AAton Cantar Mini User manual

Cantar
Mini
User
Manual
Software v 2.37

Cantar X3 2

Table of Content
INPUTS.....................................................................................................................8
OUTPUTS..................................................................................................................9
ME IA....................................................................................................................10
Formatting............................................................................................................10
State Icons...........................................................................................................11
Remaining Space..................................................................................................11
Powering On/Off.....................................................................................................12
Power ON...........................................................................................................12
Power OFF...........................................................................................................13
General Mechanical description..................................................................................14
HELP : Key Reminder ..................................................................................................16
Setting up a Record Session........................................................................................17
Reset...................................................................................................................17
Project.................................................................................................................17
Selection..........................................................................................................17
Creation...........................................................................................................17
ay Suffix.........................................................................................................17
Media.................................................................................................................18
Selection..........................................................................................................18
Formating.........................................................................................................18
Audio Parameters..................................................................................................18
Cantar Audio Chain..................................................................................................19
Setting up Actuators...................................................................................................20
Linear Fader........................................................................................................20
Cantarem II..........................................................................................................20
Sliders.............................................................................................................20
Function Buttons (C1 to C4).................................................................................20
A-Box..................................................................................................................21
Setting up Tracks.......................................................................................................22
Ingrid routing........................................................................................................22
Current Ingrid....................................................................................................22
Name..............................................................................................................22
Inputs...............................................................................................................22
Add input.....................................................................................................22
eclare input as Mixdown...............................................................................23
Remove input................................................................................................23
Pan-Pot to Mixdown...........................................................................................23
Ms decoding into Mixdown.............................................................................24
Track settings....................................................................................................24
Track Status : Arm / isarm.............................................................................24
Track Level....................................................................................................24
Talk to Tracks....................................................................................................24
Track Metering......................................................................................................24
Track Solo............................................................................................................25
Trigerring a Solo of a Track.................................................................................25
Status (Arm / disarm Track).................................................................................25
Mixdown PanPot...............................................................................................25
Track Name.....................................................................................................25
Track Gain.......................................................................................................25
Corresponding Input Solo-ing...............................................................................26
ouble solo & Phase-Meter..................................................................................26
Setting up Inputs........................................................................................................27
Triggering a Solo...................................................................................................27
Mic.....................................................................................................................27
Phantom...........................................................................................................27
Cantar X3 3

Limiter..............................................................................................................27
Phase Inverse....................................................................................................28
Filters...............................................................................................................28
Attenuators.......................................................................................................28
Link.................................................................................................................28
igital Filters (E.Q).............................................................................................29
Corresponding Track Solo-ing..............................................................................29
ouble Solo & Phase-Meter.................................................................................29
Line.....................................................................................................................30
Gain...............................................................................................................30
Attenuator.........................................................................................................30
Filter................................................................................................................30
Other Parameters...............................................................................................30
AES-42................................................................................................................30
Setting up Outputs : HEA PHONE...............................................................................32
Headphone Level..................................................................................................32
Level................................................................................................................32
Safety Level......................................................................................................32
Outmaps..............................................................................................................32
Current Outmap................................................................................................32
Name..............................................................................................................33
Inputs...............................................................................................................33
Other Main Selector Positions..................................................................................33
Setting up Outputs : LINE OUTPUTS..............................................................................34
Outmaps..............................................................................................................34
Output Level......................................................................................................34
Play Mute.........................................................................................................35
Beep Mute.......................................................................................................35
Current Configuration.........................................................................................35
Edit Outmap.....................................................................................................35
Name..........................................................................................................35
Inputs...........................................................................................................35
Talk.............................................................................................................36
Multiple Outmap...............................................................................................36
Other Main Selector Positions..................................................................................36
Setting up Outputs : AES OUTPUTS ..............................................................................37
Outmaps..............................................................................................................37
Playing Takes............................................................................................................38
Commands...........................................................................................................38
Waveform Modes.................................................................................................38
Monitoring Modes ( ).............................................................................................38
Headphone Modes...............................................................................................38
Recorded Mixdown............................................................................................39
Tracks-Mono.....................................................................................................39
User Outmaps...................................................................................................39
Solo................................................................................................................40
Routing................................................................................................................40
Sync Points...........................................................................................................40
META ATA..............................................................................................................41
Next Record.........................................................................................................41
Quick Edit (Scene-Take-Notes) : from the PPR Menu..................................................41
Full Edit............................................................................................................41
Last Record...........................................................................................................41
Previous Records....................................................................................................41
Single Take Edition............................................................................................42
Multiple Take Edition..........................................................................................42
Web App............................................................................................................43
Cantar X3 4

