Alesis 1394 User Manual
Reference Manual
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Table Of Contents
Introduction..........................................................3
Welcome!......................................................................................................3
About the FirePort 1394 and FST/Connect
software ................................................................................4
Important features of FirePort 1394 and FST/Connect .....................4
Key Features of the FirePort 1394 and FST/Connect
software........................................................................................................6
How to Use This Manual ...................................................7
Important Safety Instructions..........................9
Important Safety Instructions (English).......................9
Safety symbols used in this product.........................................................9
Please follow these precautions when using this product: ...................9
Instructions de Sécurité Importantes
(French) ................................................................................11
Symboles utilisés dans ce produit.............................................................11
Veuillez suivre ces précautions lors de l’utilisation de
l’appareil: ...................................................................................................... 11
Lesen Sie bitte die folgende
Sicherheitshinweise (German)........................................13
Sicherheit Symbole verwendet in diesem Produkt.................................13
Folgen Sie bitte diesen Vorkehrungen, wenn dieses
Produkt verwendet wird: ...........................................................................13
CE Declaration Of Conformity ........................................15
FCC Compliance Statement ............................................. 15
1
Chapter One: Getting Started...........................17
Unpacking the FirePort 1394.................................................................... 17
Materials You Will Need....................................................17
System requirements ..................................................................................17
Connecting/Disconnecting the FirePort 1394....................................... 18
Installing FST/Connect .....................................................20
Chapter Two: Operations...................................21
The FST/Connect Main Window......................................21
The Drive window...................................................................................... 21
The Project window ................................................................................... 22
The Song window....................................................................................... 23
The Transfer window................................................................................. 24
The Format window................................................................................... 26
The Pull-Down Menus .......................................................27
Drive.............................................................................................................28
Project...........................................................................................................28
Song .............................................................................................................. 28
Transfer........................................................................................................ 28
Help ..............................................................................................................28
Table Of Contents
Essentials of Exporting and Importing ......................... 29
Exporting and Importing SD2 files ......................................................... 29
Exporting and Importing DIG/SD files ................................................30
Chapter Three: Applications.............................33
Tips and Tricks ...................................................................33
HD24 memory conservation ....................................................................33
Window Navigation and Shortcuts..........................................................34
Free Space Preview: Using the numeric keys..........................................34
Selecting certain tracks for import/export .............................................35
Making imported tracks go where you want ..........................................35
Useful Information.............................................................35
How the PC views your FST Drive ......................................................... 35
Starting and restarting FST/Connect and FirePort 1394 .....................36
Naming things: Characters you can use ..................................................36
Naming things: Forbidden characters......................................................36
Troubleshooting...................................................37
Troubleshooting Index .............................................................................. 37
Warranty/Contact Alesis.....................................39
Alesis Limited Warranty.............................................................................39
Alesis Contact Information....................................................................... 40
2
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/
s
Introduction
Welcome!
Thank you for selecting the Alesis FirePort 1394™, the perfect
complement to your Alesis Adat HD24 hard disk recorder. Since
1984, we've been designing and building creative tools for the
audio community. We believe in our products, because we've heard
the results that creative people like you achieve with them.
One of Alesis' goals is to make high-quality music technology
available to everyone. This Reference Manual is an important part
of that, because in it we try to present the FirePort 1394’s features
in a way that is easy to understand and remember. If a feature were
not properly documented, you might not discover its potential
benefits for some time. So we strive to write our manuals as
carefully as we build our products.
The goal of this manual is to get you the information you need as
quickly as possible, with a minimum of hassle. We hope we've
achieved that. If not, please drop us an email and give us your
suggestions on how we could improve future editions of this
manual.
We hope your investment will bring you many years of creative
enjoyment and help you achieve your goals.
Sincerely,
The people of Alesis
For more effective
ervice and product
update notices, please
register your FirePort
1394 online at:
http://www.alesis.com
upport/warranty.htm
3
Introduction
About the FirePort 1394 and
FST/Connect software
The Alesis FirePort 1394 is designed to complement the ADAT
HD24 hard disk recorder perfectly. It allows extremely fast and
accurate transfers of audio data between an ADAT FST™ hard
drive and your computer by using industry-standard IEEE 1394
connections (also known as FireWire). Tracks may be transferred
at speeds up to 40 times faster than 10-BaseT Ethernet! This
makes it even more practical for you to use your favorite editing
platform to modify the tracks to your heart’s content, after which
they may be sent back with equal accuracy and even greater speed
(which will be explained later).
