RADAR Quickstart Guide, Chapter 4: Transferring Audio to Pro Tools or any DAW

This "quickstart" guide for the RADAR audio recorder will flatten the learning curve and serve as essential reference for all users. This guide is not designed as a replacement for the official manuals (available from the manufacturer, iZ Technology).

Note that this refers to the 2007 iZ RADAR V Nyquist with system 3.42. Older models in the RADAR family (RADAR I, II, 24 and the Otari version) are slightly different than Silent Way's RADAR V units, but most of this will still apply.

Transferring a RADAR project to another system is easy once it is set up, and there are a few methods to choose from. RADAR records directly to industry-standard Broadcast WAV audio files (v 3.35/Jan 2005 and higher). Here are a few ways to transfer those BWAVs from RADAR's hard drives to Pro Tools or any other Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Methods C and D below refer to a Mac OS X system; For PC networking, see this document.

This first method is still in the final stages of being implemented (as of 2009). Once it is official, it may beat all other methods. A new eSATA port can be installed in the front of your RADAR. You can then record directly onto that drive. And, use RADAR's dual disk mode (only on Adrenaline Plus RADARs) to record simultaneously to an eSATA drive and an internal RADAR SATA drive for instant backup. Unplug the eSATA drive and hand it off. You're done!

Contact iZ to get the eSATA port installed in your RADAR. Note that RADARs with two SATA drive bays will lose the use of one bay if the new eSATA port is installed. Read more about the awesome eSATA (External SATA, or External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) here and here.

RADAR uses SATA drives (or SCSI in older units) in removable DE110 carriers, which can be mounted in an appropriate carrier receiver bay. RADAR's "Project Flattening" makes the hard drive (and BWAV audio) readable by any Mac/PC/Linux. The RADAR drive must have been initialized as AUDIO:RADAR_BWAV before recording. Flattening was introduced in software version 3.35.

This is a quick method for a one-way handoff such as a rental or live recording. The best way to achieve this is to use the CRU-DataPort MoveDock DE110, which has eSATA and USB 2.0 ports.

A short step by step:

1. Go to FILE menu / FLATTEN PROJECT and follow the steps there. Flattening should not take more than 10-15 seconds.
2. When it is finished, unmount the drive (DRIVE menu / MOUNT/UNMOUNT).
3. Connect the MoveDock's power adapter to wall AC, and the MoveDock's eSATA (or USB) cable to your computer.
4. Unlock and remove the drive from RADAR's drive bay and plug it into the MoveDock.
5. Power on the MoveDock. The drive will show up on your computer's desktop as "RADAR_BWAV".
6. Locate the flattened audio files, which are in the RADAR_BWAV/USER folder, NOT the RADAR_BWAV/AUDIO directory (which contains lots of small files).
7. Copy these files to another drive but do NOT make any changes whatsoever to the RADAR_BWAV drive (critical!).
8. After the copy is done, eject the RADAR_BWAV drive.
9. Note that the new files you've created on your drive are locked. To unlock (Mac): select all files, press command-option-I, and uncheck "locked".

For more than one RADAR (25+ tracks), you'll need to do these steps on each machine. Press "S" to "solo" control a different RADAR than the first. Follow the steps above, then press "L" to return to "link" mode.

It is critical to note that if you make any changes to this RADAR drive when it is mounted on your computer, you will actually LOSE data! More details on Project Flattening are on page 88-89 of the 3.40 pdf manual (p 80-81 of the printed version).

The fastest method is to use eSATA, which is many times faster than USB 2.0 when configured correctly. Your computer will need an eSATA port or an eSATA add-on card such as the Apiotek Extreme Dual eSATAII Express Card Adapter. Also note that using multiple eSATA cables/adapters connected in series will decrease your transfer speed compared to a single long eSATA cable. The CRU-DataPort MoveDock DE110 uses an (L-shaped) internal SATA connector, so you'll likely need an internal SATA-to-eSATA cable.

Without the MoveDock, the main drawback to this method is price. RADAR's drives are significantly more expensive than other external drives, and must be purchased directly from iZ or a dealer. Unless you buy a new drive for every project, are working in-house, or can get the RADAR drive back easily, it's better to transfer to another drive.

Also, a project transferred this way can't be reloaded back into RADAR without extra steps (bouncing, transferring, and importing). This won't affect you if it's a one-way handoff. For example, a RADAR live recording that will be mixed in Pro Tools. If you need to return to RADAR, use one of the methods below.

These are instructions for backing up a RADAR project to an external hard drive connected to a Mac. For PC networking, see this document. This method uses RADAR's FTP client to connect to Mac OS X's built-in FTP server over Ethernet. As of 1/2008, this is Silent Way's recommended method for most situations.