Connection.......................................................................................................43
Via Ethernet..................................................................................................43
Via Wifi.......................................................................................................43
Using the App...................................................................................................43
Completion..........................................................................................................44
Track Names....................................................................................................44
Timecode.................................................................................................................45
State...................................................................................................................45
Internal Source Timecode Method.............................................................................45
Internal Free-Run master clock...............................................................................45
Calendat Init.................................................................................................45
Operator Init.................................................................................................45
LTC Init & Control (from camera, GPS or Cantar) LTC-out.......................................45
Internal Record-Run driving clock...........................................................................45
Internal clock, AutoSlate on clapsticks....................................................................46
External Source.....................................................................................................46
Ca tourne : Usefull functions........................................................................................47
Pre-Record functionality...........................................................................................47
Pre-Record Buffer................................................................................................47
Previous take trash..............................................................................................47
Tone Generator.....................................................................................................47
Talk.....................................................................................................................47
Slate etection......................................................................................................47
User Marker.........................................................................................................47
Levels..................................................................................................................47
Inputs...............................................................................................................47
Tracks..............................................................................................................48
Locking Panels......................................................................................................48
Linear actuator Panel..........................................................................................48
Low Power Mode..................................................................................................48
Trash...................................................................................................................49
Send to Trash....................................................................................................49
Restore from Trash..............................................................................................49
elete from Trash...............................................................................................49
Fix Files............................................................................................................49
Sound Reports...........................................................................................................50
Setting up the reports..............................................................................................50
Header............................................................................................................50
ata................................................................................................................51
Generating the report(s)..........................................................................................51
How to Extract & Process Files : BACKUP.......................................................................53
Backup settings.....................................................................................................53
Source and Target.............................................................................................53
Process............................................................................................................53
Backup processing.................................................................................................53
Idle backup..........................................................................................................54
Network backup...................................................................................................55
AU IO & TIMECO E................................................................................................56
Sample Rate, Bit epth & Wordclock........................................................................56
Pre-Record Length...................................................................................................56
Timecode Settings..................................................................................................56
LTC Out Generator.............................................................................................56
LTC Out Level....................................................................................................56
LTC Rate..........................................................................................................56
Timecode Source...............................................................................................56
Timecode User-bits.............................................................................................56
Timecode Fudged..............................................................................................57
Cantar X3 5

Operator TC.....................................................................................................57
Record-Run TC...................................................................................................57
Clap etection......................................................................................................57
Mixer Fader Max Level...........................................................................................57
Phantom Mic Gain.................................................................................................57
Polyphonic Mode..................................................................................................57
Tone & Beep........................................................................................................57
Tone Level........................................................................................................57
Beep Level........................................................................................................57
Record Beep.....................................................................................................57
Beep Routing....................................................................................................57
isarmed Tracks....................................................................................................57
Remote Rec..........................................................................................................57
Playback & Rec.....................................................................................................58
Slate Mics............................................................................................................58
Internal slate mic................................................................................................58
Jack 3,5 slate mic..............................................................................................58
Jack 3,5 bias pwr..............................................................................................58
Talk full duplex..................................................................................................58
Talk to Tracks....................................................................................................58
Talk to Headphones...........................................................................................58
Talk to Headphones...........................................................................................58
Hdphn safety lvl....................................................................................................58
Balance Lock........................................................................................................58
Audio Power.........................................................................................................58
igital power....................................................................................................58
TECHNICAL.............................................................................................................59
Scene & Take Template..........................................................................................59
File naming..........................................................................................................59
Vumeter Settings....................................................................................................59
Mxdn Shifted....................................................................................................59
Grid................................................................................................................59
Line Level..........................................................................................................59
Gradian...........................................................................................................59
Red Zone.........................................................................................................59
Yellow Zone.....................................................................................................59
Scale...............................................................................................................59
Speed.............................................................................................................59
Peek Hold........................................................................................................60
System Clock........................................................................................................60
ate................................................................................................................60
Time................................................................................................................60
isplay Levels/Attenuation......................................................................................60
Inputs Levels......................................................................................................60
Tracks attenuation..............................................................................................60
Light....................................................................................................................60
Backlight..........................................................................................................60
LE .................................................................................................................60
Low Power in stop.................................................................................................60
External voltage limit...............................................................................................60
Keyboard layout....................................................................................................60
File Network access...............................................................................................61
Wifi....................................................................................................................61
Tech support.........................................................................................................61
IP Adress..........................................................................................................61
iagnostic........................................................................................................61
Save / Load settings..............................................................................................61
Cantar X3 6