Alesis, the company that revolutionized multitrack recording with
the introduction of the ADAT, provided yet another major priceto-performance breakthrough with the ADAT HD24 hard disk
recorder. Now with the advent of the FirePort 1394, the superior
audio quality and portability of the HD24 can be married with the
DSP-wrangling capabilities of your favorite audio editing software.
Don’t forget to eat.
Important features of FirePort 1394 and
FST/Connect
Industry-standard IEEE 1394 connection
FirePort 1394 takes advantage of the high-speed, industrystandard FireWire connection for extremely rapid file transfers.
Gone are the days of large periods of downtime while waiting for
an entire song to make the jump to or from a computer-based
audio editing software package. With the FirePort 1394 and
FST/Connect software, the entire contents of a 24-track, 48k song
can be transferred from one device to the other in far less time
than it would take to listen to the song one time through.
Simple to hook up
Plug a FireWire cable from your computer into the FirePort 1394,
plug one of your HD24’s hard drive caddies into the FirePort
1394, and turn it on. The drive spins up in seconds and you’re
ready to go.
Easy-to-use software
Create, name and delete Projects and Songs, format and name your
hard drives, export single tracks or whole songs to your computer
and import them back to the FST drive with a few clicks of the
mouse. Know at a glance the amount of free space available in
your FST drive at any of the standard sample rates. Write-protect a
song with a flick of the wrist. All of these functions are accessible
from the main page of the included FST/Connect software.
4
Introduction
F
Provides multiple file transfer formats
The FST/Connect software allows you to move data to and from
an FST hard drive in the four most widely used formats: wav
(Wave), aif (Audio Interchange File), sd2 (Sound Designer™ 2),
and dig/sd (Sound Designer 1). There is also an option to export
tracks to the PC as 16-bit files.
Support for multiple FirePort 1394 systems
Up to four FST hard drives can be connected to your PC at the
same time through four separate FirePort 1394 systems and
FST/Connect. All you need to do to take advantage of this
capability is to “daisy-chain” four FirePort 1394 systems (each has
two FireWire ports to facilitate this), or you’ll need an interface
card for your PC with as many as four external FireWire ports. A
combination of direct and chained FirePorts is fine, too, as long as
you don’t exceed a total of four systems.
99 Projects, 99 Songs
The hard drives available to the consumer have become larger and
cheaper with each passing day. But previously, the maximum
number of songs you could record on one FST hard drive was 64,
so it was difficult to fill up an 80-gigabyte drive, for example
(unless the length of every song was over 5-1/2 minutes, on
average).
Now the good news: with file system 1.10 on your FST drive and
HD24 OS version 1.10, you have the ability to keep track of 99
Projects, each containing 99 Songs. That makes for a grand total
of 9,801 songs possible on one hard drive! Even the most prolific
songwriters among us would be hard pressed to run out of room.
Another use for the Project function could be to keep the songs
of different clients all together, without the need for a separate
hard drive for each.
FirePort 1394 and FST/Connect will allow you to take full
advantage of today’s larger hard drives. And with a maximum
possible hard drive size of 2.2 Terabytes, the FirePort is fully
prepared for the future.
Track Preview
With the proper sound card installed in your PC, tracks of any
sample rate may be previewed individually from the PC or directly
from the FST drive. This is helpful in determining ahead of time
which track or set of tracks you would like to transfer into the PC
for editing, or transfer back into the FST drive for mixdown.
Your HD24 must be equipped
with OS version 1.10 or
higher to take advantage of
all of the features offered by
ST 1.10 and FST/Connect.
5
Introduction
Key Features of the FirePort 1394 and
FST/Connect software
1. Lightning-fast file transfer over industry-standard FireWire
connections.
2. Transfer anywhere from 1 to 24 tracks of audio at one time
between your FST drive and your computer.
3. Supported audio file formats include .wav, .aif, .sd2 and
.dig/.sd.
4. Straightforward, easy-to-use interface, with all of the
important information about your hard drives, Projects and
Songs readily available.
5. Connect up to four FST drives at once.
6. Format an FST drive from your PC.
7. Hard drive sizes up to 2 Terabytes are supported.
8. Give each hard drive its own name.
9. Free Space Preview shows the amount of memory available
on the hard drive at a glance.
10. 99 Projects and 99 Songs on one hard drive for extensive
archival capability (file system 1.10 only).
11. Create, name, and delete Projects and Songs.
12. Song, Project, and hard drive names up to 64 characters in
length (file system 1.10 only)
13. Song length, track depth, sample rate and bit resolution
readily visible.
