Cantar

X3

User
Manual
Software v 2.23
Cantar X3 2
Table of Content
INPUTS.....................................................................................................................8
OUTPUTS..................................................................................................................9
MEDIA....................................................................................................................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
Day Suffix.........................................................................................................17
Media.................................................................................................................18
Selection..........................................................................................................18
Formating.........................................................................................................18
Audio Parameters..................................................................................................18
Cantar Audio Chain..................................................................................................19
Setting up Actuators...................................................................................................20
Potentiometer........................................................................................................20
Mixer Fader..........................................................................................................20
Cantarem.............................................................................................................20
Cantarem II..........................................................................................................21
Sliders.............................................................................................................21
Function Buttons (C1 to C4).................................................................................21
Setting up Tracks.......................................................................................................22
Ingrid routing........................................................................................................22
Current Ingrid....................................................................................................22
Name..............................................................................................................22
Inputs...............................................................................................................22
Add input.....................................................................................................22
Declare input as Mixdown...............................................................................23
Remove input................................................................................................23
Pan-Pot to Mixdown...........................................................................................23
Ms decoding into Mixdown.............................................................................24
Track settings....................................................................................................24
Track Status : Arm / Disarm.............................................................................24
Track Level....................................................................................................24
Talk to Tracks....................................................................................................24
Track Metering......................................................................................................24
Track Solo............................................................................................................25
Status (Arm / disarm Track).................................................................................25
Mixdown PanPot...............................................................................................25
Track Name.....................................................................................................25
Track Gain.......................................................................................................25
Corresponding Input Solo-ing...............................................................................25
Double solo & Phase-Meter..................................................................................25
Setting up Inputs........................................................................................................26
Mic.....................................................................................................................26
Phantom...........................................................................................................26
Limiter..............................................................................................................26

Cantar X3 3
 Phase Inverse....................................................................................................27
Filters...............................................................................................................27
Attenuators.......................................................................................................27
Link.................................................................................................................27
Digital Filters (E.Q).............................................................................................28
Delay..............................................................................................................28
Corresponding Track Solo-ing..............................................................................29
Double Solo & Phase-Meter.................................................................................29
Line.....................................................................................................................29
Gain...............................................................................................................29
Attenuator.........................................................................................................29
Filter................................................................................................................29
Other Parameters...............................................................................................29
AES-3..................................................................................................................29
AES-42................................................................................................................30
Setting up Outputs : HEADPHONE...............................................................................31
Headphone Level..................................................................................................31
Level................................................................................................................31
Safety Level......................................................................................................31
Outmaps..............................................................................................................31
Current Outmap................................................................................................31
Name..............................................................................................................31
Inputs...............................................................................................................32
Other Main Selector Positions..................................................................................32
Setting up Outputs : LINE OUTPUTS..............................................................................33
Outmaps..............................................................................................................33
Output Level......................................................................................................33
Delay..............................................................................................................34
Play Mute.........................................................................................................34
Beep Mute.......................................................................................................34
Current Configuration.........................................................................................34
Edit Outmap.....................................................................................................34
Name..........................................................................................................35
Inputs...........................................................................................................35
Talk.............................................................................................................35
Multiple Outmap...............................................................................................35
Other Main Selector Positions..................................................................................35
Setting up Outputs : AES OUTPUTS..............................................................................36
Outmaps..............................................................................................................36
Setting up Outputs : DANTE OUTPUTS (optional)............................................................37
Outmaps..............................................................................................................37
Module Configuration............................................................................................37
Playing Takes............................................................................................................38
Commands...........................................................................................................38
Waveform Modes.................................................................................................38
Headphone Modes...............................................................................................38
Recorded Mixdown............................................................................................39
Tracks-Mono.....................................................................................................39
User Outmaps...................................................................................................39
Solo................................................................................................................40
Routing................................................................................................................40
Sync Points...........................................................................................................40
METADATA..............................................................................................................41
Next Record.........................................................................................................41
Quick Edit (Scene-Take-Notes) : from the PPR Menu..................................................41
Full Edit............................................................................................................41
Last Record...........................................................................................................41

Cantar X3 4
 Previous Records....................................................................................................41
Single Take Edition............................................................................................42
Multiple Take Edition..........................................................................................42
Web App............................................................................................................43
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 Detection......................................................................................................47
User Marker.........................................................................................................47
Levels..................................................................................................................47
Inputs...............................................................................................................47
Tracks..............................................................................................................48
Locking Panels......................................................................................................48
Mixer Panel......................................................................................................48
Potentiometer Panel............................................................................................48
Low Power Mode..................................................................................................48
Dante..................................................................................................................49
Trash...................................................................................................................49
Send to Trash....................................................................................................49
Restore from Trash..............................................................................................49
Delete from Trash...............................................................................................49
Fix Files............................................................................................................49
Sound Reports...........................................................................................................50
Setting up the reports..............................................................................................50
Header............................................................................................................50
Data................................................................................................................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
AUDIO & TIMECODE................................................................................................56
Sample Rate & Bit Depth.........................................................................................56
Pre-Record Length...................................................................................................56
Timecode Settings..................................................................................................56

Cantar X3 5
 LTC Out Generator.............................................................................................56
LTC Out Level....................................................................................................56
LTC Rate..........................................................................................................56
Timecode Source...............................................................................................56
Timecode User-bits.............................................................................................56
Timecode Fudged..............................................................................................57
Operator TC.....................................................................................................57
Record-Run TC...................................................................................................57
Clap Detection......................................................................................................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
Disarmed Tracks....................................................................................................57
Remote Rec..........................................................................................................57
Playback & Rec.....................................................................................................57
Slate Mics............................................................................................................58
Internal slate mic................................................................................................58
Jack 3,5 slate mic..............................................................................................58
Jack 3,5 bias pwr..............................................................................................58
Talk full duplex..................................................................................................58
Hdphn safety lvl....................................................................................................58
Balance Lock........................................................................................................58
Audio Power.........................................................................................................58
Digital power....................................................................................................58
Dante 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
Date................................................................................................................60
Time................................................................................................................60
Display Levels/Attenuation......................................................................................60
Inputs Levels......................................................................................................60
Tracks attenuation..............................................................................................60
Light....................................................................................................................60
Backlight..........................................................................................................60
LED.................................................................................................................60
Low Power in stop.................................................................................................60
External voltage limit...............................................................................................60
Keyboard layout....................................................................................................60
File Network access...............................................................................................61
Wifi....................................................................................................................61