Save...............................................................................................................61
Load................................................................................................................61
Load firmware.......................................................................................................62
PLAYBACK AN RECOR ..........................................................................................63
Activate the playback and Rec mode........................................................................63
Live Mode............................................................................................................63
Select the file(s) to play (and how it will be sent to the Record InGrid)..........................63
Create Play-card................................................................................................64
Test the setup....................................................................................................65
Pre-Record........................................................................................................66
Record.............................................................................................................66
Clone Mode.........................................................................................................66
Select the files to play.........................................................................................66
Play-cards.........................................................................................................67
Test & Ppr.........................................................................................................67
Record.............................................................................................................67
ANNEXES................................................................................................................68
Connectors...........................................................................................................68
Mini elta Ribbon..............................................................................................68
Headphone Jack 6.35mm & Slate Mic Jack 3.5mm.................................................68
Timecode Lemo 5 (F)..........................................................................................68
Power XLR-4 (M)................................................................................................68
Mic & Line TA-3(F)..............................................................................................69
AES-42 In/AES Out sub-15 H (F).....................................................................69
Analog Output sub-25......................................................................................69
Hi-Rose............................................................................................................69
Cantar Audio Chain...............................................................................................70
Software history.....................................................................................................70
Cantar X3 7

INPUTS
4 Mics
(4 TA-3 )
Cold – Hot – Gnd
(3) (2) (1)
2 Lines
(2 TA-3)
(sa e wiring as above)
2 Aes-42 pairs
(Sub-D 15 HD)
Pair A1-A2 Pair A3-A4
Cold – Hot – Gnd Cold – Hot – Gnd
(4) (14) (6) (5) (15) (7)
Cantar X3 8

OUTPUTS
6,35 mm HP
3,5mm HP/ Slate
8 Lines
(Sub-D 25)
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
(hot+ cold- gnd)
2 Aes pairs
(Sub-D 15 HD)
Pair A1-A2
Cold – Hot – Gnd
(1) (11) (8)
Pair A3-A4
Cold – Hot – Gnd
(2) (12) (9)
Cantar X3 9

MEDIA
The Cantar can record on 4 medias : an internal M.2 SS drive ; 2 S cards and 1 USB media
(the first media connected to any of the Cantar’s USB port).
•The SS is located on the Cantar's mother board, not accessible.
•The S card slots are located on the right side of the Cantar.
•2 Usb slots are availabe for a Usb media on the right side of the Cantar . Only one Usb
media will be recognized : the first one to be plugged.
Usb ports
S slots
Usb Ports
I. For atting
All medias need to be formatted using the FAT-32 file system.
It is reco anded to for at your edia using the Cantar. It is done in the SESSION menu
(while the Main Selector is in the 2 o’clock position).
Select the field beneath the appropriate media to format it and
press the OK button, a confirmation Window will open.
(or simply press the according shortcut displayed underneath
each media)
Confirm by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.
WARNING: All information contained on the media is erased.
NB: In order to prevent mistakes, formatting the
internal rive is protected by the need to enter
the Cantar number with the Plus(+) and Minus(-)
buttons.
This number may be found in the Stop Menu.
NB 2 : An enabled media which is Full or which is not correctly formatted will have the same
icon as a missing media : with a red ‘X’
Cantar X3 10

