nitely rotating controls. They serve as the channels’ 
pan pots, EQ controls, Aux sends, or pan pots for the 
cue mix. They are surrounded by a ring of LEDs 
which indicate their current setting. For example, a 
pan pot that is hard left will have its far left LED illu-
minated, or an AUX send that is full open will have all of its LEDs lit. The virtual pots’ functions are 
determined by the 
VIRTUAL CHANNEL/ PAN and 
CUE key settings.
VIRTUAL CHANNEL/PAN The VIRTUAL 
CHANNEL/ PAN
 key determines whether the virtual 
pots will function as EQ, Aux Sends, and a pan pot 
for the selected Channel Strip (the channel whose 
SEL key is active), or as individual pan pots for each 
of the 16 Channel Strips.
CUE The CUE key enables each Channel Strip to 
control its respective channel’s cue mix. When 
CUE 
is illuminated, the faders control the channels’ cue send levels, and each channel’s associated virtual pot 
controls the cue mix pannings.
VIRTUAL CHANNEL ON (the key is lit)
1/17 2/18 3/19 4/20 5/21 6/22 7/23 8/24 9/25 10/26 11/27 12/28 13/29 14/30 15/31 16/32
Low 
GainLow 
Fr eqLow Q  Mid 
GainMid 
Fr eqMid Q High 
GainHigh 
Fr eqHigh Q Aux 
Send 1Aux 
Send 2Aux 
Send 3Aux 
Send 4Aux 
Send 5Aux 
Send 6Pan
PAN ON (the key is unlit)
1/17 2/18 3/19 4/20 5/21 6/22 7/23 8/24 9/25 10/26 11/27 12/28 13/29 14/30 15/31 16/32
Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan Pan 
						

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 47
Screen Control (VGA Channel Display)
Press the CHANNEL key in the MAIN DISPLAY 
MODE
 section to recall the Channel screen. The mixer 
channel displayed is determined by the Channel 
Strip’s 
SEL key. The Channel display provides 
onscreen access and control of all the selected chan-
nel’s features in a single display.
CONTROL  The CONTROL module contains the 
selected channel’s basic level, routing, bussing, and 
monitoring controls. It is also possible to select a 
channel for display directly from within this module.
Channel Select Click on the  next to the channel 
name (top left corner) to access a pop-up window of 
all the mixer’s channels, groups, returns, and sends. Select the channel you want to see and the entire 
Channel screen will update to show that selection.
+/- keys Click on the +/- keys to step through the 
mixer’s channels, groups, returns, and sends one at a 
time.
TIP
The Channel Select field and +/- keys have the same effect 
as actually pressing the 
SEL key on a Channel Strip.
RECORD The RECORD enable key is identical to the 
REC enable key on a Channel Strip.
MUTE The MUTE key is identical to the MUTE key on 
a Channel Strip.
SOLO The SOLO key solos the selected channel. It 
works the same way as a Channel Strip’s 
MUTE key 
does in solo mode.
EQ —> DYN Press this key to toggle the order of the 
selected channel’s EQ and dynamics setup. The 
choices are EQ pre- or post- the dynamics 
processing.
1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 These keys assign the selected 
channel to the 8 busses. 
						

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48 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
CUE Press this key to assign the selected channel to 
the Cue buss.
L/R Press this key to send the selected channel to the 
master stereo buss out.
LINK The LINK key allows the selected channel to be 
ganged with an adjacent channel (the next even chan-
nel if the selected channel is odd, and the previous 
odd channel if the selected channel is even) for stereo 
operation. Right-click on the key and select which 
functions are linked (aux send, dynamics, EQ, faders, 
trim/delay, stereo pan, and cue pan).
FX INSERT Use this key to enable or disable one of 
the SX-1’s eight inserts. Right-click on the key’s 
arrow to select or configure an insert source.
Main This onscreen fader mirrors the selected chan-
nel’s physical fader.
Cue This onscreen fader mirrors the selected chan-
nel’s physical fader for its cue level.
TIP
Exact numerical values can be entered directly into the 
text field above the 
Main and Cue faders. Click once in 
the field to highlight the text, then enter a value using 
the PS/2 keyboard’s number keys and press “enter” to 
set the value.
POSITION The POSITION module determines the 
channel’s position in the stereo (or surround) field.
Phase This button reverses the selected channel’s 
phase by 180º.
Trim dB Use this fader to trim the selected channel’s 
audio ±20 dB.
Delay Samples Use this fader to delay the selected 
channel’s audio by a set number of samples (up to 
8191 samples).
Pan This fader mirrors the selected channel’s physi-
cal pan pot.
Cue Pan This fader mirrors the selected channel’s 
Cue mix pan pot.
GROUPS The GROUPS module gives you direct 
access to the selected channel’s associated fader 
groups.
Master This window displays the master fader asso-
ciated with the selected channel.
Add Press the  key (under either the Master or the 
Slaves windows) to add a fader to its associated group.
DISSOLVE Dissolves the group when the Master 
channel is selected.
Slaves This window displays the slave faders associ-
ated with the selected channel and its Master fader.
AUX SEND The AUX SEND module houses controls 
for all six of the channel’s aux sends.
Keys 1 to 6 These keys enable or disable, the 
selected channel’s aux sends.
PRE/POST The PRE/POST keys select whether their 
associated aux sends will operate before (pre) or after 
(post) the selected mixer channel’s fader level.
Faders These faders mirror the Virtual Channel’s 
Aux Send pots and the 
Mixer screen’s Aux faders. 
						