14. Write-protection for Songs with a single mouse-click.
15. Track preview for auditioning individual tracks from the PC
or from the FST drive
16. 16-bit transfer option for exporting tracks to the PC
6
Introduction
H
How to Use This Manual
This manual is divided into the following sections describing the
various functions and applications for the FirePort 1394 and
FST/Connect. While it's a good idea to read through the entire
manual once carefully, those having general knowledge about
computer software and hardware should use the table of contents
to look up specific functions.
Chapter 1: Getting Started. This chapter covers the basics of
connecting the FirePort 1394 to your computer and installing the
FST/Connect software. System requirements are listed here as
well.
Chapter 2: Operations will take you on a detailed tour of the various
features of the FST/Connect software. It covers everything from
hard drive formatting and naming to the selection and transfer of
individual or multiple tracks, detailing Project and Song functions
along the way.
Chapter 3: Applications could also be named “Tips and Tricks.” It
shows a number of ways to use FST/Connect to solve the varied
needs that may arise in the course of working on a given project. It
also covers in greater detail some of the particulars related to
formatting an FST drive using Windows (don’t!), as well as starting
and restarting FST/Connect and/or the FirePort 1394. Also
included is a list of characters that can be used in naming a hard
drive, Project, or Song.
Near the end of the manual are some troubleshooting tips. Turn
here if you are experiencing any difficulties with FST/Connect.
elpful tips and advice are
highlighted in a shaded box
like this.
When something important
appears in the manual, an
exclamation mark (like the
one shown at left) will appear
with some explanatory text.
This symbol indicates that
this information is vital when
operating the FirePort 1394.
7
Introduction
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8
Important Safety
Instructions
Important Safety Instructions (English)
Safety symbols used in this product
operating and maintenance instructions in the literature
accompanying this unit.
the unit that can cause dangerous electric shocks.
voltages that can cause dangerous electrical shock.
Please follow these precautions when using
this product:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not spray any liquid cleaner
7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
11. Use only attachments or accessories specified by the
This symbol alerts the user that there are important
This symbol warns the user of uninsulated voltage within
This symbol warns the user that output connectors contain
onto the faceplate, as this may damage the front panel controls
or cause a dangerous condition.
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one
wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades
and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third
prong are provided for your safety. When the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
manufacturer.
Continued next page
9
Important Safety Instructions
12. Use only with a cart, stand, bracket, or table designed for use
with professional audio or music equipment. In any
installation, make sure that injury or damage will not result
from cables pulling on the apparatus and its mounting. If a
cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused
for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid
has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. This unit produces heat when operated normally. Operate in a
well-ventilated area with at least six inches of clearance from
peripheral equipment.
16. This product, in combination with an amplifier and
headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound
levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate
for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a level
that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or
ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.
17. Do not expose the apparatus to dripping or splashing. Do not
place objects filled with liquids (flower vases, soft drink cans,
coffee cups) on the apparatus.
18. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do
not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
10
Important Safety Instructions
Instructions de Sécurité Importantes (French)
Symboles utilisés dans ce produit
Ce symbole alèrte l’utilisateur qu’il existe des instructions
de fonctionnement et de maintenance dans la documentation
jointe avec ce produit.
Ce symbole avertit l’utilisateur de la présence d’une
tension non isolée à l’intérieur de l’appareil pouvant engendrer des
chocs électriques.
Ce symbole prévient l'utilisateur de la présence de tensions
sur les raccordements de sorties, représentant un risque
d'électrocution.
Veuillez suivre ces précautions lors de
l’utilisation de l’appareil:
1. Lisez ces instructions.
2. Gardez ces instructions.
3. Tenez compte de tous les avertissements.
4. Suivez toutes les instructions.
5. N’utilisez pas cet allareil à proximité de l’eau.
6. Ne nettoyez qu’avec un chiffon humide. Il est potentiellement
dangereux d'utiliser des pulvérisateurs ou nettoyants liquides
sur cet appareil.
7. Installez selon les recommandations du constructeur.
8. Ne pas installer à proximilé de sources de chaleur comme
radiateurs, cuisinière ou autre appareils (don’t les
amplificateurs) produisant de la chaleur.
9. Ne pas enlever la prise de terre du cordon secteur. Une prise
murale avec terre deux broches et une troisièrme reliée à la
terre. Cette dernière est présente pour votre sécurité. Si le
cordon secteur ne rentre pas dans la prise de courant,
demandez à un électricien qualifié de remplacer la prise.
10. Evitez de marcher sur le cordon secteur ou de le pincer, en
particulier au niveau de la prise, et aux endroits où il sor de
l’appareil.
11. N’utilisez que des accessoires spécifiés par le constructeur.
Suite de la page suivante
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