II. State Icons
•Grey: not present and not used.
•Blue: present, but not used.
•Blue, with a green check: present, being used by a Recording process..
•Blue, with a red X: not present or faulty or full, while being used by a Recording process.
> WARNING, please check
•Red and Orange: Slow media.
Cantar uses its internal audio buffer to deal with slow media but if your media is not fast
enough, according to the record parameters (track count, sample-rate, bit-depth), it will
warn you.
൦Orange: Warning this media is slow, end of record may take a while in order to flush
the Audio buffer.
൦Red: Alert very slow media, record may fail if the internal Audio buffer is fully filled.
•Idle: The media is used as an Idle Backup media. When Idle backup process is running, its
progress is displayed as a percentage.
NB: Red or orange may appear at the very start of a Take but should not long.
WARNING: Cantar monitors the filling of its internal Audio buffer so that if a safety limit is
reached, any slow media will automatically be stopped.
NB: • While 3 Usb ports are available, only one will be used: the first which was plugged
and mounted.
• If a media fails during a recording (stopped due to speed issue or media filled or media
error), record will continue if a mono process is still active on a media.
III.Re aining Space
While the Cantar is in the Stop Position (Main Selector at 9 o’clock), the remaining free space
on each media is displayed.
By pressing the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons, it is possible to toggle between remaining space
and remaining time which is calculated according to the recording configuration used on each
media (“N.A” is displayed if the media is not used, and “--” if the media is not present).
Cantar X3 11

Powering On/Off
The Cantar may be powered by 3 sources : 2 internal smart batteries and an external source
(XLR-4 ; specs : 13 to 18 V – 4 Amps)
Ground – NC – NC – +Batt
(1) (2) (3) (4)
The power sources are hot swapable : the Cantar automatically switches instantly without power
break from one to another.
The Cantar draws power from the sources in this order : XLR-4 then Battery 1 then Battery 2.
I. Power ON
Press the Power ON/OFF button to power up your Cantar. A few LE s should be illuminated
symbolising the startup sequence.
The Cantar X3 logo is then displayed above a progress bar indicating the status of the system
startup.
Cantar X3 12

NB: Rescue Mode
In case of an unexpected shutdown: • Power failure or low battery.
• Emergency Shutdown
• System problem
The next time the Cantar is powered On, it will launch a special startup mode with minimum
system loading. It displays a dialog box with the following choices:
•Reboot
•Shut down
•Load Firmware
Choose the appropriate option with the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons and press the OK button
to execute it.
II. Power OFF
Powering the Cantar off is possible while the Main Selector is in the Stop position (9 o’clock,
Stop symbol). Press the On Button to display a dialog asking for confirmation. Press OK to
confirm and shut the Cantar down
NB: E ergency Shutdown: Cantar can also be powered down by holding the Power
ON/OFF button pressed for more than 10 seconds.
The next boot will be in Rescue Mode as it is an abnormal way to shut the Cantar down.
Cantar X3 13

