Reference Guide

2014 ZOOM CORPORATION

Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without
permission is prohibited.

Introduction
is a mixer application designed specifically for the

Using a computer, you can make settings for the built-in mixer and for the high-quality monitoring effects.
Functions include LO CUT, PHASE reversal and AUTO GAIN, which automatically detects input signal levels.
Other functions are LOOPBACK, which sends the input signal and computer signal back to the computer, and MEMORY, which allows you to save settings with one
touch.

Installing and Launching

1. Download

to the computer

3. Launch

Download the application from the ZOOM website (http://www.zoom.co.jp/

When you connect a

downloads).

bolt cable,

to the computer using a Thunderwill launch automatically.

HINT

You can download the latest ZOOM

from the above website.

HINT

The supported operating systems are as follows.

See the

Mac OS X 10.8.5 (or later)

2. Install

and computer operation manuals for instructions about

connecting them.
If it does not launch automatically, open [TAC-8 MixEfx] from the Applications

on the computer

folder on the computer.

Click the "TAC-8 MixEfx Installer.pkg" icon and follow the instructions to install
.

Names of Parts/Basic Operations

Checking computer settings/
Using the loopback function/
Selecting the clock source
P.6
Setting the upsampling function
P.10
Saving and loading settings
P.11

Setting the inputs

P.5

Setting the effect

P.9

Setting output levels

P.8
Setting the built-in
mixer for each output
jack
P.7

Basic operations
Click a knob and drag up or down to adjust it.
Press the shift key while moving a knob to make fine adjustments.
Click a knob value to allow direct entry of the value.
Click a button to turn it on/off.
To change the sampling rate, open the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and double-click the Audio MIDI Setup application. Select
application and set the sampling rate.
3

in the

Mixer Block Diagram

EFFECT

REVERB & DELAY

EFX RETURN

OUTPUT
LEVEL
METER

VOLUME

FADER

EFX SEND

48V
PEAK
METER
LO CUT PHASE
INPUT1

INPUT2

INPUT3

INPUT4

Hi-Z/
Lo-Z

Hi-Z/
Lo-Z

Gain

INPUT1

Gain

Gain

LEVEL
METER

INPUT3

MAIN OUT R

LoopBack R
FADER

PHASE

PAN

SWITCHER

LoopBack
Switch

AD

AD

MAIN OUT L

DA
LoopBack L

Loop
Back
L

AD

INPUT2
Gain

LEVEL
METER

EFX SEND

Loop
Back
R

INPUT4
AD

VOLUME

Gain

AD

INPUT6

Gain

AD

INPUT7

Gain

AD

INPUT8

Gain

AD

PHONES2

DA

LINE OUT 1

DA

LINE OUT 2

DA

LINE OUT 3

DA

LINE OUT 4

DA

LINE OUT 5

DA

LINE OUT 6

DA

LINE OUT 7

DA
INPUT5

INPUT5

PHONES1

DA

LINE OUT 8
S/PDIF OUT

ADAT OUT

INPUT6

INPUT7

INPUT8

S/PDIF L/R
S/PDIF IN

COMPUTER
ADAT1

INPUT1
INPUT2
INPUT3

ADAT2

INPUT4
INPUT5

ADAT3

INPUT6
INPUT7
ADAT4

INPUT8
S/PDIF L

ADAT IN
ADAT5

S/PDIF R
ADAT1

ADAT6

ADAT2
ADAT3
ADAT4

ADAT7

ADAT5
ADAT6

ADAT8

ADAT7
ADAT8

INPUT

MIXER

MAIN OUTPUT+PHONES1
1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 L/R
ANALOG
S/PDIF
To
Computer

18
ADAT

1/2

3/4

5/6

7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16 17/18 19/20

LINE OUTPUT1/2
LINE OUTPUT3/4
LINE OUTPUT5/6
LINE OUTPUT7/8

From
Computer

S/PDIF OUT
ADAT OUT1/2
ADAT OUT3/4
ADAT OUT5/6
ADAT OUT7/8

Setting the Inputs (INPUT)

2. Enable the automatic gain setting.

Click

3. Input the audio signal.

4. Complete the setting.

Click again

HINT

If there is no input for about three seconds, the button will blink
more rapidly and the setting will complete automatically.

Using phantom power

Click the 48V(1-4) or 48V(5-8) button so that it lights.
When the corresponding switch is lit, phantom power is supplied
to INPUTS 14 or INPUTS 58 at the same time.

