Tascam Digital Audio Production Environment SX-1 Reference Manual

							Part IV–Mixer Controls
 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 51
LCD Channel Display
This screen’s functions parallel the VGA Channel 
screen. Many of the controls found on this screen are 
identical to the controls found in the VGA 
Channel 
screen’s modules as explained on the previous pages. 
Only those controls that are unique to this LCD 
screen are explained here.
Pressing either the 
MIXER/ USER BANKS keys in 
the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE section of the front panel 
recalls the 
MIXER CHANNEL screen. Pressing the 
CHANNEL key recalls the dynamics processor 
screen.
EQ INPUT Press this button to recall the controls 
for the selected channel’s EQ, trim, pan, and delay.
AUX DYN Press this button to recall the controls 
for the selected channel’s dynamics, aux sends 1 
through 6, and cue pan (pictured above).
DYN This button opens the selected 
channel’s 
Dynamics dialog:
TYPE/COMP Use this button to select 
the type of dynamics processing you 
want on the selected channel: compres-
sor, expander, or gate.
MAKEUP/AUTO Use this button to 
compensate for level lost during 
compression.
TRIG SELF Use this button to select a trigger source 
for the selected channel’s dynamics processor (the 
audio signal that dictates how the dynamics will 
behave). The selections are: Self, Side, or Both.
Aux ON/OFF This button opens the 
selected channel’s Aux On/Off dialog:
AUX1/On to AUX6/On These buttons 
turn their respective aux sends, for the 
selected channel, on and off.
AUX Pre/Post This button opens the 
selected channel’s 
Aux Pre/Post dialog:
AUX1/Pre to AUX6/Pre These buttons 
toggle the aux sends for the selected 
channel pre- or post-fader.
Links This key opens the selected chan-
nel’s 
Link dialog, where you can choose 
which of the channel’s parts are ganged 
together when a pair of channels is 
linked:
AUX Turns the Aux Sends link feature 
on and off.
DYN Turns the Dynamics link feature on 
and off.
EQ Turns the EQ link feature on and off.
FADER Turns the Fader link feature on 
and off.
TR/DL Turns the Trim/Delay link feature on and off.
PA N  Turns the Stereo Pan link feature on and off.
CUE/Rev Turns the Cue Pan link feature on and off 
and lets you select how the link pan controls will 
operate. There are three settings: 
Mono (the pan con-
trols operate independently), 
Position/Width (one pan 
knob controls the channels’ pan position while the 
other pan knob controls the width of the channels’ 
stereo pan field), or 
Reverse (the pans are reversed rel-
ative to each other).
CHAN/LINK Turns the channel linking feature on 
and off. That is, it makes or breaks the link to the 
adjacent channel. 
						

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Buss Routing This button opens the 
selected channel’s Buss Routing dialog:
1-2 to 7-8 Use these buttons to send sig-
nals from the selected channel to busses 
1-8.
CUE Use this button to send signal from 
the selected channel to the Cue buss.
ST Use this button to send signal from 
the selected channel to the Master stereo 
buss.
INPUT button This menu houses the controls for 
phase polarity and EQ/dynamics order.
INSERT button This menu houses the controls for 
switching the insert on and off, insert number and 
point selection.
TRIM/CH DELAY Screen Trim and channel 
delay controls are available from the LCD. The trim 
controls are different from the pre-mixer channel 
input trim controls found on the top of the SX-1. 
These trim controls allow you to adjust the level of 
mixer channels from –20 to +20 dB before it reaches the fader. The delay function lets you delay individ-
ual channels from 0 to 8191 samples. On the VGA, 
the trim and delay controls are found on the 
POSITION 
module of the 
Channel screen.
To reach this screen, press the 
DELAY/ TRIM key in 
the 
LCD ACCESS section. To reach a channel, press 
the soft key next to the Trim or Delay group that the 
channel belongs to. To select a channel for editing, 
use the keypad’s up/down arrow keys.
COPY TO ALL Use this key to copy the delay and 
trim settings of the currently selected channel to all 
of the mixer’s channels. 
						

