Tascam Digital Mixing Console TM-D4000 Owners Manual

							14 - Specifications, etc.
14–8
14.8 Screen details
The following is a list of screens (sorted alphabeti-
cally by screen name) that appear, together with their functions, and the principal places in this manual 
where they are described:
Screen nameKey to access the 
screenWhat can be done using this 
screenMain description
ASSIGNASSIGNAssignment of modules and input chan-
nels to busses (or surround busses)4.4, “Channel-to-buss assign-
ments”
AUTOMATION 
SETUPAUTOMATION 
SETUPSetup of various automation parameters In automation guide
AUXn (1 througb 
6)AUX1 through 
AUX6
Levels of Aux sends (and pan settings, in 
the case of linked stereo sends)4.5, “Aux sends”
CASCADE
DIGITAL I/O key 
(alternates with 
above two screens)Allows control of cascade parameters 
when TM-D4000s are linked together11, “Cascade”
CLOCK
DIGITAL I/O key 
(alternates with 
screen above and 
following screen)Word clock selection and checking 3.2, “CLOCK setup”
DELAYDELAYSets delay for output busses, individually 
or together4.11, “Buss delay”
DUMP (MIDI Sys-
tem Exclusive 
Dumps)MIDI/MC key 
(alternates with 
above two screens)Storing and recall of library entries, etc. 
on remote MIDI devices8, “Library functions” and 10.2, 
“MIDI data dumps”
DYNAMICS
Module SEL key, 
then 
DYNAMICS 
(mixer section)Sets parameters of dynamics processor 
for selected channel4.6, “Dynamics processor set-
tings”
DYNAMICS 
LIB
 (dynamics 
library)DYNAMICS key 
(in library section)Manages dynamics library entries 8.2, “Other libraries”
EFFECTEFFECT key (in 
mixing section)Makes settings for internal effect proces-
sor (parameters vary depending on pro-
cessor effect type)7.2, “Effect types”
EFFECT LIB 
(effect processor 
library)EFFECT key (in 
library section)Manages effect processor setting library 
entries7.2, “Effect types” 
						

							14 - Specifications, etc.
14–9
EQ LIBRARYEQ key (in library 
section)Manages EQ library entries 8.2, “Other libraries”
EXTERNAL 
CTRL
 (external 
control)EXT CTRL
Controls external devices (the appear-
ance and functionality will change 
according to the device being controlled)9, “Machine Control”
FADER 
POSITIONFADER 
POSITIONShows fader position for all modules or 
all buss masters and Aux sends (also 
provide s buss and Aux send meters)4.10, “Checking fader and cut 
status”
GROUPINGGROUPING keyAllows fader group and cut group assign-
ments to be made4.9, “Fader and cut groups”
I/O SETUP
DIGITAL I/O key 
(alternates with fol-
lowing two screens)Digital input assignments, etc. 3.1, “I/O setup”
MACHINE 
CTRL
 (machine 
control)
MIDI/MC key 
(alternates with 
screen above and 
following screen)Selection and setup of remote devices to 
be controlled by the TM-D40009.1, “Selecting devices for con-
trol”
MODULE (EQ/
AUX/PAN
)Module 
SEL key 
(alternates with 
screen below)Sets parameters of EQ, pan and Aux 
send levels4, “Module operations”
MODULE (EQ/
DYN
)Module SEL key 
(alternates with 
screenabove)Sets parameters of EQ and dynamics 
processor4, “Module operations”
PAD/FPAD/F keySets the digital pad and the phase for 
input modules4.8, “Pad and phase(F)”
PAN/BAL (pan/
balance)PAN/BAL keySets the pan and balance for many mod-
ules on one screen4.7, “Pan and balance”
SETUP
OPTION key 
(alternates with fol-
lowing two screens)General setup parameters, oscillator, 
etc.3.3, “Option setup”
SETUP (MIDI and 
Machine control)MIDI/MC key 
(alternates with fol-
lowing two screens)Sets MIDI and basic machine control 
options10.1, “MIDI settings” and 9.2, 
“General parameters”
Screen nameKey to access the 
screenWhat can be done using this 
screenMain description 
						

							14 - Specifications, etc.
