Tascam SX-1 User manual

SX-1
Digital Production Environment

The Vision
Several years ago, the SX-1 design team envisioned a machine that
would combine the power and flexibility of computer-based
recording and editing, MIDI sequencing, hardware surface control,
dynamic mix automation, on-board and plug-in effects, stereo and
surround mixdown, data backup - all of which would be accessible
via a powerful and intuitive user interface. Their vision was to
enable musicians, composers, and music production professionals to
stay focused on the joys of creating and recording music. Their
vision was to incorporate all of the important 21st century tech-
nologies, but eliminate the digital technology conflicts and com-
puter hardware and software incompatibilities that often accom-
pany computer-based systems.
Their vision is now an exciting reality.
The SX-1 offers not only an incredibly powerful feature set, but also
a carefully considered user interface design that ensures smooth
operation, reliability, and ease of use for a host of professional
applications in music composition and production.
____________________________________________________________
A Powerful Mixer
At the core of the SX-1 is a powerful mixer, comprised of a com-
prehensive I/O section that includes both analog and digital inter-
faces. It starts with 16 high quality mic/line inputs with inserts and
phantom power, selectable in groups of four. It also includes 8
channels of ADAT Lightpipe, 2xS/PDIF, and three expansion slots for
up to 24 more channels of I/O (optional additional 8-channel inter-
faces include AES/EBU, TDIF, ADAT and balanced Analog). The
remaining ports include: Word Clock In/Out/Thru, SMPTE In/Out,
Video In and Thru, Ethernet, VGA, 2 MIDI Ins/4 MIDI Outs and Sony
9-pin. There is simply no computer DAW or standalone workstation
on the market with such a comprehensive set of I/O, which also
allows the SX-1 to be used as a mixer for modular digital multi-
tracks, analog multitracks,
video decks, and/or computer
based DAWs.
The console’s design starts
with a 40 input, 32x8x8 archi-
tecture. It has 32 input chan-
nels, with 8 busses and 8
returns. The SX-1’s mixer has
true routing flexibility…you can send nearly any signal anywhere.
For example, you could easily route the talkback mic to the hard
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision
The SX-1 offers
not only an
incredibly
powerful
feature set, but
also a carefully
considered user
interface design
that ensures
smooth
operation,
reliability, and
ease of use for
a host of
professional
applications
in music
composition
and production.

disk recorder for slating or funky tracking. Also, if you own high-
end analog outboard processors (maybe a pair of 1176’s or a
Fairchild 670), you could easily patch them into inserts on any mixer
channel.
The SX-1 takes the digital console concept even further with pres-
tige, name brand, onboard effects by TC Works and Antares. It also
possesses one of the best surround mixing interfaces on the market
today, making routing and creation of 5.1 mixes as easy as a few
button presses.
The SX-1’s tactile control sur-
face features 17 touch sensi-
tive, 100mm, long throw
motorized faders…16 channel
faders plus one master. The
throw of these faders is the
same as those on large-format
recording consoles like those
from SSL and Neve. Other fea-
tures of the control surface
include: horizontal channel
strip, Jog and Shuttle wheel and transport control, and 10-key pad.
A color-matched computer keyboard and mouse come as standard
equipment with the SX-1. To offer even more functionality, the SX-
1 has 16 fader banks that determine which parameters are con-
trolled by the SX-1’s faders.
Both a large LCD display and a full-color VGA output are provided
for displaying mixing and editing data.
Not only is the SX-1’s mixer easy to route - it’s even easier to auto-
mate. It offers the most extensive automation system ever released
for a standalone DAW. All of the audio mixing parameters on the
console can be automated from the control surface. Innovative
automation capabilities, such as rendering library recall events into
the dynamic automation data, set the SX-1’s automation system
apart from less-advanced systems. One of the most important fea-
tures of the SX-1’s automation system is that it is largely transpar-
ent, so the operator can concentrate on the mix instead of "run-
ning" the automation system. Most functions are accessible by
pressing a single button, as opposed to other systems that require
paging through a labyrinth of menus, submenus and parameter
settings for even simple operations. While the SX-1’s VGA Graphic
User Interface allows very detailed editing of automation and other
data, it isn’t required to make a great mix or even to use the
automation.
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision
The SX-1 is:
• A sophisticated
40 input,
32x8x8 digital
mixing console
with highly
flexiblerouting,
advanced
internal
automation,
and a plug-in
effects
architecture
• A high-end
MIDI sequencer
that offers
professional
editing tools
integrated
with the
audio recorder
• A professional
hard disk
recorder and
editor with
industry-wide
audio file
compatibility
and surround-
stem recording
capabilities
• A powerful
digital, analog
and computer
audio interface