Cantar X3 6
 Tech support.........................................................................................................61
IP Adress..........................................................................................................61
Diagnostic........................................................................................................61
Save / Load settings..............................................................................................61
Save...............................................................................................................61
Load................................................................................................................61
Load firmware.......................................................................................................62
PLAYBACK AND RECORD..........................................................................................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 Delta Ribbon..............................................................................................68
Headphone Jack 6.35mm & Slate Mic Jack 3.5mm.................................................68
Cantarem Lemo 8..............................................................................................68
Timecode Lemo 5 (F)..........................................................................................69
Power XLR-4 (M)................................................................................................69
Mic XLR-3(F)......................................................................................................69
Mic XLR-5(F)......................................................................................................69
Line-In XLR-5(F)...................................................................................................69
AES-42 TA-3(F)..................................................................................................69
AES In/Out Dsub-25..........................................................................................69
Analog Output Dsub-25......................................................................................70
Hi-Rose............................................................................................................70
Cantar Audio Chain...............................................................................................70
Software history.....................................................................................................70

Cantar X3 7
 INPUTS

8 Mics
(4 XLR-3 + 2 XLR-5)

Gnd-Cold-Hot Gnd-Cold-Hot / Gnd-Cold-Hot

Mic n - (1) (3) (2) (1) (2) (3) (1) (4) (5)

4 Lines
(2 XLR-5)

Gnd-Cold-Hot / Gnd-Cold-Hot
(1) (2) (3) (1) (4) (5)

2 Aes-42 pairs
(2 TA-3)

Cold – Hot – Gnd

(3) (2) (1)

8 Aes-3
(Sub-D 25)

Pair 1-2 Pair 3-4 Pair 5-6 Pair 7-8

(hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd)

32 Dante

Cantar X3 8
 OUTPUTS

3,5mm HP/ Slate

6,35 mm HP

8 Lines
(Sub-D 25)

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
(hot+ cold- gnd)

8 Aes-3
(Sub-D 25)

Pair 1-2 Pair 3-4 Pair 5-6 Pair 7-8

(hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd) (hot-cold-gnd)

32 Dante

Cantar X3 9
 MEDIA

The Cantar can record on 4 medias : an internal SSD drive ; 2 SD cards and 1 USB media (the
first media connected to any of the Cantar’s USB port).
• The SSD is located underneath the Cantar, behind a hatch door.
• The SD card slots are located on the right side of the Cantar.
• 3 Usb slots are availabe for a Usb media. Only one Usb media will be recognized : the
first one to be plugged.

Usb Ports SD slots

SSD hatch

I. Formatting
All medias need to be formatted using the FAT-32 file system.
It is recommanded to format your media 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.

Press the OK button, a confirmation Window will open.

Confirm by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.

WARNING: All information contained on the media is erased.

Cantar X3 10
NB: In order to prevent mistakes, formatting the
internal Drive is protected by the need to enter
the Cantar number with the Up and Down buttons.

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’

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.
൦ Orange: Warning this media is slow, end of record may take a while in order to flush
the Audio buffer.
൦ Red: 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.Remaining 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 Up or Down 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
On each record medi

Press the Power ON/OFF button to power up your Cantar. A few LEDs 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 Up and Down 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: Emergency 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 Mixer panel : with 10 linear faders, each having a corresponding solo Button.
On the back side of the mixer panel are located the TA-3 corresponding to Aes-42 inputs
and the analog outputs.

• The Potentiometer panel : with 8 rotating potentiometers, each having a corresponding

solo Button. The panel also have several other buttons such as : Talk Back, F4 to F6 ,
Headphone level, Power On/Off on the back side of the panel and several solos on the
rigth side of the panel.

• The Display panel : with a large orientable LCD screen, it also carries several buttons :
directional buttons, Ok and Escape , F1 to F3.
Behind the panel, are the headphone jacks and a Usb port.

• The Selectors : one on the right front of the machine being the Main Selector and one on
the left side ot the machine : the Left Crown.
▪ The Main Selector 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)

▪ The Left Crown gives access to quick preset modifications. It also has a Jog in the
center.

Cantar X3 14
 • The Analogic inputs module.

• The Right Side which gives access to Usb, Sd slots, Ethernet and Dante ports.

• The Left Side which gives access to the Timecode Lemo-4 and the Digital AES-3
Input/Output DB-25.

• The Back Side wihich gives access to the 2 batteries, an XLR-4 for DC in, an HiRose for
DC out, an HDMI, a BNC, and an option Port.

Mic & Line inputs

Fader +Solo button Power On/Off

Pot + Solo Button
Mixer Panel

Solo Line / Aes-42

Headphone Level

Shift
Left Selector Talk 1 & 2
Function buttons F4 to F6 Function buttons F1 to F3 Main Selector

Light Sensor OK / ESC

Directional Buttons (L/R/U/D)
Mini Delta Ribbon Connector
Power On/Off AES-42 Inputs

Line Outputs

DVI

Bnc Power Out (HiRose)

Batt 2 Batt 1 Ext Power IN (XLR-4)

Cantar X3 15
 HELP : Key Reminder
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 Up and Down 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 Day 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 Day 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 Day 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 F5 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 SSD drive ; 2 SD 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 '24'.
• 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 :

• Compressed 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 SD media.
Compression is lossy and can be set up between, Low, Middle and High quality.
2. Formating
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 Parameters
Sample rate, Bits depth, Pre-record duration can be selected in the AUDIO & TC Menu (while the
Main Selector is in the 4 o'clock position).

