The Tascam DS-M7.1 was designed to give professional sound engineers a practical solution for monitoring surround mixes across a wide range of formats.
At a time when most mid-range digital consoles lacked built-in downmixing capabilities, the DS-M7.1 filled that gap by enabling seamless conversion from complex formats like 7.1 to 5.1, or from 6.1 to stereo, without the need to build separate mixes.
Its routing flexibility allowed engineers to integrate surround stem recorders, digital mixers such as the Tascam DM-24, and master recorders into one streamlined monitoring setup.
The unit featured a straightforward operating layout, with essential functions like mute and solo assigned to illuminated pushbuttons, while less frequently used parameters were accessed via a clear, menu-driven interface. Housed in a 3U 19-inch chassis, the Tascam DS-M7.1 also offered the convenience of a detachable front panel that could serve as a remote controller.
Downmixing options included 7.1, 6.1, 5.1, 4.1, LCRS, stereo, and mono, and each channel could be fine-tuned with adjustable delay settings for accurate time alignment in larger monitoring environments.
A built-in pink noise generator and LED SPL display made calibration fast and reliable, and integrated bass management allowed users to simulate monitoring with or without a subwoofer by generating a dedicated sub-bass signal.
The Tascam DS-M7.1 supported both analogue and AES/EBU digital outputs and featured three internal expansion slots compatible with optional Tascam interface cards (IF-AE/DM, IF-TD/DM, IF-AD/DM) for extended digital format support.
With its robust feature set and adaptability, the Tascam DS-M7.1 became a trusted monitoring solution in post-production, music surround mixing, live theatre, and broadcast environments.
The Tascam DS-M7.1 features three PCI 120-pin expansion slots using the Tascam TDMCS format, allowing users to customise the unit’s digital and analogue connectivity. Compatible interface cards include the IF-AE/DM for AES/EBU, IF-TD/DM for TDIF, IF-AD/DM for ADAT, and IF-AN/DM for analogue input and output.
Features
- Digital I/O: 8-channel TDIF, AES/EBU, and ADAT interfaces for connection with stem recorders
- Console connection: Standard TDIF interface (AES/EBU and ADAT via optional cards)
- I/O Channels: 8 input channels / 8 output channels
- Sampling rates: 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96kHz
- Processing: 32-bit floating point
- Clock sync: Pull up/down operation via external master clock
- Mixdown flexibility: Convert any surround format to one with fewer channels
- Downmix options:
- 7.1 or 6.1 to 5.1, LR, Mono
- 5.1 to LCRS, 4.1, LR, Mono
- LCRS to LR, Mono
- LR to Mono
- Bass management: Simulates various consumer speaker setups
- Monitoring functions: Mute / Solo / Dimmer
- Calibration: Built-in pink noise generator
- Channel control: Individual channel mute/solo and delay compensation
- Display: LED SPL display
- Routing: Input summing router and output router for external device track assignment
- Controls: Adjustable dim, mono switch, alternate speaker switch
- Integration: Connects to existing console control room monitor output
- Encoder monitoring: AES/EBU insert standard (analogue via optional card)
- Monitor outputs: Analogue and AES/EBU
- Remote control: Detachable control panel for remote use
