RADAR (audio recorder)
RADAR (Random Access Digital Audio Recorder)[1][2] is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.
History
The first model, the Creation RADAR I, was released in 1993. RADAR I was manufactured in North Vancouver BC by Creation Technologies(iZ Technology Corporation), but marketed and distributed in 1994 by Otari under an exclusive license. Creation/iZ also produced the RADAR II. iZ Technology terminated Otari's RADAR distribution agreement in 2000.[3]
In October 2000, iZ Technology released RADAR 24 under the iZ brand, [4] which was based on BeOS 5.[5] In 2005, iZ released RADAR V.[6] In 2012, iZ released RADAR 6 at the October 2012 AES show in San Francisco
Parallel to the development of the various hardware models, there have been many revisions to the RADAR system software.
Hardware Models
RADAR I
The RADAR I was the first model released, under the Otari brand in 1994. It was capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of 16 bit, 48k audio.[1] It also was available with 24 Adat I/O Card.
RADAR II
The Otari RADAR II, released in 1997, was capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of 24 bit, 48k audio on a single hard drive, editing and multiple-machine linking for up to 192 tracks.[2] Until April 2000, the RADAR II was branded as the "Otari RADAR II." After April 2000, it was sold by iZ Technology as the "iZ RADAR II."[7]
RADAR 24
RADAR 24, released in 2000, was the first new model branded by iZ Technology,[4] and brought many hardware improvements including: sample rates up to 192k, networking, a faster processor, and ADAT I/O.[8]
RADAR V
RADAR V, released in 2005, added many capabilities to the RADAR 24 including the ability to record on all 24 tracks at high sample rates of 96k and 192k; direct recording to industry-standard Broadcast WAV files; Dual Disk and Span modes for recording to multiple drives; File Flattening options to consolidate audio for handoff; and Gigabit Ethernet file transfer.[9][10] The model name "V" is pronounced "Vee," not "Five."
RADAR 6
RADAR 6 was released in October 2012, with an entirely new, smaller, lighter and quieter form factor. The new model had a touch-screen interface and tactile transport keys on the front of the unit, and offered new storage options such as solid state drives, USB 3.0 drives and SD cards.[11] At this time iZ also improved their AD/DA converter cards and consolidated to two card choices instead of three.[12]
RADAR studio
RADAR studio, released in 2015, incorporated a 'Workstation' platform alongside the original RADAR software, allowing industry standard DAWs to be run on the RADAR, using RADAR as the host computer.[13][14]
Software Versions
As of 2012, two RADAR software systems have been developed for RADAR V and RADAR 24. Software version 4.0 and up is currently under development for the RADAR 6 platform. 3.5x, iZOS, the first version of which was released in July 2008, requires a new system drive and a processor rated at a minimum of 800 MHz, and is no longer being developed. 3.4x is the older BeOS version of the operating system, which is also no longer being developed.[15]
References
- 1 2 June 1999 Mix Magazine article on the RADAR II. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
- 1 2 January 1999 Sound On Sound article on the RADAR II. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
- ↑ "Otari Unplugs Advanta". Billboard. August 26, 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- 1 2 History of iZ Technology and RADAR. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
- ↑ "iZ RADAR 24". Archived from the original on 27 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
- ↑ iZ press release on the first RADAR V install. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
- ↑ iZ Product Museum with details and history of the RADAR I, II and 24. Retrieved on 2010-08-03.
- ↑ Differences between the RADAR II and RADAR 24, by Barry Henderson, President of iZ. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ↑ iZ press release on the RADAR V. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
- ↑ Field Test: iZ Technology RADAR V Hard Disk Recorder. Retrieved on 2013-01-27.
- ↑ "iZ Technology Corporation Launches RADAR 6". Retrieved on 2013-01-27.
- ↑ "New Generation of Analog I/O cards Now Available". Retrieved on 2013-01-27.
- ↑ roestudios.com, Designed and coded by Benjamin Allison at. "RADAR studio | iZ Technology". www.izcorp.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- ↑ "News - RADAR studio runs DAW software natively". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- ↑ iZ software support. Retrieved on 2009-05-24.
External links
- iZ Technology Corporation
- June 1999 Mix Magazine article on the RADAR II
- January 1999 Sound On Sound article on the RADAR II.
- August 2001 Sound On Sound article on the RADAR 24.
- August 26 2000 Billboard Magazine article on the end of the Otari-era of RADAR.
- Differences between the RADAR II and RADAR 24, by Barry Henderson, President of iZ.
- iZ Product Museum with details and history of the RADAR I, II and 24
- Otari FAQ for discontinued RADAR I and RADAR II
- Silent Way's RADAR Quickstart Guide