Instructions may vary slightly if you are not using OS X v 10.4. RADAR's FTP Client is only available in RADAR software versions 3.38 and up (all Silent Way RADARs are 3.42+ as of 1/2008). Recent RADARs have Gigabit Ethernet aka 1000baseT (older models have 100baseT).

Pre-Backup planning:

• You'll need an external hard drive connected to your Mac. This is a better option than using your Mac's internal drive.

• Your Mac needs a ethernet port. The faster Gigabit Ethernet (aka 1000baseT) is preferred over 100baseT. Don't bother with 10baseT.

• You'll need a Cat6 or Cat5e ethernet cable for Gigabit. Cat5 works for 100baseT. If you don't have an autosensing jack (Macs with Gigabit Ethernet do), you'll need the cable to be a crossover cable.

• You'll need your Mac's user account name and password (see below for how to find these).

• Check how much hard drive space is available on your external drive. One hour of 24 tracks needs 11GB @24bit/44.1k, and 23GB @24bit/96k. (For a handy calculator, see www.ultimatetracksheet.com)

• It's a good idea to name your tracks before transferring. Don't worry, it's OK to name or rename tracks during or after recording. See Tip #2 below about file name format.

• Understand the difference between a "server" and a "client" (client requests data from a server).

Mac Network Setup:

1. Open System Preferences and then click on Network.
   
   (Optional: save current setup via the "Location" menu at the top of the Network pref pane.)
2. At the "Show" menu, select Built in Ethernet and select the TCP/IP Tab.
3. At the "Configure IPv4" menu, select "Using DHCP with Manual Address".
4. At "IP Address" enter an IP Address. For example, Silent Way's RADARs are preconfigured to look for 192.168.0.7.
5. At the bottom of the window, click the Apply Now button.
   
   (Optional: save this new setup as a "Location." This is accessible in the Apple menu.)
   
   

Mac FTP Server Setup:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Sharing.
3. Click on the Services Tab.
4. Check the FTP Access checkbox. It should then show "FTP Access ON" to the right, with connection details below.
5. Click on the Firewall tab. If the Firewall is on, click the "Stop" button to turn it off. (I'm investigating if opening ports 9000-9999 is sufficient.) NOTE: It's important to turn the Firewall back on when you're finished the transfer, to protect you later.
6. Connect an Ethernet cable between your RADAR and your Mac. The RADAR Ethernet port is just to the left of the monitor port.
7. Connect your hard drive to the Mac via FireWire or USB 2. Power the drive on and it should mount on your desktop.
   
   

[ Silent Way's RADAR FTP client and server settings are preconfigured so this next section is only needed for other RADARs. ]

RADAR FTP Client Setup (For connecting to an outside computer from within RADAR):

1. Use RADAR's MENU/PREV keys, arrow keys and ENTER key to go to MAIN/PREFERENCES MENU/NETWORK PREFS/SERVER PREFS and hit ENTER.
2. At the "SERVER PREFS: NETWORK PROTOCOL" prompt, just press ENTER.
3. At the NETWORK PROTOCOL: prompt, move the cursor to FTP and press ENTER.
4. At the SERVER IP ADDR: prompt, use the keyboard and arrow keys to enter the Mac's IP address (ie 192.168.0.7) and hit ENTER.
5. At the SERVER NAME: prompt, enter a name for the FTP Server (ie "Backup"). (Note: For display only.)
6. At the SAVE CHANGES: prompt, choose YES and hit ENTER.
   
   

Backing up projects via FTP:

1. Press RADAR's BACKUP button (on the Session Controller it's at the top/left, under "Macro 1"; on the KC-24 it's right of "L"). It will take a few seconds scanning.
2. At the "BACKUP TO:" prompt, use the up-and-down arrows to choose N:Backup. Hit "ENTER". (If it doesn't find the Mac/PC, you might need to restart RADAR.)
3. At the "USER NAME:" prompt, use the RADAR keyboard to type your Mac login user name (case sensitive), and hit "ENTER".
4. At the "USER PASSWORD:" prompt, use the keyboard to type your Mac login password (case sensitive), and hit "ENTER".
5. At the "SELECT FOLDER: <root directory>" prompt, press the letter "V". The display will read "Volumes/". Press the "+" key. This directory contains all external drives.
6. Navigate your external drive, using the "+" key to go down into a folder, and the "-" key to go up a level. Use the up-and-down arrows to navigate within a folder (hit any letter to jump to the first name with that letter). When you've reached the folder, hit ENTER.
7. At the "BACKUP PROJ: SELECTED PROJECTS" prompt, choose "CURRENT PROJECT" and then hit ENTER. (You can also backup multiple projects by choosing "SELECTED" or "ALL". If so, also choose "PROJECT GROUPING: PROJECT".)
8. At the "BACKUP TYPE:" prompt, choose "BWAV (NO UNDO)" and hit ENTER.
9. At the "TIME RANGE:" prompt, choose "All" and hit ENTER.
10. At the "FILL SILENCE" prompt, choose "No" and hit ENTER.
11. At the "BACKUP NAME:" prompt, type a name (or leave the current  name), and hit ENTER.
12. RADAR will display "xxGB REQUIRED. PROCEED? NO/YES". If you have enough space on your drive, select "YES" and hit ENTER. RADAR will show a countdown of the time remaining, and report when it is done.