14–10
SNAPSHOT 
LIB
 (snapshot 
library)SNAPSHOT keyManages snapshot library entries 8.1, “Snapshot memories”
SOLO
OPTION key 
(alternates with 
screen above and 
following screen)Sets IPS solo protection, solo mode, etc. 5.4, “SOLO”
ST-LINKST-LINK keyAllows setting of modules, master bus-
ses, Aux sends, as stereo pairs4.2, “Stereo linking”
SURROUND
When surround 
mode is selected, 
PAN/BAL, and 
module 
SEL
Movement of module signal within sur-
round matrix (surround “panning”)6.4, “Modules in the surround 
mix”
SURROUND
OPTION key 
(alternates with 
above two screens)Selects surround mode and surround 
buss assignment6.1, “Selecting a surround 
mode”
Screen nameKey to access the 
screenWhat can be done using this 
screenMain description 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –1
IF-TD4000Drum Machine
TM-D4000
(slot 1)
DA-38
DAT recorder
Channels 1&2 LINE inputsTDIF-1
REMOTE
DIGITAL OUTPUT 1
DIGITAL INPUT 1
This section will take you through a very basic recording/mixdown sessio\
n using as an example 
a drum machine, electric bass, a DA-38 and a DAT machine.  The purpose o\
f this tutorial is to 
familiarize you not only with the basic routing/functions on the TM-D400\
0 but also with the gain 
structure of a digital mixer which is different from an analog mixer.  W\
e suggest that you take 
the time to go through this brief section so that you can get the most o\
ut of your new TM-D4000
right away.
(Refer to section 1.3 for installing the IF-TD4000 TDIF interface card)\
Be sure to make the connections in the diagram below with the power off \
on all units.  
This will avoid possible damage to your equipment and allow the individu\
al units to perform any 
needed communication across the connections during power up.
T1 Connections
1.  Connect a TDIF cable between the IF-TD4000 card in slot #1 on the mi\
xer and the TDIF port 
on the back of the DA-38.
2.  Connect a Remote Cable (PW/848) from the Remote Out port on the IF\
-TD4000 card in slot #1 on 
the mixer to the Remote In port on the back of the DA-38.
3.  Connect an SPDIF cable from the SPDIF output of the mixer to the SPD\
IF input of the DAT 
machine and an SPDIF cable from the SPDIF output of the DAT machine to t\
he SPDIF input of the 
mixer.
4.  Connect the CR OUTPUT from the TM-D4000 to your speakers power amp \
input or
directly to powered speakers.
Channels 3 Mic Input 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –2
T2 Setup
1. Power up your units in the following order:  DA-38, 
your DAT machine, the TM-D4000, power amp/apeakers.
2. Press the SHIFT key so that the indicator lights and then
press the MIDI/MC key until the screen at right appears.  
3. Using the cursor keys move the cursor to the on-screen 
button  AUTO-DETECT  and press ENTER.
4. The DA-38 should be detected and listed in the
Machine Control List on this screen together with the
appropriate unit ID.  Chase mode should be OFF.
5. Move the cursor up to the right of the line representing 
the DA-38 in the Machine Control List and press ENTER 
twice to engage Transport Control and Track Arming from 
the mixer.  When you make this selection, the TM-D4000 also sends a comm\
and to the DA-38 to make the 
DIGITAL In setting.  
You may also want to set a check mark in the SCR box providing additiona\
l controls for the DA-38 from 
the mixer, but this step is not essential.
6. Press the SHIFT key so that its indicator is unlit, then 
press DIGITAL I/O until the screen at right appears.
7. Using the cursor keys move the cursor to the square 
representing SLOT1 and press ENTER.  
A box will appear asking you to confirm your selection 
of the DA-38 connected to Slot #1 as the word clock master, 
press ENTER to confirm.  On the far left angled surface 
of the mixer, under CLOCK the light indicating SLOT 
should be lit.
8. Press OPTION until the screen at left appears.
9. Use the JOG DIAL (or the Cursor Keys) to move 
the cursor to MDM ABS Absolute Time and press ENTER.  
This will display ABS time from the DA-38 on the 
TM-D4000s time counter.