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 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 53
EQ, Dynamics and Scene Libraries - The Library Feature
A Library feature is available for saving your custom 
EQ and Dynamics setups (the Library also works for 
saving routing configurations, among other things—
Library information is covered after each relevant 
section). Dedicated LCD and VGA screens are avail-able for accessing this feature. You can press the 
LIBRARY buttons in the VGA CHANNEL display or the 
hardware keys in the 
LIBRARY section to reach the 
LCD screens.
VGA Displays
This window is part of the Channel screen. Here you 
can create, edit and store EQ and Dynamics channel 
settings.
Library The Library window lists the EQ or Dynam-
ics currently available library settings.
Name The name of the currently selected library 
entry appears in this text field. Click once in the text 
field to highlight and change it. Type in a new name 
and press [ENTER] from the PS/2 keyboard.
Notes Each library setting can have important com-
mentaries saved along with the preset. These notes 
can be edited at any time from the PS/2 keyboard.
IMPORT This key lets you import a library setting 
from another project. Press 
IMPORT and browse 
through the available projects listed in the 
Import 
Project
 window. Select the library file you want to 
import and press 
OK (or CANCEL to escape the action).
TIP
If you press IMPORT and don’t see any project files in the 
Import Project window, be sure the proper hard drive (the 
drive where your project files are stored) is selected in 
the 
Import Volume menu.
LCD Displays
There are several Library screens to address the 
many functions that can have their discrete parame-
ters stored and recalled. The Dynamics (shown 
below) and EQ Library screens are shown in the 
VGA’s 
Channel screen and can be recalled on the LCD 
via the 
EQ and DY N keys in the LIBRARY section 
(on the front panel).
DYNAMICS LIBRARY From the LIBRARY sec-
tion, press the 
DY N key to recall the DYNAMICS LIBRARY LCD screen. This screen’s function parallels the 
Channel screen’s Dynamics Library module on the VGA. 
						

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54 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
IMPORT Opens the IMPORT screen. From here you 
can import the settings of the dynamics (or EQ, if 
you are on that screen) from another project, to your 
current project.COMPARE Compares the channel’s current EQ or 
dynamics state to the last loaded (or saved) version.
TRANS TIME The amount of time it takes for 
parameters to move from their current state to the 
settings of a library preset that has just been recalled.
Scene library
In addition to being to save multiple mixes with a 
project, you can also save Scenes, or “snapshots,” of 
the mixer’s current state. A Scene includes all of a channel’s controllers, buss assignments, and effect 
plug-in settings. 
VGA Scene Tab
From the AUTOMATION screen, click on the Scene tab. 
Here, you can name, save, and recall scenes.
Library In this window, you can see the scenes that 
are associated with your current project. Highlight a 
scene and press 
RECALL to load the scene, or DELETE to 
remove the scene from the list. Type directly into the 
name field to rename the scene library entry. 
NEW Press this key to save the mixer’s current state 
as a scene. Use the 
Name field to edit the scene’s 
name.
IMPORT This key lets you import a scene setting 
from another project. Press 
IMPORT and browse 
through the available projects listed in the 
Import 
Project
 window. Select the scene file you want to 
import and press 
OK (or CANCEL to escape the action).
COMPARE Compares the mixer’s current scene to 
the last loaded (or saved) scene. 
						

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LCD SCENE LIBRARY Screen
The SCENE LIBRARY screen mirrors the Scene tab of the 
AUTOMATION screen. Most of the parameters found on 
this screen are identical to the parameters found in 
the 
SCENE LIBRARY automation tab and are explained 
on the previous pages. Only those parameters that are 
unique to this LCD screen are explained here.From the 
LIBRARY section, press the SCENE key, 
and then the 
LIBRARY soft key.
TRANS TIME The amount of time it takes to move 
from the mixer’s current scene to a scene that has just 
been recalled.
IMPORT Recalls the screen where you can import 
scenes from other projects.
Commands include:
SELECT Selects the scene you want to import.
SEL ALL Selects all the scenes associated with the 
project highlighted in the 
PROJECT window.
SEL NONE If any scenes are selected, pressing this 
key de-selects all of them.
SELECT VOLUME Select a mounted storage drive 
from which to view a project’s associated scenes.
SELECT PROJECT Select a project from which to 
import scenes. 
						

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56 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual
Chapter 10 – Library Overview
Understanding the Library Feature
The SX-1 has five different libraries for saving five 
different types of settings: routings, scenes, EQ, 
dynamics, and effects. Each of these categories can have their unique parameters saved as a preset for 
later recall.
Library Section
The keys in this section are for saving and recalling 
Library presets. The top five keys recall an associ-
ated LCD screen, and the bottom five keys provide 
functionality.
TIP
Before saving a library preset, you must first press one 
of the top five keys. This tells the SX-1 what type of 
library preset you want to save. After pressing 
STORE, 
a prompt to give the preset a patch number will appear 
on the LCD screen. Type a number on the kKeypad and 
press 
ENTER.
ROUTING This key recalls the ROUTING library 
screen from which you can name, store, and recall 
the mixer’s patch setups.
SCENE This key recalls the SCENE library screen 
from which you can name, store, and recall mixer 
Scenes.
EQ This key recalls the EQ library screen from which 
you can name, store, and recall the mixer’s EQ set-
ups.
DYN This key recalls the DYNAMICS library screen 
from which you can name, store, and recall the 
mixer’s dynamics setups.
FX This key recalls the EFFECTS library screen from 
which you can name, store, and recall effects 
patches.
STORE With the LIBRARY screen open to the type of 
library you want to save, press 
STORE to save a pre-
set of the mixer’s current settings for that feature.
RECALL With the LIBRARY screen open to the type of 
library you want to recall, press 
RECALL to load the 
selected (highlighted) preset.
PREV Press to recall the last preset in the currently 
open Library screen.
NEXT Press to recall the next preset in the currently 
open Library screen.
COMPARE Compares a current set of parameters 
with the last loaded (or saved) set of like parameters. 
						