Cantar X3 18
 Cantar Audio Chain

Cantar may record up to 24 tracks. On those tracks may be routed :

- 12 analog inputs : 8 Mics & 4 Lines
- 12 digital inputs : 8 AES-3 & 2 AES-42 Pairs (that may be used as AES-3 too)
- 32 Dante inputs (option).
- 2 Mixdown : Xl & Xr
and a digitally modified version of digital inputs and tracks :
- 12 digital + Gain : a version of the digital inputs affected by a digital Gain.
- 24 tracks Postfaded : a version of the tracks affected by the Track Gain.

Cantar has 8 analog outputs : Line-out ; 8 digital outputs : Aes-3 & 32 Dante (option).
On those outputs may be routed all the colored rectangle of the Cantar Audio Chain : all the
inputs mentioned previously plus the 24 tracks.

All gains may be controled in an undifferentiated way by :

- a Rotative potentiometer (8 on the Potentiometer panel).
- a Linear fader (10 on the Mixer panel or 8 on the Cantarem on 12 on the Canterem II).
- the Jog wheel during a Solo (if not controled by one of the previously stated actuator).

Cantar X3 19
 Setting up Actuators
Any potentiometer or any slider of the Mixer, Cantarem (if connected) or Cantarem2 (if
connected) can be assigned to any input (Mic, Line) or track or Line out level.
NB: • When a Cantarem is connected (I or II), its assignments override other actuators'
assignments, making them unassigned in case of conflict.
The order of priority is : Cantarem II ; Cantarem ; Mixer ; Potentiometers.
• 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. Potentiometer
To open the Assignation panel, press and hold the Shift + Potentiometer Solo button. To go to
next or previous actuator rotate the Left Crown or press the appropriate Solo button.
Assignation is changed by pressing the Up and Down buttons.

II. Mixer Fader

To open the Assignation panel, press and hold the Shift + Mixer Slider Solo button. To go to next
or previous actuator rotate the Left Crown or press the appropriate Solo button.
Assignation is changed by pressing the Up and Down buttons.

III.Cantarem (if connected)

To open the Assignation panel, press and hold the Shift (diamond button) + Slider Solo buttons
on the Cantarem. To go to next or previous actuator rotate the Left Crown or press the
appropriate Solo button. Assignation is changed by pressing Up and Down buttons.

Cantar X3 20
IV. Cantarem 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 rotate the Left Crown or press the appropriate Solo button.

2. Function Buttons (C1 to C4)

To open the Function keys Assignation panel, press the two Shift buttons + Function buttons on
the Cantarem II. To go to next or previous function button press the Left or Right button or press
the appropriate function button.

It enables to copy a function button: Talk 1, Talk 2, F1 to F6 buttons.

Cantar X3 21
 Setting up Tracks
I. Ingrid routing
In Grid routing can be modified while the Main Selector is in the 5 o'clock position.
You can configure up to 20 InGrid presets (from 1 to 20).

Pict “Tracks.1”

1. Current Ingrid
The InGrid used is changed by turning the Left Crown. Name and Tracks settings are updated.
NB: Copy and Paste : by pressing the Shift+F4 buttons, the current InGrid is copied to the
clipboard. You can paste it over any InGrid by pressing the Shift + F6 buttons.

2. Name
Each InGrid can be named (max: 12 characters). Press the Shift+OK buttons to modify it.
3. Inputs
The InGrid represents the 24 Tracks with 24 columns. In each column, 8 inputs can be routed
represented by 8 rows.
The last (9th) row displays how Tracks are “Pan-Potted” to Mixdown.
Any input can be routed to any Track (including Mixdown).
On each row can be routed the corresponding input number i.e. on row 3 > Mic-3, Ms-M-3
Line-3, Digi-3, AES 42-3, Dante-3 (optional), PostFade 3.
i. Add input
Use the direction buttons to move the yellow selection box
and select the appropriate Track and the input number.
Press the OK button to display the Input choice panel.
Use Up or Down buttons to select the appropriate input
in the list and press the OK button.

NB: • Quick way: Press the appropriate Solo-Track button to select the desired Track,
then press the appropriate Input-Solo button to toggle its state (hold the Shift button for MS
Mic Input).
• Mix Left can only be accessed through Row 1
• Mix Right can only be accessed through Row 2
• MS mics should be routed on adjacent Tracks: M side on an odd Track number and S
side on the following Track.
• When routing or removing an MS mic, the other side (M or S) is automatically
routed/removed.
• A digital gain can be applied on Digital & Aes-42 inputs: from -¥ to +12dB on AES-3
inputs and from -¥ to +36 dB for AES 42.
Both version of inputs (before or after gain) can be routed in an InGrid. These versions are
symbolised by the letter representing the input type being capital or not: for example, for
an AES input, 'd' is for the digital input before gain and 'D' is for the digital input after
gain.

Cantar X3 22
 To toggle between the two versions: select the item and press the Right or Left button.
• For input number superior to 8: Dante (optional), PostFade an arrow is displayed, select
the item and press Right/Left button to adjust the input number.
• PostFade N is the output of the track N through the attenuation applied to this track.
Note that the PostFade has a delay of 1 sample.
• Refer to Annex to see the Cantar Audio Chain.

ii. Declare input as Mixdown

In order to have an external source declared as Mixdown track, it is possible to add an input to
a track with a Mix-Left or a Mix-Right already routed.

In this example, the external Mixdown is sent to the Cantar using the Line inputs 3 & 4.
iii. Remove input
Use the direction buttons to move the yellow selection box and select the appropriate Track and
the input number.
• Press the OK button to display the Input choice panel and choose “Remove”.
Or • Double press the ESC button.
Or • Press the Solo button of the appropriate input.
NB: All inputs routed to a Track can be removed by holding the ESC button.
4. Pan-Pot to Mixdown
Each Track can contribute to the Mixdown through the PanPot.
Pan-pot is represented on the last row and indicates each Track contribution to the Mixdown Left
and Right.
• L means the Track is sent to Mix-Left.
• R means the Track is sent to Mix-Right.
• C means the Track is sent to both Mix-Left and Mix-Right.
• X means the Track is not sent to the Mixdown.