General Mechanical description
The Cantar can be roughly divided into several main parts :
•The Linear Actioner panel : 10 linear faders, each having a corresponding solo Button.
On the back side of the panel are located the TA-3 corresponding to the analog inputs :
4 Mics and 2 Line inputs.
The analog outputs and HiRose connectors can also be found at the rear.
•The button panel : enabling to control the User interface throught :
▪Function buttons (F1 to F4)
▪Shift and Control modification buttons.
▪irectional buttons : Left and Right, and below the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons
which are used to control the Headphone configurations in normal mode
(PPR/REC) or oftenly as Up and own buttons.
▪Ok and Escape buttons.
▪Power On/Off at the back of the panel.
Below that panel, on the front side of the Cantar are located the jacks : a 6.35 mm
Headphone jack and a 3,5mm jack for Headphone/Slate.
On the left of the Front panel is the embedded Talk/ Slate mic.
•The isplay panel : a large orientable LC screen, foldable on the Linear actuator panel,
the screen may be orientable according to the work condition (shoulder, cart …).
•The Selector : on the right side of the machine is the Main Selector.
It has 12 positions, to each position corresponds a Menu on the screen and a
functionality. It has a Jog wheel in its center.
The 12 positions are :
◦Record (12 o’clock position)
◦Pre-Record (11 o’clock position)
◦Test (10 o’clock position)
◦Stop (9 o’clock position)
◦Play (8 o’clock position)
◦Audio File Browser (7 o’clock position)
◦Outmaps (6 o’clock position)
◦InGrid (5 o’clock position)
◦Audio & Timecode (4 o’clock position)
◦Technical (3 o’clock position)
◦Session (2 o’clock position)
◦Backup (1 o’clock position)
Cantar X3 14

•The Right Side which gives access to Usb, Sd slots, and Ethernet port.
•The Left Side which gives access to the Timecode Lemo-4 and the option port.
On the left side, just underneath the Cantar is the igital inputs/outputs connector (Sub
15 H ).
•The Back Side which gives access to the 2 batteries, an XLR-4 for C in, and a
mechanical locking port.
Fader +Solo button Power out (HiRose) Wifi Antenna
Light Sensor
Linear Actioner Panel Screen Mic & Line inputs Line Outputs
Power On/Off
Pot + Solo Button
Solo Line / Aes-42
Headphone Level
Shift
Shift / Control
Function buttons F1 to F3 Power On/Off
irectional Buttons (L/R/U/ ) Headphone button
Main Selector
Ok /Esc
Ext Power IN (XLR-4)
Option port Timecode (Lemo 4) Batt 2 Batt 1
Aes42 Inputs / Aes Outputs
6,35 mm Headphone jack
3,5 mm Headphone + Slate jack
Slate mic
Cantar X3 15

HELP : Key Re inder
In order to remind the user of the shortcuts available at any time, a quick help Menu is available
by pressing three times the Shift button.
This help box is available in the Record, Pre-Record, Test, Play, Browse, Outmaps, and InGrid
Menus.
Each item may be selected by pressing the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons and more details
obtained by pressing the Ok button.
Cantar X3 16

Setting up a Record Session
I. Reset
If needed, resetting a Cantar to its original state is made in the Technical Menu (while the Main
Selector is in the 3 o’clock position). Select the item “Reset Factory” and select how depth should
the Cantar be resetted : all parameters ; just the configurations presets (InGrid and Outmaps) or
both.
II. Project
On each record media, the folder structure is : the Project folder is at the root folder, it encloses
the ay folders which encloses the Wav BWF Files.
The Project folder is selected in the SESSION Menu (while the Main Selector is in the 2 o'clock
position).
1. Selection
On the first line of parameters named “Recording Project”, using the directional keys, select the
first field and press the OK Button to display a list of the already existing Projects on the first
recording media found.
2. Creation
Select the field named “Create New” and press the OK Button to open the New Project dialog.
NB: If they don't already exist, the Project and ay folders are not created when the Project
Name is validated but the next time the recorder goes into Record.
3. Day Suffix
A suffix can be added to the ay folders name if needed.
It can be helpful if it is needed to differentiate 2 folders in the same Project and same day.
Once the dialog box opened, press the F4 button to edit the Suffix and press the F3 button to
enable or disable it.
Cantar X3 17

