Tascam X-48MKII Owner's Manual

TASCAM X-48MKII 47AutomationTo display automation, click the button pictured aboveor press Alt-A. You can automate the level of a trackusing this, and also play back automation from importedprojects. The edit tools change in this mode:• Use the Cursor tool (click the “+” button or press F8)to write automation. Click and drag on a track towrite new automation points. Automation can beenabled by track using WRITE switches.• If you mouse over one of the automation pointswith the Cursor tool, your cursor turns into theFinger tool. Click and drag any automation pointto change its level or time position. When writingautomation data, the fader for each track is shownat the 0 dB line. The cursor position shows the fadervolume.• In automation mode, the Smart tool becomes anEraser so that you can delete automation entries.• Use the I-beam tool to select automation. You cancut, copy, paste or delete automation from thekeyboard or Edit menu.• Place a check next to Playback Automation Bypassunder Options to disable automation duringplayback.Third-Party Plug InsSupport will not be provided to use VST plug-ins fromWaves, Antares, or other companies. Installing them couldcause problems.CAUTIONIf problems should occur with the unit, reinstalling itssoftware from the System Restore CD might be necessary.RoutingEach recorder track goes directly to the mixer channel thathas the same number as the track. Mixer channels canbe routed to various destinations, like physical outputsor Groups. Click the bottom-most text display on a mixerchannel to reveal a menu of output routing choices, oropen the DSP View to see the same menu along withother parameters of that mixer channel. You can changethe output to a group or pair of outputs for submixinguse, see the next section for examples.Mixer ApplicationsSubmixingOne of the typical uses for the subgroups is to combinetracks when you do not have enough mixer inputs foryour session. For example, 17 tracks of percussion can becombined into a stereo group then sent through a pair ofoutputs to come up on a pair of faders on your console.To use this feature:1 Make sure Mixer Bypass is disabled, see “MixerBypass” on page 46.2 Click on the tab at the bottom of the screen whereyour tracks are, such as Ch. 1-24.3 Find your track in the mixer view. You can changethe level, pan it left or right, add EQ, etc.4 Click the Output field at the bottom of the channelstrip. This opens a menu of options. Mouse over theGroups submenu and choose a stereo group from 1to 12.5 Select the Groups tab at the bottom of the screen.Click on the output field at the bottom of the groupchannel. Select Stereo Outs and choose a pair ofoutputs for your Group.Monitoring While RecordingAnother useful feature of the mixing engine is to monitortracks while recording. During a live event, the X-48MKIIcan serve as a 48-track recorder as well as your monitormixer. Connect your mic preamps to the (optional) analoginputs and connect the S/PDIF output to a D/A converteror 2-track recorder, like the TASCAM DV-RA1000HD. Youcan then monitor through the D/A converter or recorderusing headphones or monitors.To set up the X-48MKII for record monitoring:1 Make sure Mixer Bypass is disabled. (See “MixerBypass” on page 46.)2 Check your channel strips to make sure the MIXbutton is on/green so that tracks are being routedto the stereo mix out.3 Click on the Masters tab at the bottom of the screen.4 Click the Output field on the Master channel on theright side of this window. This opens a menu ofoptions. Mouse over the Stereo Outputs submenuand choose SPDIF.5 Connect the S/PDIF digital out to the S/PDIF digitalin on your D/A converter or recorder. Change theon-screen mixer channels to mix. Since the mixeris after the recorder, any changes made to themonitor mix will not affect the recording.7 – Mixer