Q: "I'm thinking about getting the Tascam DS-M7.1 for my studio, but I would like to mount it in a machine room. Do you know how far the front panel (remote) can extend?"

A: The front panel of the DS-M7.1 does work as a remote, but the cable that comes with the unit is not very long, and certainly not long enough to run from a machine room to your console. It is possible to make two kinds of remote control cables, allowing the front panel to be detached and used as a remote control unit. The first type may be up to 5 m (about 15 feet) long (standard cable), and may use a general-purpose cable.

The second type (extended) allows remote control up to 20 m (over 65 feet) away, and must be constructed using a special cable (described below). No guarantee of correct operation can be given if a cable over 20 m, or a cable which is not constructed according to the guidelines here, is used to connect the remote control unit to the main unit.

Standard cable

In this case, a standard RS-232C extension cable of up to 5 m in length may be used. This cable should be a "straight" shielded cable, with a male 9-pin D-sub connector on one end, and a female 9-pin D-sub connector on the other. The wiring should be straight through, with 1 connected to 1, 2 to 2, etc. through to 9 to 9. Note that cables sold for extension purposes are usually fitted with male and female connectors, and for that reason, we recommend the use of these cables.

Extended cable

This cable must be made specially, using a cable with the following specifications:

Shielded twisted pair cable of at least 22AWG should be used, with a length of 20 m or less. A male 9-pin D-sub connector should be attached at one end, and a female 9-pin D-sub connector at the other. Pin connections should be made straight through: 1 to 1, 2 to 2, through to 9 to 9. All pins (and frame ground) should be connected.