10. Insert a formatted tape into the DA-38 and test the 
transport controls.  The MDM LOCK indicator above 
the time counter should light when you press PLAY on 
the TM-D4000s transport control, indicating the 
DTRS unit is communicating successfully with the mixer. 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –3
T3 Basic Routing
1. Plug the outputs of the drum machine into line inputs 1&2.  (Analog \
connections to the mixer may be made 
with the power on, just be sure that the speakers are turned down!)
2. Plug the electric bass through a direct box into mic input 3.  (It c\
an also be connected directly to the line 
input.)
3. Recall Snapshot 000 to  “zero ” the mixer:  First, press the - or + keys in the Library section on the \
angled 
surface of the mixer until a small  “00 ” appears in the upper left corner of the screen, then press RECALL.  
A box confirming  “Snapshot00 Recalled ” will appear briefly on the LCD.  Next, pull the faders all the way 
down for channels 1-32 (fader layers 1 & 2, leave up the master faders)\
.  Now we can start from scratch with the 
TM-D4000s default settings.
4. Press the key labeled MODULE, be sure you have CH 1-16 selected in La\
yer Status, then press the SEL button 
on channel 1 to display that channel ’s information in the LCD screen.
5. Since the output of the drum machine is stereo link inputs 1&2 as a s\
tereo pair so that fader levels, EQ 
adjustments, etc. can be applied to both channels simultaneously.  Press\
 and hold the SEL button on channel 1 
and press the SEL button on channel 2.  A box will appear asking you to \
confirm the stereo link on channels 
1&2.  Press ENTER to confirm.  (When moving a pair of motorized faders \
it is only necessary to move one of 
them, it doesn ’t matter which one, the other will follow.   Attempting to move both faders may damage the 
motors.)
6. Press the Line button just above the Trim pot for channels 1&2 to sel\
ect line input instead of mic.
7. Turn the volume control for your speakers (CR LEVEL) all the way do\
wn.
8. Make sure the Trim Pots on channels 1&2 are all the way down.  Press \
and hold the CLR button under the 
numeric keypad and press either channel ’s SEL button.  This automatically moves the faders to unity gain for 
recording.
9. Begin playing the drum machine, set it to loop so that you can make m\
ixer adjustments while it is playing.  
Slowly turn up the CR LEVEL control, you should hear the drum machine an\
d see level on the stereo meters.  
(Make sure your power amp or speakers are turned on!)
10. Press the REC buttons on channels 9&10 to arm tracks 1&2 on the DA-3\
8 for recording.  The REC indicators
will blink.  (NOTE:  Track arming is not part of the stereo link, each \
track will have to be armed separately.)
11. The SEL indicators on channels 1&2 should still be lit, if not, pres\
s the SEL button for either channel to select
the linked pair.  To the right of the LCD, under the contrast control is\
 a vertical strip of buttons.  Press the button 
labeled STEREO to take the drum machine inputs out of the stereo buss.  \
Press the button labeled BUSS 1-2 to 
assign the drum machine inputs to busses 1&2 which feed tracks 1&2 of th\
e DA-38.  You should now see 
level on meters 1&2 of the DA-38.
12. Make a stereo link for channels 9&10.  (Remember how?  See #5 above\
!)  Slowly raise the linked faders 
9&10.  You should again hear the drum machine and see it on the stereo m\
eters.  (The point of all this is to be 
listening from the tape machine, not the inputs that get sent to it.) 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –4
T4 Gain Structure
Now that things are going where they belong, let ’s put some nice hot signals to tape!  (It may become necessary to 
adjust listening volume with CR LEVEL while performing the steps below.)\
1. Slowly turn up the input trim pots on channels 1&2 until you get as l\
oud a signal as possible on the DA-38 
without causing the OL light illuminate next to the trim pot.  (Since t\
he drum machine gives a consistent output 
level this is easy.)  When recording a live instrument or vocals leave \
some space on the trim pot before the 
OL light comes on for volume fluctuations.  (NOTE:  The trim pots are n\
ot part of the stereo link, they will have 
to be adjusted individually.)
2. You may now want to adjust your tape return levels on channels 9&10 f\
or a reading near the middle of the 
range of the stereo buss meters just above the time display.  We ’re not going all the way to the top yet so that 
there will be room to add other instruments that will increase this leve\
l.