The F4 button toggles the Left contribution.

The F6 button toggles the Right contribution.
The F5 button cycles through the L, R, C, X options.
It is not possible to send Mixdown Tracks or Postfade Tracks to Mixdown for obvious reasons.
Example: on Pict. “Tracks.1” : • Track 3 is sent to Midown-Left.
• Tracks 4 to 10 are sent to Mixdown-Right.
• other Tracks are not sent to Mixdown (Track 1 and 2
cannot for obvious reason by sent to Mixdown).
It is also possible to have more precision: Fine Pan.
The Pan-Pot letter is replaced by a percentage representing how the Track is
sent to Mixdown Left and Right.
Access the Fine Pan setting Window by pressing the Shift + F5 buttons.
Balance is set using the Left or Right buttons. Each Track's contribution will
be displayed in percentage and dB.

Cantar X3 23
 i. Ms decoding into Mixdown
For MS pair, only 4 PanPot positions are available:
• M is sent to the Left and S is not sent to Mixdown.
• M is sent to the Right and S is not sent to Mixdown.
• M & S are not sent to Mixdown.
• M & S to the Center: the MS pair is decoded, post-fader, by changing the S-track level, the
width of the decoded stereo signal is changed.
5. Track settings
i. Track Status : Arm / Disarm
Pressing the Shift+F3 buttons arms or dis-arms the currently selected Track.
ii. Track Level
For tracks with no actuator assigned, it is possible to modify the Track level directly from the
Ingrid by turning the Jog wheel while holding the Shift button pressed.
6. Talk to Tracks
Pressing the Talk buttons while hodling the Shift button pressed, routes the Slate Mics to the
Outputs and to the Tracks.
It is possible to select the tracks where the Talk is routed : All Tracks ; One of the 24 tracks ; Mix
tracks. The tracks selected are symbolized by the black dots behind the track index on top of the
grid. Change the selected tracks by pressing the Shift + F2 buttons.

II. Track Metering

On the right part of the Record, PPR and Test screens, Vumeters are automatically displayed
according to the number of Track used in current InGrid, in group of 4, with a minimum of 12.
i.e if 12 or less tracks are used, 12 track are displayed then between 13 and 16 tracks used:
3
16 tracks displayed etc…
4 • Track's number is under each Vumeter. It is the colored with the color type of the first
input routed to the Track. 1
• Vumeters can be divided into 3 color zones which can be set up in the Audio-Timecode
Menu.
2 • A blue line can be added to put a reference at a level which can be set up in the
Audio-TC Menu. 2
• Above the Vumeter according to the Display Mix Track Level option may appear:
◦ Mix Track Gain
◦ Current Track Audio Level
• A Triangle above the Vumeter symbolises the Limiter (if enabled on an input routed to the
Track). The triangle is grey if the Limiter is enabled but not currently in action. It blinks
yellow as soon as the Limiter begins its action (it continues to blink for 3 seconds after the
Limiter's action has ended). 3
5
• A Red square above the Vumeter symbolizes the Clip Level. 4
1 • The low segment of the vumeter shows how the track is sent to the Mixdown. 5

Cantar X3 24
 • If an input routed to the Track has a modifying parameter applied such as: Phantom
power, Phase inversion, Preamp Filter or Digital EQ, it is displayed at the top of the
vumeter with respectively a radioactive symbol (☢), a phase symbol (f), a 'fn' symbol
(with n being the number of the filter) or an 'EQ' symbol, Delay is symbolized by ‘D’.
If more than one input is routed to a track, each symbol is replaced by a plus sign (+).
• If during a whole take, no sound is coming to a track, when the Cantar goes out of
record, the vumeter will display “Silent Rec” in the Vumeter (until the Main Selector is
turned).
III. Track Solo
While the Cantar is in Record, PPR, or Test positions the solo of a Track is obtained by pressing
the Solo button of the actuator assigned to the track, or if the input has no actuator assigned, by
opening the Track-Solo panel for any Track and then rotating the Left Crown to get to the desired
Track Number.

1. Status (Arm / disarm Track)

While being in Solo-Track, pressing the F3 button arms or dis-arms a Track.
Monophonic multi-track file recording doesn't waste disk space by recording empty Tracks as it is
the case with polyphonic. It is wise to momentarily disarm a Track when there is no need for it.
A disarmed Track has its Vumeter colored in grey and a red 'disarmed' icon displayed.
NB: It is also possible out of Solo window to toggle Track's Status, while the Main Selector is in
the Test or Pre-Record positions, by pressing Shift + Solo button of the Track.
2. Mixdown PanPot
Toggle between Left, Right and Center with the F4,F5 and F6 buttons. (Fine-Pan : Shift +F5)
NB: For Mixdown Tracks, this item is inactive.
3. Track Name
Press the OK button to edit the Track Name. Once in edit mode, press the Escape button to
Cancel, or the OK button to validate.
4. Track Gain
If a Track is not assigned to an actuator (Mixer or Cantarem or Cantarem2 slider), its attenuation
can be changed during Solo by rotating the Jog wheel.
5. Corresponding Input Solo-ing
It is possible to do a Solo of the first routed input by pressing the Left or Right button (while the
EQ panel is not active).
6. Double solo & Phase-Meter
In order to compare 2 Tracks, it is possible to have a double Solo by pressing and holding both
Solo buttons of the Tracks desired. (The firstly pressed button will determine which track is
monitored in the left ear, the second will be monitored in the right ear).

(Another way : engage the first Track Solo then press the other
desired Solo while holding the Shift button).

At the top of the Solo panel is displayed the phase-meter representing

the phase between the 2 tracks. The left side represents a phase of
180° and the right 0°.