Showing the digital inputs

Using the Hi-Z function (INPUTS 12 only)

Click the DIGITAL button to show the digital inputs.

The screen will open to the right and show S/PDIF and ADAT 1
ADAT 8.

Click the Hi-Z button so that it lights.

Enabling the lo-cut filter

Adjusting the input gain

Turn the GAIN knob to adjust the input gain so that it does not
cause the CLIP indicator to light.

Click the LO CUT button so that it lights.

The cutoff frequency is 80 Hz.

Reversing the polarity

NOTE

I f y o u a d j u s t a

GAIN knob, the corresponding

input gain setting will also change automatically.

Click the PHASE button so that it lights.

Adjusting the effect level

Adjusting the gain automatically (INPUT 18 only)

To set the optimal gain level automatically, click the AUTO button
and input the audio signal.

Turn the EFX SEND knob to adjust the effect level.

Double-click to set it to inf. (See Adjusting the effect on P.9.)

Checking input levels

Setting the automatic gain

Check the level meters to see the input levels.

1. Select the maximum recording level.

If a level exceeds 0 dB (maximum value), the top of the meter will

5

light red. Click the meter to turn off this indicator.

Checking computer settings/Using the loopback function/Selecting the clock source (COMPUTER)
Sending the mixed signal to the computer
All the

inputs and computer inputs can be mixed and sent

back to the computer.

When you want to record the final mixed signal, press the LOOPBACK button so that it lights.
NOTE

The LOOPBACK function only works for the MAIN OUTPUT mixer.
This signal is sent to the computer as INPUT1 and INPUT2.

Reversing the phase

Click the PHASE button so that it lights.

Expanding the COMPUTER section

To expand the COMPUTER section, click the DAW3-20 button.

Adjusting the effect level

The screen will open to the right and show DAW3/4 DAW19/20.

Turn the EFX SEND knob to adjust the effect level.

Double-click to set it to inf. (See Adjusting the effect on P.9.)

Checking the sampling rate

Check the sampling rate.
The lit indicator shows the sampling rate that the

Checking input levels from the computer

is using.

Check the level meters to see the input levels from the computer.

NOTE

When the sampling rate shown is 88.2 or 96, ADAT 58 cannot be

used. When it is 176.4 or 192, ADAT 38 cannot be used.

light red.
Click the meter to turn off this indicator.

Setting the clock source

Select the clock source to use for synchronizing signals.
Click the INTERNAL, ADAT, S/PDIF or WORD CLOCK button so
that it lights.
NOTE

If synchronization with an external digital device is not possible, the

CLOCK SOURCE indicator will blink.
In this case, the

If a level exceeds 0 dB (maximum value), the top of the meter will

will operate using its internal clock.

6

Using the built-in mixer (MIXER)

The

mixer can be set separately for each output. (See

Mixer Block Diagram on page 4.)

For example, different mixes can be output from the MAIN OUT and the LINE OUT 1/2 outputs.

Muting the input signals

Input signals can be muted.
Click the M button so that it lights to mute the input.

Soloing one input

All inputs other than the selected are muted.
Click the S button so that it lights to solo the channel.

Changing the output jacks

Click an output tab to select it.
If the window is narrow, click

NOTE

If both SOLO and MUTE are enabled at the same time, MUTE takes

to change the shown tabs.

priority.

Assigning an output to the HEADPHONE 2 jack

Click the headphone icon on an output tab to assign that output
to the HEADPHONE 2 jack.

Adjusting the input signal levels

Drag each input fader to adjust its input signal level.
Double-click to set it to 0 dB.

NOTE

The MAIN OUT and LINE OUT 1/2LINE OUT 7/8 can be assigned.

Copying settings from the currently selected

output mixer to another output mixer

Working with input from S/PDIF and ADAT

Press the INPUT tab DIGITAL button.
The screen will open to the right and show S/PDIF and ADAT 1 ADAT 8.

You can copy the settings from the currently

Controlling computer channels number 3 and higher

1. Click the COPY MIX TO button next to the

Press the COMPUTER DAW3-20 button.

The screen will open to the right and show DAW3/4 DAW19/20.

2. S
 elect the output to receive the settings in the

selected output mixer to another output mixer.

output tab.
dialog shown, and click the Copy button.

Adjusting the input signal panning

Resetting PEAK, SOLO and MUTE for all channels at once

Turn the PAN knob for an input to adjust the panning of that
input signal.
Double-click to set it to 0 (center).
At their center positions, INPUT 18 and ADAT 18 are reduced 3 dB.
7

Click the CLEAR PEAKS, CLEAR SOLOS or CLEAR MUTES button

to reset the peak indicators or the solo or mute status for all channels at once.

