MACKIE HDR24/96 - Manual (Page 171)

HDR 24/96
Appendix D – Networking (FTP) Setup Appendix D – Networking (FTP) Setup
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The HDR 24/96 comes to you with a 100BaseT network interface card built in. With an Ethernet
connection between the HDR 24/96 and another computer or network server, project files can be easily
moved to another disk drive for backup, or audio files can be transferred to a digital audio workstation
(DAW) for further editing, processing, or perhaps mixing.
The topic of computer networking can get very complex and we can’t give you a complete course here.
This appendix covers the basics of configuring a simple, directly connected peer-to-peer network
consisting only of one HDR24/96 and one computer, with some side notes about integrating with a small
local area network. If you’re connecting to a larger network, for instance in a corporate workgroup
environment, you probably have a network administrator who can integrate your HDR24/96 using the
information presented here.
VERY IMPORTANT: You really CAN connect your HDR24/96 to the Internet. This means that others
who discover your recorder’s address can access, add, and even delete files on your recorder. Hackers
have programs that search systems on The Net for audio files in hopes of finding a pre-release copy of the
Next Big Hit. You may not want that much free publicity. If you want to use the Internet to share files
with a production partner or client, be aware of the risks and obtain the proper tools to protect your files.
Disclaimer: Sorry, Mackie Designs cannot offer the service or knowledge that you might personally need
on the broad and complex issues of general network administration and networking security. Please seek
guidance from professional computer service types.
Your Studio Network
The two most popular methods of networking in the personal computing environment are:
Peer To Peer – Usually used when only two computers are connected together. This configuration is
described in detail here.
Server/Router Network – One or more computers are connected to a network server and/or router
via a connection hub. You may need to consult other references in order to integrate your HDR24/96
in a larger network, using the information provided here.
When making configuration decisions for networking the HDR 24/96 into your studio, you'll need to
consider the following:
• Which computer is going to be exchanging files with the HDR and for what purpose?
Typical applications are back-up, editing on a DAW, or both. If the application is something
you use only occasionally, you may not need a permanent network connection between your
computer and the HDR. Does the computer have a 100baseT Ethernet network card
installed? If the card supports only a 10-Mbit data rate (as opposed to 100 Mbps) then you
will want to upgrade the card. See the
Glossary for more details.
• Is that computer currently connected to either a LAN or to the Internet? Note that even a
single computer connected to the Internet is already "networked" and will have network
settings. Those existing settings may be compatible or in conflict with the HDR network
settings required. If the computer is already networked, you'll probably want to check those
settings before you launch into changing the HDR set-up.
• How is the rest of your existing network, if any, configured? For example does you network
support 100base T Ethernet (see Glossary for explanation) throughout? Do you already have
a network switch, hub, or router? And if so, are there Ethernet 100BaseT ports available?
Technical Reference 171