III.Media
1. Selection
The Cantar can record on 4 medias : an internal SS drive ; 2 S cards and 1 USB media (the
first media connected to any of the Cantar’s USB port).
For each media, 3 modes are available:
• Live rec.: the media is a record media.
• Idle: the media is a backup media and backup will be performed while the Main Selector is in
the Test position. It is particularly useful when a media does not provide enough bandwith to be
able to select is as “Live rec” media.
• Disable: Unused media.
For each media, the Cantar can record:
• Monophonic files: one file per Track, named as “XXnnnn==SSSSSSSStNN==_TT.wav”
XXnnnn: Cantar's unique FileTag
==: Separator (can be '=' or '_' according to file naming parameter in the
Technical menu).
SSSSSSSStNN: Scene and Take Type (Take type may be disabled in
Tech. Menu)
_: Track Number Separator.
TT: Track number from '01' to '16'.
• Stereo Mixdown file: Stereo file of Mixdown left and right interleaved.
• PolyPhonic file: Polyphonic file of all Tracks interleaved. Two modes are available : original
Polyphonic format, where the number of channels is determined by the highest Track number
used and all unused Tracks will be replaced with blank channels. And a Compact mode where
Tracks are regrouped to the smallest count of track possible (blank tracks are suppressed)
Folder Structure :
• Co pressed Proxy:
In addition to the main recording processes (Monophonic, Stereo Mixdown, Polyphonic), a
compressed file can be generated.
Two formats are available: Ogg-Vorbis and Mp3.
Both formats can contain Stereo Mixdown. Ogg-Vorbis can also contain Polyphonic channels.
Each format can be recorded on USB or S media.
Compression is lossy and can be set up between, Low, Middle and High quality.
2. For ating
Select the field beneath the appropriate media to format it. Press the OK button, a confirmation
Window will open. Confirm by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.
IV.Audio Para eters
Sample rate, Bits depth, Pre-record duration can be selected in the AU IO & TC Menu (while the
Main Selector is in the 4 o'clock position).
Cantar X3 18

Cantar udio Chain
Cantar may record up to 16 tracks. On those tracks may be routed :
- 6 analog inputs : 4 Mics & 2 Lines
- 4 digital inputs : 2 AES-42 Pairs (that may be used as AES-3 too)
- 2 Mixdown : Xl & Xr
and a digitally modified version of digital inputs and tracks :
- 4 digital + Gain : a version of the digital inputs affected by a digital Gain.
- 16 tracks Postfaded : a version of the tracks affected by the Track Gain.
Cantar has 8 analog outputs : Line-out ; 4 digital outputs : 2 Aes-3 pairs.
On those outputs may be routed all the colored rectangle of the Cantar Audio Chain : all the
inputs mentioned previously plus the 16 tracks.
All gains may be controled in an undifferentiated way by :
- a Linear fader (10 on the Linear Actioner panel or 12 on the Cantarem 2).
- the Jog wheel during a Solo (if not controled by any actuator).
- any optional controler :
- Cantaress
- A-Box
- Cantarem2
NB: The first Cantare is not co patible with the Cantar Mini.
Cantar X3 19

Setting up ctuators
Any slider of the Linear actioner panel, or Cantarem2 (if connected) or A-Box (if connected) can
be assigned to any input (Mic, Line) or track or Line out level.
NB: • When an optional controler is connected, its assignments override other actuators'
assignments, making them unassigned in case of conflict.
The order of priority is : Cantarem II ; A-Box ; Linear actioner ; Rotative actioner.
• Assignations may be Left or Right shifted by pressing the Shift and Left or Right buttons.
All assignations to the Left (respectively Right) of the current item, including it, are shifted to
the Left (respectively Right), the last (respectively current item) becomes unassigned.
I. Linear Fader
To open the Assignation panel, press and hold the Shift + Linear Slider Solo button. To go to
next or previous actuator press the Ctrl + Plus(+) or Minus(-) button or press the appropriate Solo
button.
Assignation is changed by pressing the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons or using the Jog wheel.
II. Cantare II (if connected)
1. Sliders
To open the Assignation panel, press and hold the Shift + Slider Solo buttons on the Cantarem II.
To go to next or previous actuator press the Ctrl + Plus(+) or Minus(-) button or press the
appropriate Solo button.
Assignation is changed by pressing the Plus(+) and Minus(-) buttons or using the Jog wheel.
2. Function Buttons (C1 to C4)
To open the Function keys Assignation panel, press the two Shift buttons + Function buttons on
the Cantarem II.
It enables to copy a function button: Talk 1, Talk 2, F1 to F4 buttons.
Cantar X3 20