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 TASCAM SX-1 Reference Manual 57
Chapter 11 – Routing & Bussing
Working With the SX-1’s Routing Pages
The SX-1 has a very extensive routing matrix, with 
the native ability to send signals a number of differ-
ent places. As such, it is important to understand how to route audio using the VGA and LCD Routing win-
dows.
The philosophy
Understanding how to route signals on the SX1 can 
take a moment to understand, because the machine 
has tremendous capabilities in this area. The poten-
tial for confusion lies in the fact that the unit can sep-
arate its physical I/O from their default routings.
What this means is that inputs and outputs can be 
used for various purposes, not only the ones they are 
labeled with or assigned to by default. For example, 
although there are four jacks on the top panel labeled 
AU X OU Ts 1-4, these jacks can serve other purposes. 
There is no reason that the jack labeled 
AUX OU T 1 
could not send out Direct Out 12, or Buss 1 Out, or 
Mixer Bypass 1 Out, or any number of other sources. This means that you can use any combination of rele-
vant I/O to solve a number of different tasks, includ-
ing creating an external insert (which will be 
discussed in a moment). As well, you could send the 
same signal to a number of different outputs, or cre-
ate different monitor mixes, by using the aux outs in 
combination with the stereo outs, ADAT I/O or the 
expansion slots. 
The possibilities are extensive, and the fact that you 
can store any routing configuration as a preset means 
you can manage your I/O effectively.
VGA Routing Displays
In the MAIN DISPLAY MODE area, press the 
ROUTING key to recall the ROUTING VGA screen.
Panel Routing To reach this tab, first press the 
ROUTING key in the MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion. Then click on the 
Panel Routing tab. This tab con-
tains both the pre- and post-mixer patch bay. From 
this screen you can route any of the SX-1’s physical inputs to the mixer’s 32 inputs, 8 returns, or 8 inserts. 
In this tab, you can also give your analog inputs cus-
tom names. 
						

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Category Selects between viewing the routings 
for: 
Analog Inputs, Outputs, Digital I/O, and Option Slots 1-3.
Input User Name Use this field to type in a cus-
tom name for the input. This feature is useful if you 
leave the same device plugged into an input all the 
time, or to remind yourself of devices that were con-
nected to the SX-1 when returning to a previous mix.
Destination Selects the input’s routing 
destination.
Mixer Routing To reach this tab, press the 
ROUTING key in the MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion. Then click on the 
Mixer Routing tab. This is the 
mixer patch bay. Use this tab to route sources to and 
from the mixer’s channels.
Category Selects between viewing the routings 
for: 
Input Channels, Aux Returns, Direct Outs, Bypass, 
Loopback, and Busses.
TIP
The Bypass and Loopback categories allow you to route 
16 channels each without actually using up a mixer 
channel. Mixer Bypass routes 16 channels from the pre-
patchbay to the post- patchbay, and Mixer Loopback 
routes 16 channels from the post-patchbay back to the 
pre-patchbay—without using up a channel strip. For 
example, use Bypass to go from an analog input directly 
to an analog output. Or, use Loopback to go directly 
out of a channel and back into a return, without using 
up a mixer channel strip.
Source Selects the input’s feed.
Before we continue, a word about mixer Bypass and Loopback
Sometimes it is desirable to route signals directly 
from inputs to outputs, or directly from outputs to 
inputs. Mixer Bypass and Loopback accomplish 
these tasks, by providing audio streams outside of the 
normal mixing console environment.
Mixer Bypass can send up to 16 channels directly 
from an input to an output, without using up a mixer 
channel – hence the name “Bypass”. Mixer Loop-
back can send up to 16 channels directly from an out-
put to an input (thus loopback), again eliminating the 
need for a channel to do this. This might come in 
handy if you were using all of the available channels 
for inputs, but still needed to plug in a microphone 
and send the signal to an external recorder. In that 
case, you could use Bypass to route the signal 
directly from the input to a specified output con-
nected to your external recorder.
HDR Routing To reach this tab, press the 
ROUTING key in the MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion. Then click on the 
HDR Routing tab. This is where 
the SX-1’s Hard Disk Recorder tracks are patched 
and routed (along with the actual slots on the Track screen). HDR Inputs and outputs are handled from 
this tab.
Take Name Displays the name of the HDR tracks’ 
currently loaded Take.
Effects Routing To reach this tab, press the 
ROUTING key in the MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion. Then click on the 
Effects Routing tab. This tab (as 
well as the VGA 
Effects screen) is where you route the 
SX-1’s internal effects.
Plugin Name Displays the name of the effect 
plug-in that is selected for that quadrant on the 
Effects 
screen.
TIP
You must first assign an effect to one of the four effect 
quadrants on the “Effects” screen before a plug-in will 
appear on this tab. 
						