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 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 49
EQ The EQ module houses the selected Channel 
Strip’s controls for all three bands of equalization. 
The faders mirror the Virtual Channel’s EQ pots.
BYPASS Press this key to turn the EQ module on and 
off for the selected channel.
LIBRARY Use this key to display the EQ Library. For 
example, if the 
LIBRARY window currently shows the 
Dynamics Library, pressing this key will override 
that display and recall the EQ Library instead.
HIGH, MID, & LOW dB These faders provide gain 
(±15 dB) control for their respective EQ bands.
HIGH, MID, & LOW Hz These faders control the 
center frequency of the EQ bell (20 Hz to 20 kHz).
HIGH, MID, & LOW Q These faders control the 
width of the EQ bell curve (these values are 
expressed in semitones here, although the LCD 
CHANNEL screen also provides the traditional Q value). 
They are only active with the Parametric and Notch 
EQ curves.
BYP These keys bypass their associated EQ band 
(not the entire EQ module).
Curve Key For each EQ band, you have a choice of 
Parametric, Notch, Low Pass, High Pass, Low Shelf, 
and High Shelf curves. Click on the keys immedi-
ately below each 
BYP key to select from a menu of 
these curves.
DYNAMICS The DYNAMICS module houses the 
dynamics controls for the selected channel. Several 
of these controls mirror the LCD 
MIXER CHANNEL 
screen for the 
AUX DYN settings.
There are three different types of dynamics proces-
sors available to each mixer channel (all 40 inputs). 
These are: Compressor, Expander, and Gate (all of 
which are pictured here). One of these processors can 
be used at a time, per channel. Click on the key 
where the dynamics processor’s name appears (either 
COMP, EXP, or GATE) to select the processor you want to 
use. 
						

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50 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Compressor & Expander The following 
parameters apply to both the Compressor and the 
Expander. The only difference is that compression 
limits levels above the threshold setting while expan-
sion lowers levels below the threshold setting.
Gain dB Use this fader to adjust the selected chan-
nel’s gain (±20 dB) post dynamics processing.
Ratio This fader adjusts the compression ratio (from 
1:1 to infinite). For example, with a setting of 4:1, for 
every 4 dB of input gain above the threshold, 1 dB of 
gain is output.
Threshold dB Use this fader to set the threshold at 
which the dynamics processing is active.
Attack ms This fader sets the attack time (0 to 125 
ms) for the dynamics processor. Higher values pro-
duce slower attack times, thus allowing more of the 
transient through.
Release ms This fader sets the release time (1 to 
5000 ms) for the dynamics processor.
TIP
To gain control of the DYNAMICS module’s faders via the 
LCD’s soft knobs, recall the LCD’s 
MIXER CHANNEL press 
CHANNEL in the MAIN DISPLAY MODE SECTION. 
Then press the 
AUX DYN soft key to reach the AUX DYN 
control screen.
BYPASS Press this key to turn dynamics processing 
on and off for the selected channel.
Gate The following three parameters are unique to 
the gate algorithm:
Rge dB This slider determines the range of the gate, 
which is the amount of attenuation when the gate 
closes. The default is –30 dB, but the range is from 0 
to –60 dB.
Hold ms Determines the duration that the gate will 
remain open without being re-triggered.
Hyst dB Short for Hysteresis, this parameter pro-
vides a way of fine-tuning the clamping action of the 
gate. The higher the value, the less “gate chatter”, 
which often happens with gates as the input signal 
remains very close to the gate threshold.
COMP Use this key to select the type of dynamics 
processing you want on the selected channel: com-
pressor, expander, or gate. The key’s label changes 
according to the selection. Use your mouse to click 
on the key and bring up the dynamics menu.
MAKEUP Use this key to compensate for level lost 
during compression.
SELF This key selects a trigger source for the selected 
channel’s dynamics processor (the audio signal that 
dictates how the dynamics will behave). The selec-
tions are: 
Self, Side, or Both.
Self This setting uses the selected channel’s audio 
to trigger the dynamics processor. It is the default 
setting.
Side This setting uses an adjacent channel’s (the 
channel that would be part of a linked pair—see 
“Links” on page 69) audio to trigger the dynamics 
processor. This is commonly referred to as a “side-
chain”. It is important to note that while the dynam-
ics processor’s input is being controlled by the other 
channel in this case, the selected channel’s audio is 
the one affected by the processing.
Both This setting uses the audio from both chan-
nels to trigger the dynamics processor. The effect is 
like having a linked pair strapped to one compressor 
setting, with the exception that the audio from the 
channel providing the “Side” input is not affected.
LIBRARY Use this key to display the Dynamics 
Library. For example, If the 
LIBRARY window cur-
rently shows the EQ Library, pressing this key will 
override that display and recall the Dynamics Library 
instead.