Setting Output Levels (OUTPUT)

You can set the output level for the channels selected by the OUTPUT tab.

Checking output levels

Muting the output signal

You can check the OUTPUT/PHONES level with the level meters.

You can mute the output.

If a level exceeds 0 dB (maximum value), the top of the meter will

Click the M button so that it lights to mute the output.

light red.
Click the meter to turn off this indicator.

Adjusting the output volume

Adjusting the effect return level

Drag the fader to adjust the volume.

Turn the EFX RETURN knob to adjust the effect return level mixed
into the output.
Double-click to set it to inf.
(See Adjusting the effect on P.9.)

Using the Effect (EFFECT)

Adjusting the effect

Effect types

1. Turn the effect on.

Click
2. Select the effect.
Turn

ROOM1

This reverb simulates the reverberations of an echo chamber in a

recording studio.

ROOM2

This reverb simulates the reverberations of a concert in a club.

HALL1

This reverb simulates a concert hall with bright reverberations.

HALL2

This reverb simulates a concert hall with muted reverberations.

PLATE1

This simulates a plate reverb with short reflections.

PLATE2

This simulates a plate reverb with long reflections.

ECHO1

This short delay can be used in many situations.

ECHO2

This simulates a tape echo.

NOTE

The effect and upsampling functions cannot be used at the

3. Adjust the EFX SEND of each input.

same time. Turning one on will turn the other off.

Turn

If the upsampling function is on, a confirmation message will

appear when the effect is turned on. Click the "Turn the effect
ON" button.

4. Adjust the EFX RETURN of each output.

Turn
9

Using the Upsampling Function (UPSAMPLING)

Activating the upsampling function

Deactivating the upsampling function

When the original sampling rate is 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, internal processing can al-

1. Click the UPSAMPLING button.

low operation at 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz.

Click

1. Click the UPSAMPLING button.

This deactivates the upsampling function.

Click
This activates the upsampling function.

NOTE

If the effect function is turned on, the upsampling function will be

deactivated.

NOTE

The upsampling function only works for 44.1/48 kHz.

The effect and upsampling functions cannot be used at the
same time. Turning one on will turn the other off.
If the effect function is on, a confirmation message will appear
when upsampling is turned on. Click the "Turn upsampling
ON" button.

10

Saving and Loading Settings (MEMORY)

Saving settings

Loading settings

1. Start saving the settings.

1. Load saved settings.

Click

Click

2. Select a blinking button to save the settings.

Click

Resetting interface settings

To restore a

to its factory default

settings, click the FACTORY RESET button. On the confirmation screen, click
Reset.

Settings saved in
be reset.

Saving and Loading Setting Files (SAVE/LOAD)

Saving settings
1. Select Save from the File menu.
NOTE

Loading settings
1. Select Open from the File menu.
2. Select the settings file and click Open.
The settings will be loaded.

After saving settings as a file, select "Save as" to save settings

with a different file name.

NOTE

Settings saved in the memories will not be changed when a

2. Set the file name and saving location, and save the file.

settings file is loaded.

11

will not

Using the Power Management Function

When the

is on and its STAND ALONE switch is set to ON, it will automatically power off after 10 hours pass. This function can be turned ON/OFF using
.

Disabling the power management function

3. Remove the check next to Enable Power Management function.

1. Select TAC-8 MixEfx in the menu bar.

Click
2. Select Preferences

Click

HINT

The power management function is enabled when a check appears next to

this item.

12

Managing Software and Firmware Versions

Viewing version information

Setting version update alerts

1. Select [TAC-8 MixEfx] in the menu bar.

1. Select [TAC-8 MixEfx] in the menu bar.

Click

Click

2. Select About TAC-8 MixEfx.

2. Select Preferences

Click

Click

3. Check the version information.

3. Enable the version update alerts.

HINT

"Version" is the

application version, and "Device Version" is the

hardware unit firmware version.

HINT

The alerts are enabled when checked.

Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the US and other countries.
ADAT and ADAT Optical are trademarks of inMusic Brands Inc. in the US and other countries.
Note: All trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are for identification purposes only and are not intended to infringe on the copyrights of their respective owners.

ZOOM CORPORATION
4-4-3 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 Japan http://www.zoom.co.jp

Z2I-2289-01