When all components of the SX-1’s digital console are consid-
ered…40 input/8 bus architecture, touch-sensitive motorized
100mm faders, name brand onboard effects, highly sophisticated
automation, extremely flexible signal routing, surround mixing, etc.
- the SX-1 is clearly a remarkable value.
____________________________________________________________
A Professional 128-track Sequencer
Another of the SX-1’s impressive features
is the onboard, 128-track professional
sequencer, which is tightly integrated with
the onboard multitrack recorder. The SX-1
has the ability to import/export Standard
MIDI Files. Nearly all the features that
users have come to expect from DAW-
based sequencers are included in the SX-
1’s MIDI engine. In addition to standard
features such as Cut/Copy/Paste, professional users will appreciate
advanced features such as Step Record, non-destructive Quantize
and Transpose, MIDI crescendo, MIDI reverse play, and Ripple edit-
ing modes.
The SX-1 is the only machine ever built that achieves this level of
MIDI integration. It is important to note that the SX-1’s sequencer
does not operate in isolation. The sequencer actually runs the
automation for the mixing console. Because the playback timing of
MIDI events is derived from the sample engine of the hard disk
recorder, the timing is supremely accurate and should impress even
the most hardened MIDI veterans.
____________________________________________________________
Dedicated Multichannel Stem Recorder for Surround Mixing
The SX-1 features a 6-channel stem recorder for surround mastering
applications. Mastering tracks can be polished with outboard com-
pression, EQ, spatial effects and more, using the SX-1’s powerful
insert routing. The stem recorder records files in either Mac Sound
Designer II or PCBroadcast WAV formats. Bywriting in the two indus-
try-standard files formats to removable SCSI drives, the SX-1’s master
files can be taken to virtually any computer-based DAW for further
editing and sweetening without need for time-wasting file transfers.
The stem recorder is also used as the 2-track mixdown recorder. After
mixing down, you can take those masters and burn them to a Red
Book audio CD via the SX-1's built-in CD-RW drive.
____________________________________________________________
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision
When all
components of
the SX-1’s
digital console
are considered…
40 input/8 bus
architecture,
touch-sensitive
motorized
100mm faders,
name brand
onboard
effects, highly
sophisticated
automation,
extremely
flexible signal
routing,
surround
mixing, etc. —
the SX-1 is
clearly a
remarkable
value.