Cantar X3 25
 Setting up Inputs
24 inputs (8 Mics ; 4 Lines ; 8 Aes-3 ; 4 Aes-42) are available plus optionnaly 32 Dante.
Inputs are set up in their Solo page : many parameters can be modified (Phantom power,
limiter, filter, EQ). It is also a way of modifying the gain of inputs which have no actuator
assigned.
During the Solo, only the selected input will be heard in the headphones.
Solos can be accessed in Record (12 o'clock), Pre-Record (11 o'clock) and Test (10 o'clock)
positions.
The solo of an input is obtained by pressing the Solo button of the actuator assigned to the input.
A short-press on the Solo button opens the Solo panel which is closed by pressing the Solo
button or the ESC button. If the Solo button is pressed and held, the Solo panel is closed upon
release of the Solo button.
If the input has no actuator assigned, open the Solo panel of any input and then rotate the Left
Crown until the desired Solo panel appears (hold the Shift button pressed while rotating the
Crown if a nature change is needed : Mic > Line > Aes-3 > Aes-42 > Track > Line-out > Mic).
I. Mic
In the Mic-Solo panel, you can: • Set the Phantom Power ON/OFF,
• Enable or disable the Limiter
• Enable or disable the Phase Inversion
• Set the Preamp parameters:
൦ Pre-Attenuation (Mic Level, Line level, High level).
൦ Filter

• Set the Digital filter parameters. (EQ)

1. Phantom
Toggle the Phantom Mic Power (48V) On or Off by pressing the Shift + F4 buttons.
Turn it 'OFF' while using a dynamic microphone, the preamp gain will be boosted by 12dBu.
2. Limiter
Toggle the Limiter On/Off by pressing the F5 button.
While the Limiter is turned 'ON', a grey triangle is displayed above the Track where the Mic is
routed. If the signal level reaches the limiter zone (–6dBFS), the triangle will start blinking yellow.
NB: In 24-bit recording mode, it is common practice to adjust the input gain so that a 'normal'
signal does not go over the -20dBFS level.
With the Limiter activated, the 32dBu head-room above the –8dBFS kick-in point gives 24dBu
above the 'no-limiter' full scale. The Operator can count on a 44dBu reserve over the normal
–20dBFS level.
If the signal does reach the 0dBFS level, a 'clip' red level appears above the top of the Vumeter
scale.
To maintain equilibrium between linked channels, the same Limiter command is applied to
ganged preamps.

Cantar X3 26
 3. Phase Inverse
Toggle Phase Inversion On/Off by pressing the F6 button.
NB: This action is also possible out of the Solo Window by pressing the Shift + Solo buttons.
4. Filters
Change Filter with the Up or Down buttons.
As a basis, Cantar X3 implements an anti-rumble filter which is a 3 rd order filter at 30Hz (-3db
attenuation and a slope of -18 dB per octave). This is the neutral position.
Then, three banks offer corner frequencies/slopes from 60Hz/–6dB to 180Hz/–12dB.
5. Attenuators
Cycle through Mic Level, High Level & Line Level with Shift + Up or Down buttons.
• Mic Level: default for all mic inputs.
• Mid Level: a 10dBu attenuator converts mic to high level inputs.
• High Level: a 26dBu attenuator converts mic to high level inputs.
• Line Level: a 38dBu attenuator converts mic to line inputs.

NB: Activating High Level or Line Level automatically cuts off Phantom Power.
6. Link
For linked inputs, it indicates whether it is a master of other mics or it is linked to a master.
For slaved inputs, Limiter, Phantom Power, attenuator and filters are set by master's parameters
and cannot be changed.

Linking two or more mics is done while the Cantar is in the Test position (10 o’clock).
You can slave one or multiple analog inputs to a master by declaring a Link group.
Press the F5 button to display the Link groups and then use the directionnal buttons to select the
desired group and press OK to set this group up.

A total of 6 Link groups can be declared, 4 for the Mics

and 2 for the Lines.

Each group as a master and a slave list.

A master can be linked to the superior inputs (e.g. M-3 can be linked to M-4 to M-8).

Example: • Stereo-pairs 1>2; 3> 4; 5>6; 7>8

• Surround: 1>2-3-4-5
• Double M/S: 1>2 & 3>4.5
Phantom, Limiter and filter are applied on slaves identically to the linked master.
Phase inverters remain independent.

Cantar X3 27
For a stereo pair, slaved input is the balance. Before its actuator middle-point (potentiometer,
fader, cantarem) the slave's level is attenuated, after the middle-point, the master's level is
attenuated.
If there is more than one slave, the slave's actuator position determines the ±12dB gain applied
from it's master value.
7. Digital Filters (E.Q)
Toggle the Digital Filters ON or OFF by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.
Three filters can be setup: Low and High Frequency and a Parametric EQ.
All filters can be setup from 50Hz to 16kHz with ±15dB gain. The Parametric EQ can also has
its width setup (Q).
Once the digital filters enabled, access to the parameters by pressing the OK button, a field is
then highlighted and a panel displays the Digital filters Frequency response graph.
Select the appropriate field with the directional buttons and rotate the Jog wheel to edit it. The
graph is updated as soon as the value is not modified anymore.

NB: Copy and Paste.

By pressing the F1 button, the current Digital Filters setup is copied to the clipboard.
Paste it over any Digital Filters setup by pressing the F2 button.
8. Delay
Sound speed (0.3 m/ms) or signal processing lag (up to 3.8 ms in some wireless kits) generate
'phasing' between mics placed around a single source. Close sounds contributing to the live
mixdown must wait in buffers for the time it takes for the 'late-sound' to arrive.
All the analog and digital inputs can be delayed within a range of 0 to 2047 samples (which
represents 42 ms with a 48kHz sample-rate).
Setting-up the delays is done while the Cantar is in the Test position (10 o’clock).
Cantar automatically applies the value entered on the late sound input to all other inputs.
NB: The value specified in the delay field for an input is the delay of this input, no need to
calculate the delay according to other inputs, Cantar will do it, just specify the compensation
needed.
Press the F4 button to display the Delay panel. Using the direction buttons select the appropriate
input. Pressing the OK button opens a dialog box where the delay can be set. It either can be
set in time unit (milliseconds) or in distance unit (meters using a sound speed of 340 m/s). To
toggle between units, use the Left or Right button and modify the value by pressing the Up or
Down buttons or by rotation the Jog wheel.

