Software Update Adds Features to HHB's Portadrive

2005Showing their ongoing commitment to improve and refine the Portadrive digital field recorder, HHB has announced the availability of new V1.40 Portadrive software - which offers a number of enhancements including Disk Mirroring, USB Target Mode, full iXML support and improved auto-shutdown modes.

The Disk Mirroring feature automatically records the current session to both the internal disk and an external SCSI drive (such as a DVD-RAM or hard drive), adding security and providing an identical copy of the session within a few seconds of completing the recording. Disk Mirroring can be suspended at any time allowing the external SCSI drive to be temporarily removed for example when going 'off cart,' and the external drive is automatically re-synced when re-connected. This mirror copy is synchronous, so any changes made to the recording, even metadata changes after the recording is complete, will be accurately mirrored to the copy.

When a standard data transfer option such as the Portadrive docking station, DVD-RAM or FTP via Ethernet is unavailable, the new USB Target Mode feature allows the copying of files from Portadrive to any computer fitted with a USB port. And since the Portadrive emulates a standard mass storage device, no additional software is required. This feature is particularly useful for the transfer of Pro Tools sessions.

By supporting the iXML standard, the V1.40 software will improve the exchange of audio file information between different systems and different stages of the production chain - meaning that an ever increasing number of systems can utilize all the advanced features of Portadrive's metadata.

Additional software enhancements implemented in V1.40 include improved Power Source Switching and Auto-shutdown features, increased speed when opening sessions, improvements to the creation of new sessions and refinements to the display of slate and take information.

Coinciding with the release of V1.40 software is a new DVD featuring a comprehensive overview of the Portadrive, an in-depth demonstration of its features, and interviews with leading sound mixers relating their experiences of using the Portadrive on location. The DVD is available free of charge from HHB and Portadrive distributors worldwide.

HHB products are distributed exclusively in the United States, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean by Sennheiser Electronic Corporation (www.sennheiserusa.com).

For more information, visit their web site at www.hhb.co.uk