A Professional Hard Disk Recorder
The SX-1’s hard disk recorder is derived from the same technology
in the TEC award-winning MX-2424 and Emmy award-winning MM
Series film dubbers. The SX-1 can play back 16 uncompressed tracks
of pristine 24-bit audio at one time, but it’s capable of far more.
With 999 virtual tracks per project that can be freely assigned to
any track, anywhere, the SX-1 makes comping together single
tracks from large numbers of vocal or instrumental takes an easy
task.
As stated previously, the SX-1
can read and write to both PC
and Mac discs, and writes
time-stamped Sound Designer
II and Broadcast Wave files.
Therefore, audio files can lit-
erally be taken from the SX-1
and imported with single sam-
ple accuracy into a variety of
DAWs and digital recorders.
"Single sample accuracy"
means that when files are transferred, they are put into the exact
place in a project you intend them to go…with precision to one
48,000th of a second. This is done by storing the sample rate and
the sample offset from absolute zero in the file itself. With only
these two parameters, the file can be placed at the exact sample in
another DAW’s project that has the ability to spot to a time stamp.
Some of the compatible DAWs include Pro Tools, Digital Performer,
Logic Audio and Nuendo. This feature provides tremendous bene-
fit to recording professionals needing file compatibility with other
musicians and studios.
The SX-1 can read and write projects in TimeLine’s Open TL format,
making it compatible at the session level with popular DAW pro-
grams such as Logic Audio and Nuendo as well as the TASCAM MX-
2424. You can literally move a hard drive from the SX-1 into your
DAW, and open projects in one of these applications.
____________________________________________________________
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision
The SX-1 can
play back 16
uncompressed
tracks of
pristine 24-bit
audio at one
time, but it’s
capable of far
more. With 999
virtual tracks
per project that
can be freely
assigned to any
track, anywhere,
the SX-1 makes
comping
together single
tracks from
large numbers
of vocal or
instrumental
takes an easy
task.

Waveform Editing
Many industry pros would
argue that the waveform-
based display has been the
most significant new feature
introduced over the past
decade to improve the profes-
sional audio recording and
editing process. The SX-1’s
designers saw the possibilities
for a custom, full color graph-
ic interface that would take
advantage of the SX-1’s speed. As such, the SX-1 has a graphic inter-
face that is accessible by connecting a VGA monitor to a rear panel
jack. The speed of the waveform display is reminiscent of an oscil-
loscope’s, with a center-rectified playhead and real-time sample-
accurate playback. Standard editing conventions have been used in
order to give the SX-1 a familiar look and feel. Cut, Copy, and Paste
follow standard DAW commands, while other functions are easily
accessible via different combinations of controls – including the
PS/2 keyboard, the control surface, and the Jog/Shuttle wheel. If
you’ve ever used audio editing software, the SX-1 will feel right at
home.
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision
If you’ve ever
used audio
editing software,
the SX-1 will
feel right at
home.

SX-1 Summarized
V1.0 features
•40x8 digital console…32 channels with 3-band fully variable EQ,
comp/gate and DSP insert point each, 8 identical return
channels without the DSP insert point; 8 busses with DSP insert
point; touch sensitive 100mm motorized faders; and powerful
on-board dynamic mix automation.
•Onboard effects…TC Works Reverb, Antares mic/speaker
modelers, and a proprietary suite of TASCAM effects.
•16 track HDR with additional 6-track stem recorder that allows
printing of a separate 5.1 mix.
•Professional 128-track MIDI sequencer with non-destructive
quantize and transpose, step record and on-the-fly editing, etc.
•Graphic User Interface from VGA Out allows sophisticated
editing of audio and MIDI data.
•Built-in LCD screen displays waveforms, mix data, etc.
•Built-in CD-RW drive enables both data backup and stereo
mixdown.
Inputs/Outputs
•16 channels of analog input with mic pre, (XLR and TRS ins) with
insert per channel.
• Eight channels ADAT I/O.
•Three option slots for expansion of audio I/O (more ADAT, TDIF,
AES/EBU or analog, utilizing the same I/O option cards as the
TASCAM DM-24 digital mixer.
• Two S/PDIF I/O
• Word Clock in/out/thru
• SMPTE in/out
• MTC in (dedicated)
• MIDI in
• MIDI out x4
• Video in/thru
• Sony 9-pin
• Ultra Wide SCSI
• VGA out
• LTC out
• Ethernet
• Footswitch
• Keyboard and mouse
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision

Options
•FP-MSX black flat-panel VGA monitor
• ADAT 8-channel I/O card
•TDIF 8-channel I/O card
•AES/EBU 8-channel I/O card
•Analog 8-channel I/O cards
The TASCAM SX-1 Vision