← Pict. 74

Cantar X3 28
 9. Corresponding Track Solo-ing
It is possible to do a Solo of the first track containing the input by pressing the Left or Right button.
10. Double Solo & Phase-Meter
In order to compare 2 Mic inputs, it is possible to have a double Solo.
It is obtained by pressing and holding both Solo buttons of the Mic inputs desired. The firstly
pressed button will determine which input is monitored in the left ear, the second will be
monitored in the right ear. (Another way of triggering a double Solo is to engage the first Mic
Solo by a quick press on the Solo button and then once the Solo panel displayed to add a Solo
by pressing the other desired Solo while holding the Shift button.)

At the top of the Solo panel is displayed is phase-meter representing the phase between the 2
inputs. The left side represents a phase of 180° and the right 0°.
II. Line
The solo of a Line input is obtained by pressing the Solo button of the actuator assigned to the
input, or it has no actuator assigned, by pressing the Solo button on the Right side of the Cantar.

1. Gain
If a Line input is not assigned to an actuator (Mixer or Cantarem or Cantarem2 slider), its
attenuation can be changed during Solo by rotating the Jog wheel.
2. Attenuator
Toggle between High Level & Low Level with the Shift + Up or Down buttons.
Low Level: default for all line inputs.
High Level: a 20dBu attenuator is applied.
3. Filter
Change Filter with the Up or Down buttons between Neutral, 60Hz/–6dB and 60Hz/–12dB.
4. Other Parameters
Please refer to the Solo-Mic section.
III.AES-3
The solo of an AES input is obtained by pressing the Solo button of the actuator assigned to the
input. If the input has no actuator assigned, open the Solo panel of any input and then rotate the
Left Crown while holding the Shift button pressed until the AES-Solo panel appears.
Two versions of each digital input are available: the original input (symbolised by a lowercase
letter) and a version with digital gain (symbolised by an uppercase letter).
During the AES-Solo, the version with digital gain is sent to the headphones.

Cantar X3 29
In the panel is displayed: • The Power status of all the digital inputs (AES and AES-42). This
parameter can be modified in the Audio/Timecode menu.
• The digital gain applied to the input.
• The digital filter applied to the input (refer to the Mic Solo)
• The phase inversion applied to the input.

NB: • If the input is not assigned to any actuator, the gain is setup using the Jog wheel.
• The range of the digital gain is from - ¥ to +12dB.

IV. AES-42
The solo of an AES-42 input is obtained by pressing the Solo button assigned to the input, or if
the input has no actuator assigned, by pressing the Shift + Solo buttons of the Right side of the
Cantar.
Two versions of each digital input are available: the original input (symbolised by a lowercase
letter) and a version with digital gain (symbolised by an uppercase letter).
During the AES-42-Solo, the version with digital gain is sent to the headphones.
The title displays the status of the digital stream: • locked (a valid digital stream is detected)
• unlocked (no valid digital stream).
During an AES-42 Solo you can set the AES-42 Phantom Power ON/OFF by pressing the Shift
+ F4 buttons.
NB: • The general digital Power is automatically switched On if the AES-42 Power is
switched On.

If the AES-42 input can communicate using the AES-42 standard, the Cantar retrieves information
about its capabilities. Accordingly, Limiter status, Mute status, Mic gain, Pre-Attenuation, Low cut
Filter and Device information are displayed.
NB: • Mic gain is the gain setup directly into the AES-42 Mic, both versions of the digital
inputs (with or without digital gain) are affected. If available it is setup using the Up and
down buttons.
• Digital gain is the gain which Cantar is applying on the original digital input, for an
AES-42 input its range is from - ¥ to +36dB.
If the input is not assigned to any actuator, the gain is changed by rotating the Jog wheel.
• The Device Info field is made of information retrieved from the device: Manufacturer and
Device names + Delay of the mic (in samples)
• Low cut filter parameter cycles through “Flat”, “40 Hz / -3dB”, “80 Hz / -3dB” and
“120 Hz / -3dB”.
• Pre-attenuation parameter cycles through “0 dB”, “-6dB”, “-12dB”, “-18dB”.
• Digital filter may be setup. (refer to the Mic Solo section).

Cantar X3 30
 Setting up Outputs : HEADPHONE
I. Headphone Level
1. Level
To display the headphone Level, press the Headphone button at the right corner of the Cantar.
This is available in all Main Selector positions.

The level will be displayed aside the headphone symbol,

replacing temporarily the current Headphone Outmap name.

If this part of the screen is not visible (during Solo or in other

Menus, a small dialog box will be displayed).
The Headphone Level is protected against wrong modification by the Headphone Button, hold it
pressed while rotating the Jog wheel in order to modify the current value.

2. Safety Level
An adjustable headphone safety clamping can be enabled : for example in case of a loud
noise, the headphone level will be clamped automatically, preventing deafing sound.

Toggle the function On/Off by holding the Headphone Button pressed and then by pressing the
Shift Button.
When disabled, the headphone symbol is painted in White whereas once the safety is enabled
the symbol is painted in Yellow.

How to set it up : – With the safety level disabled, adjust the headphone level matching with
a full scale viewmeter signal.
– Turn on the Safety protection and set the safety value to 0dB by turning
the jog wheel while holding the Sihft and Headphone buttons pressed.

When the clamp is active on too high signal, headphone audio quality
is affected and the headphone symbol blinks in red during 3 seconds.

II. Outmaps
Headphone Outmaps can be modified while the Main Selector is in the 6 o'clock position.
You can configure up to 26 Headphone Outmaps (from 'A' to 'Z').
1. Current Outmap
To go to the next or previous Outmap, use the Left Crown.
Nota Bene (NB): Copy and Paste.
By pressing the Shift+F4 buttons, the current outmap is copied to the clipboard.
Paste it over any Outmap by pressing the Shift + F6 buttons.
2. Name
Each Outmap can be named (max: 12 characters). Press the Shift+OK buttons to modify it.