T5 Adding Effects
1. Press DIGITAL I/O until the screen at left appears.  Use the 
cursor keys to move the cursor next to the box labeled INT 
EFFECT on the line labeled ST-IN 2 and press ENTER.  This 
assigns the output of the internal effect processor to the ST IN 2 
fader.  This is a stereo fader so the left and right return levels 
will be controlled by this one fader.
2. Next, use the cursor keys to move the cursor to the box 
labeled AUX5/6 on the line labeled EFFECT and press 
ENTER.  This assigns Auxiliary sends 5 and 6 to the input of 
the internal effect processor.  Leave Auxiliary sends 
1 and 2 open for now in case you want to use them for 
pre-fader headphone sends.
3. Press ST LINK until the screen at left appears.  You will 
notice that this screen displays the two linked stereo pairs that 
you have already set up on channels 1&2 and 9&10.  Use the 
cursor keys to move the cursor below AUX 5 or 6 and press 
ENTER.  This is another way to set up stereo linked pairs. 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –5
4. Press MODULE then press the SEL button on either channel 
9 or 10 until the Module screen showing AUX sends on the 
bottom appears.  Notice that repeated presses of a channel ’s 
SEL button toggles between AUX sends and dynamic 
processor controls.
5. Use the ROW CURSOR buttons under the lower right of 
the LCD to move the blinking highlighted box down the 
screen until it is around the on-screen controls for AUX 
sends 3 through 6.  The four continuous trim pots under the 
LCD (called the POD) will now adjust the four on-screen 
controls in the highlighted box.
6.  Be sure the ST2 fader is turned up.
7. Play the drum machine and turn up the far right trim pot 
until you hear reverb on the drums.  This effect is going directly 
to the stereo buss and will not be recorded on the DA-38.
7. Want a different kind of reverb?  Press the EFFECT button in the LIBR\
ARY section to the left of the LCD.  
(Don ’t confuse this button with the one in the MIXING section, we ’ll get to that later …)
8. Use the JOG DIAL to select a different preset then use the cursor key\
s to move the cursor to the on-screen 
RECALL button and press ENTER.  A box will appear briefly on the screen \
confirming your selection.
9. Now press the EFFECT button in the MIXING section just above the fade\
rs.  On the screen that appears, 
you will be able to adjust the parameters of your selected effect.
10. Do you like your edited effect so much that you want to store your s\
etting for later use?  Press EFFECT
in the LIBRARY section, use the JOG DIAL to scroll down to an empty memo\
ry location (0-50 are read-only 
presets), use the cursor keys to move the cursor to the on-screen STORE\
 button and press ENTER.  A box 
will briefly appear on the screen to confirm your action.
11. To name your effect setting turn the SHUTTLE WHEEL to the left and u\
se the cursor keys to highlight a 
character and ENTER to select it.  If you make a mistake the JOG DIAL wi\
ll move though the naming field.  
When you have the name you want turn the SHUTTLE WHEEL to the right, use\
 the cursor keys to move the 
cursor to the on-screen NAME button with an arrow pointing to the right \
and press ENTER.
12. Press MODULE to return to the module screen, this is the screen you \
will likely be using most often and 
can be used as a  “home base ”. 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –6
T6 Transport Control
Let ’s start recording at around one minute on the DA-38:
1. Press MANUAL LOCATE just to the left of the numeric keypad so that it\
s indicator lights.  Using the 
numeric keypad enter 1:00:00 so that 1 minute, 00 seconds and 00 frames \
are displayed in the time counter.  
It is not necessary to enter  “:”  (there is no  “:”  key!)  Simply press 10000 and the TM-D4000 will fill it in for 
you in the time display.
2. Press ENT on the numeric keypad to send the DA-38 to that location.
3. Press PLAY then RECORD on the TM-D4000 ’s transport control to begin recording on the DA-38.  
Play your drum machine loop to record it to tape.  Stop the drum machine\
 when you ’ve had enough!
4. Press STOP on the TM-D4000.  Next, press MANUAL LOCATE again and the \
value you entered before 
will still be there.  Press ENT to go back to the top.
5. Press the REC buttons on channels 9&10 on the TM-D4000 to disarm trac\
ks 1&2 of the DA-38.
