How do you format new recording media (hard drive and/or CompactFlash)?
When an unformatted hard drive, CF, or external FireWire drive is connected to the recorder the user is prompted to format media if it is not already a FAT32 volume. If a new volume has audio or other data files present but the medium is not a FAT32 volume, the 7-Series will see the volume as unformatted and prompt for formatting. This will erase any and all data files on the drive. A volume already formatted as FAT32 installed into the machine will be ready to record immediately. Formatting takes roughly 10 seconds (equivalent to a “fast format”) for a hard drive and will vary based on the speed and size of the volume. A useful utility on the recorder is its “media speed test.” A newly installed hard drive or CompactFlash can be speed tested to measure its record throughput. This is especially useful with CompactFlash, since the rated speed of CompactFlash is often quite different than its actual throughput.