Cantar X3 31
 3. Inputs
Each input can be sent to the Left and/or Right Ear.
The Left Ear is represented in RED, the Right Ear is represented in GREEN.
You can navigate through the input grid with the direction buttons (Left-Right-Up-Down) or using
the Jog wheels.
Enable or disable Left mapping by pressing the F4 button.
Enable or disable Right mapping by pressing the F6 button.
Toggle between Left-Center-Right-Nothing by pressing the F5 button.
Toggle between Left-Center-Right-Nothing with Special value (Postfade, Digital with Gain) by
pressing the F5 button while holding Shift pressed.
An input sent to Left Ear is be colored in RED ; an input sent to Right Ear is be colored in GREEN.
An input sent to both Left and Right Ear will be colored in both colors.
Example:
Outmap 'C' : Mic 1 is sent to the Left Ear
and Mic 2 to the Right Ear.

NB: • A digital gain can be applied on Digital inputs: from -¥ to +12dB on AES inputs and
from -¥ to +36 dB for AES 42.
Both version of inputs (before or after gain) can be routed in an Outmap. These versions
are symbolised by the letter representing the input type being capital or not: for example,
for an AES input, 'd' is for the input before gain and 'D' is for the input after gain.
By default with the OK and F5 buttons, the version before gain is changed, in order to
cycle throught the Left, Right and Center mapping, press the Shift + F5 buttons.
• A track may be mapped Post-fade in an Outmap, to cycle throught the Left, Right and
Center mapping, press the Shift + F5 buttons.

III.Other Main Selector Positions

When the Main Selector is in the Test (10 o'clock), Pre Record (11 o'clock), or Record (12
o'clock) positions, the current Headphone Outmap is indicated bellow the media icons.
Symbolised by a headphone icon, it displays the Outmap's letter and name.

You can change the current Headphone Outmap and go to previous or next one using the Left
Crown. The letter and name will be updated.
By pressing the F2 button, you will see the Outmap grid, as for the 6 o'clock position, it can be
edited.

Cantar X3 32
 Setting up Outputs : LINE OUTPUTS
Cantar X3 has 8 Line outputs.

I. Outmaps
You can configure up to 26 Outmaps (from 'a' to 'z') each applicable to one or several outputs.
NB: Line and AES Outmaps are shared. (Line Outmap 'a' is the same as AES Outmap 'a').
Outmaps can be modified while the Main Selector is in the 6 o'clock position and from the
Headphone Outmaps, pressing the F3 button will access the Line Outmaps panel (pressing the
F3 button again will display the AES Outmap panel).

2 3

4
5

Pict “Lo.1”
Each row represents a Line Output. On a row, five parameters may be setup:
• the Attenuation Level. 1
• the Delay applied to the Output. 2
• the Play-Mute option. 3
• the Beep Mute option. 4
• the current outmap configuration of the Output with letter, name and routing. 5

In the previous picture (Pict “Lo.1”) : Line Out 1 has the Outmap 'a' which is named « T1 ».
Track 1 is sent to Line Out 1.

You can select a row by using the Up and Down buttons. Using the Left and Right buttons or the
Jog wheel enables to select among the 5 parameters.

Once a row is selected, the corresponding Outmap is applied on the Headphone ouput in a
similar way to a Solo.
1. Output Level
Using the Left and Right buttons or the Jog wheel,
move the light blue selection box to the first item
of the wanted row and press the OK button to
modify the value.

NB: • If the output is assigned to a fader (Mixer or Cantarem) it is impossible to modify it using
the Attenuation window. The current attenuation is grayed.
• Quick edit the current value by holding the Shift button pressed while rotating the Jog
wheel.

Cantar X3 33
 2. Delay
All the analog and digital outputs can be delayed within a range of 0 to 43690 samples (which
represents nearly 910 ms with a 48kHz sample-rate).

Using the Left and Right buttons or the Jog wheel,

move the light blue selection box to the second
item of the wanted row and press the OK button
to modify the value.

NB: • Quick edit the current value by holding the Shift button pressed while rotating the Jog
wheel.
3. Play Mute
When the Cantar is in the Play position, the output may be Muted using the Play Mute option.
Using the Left and Right buttons or the Jog wheel, move the light blue selection box to the third
item of the wanted row and press the OK button to modify the value.
If the Play symbol is de-activated (emptied triangle) the output is muted in Play.
NB: In that case, while in Play position, any input routed to the output will remain active.
In Pict “Lo.1”, Line outputs 1 & 3 will be muted in Play.
4. Beep Mute
Beeps (record beeps, warning beeps) may be muted on each output.
Using the Left and Right buttons or the Jog wheel, move the light blue selection box to the fourth
item of the wanted row and press the OK button to modify the value.
If the Beep symbol is crossed, beeps won't be routed to the output
In Pict “Lo.1”, Beeps are enabled for outputs 2 & 3 only.
5. Current Configuration
You can change the Outmap applied to an Output by selecting its row and then turning the Left
Crown. Letter, name and Outmap settings are updated.
A special Outmap is placed before the 'a' outmap: the Muted outmap where no input is routed.
It is also possible to select an Outmap using the Left and Right buttons or the Jog wheel, in order
to move the light blue selection box to the fifth item of the wanted row and press the OK button
to display the Outmap selection window.

Using the Up and Down buttons, select the wanted Outmap and apply it by pressing the Ok
button. It is also possible to edit the currently selected Outmap by pressing the F5 button.
6. Edit Outmap
Press the F5 button to open the Configuration Edit window.

