REC Button 
ZONE Button 
The RSX-1055 can record from any analog source to a VCR or other recorder connected to the VIDEO 1, 2 or 3 outputs or the TAPE outputs, even while you are listening to a dif- ferent input source. To select an input source for recording, press the REC button on the front- panel (or the equivalent ZONE button on the remote). Then, press one of the INPUT SOURCE buttons within 5 seconds to select the signal you wish to record. After making your selec- tion (or if more than five seconds passes), the input source buttons return to their normal function, selecting a listening source.
Remember, this selection is independent of the listening source. While recording, you may still select a different source (for example, the built-in tuner) for listening. The record selec- tion appears in the display to the right of the listening selection.
NOTE: The RECORD function requires analog signals. If you use a digital connection from a CD player or DVD for listening, you should also connect an analog signal for recording.
MULTI Input 
EXT IN 
The MULTI INPUT button (or the EXT IN but- ton on the remote) overrides all other audio inputs (both analog and digital) and selects the audio signal from an external digital adap- tor. This input only changes the audio signal; the video signal from the currently selected input remains in use. When activated, the RSX-1055’s digital processing is bypassed. An indicator appears in the front-panel display.
Since the RSX-1055 has built-in decoding for virtually all analog and digital surround for- mats, these inputs will not be necessary in most systems. Typically, you will connect a single digital cable or left/right analog RCA cables from each source to the INPUT SOURCE con- nections and allow the RSX-1055 to decode the surround information. However, the MULTI INPUT provides the capability to handle any future surround encoding format.
NOTE: When the MULTI input is selected, the CB output is available only at the CB1 PREOUT connector. No signal is available at the CB2 PREOUT connector when the MULTI CH input is selected.
15
Overview of
Surround Formats
To get the best performance from your RSX-1055, it helps to understand the many surround sound formats available today, to know which decoding process to use for a particular recording, and how to select it. This section provides basic background informa- tion about surround sound formats. The next sections provide detailed operating instructions.
Dolby Surround
Dolby Pro Logic
The most widely available surround sound format for consumer audio/video is Dolby Surround®, available on nearly all commer- cial VHS tapes, many television broadcasts, and most DVDs. Dolby Surround is the con- sumer version of the analog Dolby Stereo system first introduced in the film industry in 1972. It is a matrix-encoding system that records front left, front center, front right, and a mono sur- round channel into a 2-channel stereo record- ing. During playback, a Dolby Pro Logic® de- coder extracts each channel and distributes it to the appropriate speakers.
Dolby Pro Logic decoding delivers a mono sig- nal with reduced high-frequency content to the surround speakers. The more advanced de- coder in the RSX-1055, Dolby Pro Logic II, in- creases the separation and frequency response of the surround channels for significantly im- proved performance with Dolby Surround en- coded recordings.
Dolby Pro Logic II decoding is used for any analog soundtrack or recording labeled “Dolby Surround” or any Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. While it is specifically designed to decode Dolby Surround recordings, Dolby Pro Logic can derive surround sound from conventional 2-channel stereo recordings, using phase re- lationships to extract front, right, center, and surround channels.
Activate Dolby Pro Logic II decoding with the Dolby PLII/3ST button described in the next section of the manual.
English
Dolby Digital
In 1992, an entirely new digital recording system, called Dolby Digital, was first used in the film industry. Dolby Digital is a recording/ playback system that uses compression tech- niques to store large amounts of audio data efficiently, much like the JPEG format stores large photographs in small files on a computer. Dolby Digital is the standard audio format for DVDs and for digital television broadcasting in the United States.
The Dolby Digital system can be used to record up to six discrete audio channels, but can also be used for fewer. For example, a Dolby Digital
2.0recording is a 2-channel stereo record- ing such as a matrix encoded Dolby Surround soundtrack. To play this type of recording, use Dolby Pro Logic II decoding as previously de- scribed.
The most common use of Dolby Digital, in both the film industry and in home theater, is Dolby Digital 5.1. Instead of encoding multiple sur- round channels on a two-channel recording, Dolby Digital 5.1 records six discrete chan- nels: front left, front center, front right, surround left, surround right, and a Low Frequency Ef- fects (LFE) channel containing ultra-low bass signals intended for a subwoofer. A Dolby Digi- tal decoder extracts the channels from the digital bitstream, converts them to analog signals and routes them to the appropriate speakers. All channels provide full frequency response with total separation between all channels and large dynamic range capability. A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide significantly more impressive surround sound than Dolby Pro Logic decoding of matrix Dolby Surround.
Decoding of Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks is automatic. When the RSX-1055 detects a Dolby
5.1signal on one of its digital inputs, it acti- vates the proper processing. Keep in mind that Dolby Digital is only available from digital sources (a DVD, a LaserDisc, or a Digital TV/ Cable/SAT tuner). Also, you must connect the source with a digital cable (coax or optical) to an active digital input on the RSX-1055.
NOTE: Many DVDs have a Dolby Digital 2.0 matrix soundtrack as the default, which should be decoded with Pro Logic II. The Dolby Digi- tal 5.1 soundtrack may have to be selected as an option from the setup menus at the be- ginning of the DVD. Look for a Dolby Digital
5.1selection under “Audio” or “Languages” or “Setup Options” when you insert the disc.
