Modular Multitrack Recorder - Tascam

Front Panel Indicators, Switches, and Displays
Collectively, all the front panel keys and the Wheel are called switches and the LEDs, eight motion
control lamps, and the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) are called indicators. The MMR-8 is manually
controlled through front-panel switches, while system status is shown via the indicators. The front panel
switches are divided into five groups: the track group, the keypad group, the setup & wheel group, the
wheel itself, and the transport (or motion control) group. The functions for each switch in each group and
how their selection affects the indicators are discussed in this section. The MM-RC remote control unit
parallel most of the functions on the MMR front panel. Note that the CLR (clear or cancel) key will
almost always terminate an operation, and is a good first key to try to cancel an operation.
LED Indicators
Most operating parameters and key functions are indicated through LEDs, as are the input or output signal
levels and record status.
Configuration Settings
To the right of the LCD are 38 LEDs used to indicate the Control mode, the frame and sample reference
sources, the time code format, the sample rate being used, the active sync group, the state of the MMR-8
buses (master or slave on the MMR or Lynx buses), and the record file type.
Active Mode/Key Indicators
Above most soft-touch keys there are LEDs to indicate the key status. In some cases they indicate that the
shifted function is active. In other cases they indicate a key status. For example, the LOC (locate) key’s
LED will be on while the MMR-8 is locating, turning off to indicate the transport has completed locating
(the time code in the top and bottom lines of the display should then be equal).
The LEDs above the SEL keys indicate which tracks are selected according to which track function key is
also active. The track function key (EDIT, MON, INPUT, LOAD TRACK, TRACK or SLIP) that is
active will also have its LED turned on. For example, pressing MON will turn on the MON LED, as well
as the SEL LEDs for all the tracks that are currently being monitored in the headphones. Pressing any
SEL key will then toggle the track between monitor on (when the LED is lit) and monitor off (no SEL
LED for that track). If another track mode key is pressed the SEL LEDs will now indicate that mode’s
selected tracks.
Track Status and Metering
Immediately above the track record arm buttons associated with the eight tracks in the MMR-8 (tracks 1 -
8, from left to right) are 11 LEDs per track (for a total of 88 LEDs). These indicate audio signal levels
(meter LEDs), and the record enable, input monitor, & track slip status for each track.
Meter LEDs
Each track has its own column of signal level LEDs that can be switched to read the MMR-8 analog input
or the output signal off disk. Each meter column contains eight LEDs. Functioning much like a tape
machine’s peak meters, their meters have a fixed rise time of