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Insert Presets To reach this tab, press the 
ROUTING key in the MAIN DISPLAY MODES sec-
tion. Then click on the 
Insert Presets tab. From this tab, 
you configure the routing for the mixer’s effect 
inserts. You can have up to eight possible insert 
effect presets spread across any of the mixer’s 32 full 
featured channels, as well as the 8 mix busses and 
Master L/R buss.
Insert Send This field determines where the insert 
send goes. Notice that external ports are available, 
making external inserts possible.
User Name Use this field to name your insert 
preset.
Insert Receive This field determines where the 
insert’s return is coming from (see “Routing Effects 
Screens” on page 107 for instructions on routing 
effects).
LCD Routing Displays
On the LCD, there is a set of Routing screens that 
parallel the VGA Routing tabs. Press the 
ROUTING 
key in the 
MAIN DISPLAY MODE section to reach these 
screens. These routing screen choices are listed here.
ANALOG IN
ANALOG OUT
DIGITAL IN
DIGITAL OUT
OPTION CARD IN 1
OPTION CARD IN 2
OPTION CARD IN 3
OPTION CARD OUT 1
OPTION CARD OUT 2OPTION CARD OUT 3
MIXER IN
DIRECT OUT
BYPASS
LOOP BACK
BUSSES
HDR
EFFECTS
INSERT
TIP
To learn the functions of the individual routing screens, 
see the definitions for the VGA equivalent tabs. These 
are covered on the preceding pages.
Inserts – how they work and how to route them
The SX1 has eight inserts that can be used across the 
entire mixing console. Each of the 32 inputs has an 
insert point, as well as the 8 return channels and the 
master L/R buss. Unlike a great many other digital 
consoles, the inserts can be external as well as inter-
nal, meaning you can physically strap that pair of 
1176’s or BA6A’s across the stereo buss if you want.
The eight inserts are completely separate from one 
another, meaning that Insert 1 can be an internal effect processor, while Insert 2 could be an external 
EQ.
Essentially, you can configure eight separate inserts, 
and choose where they are applied on the Mixer and 
Channel pages. You can remember how this works 
by imagining eight mono effects units that you have 
configured. This adds powerful functionality to the 
SX1’s routing abilities. 
						

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VGA
If you navigate to the Insert Preset tab on the VGA 
ROUTING screen, you’ll see this:
The three fields for each insert show 
Insert Send, Insert 
Name
, and Insert Receive. The Insert Send field determines 
where the Insert gets its input from, as the 
Insert 
Receive
 determines where it sends its output. These 
fields DO NOT determine which channel the insert is 
applied to (that happens on the Mixer or Channel 
pages), they only set the I/O for the Insert itself.
Here are two examples that will help to explain the 
behavior of the Inserts:
External Effects Insert With an external com-
pressor handy, plug a cable from the Aux 1 output on 
the top of the SX1 to the input of your compressor, 
and plug the output of the compressor to Input 1 on 
the SX1’s top panel. In the 
Insert Send field, select 
Analog Aux Out 1, and in the Insert Receive field select 
Analog Input 1. If this Insert were inserted on Mixer 
Channel 1, the result would be the following: signal 
from channel 1 would be sent out the Insert (via the Aux 1 jack) to the input of the compressor. Output 
from the compressor would be returned to Analog 
Input 1, and thus back to Mixer channel 1 via the 
Insert Receive. 
Internal Effects Insert With the TASCAM 
Delay plug-in loaded into Quadrant 1, choose Effects 
Input 1-1 as the 
Insert Send. Choose Effects Output 1-1 
as the 
Insert Receive. The Insert Send field will now dis-
play 
TASCAM Delay Left, and the Insert Receive field will 
display 
TASCAM Delay Left as well. This means that if 
Insert 1 was inserted on Mixer channel 1, the follow-
ing would happen: signal from Channel 1 would be 
sent out to the TASCAM Delay input. Signal would 
pass through the delay and be sent to the output of 
the Delay, and then it would be returned to Mixer 
Channel 1 via Insert 1’s return.