After the first time, some of the above steps will be skipped, such as login/password.

Looking up your Mac FTP Sever Username and Password:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. The FTP USER NAME is My Account's Short Name.
4. The FTP USER PASSWORD is My Account's Password.
   
   

Another method is to use an OS X FTP app. For PC networking, see this document. The audio is transferring in the same direction as Method C (RADAR-->Mac), but is initiated via an OS X application rather than RADAR's FTP interface. This is limited and more difficult than Method C for a few reasons.

First, you can't just pull the audio off of RADAR without performing some prep steps on RADAR first. You'll need to backup to RADAR's internal D:Archive drive before accessing that backup via an OS X FTP client.

Also, OS X does not come with a FTP client app. Great third-party Mac FTP apps are available: the $30 Transmit by Panic, free FileZilla, free Classic FTP or free Fire FTP Firefox plugin.

RADAR FTP Server Setup (for connecting to RADAR's FTP server from a Mac FTP client app):

1. Use the MENU/PREV, arrow keys and ENTER key to go to MAIN/PREFERENCES MENU/NETWORK PREFS/INTERFACE PREFS and hit ENTER.
2. Select HOST NAME. At the HOST NAME: prompt, enter a name for your RADAR and hit ENTER.
3. At the DHCP SERVER: prompt, choose DISABLED and hit ENTER.
4. At the LOCAL IP ADDRESS: prompt, use the keypad and arrow keys to enter an IP address (ie 192.168.0.8) and hit ENTER.
5. At the SUBNET MASK: prompt, use the keypad and arrow keys to enter a subnet mask value of 255.255.255.0 and hit ENTER.
6. At the GATEWAY: prompt, leave blank and hit ENTER.
7. At the PRIMARY DNS: prompt, leave blank and hit ENTER.
8. At the SECONDARY DNS: prompt, leave blank and hit ENTER.
9. At the FTP SERVER: prompt, select ENABLED and hit ENTER.
10. At the FTP LOGIN NAME: prompt, type "radar" and hit ENTER.
11. At the FTP PASSWORD: prompt, enter a password of your choosing.
12. At the SAVE CHANGES: prompt, choose YES and hit ENTER.
13. Reboot RADAR if prompted.
    
    

Transferring via an OS X FTP client application and RADAR's FTP server:

1. Backup your project to the D:Archive drive, following "Backing up projects via FTP" (above) steps 1-12, except you'll choose the D:Archive drive rather than N:Mac.
2. Connect all cables as in Method C (above).
3. Launch OS X FTP app.
4. Using the OS X FTP app, login to RADAR using username "radar" and the password you chose above.
5. Navigate to the backed up project on the D:Archive drive.
6. Copy project files to your Mac's external drive.

1) Spotting audio into Pro Tools sessions and other DAWs using BWAV timecode stamps

The step-by-step: Drag. Drop. (Really! That's essentially it. Of course, there are a few more details and caveats, coming soon.)

2) File Name Format

You have complete control over what info is put into filenames, at this menu: PREFERENCES/FILE PREFS/FILE NAME FORMAT. My favorite is "TRK-REGION-NAME". This creates files such as T01-0001-Kick.WAV, T02-0001-Snare.WAV etc.

3) Renaming files from 25+ track projects when backed up from just one RADAR

When you've got a 48-track (or more) RADAR system, backing up is the same as always, except that you need to do each RADAR (24 tracks) separately. When two or more RADARs are linked, the backup from the extra machines automatically names the audio files according to their track number.

But what if you only have one RADAR machine to do your backup? Currently RADAR treats each backup as tracks 01-24. There's no way to have RADAR consider the drive with tracks 25-48 as anything other than tracks 01-24. So upon Backup/Export, BWAV files for tracks 25-48 are numbered 01-24. Here's a quick fix :

Get the utility "A Better Finder Rename", available for Mac or PC, which renames batches of files by many criteria. (There are more apps listed in the comments of this story.)

In this case, I used ABFR's function "Change existing sequence numbers," to add 24 to each filename's number. It works like a charm. The settings look like this:

In older versions of ABFR it's "Change numbers":

For further reference, see izcorp.com.