6. Play back the drum tracks  “just to make sure they got there ”.
T7 Gain Structure Revisited (Adding Channel Dynamic Processing & EQ
1. With the bass plugged into channel 3, select that channel and bring t\
he fader to unity gain.  (#8 
under BASIC ROUTING)  Make sure channel 3 is 
showing in the LCD and press the STEREO assign 
button to take the bass input out of the stereo buss 
and reassign it to BUSS 3-4.  
2. But we only want it to go to buss 3!  Using the 
ROW CURSOR keys under the LCD highlight the 
box with the PAN control.  If the PAN control is 
not on the screen, press the MODULE key to 
toggle the display.  Use the POD to pan channel 3 
all the way to the left.  The PAN value will display 
L45.  Now the signal from channel 3 will only go 
to buss 3.   (If we had panned all the way to the right 
the signal would only go to buss 4.  This is called 
“Odd/Even Panning ”.  Odd numbered busses are Left and even numbered busses are Right.  Usi\
ng 
this technique it is possible to take many input channels and combine th\
em to a single stereo pair 
of tape tracks.)
3. Arm track 3 by pressing the REC button on 
channel 11.  Raise channel 11 ’s fader to about even 
with channels 9&10.
4. Play the bass and turn up the trim pot for 
channel 3 until you have a good level on the DA-38.  
You want to record the bass as loud as possible but 
since it ’s a live instrument you have to leave some 
room for volume changes.  By adding some 
dynamics processing (compression), we can reduce 
those volume changes and get a louder overall 
signal to tape.
5. You can start by recalling a preset from the 
DYNAMICS LIBRARY.  Make sure channel 3 is selected.  
Press DYNAMICS in the LIBRARY section, use the JOG DIAL to highlight pre\
set #1,  “Slap Bass ”, 
select the on-screen button labeled RECALL and press ENTER.  A box will \
appear on the screen 
confirming your selection. 
						

							Tutorial–Simple recording session
Tutorial T –7
6. Go back to the MODULE screen and press the 
DYNAMICS button in the assign section to the 
right of the LCD to turn on the compressor.  You 
can press the MODULE button to toggle the 
LCD display until you see compression controls 
on the bottom of the screen instead of Auxiliary 
Sends.  From this screen you can adjust the 
compression settings but for now let ’s use the 
preset.
7. Use the ROW CURSOR buttons under the 
LCD to highlight the four different bands of EQ.  
The four trim pots of the POD directly under the 
screen will adjust the highlighted row of controls 
on the LCD.  Go ahead and experiment with the EQ.  
Notice how the level on the DA-38 and the compression meter on the LCD c\
hange as you boost or cut with 
the EQ.  The on-screen PAD control can be used to compensate if the amou\
nt of EQ boost has caused too 
much level to go to the DA-38 or if you can hear the compressor working \
too hard.
8. Finally, experiment with the on-screen OUTGAIN control and AUTO featu\
re.  This allows you to raise the 
volume after the compressor to get a loud signal on tape.  The AUTO feat\
ure is directly connected to the 
amount of compression being used and can be a good place to start before\
 adjusting OUTGAIN.  
9. Now record!
Using the steps above go ahead and record more tracks.  Notice that we n\
ever moved the fader away 
from unity gain.  Our main level adjustments were made with the trim pot\
 while minor adjustments
were made with compression or the digital pad.  In this way we can keep \
optimal headroom without
distortion.
T8 Snapshots
Using the techniques you ’ve learned for navigating the TM-D4000 to access EQ, dynamics processing\
, 
panning and effects, experiment with your mix until you like what you he\
ar.  Once you have a mix that you 
like, let ’s save it as a snapshot.  A snapshot stores all your settings …  effects, EQ, auxiliary send levels, 
fader levels, stereo links, all of it!
Use the - and + keys in the LIBRARY section to select an empty snapshot \
location in the upper left corner 
of the LCD.  An empty location is indicated by a number with an empty ba\
r where a name would be.  
Press STORE.  A box will appear on the screen confirming your action.  T\
his is a quick way to store and 
recall snapshots.
To name your snapshots or to more visually scroll through them, press th\
e SNAPSHOT button in the 
LIBRARY section.  The screen that appears works exactly the same way as \
the other library screens for
 effects, EQ and dynamics.