Cantar X3 34
WARNING: Keep in mind that the configuration you are modifying can be applied to multiple
outputs. Even more, as the Outmaps are shared between AES and Line Outputs it can also
modify an AES Output.
In the previous picture, Outmap 'a' is applied to Lineout 1 but also to AES-Out 1 to 8 as stated
by the warning text at the left of the window.
You can change to the previous or next Outmap by turning the Left Crown.
i. Name
Each Outmaps can be named (max: 12 characters).
Press the Shift+OK buttons to modify it.
ii. Inputs
Any Input can be sent to Line Output. Scroll through the grid with the direction
buttons or the Jog wheel and press the OK button to enable or disable an input.
iii. Talk
Compared to Headphone Outmap, you can choose Tlk1 and Tlk2.
It corresponds to the Talk buttons.
Pressing those buttons, enables the Slate Mic and the 3,5mm jack Mic and will
send the stream to the Headphones and to any Outmap (Line, AES, Dante) where
the corresponding Talk function is routed.
Example: if Talk1 is routed to LineOut 3 and Talk2 to LineOut 4.
Pressing Talk 1 will send the Slate Mic to LineOut 3 but not to LineOut 4.
Pressing Talk 2 will send the Slate Mic to LineOut 4 but not to LineOut 3.
NB: Pressing the Shift + Talk buttons, routes the audio to the Outputs and to
the Tracks.
NB: Quick Modification > Each parameter once selected may be quickly modified by rotating
the Jog wheel while holding the Shift button pressed.
7. Multiple Outmap
It is possible to apply a different Outmap according to the Main Selector position.

Press the Shift + OK buttons to display

the Multiple Outmap window.

A Main Selector is represented with an

Outmap letter on each position, except
the Stop position where nothing is routed
to the outputs.
Using the Left and Right buttons, loop throught the eleven available Main Selector position.
Using the Up and Down buttons, scroll through the 26 available Outmaps (plus the Muted
special outmap).
Save the modifications by pressing the Ok button or Cancel by pressing the Escape button.

Once a Multiple Outmap is applied to an

output, its outmap description is replaced
by the letters corresponding to the twelve
Outmaps applied in regard of the twelve
Main Selector positions (the first letter
being the Record position).

NB: • Using the Left Crown to select the Outmap placed before the Muted Outmap calls
II. Other Main Selector Positions
When the Main Selector is in the Test (10 o'clock), Pre Record (11 o'clock), or Record (12
o'clock) positions, it is also possible to modify the Line Outmaps by pressing the F2 key and then
the F3 key.

Cantar X3 35
 Setting up Outputs : AES OUTPUTS
Cantar X3 has 8 AES outputs.

I. Outmaps
You can configure up to 26 Outmaps (from 'a' to 'z') each applicable to one or several outputs.
NB: Line and AES Outmaps are shared. ( AES Outmap 'a' is the same as Line Outmap 'a').
Outmaps can be modified while the Main Selector is in the 6 o'clock position.
In that position, Headphone Outmaps are displayed but by pressing F3 button twice, you will
access the AES Outmaps panel (another press on the F3 button will display the Headphone
Outmap panel).

Please refer to the Line Outmap section.

Cantar X3 36
 Setting up Outputs : DANTE OUTPUTS (optional)
Cantar X3 optionnaly has 32 Dante outputs.
I. Outmaps
On the first 24 outputs (Dante Out 1 to Dante Out 24), are routed the Tracks (Track 1 to Track
24).
On the last 8 outputs (Dante 25 to Dante 32), the 8 AES Outmaps are copied (Do 1 to Do 8).

II. Module Configuration

Dante module can be configured using Audinate's Dante controller application. It is available for
Windows and Mac Os X (please visit Audinate's web site to download it).
NB: While setting up your Dante network, please verify a few things:
• In the Dante Controller, tab “Clock Status”, the Cantar should be checked as “Prefered
Master” and “Enable Sync to External” should also be checked.

• In the tab “Device Info”, by double clicking on the Cantar X3 (if the name was changed, refer
to Product Type which should be “Cantar X3”, access the Device View where Sample Rate and
Device Latency can be set up.

Cantar X3 37
 Playing Takes
Play Menu is while the Main Selector is in the 8 o'clock position.
This Menu enables to play the audio files contained in the Project and Day Folder chosen into
Browse File Menu.
For Cantar-X3 files, it displays a waveform (calculated while recording) and the possible sync
points marked.

1 2 3

I. Commands
During Stop or Pause, the background of the timeline is blue and green during play.
• Toggle Play-Pause: press the OK button.
• Stop: press the ESC button.
• Scroll in file: rotate the Jog wheel.
• Next/Previous file: press the Up or Down buttons.
• Go to next/previous sync point: press the Left or Right buttons.
• Change Headphone Mode: rotate the Left Crown. 1
• Change Waveform Mode: press the Shift + F3 buttons. 3
• View current Headphone Outmap: press the F2 button.
• Pre / Post fader monitoring: press the Shift + F2 buttons. 2
• Edit Metadata: press the F4 button.
• View Take's Ingrid: press the F1 button.
II. Waveform Modes
In PLAY position, several waveform vertical scales are available, press Shift+F3 to toggle
between :
• S-lvl: Signed waveform signal.

• S-dB : Signed waveform in dB.

• U-lvl: Unsigned waveform signal.

• U-dB : Unsigned waveform in dB.

III.Headphone Modes
In Play, 3 Headphone Outmap modes are available:
• “Recorded Mixdown”: Mixdown Tracks, Mono.
• “Tracks--Mono”: Non-Mixdown Tracks, Mono.
• User Outmaps “A” to “Z”: Tracks according to User defined Outmap.
Tracks are played Pre or Post fader according to the selected mode. Press the
Shift + F2 buttons to toggle.

! If Post is chosen, please note that Track gain will affect the Played tracks.

Cantar X3 38
 1. Recorded Mixdown
In this mode, are sent to headphone, Tracks corresponding to Mixdown-Left and Mixdown-Right.
Tracks will be routed Mono (to both left and right ears), Vumeters from other Tracks than
Mixdown are darken.

This mode is symbolized on the Headphone

Outmap grid (F2 button press) by Xl and Xr
inputs being active, at Center.

2. Tracks-Mono
In this mode, are sent to headphone, all Tracks that are not Mixdown Tracks.
Tracks will be routed Mono (to both left and right ears).

This mode is symbolized on the Headphone

Outmap grid (F2 button press) by playback
Tracks being active, at Center.
Tracks are labelled according to the
chosen monitoring mode: “P” to
emphasize the PostFader property or “T”
for PreFader mode.

3. User Outmaps
In this mode, all Tracks routed into the current User defined Outmap are sent to the headphones.
Tracks will be routed according to the Outmap. Tracks are played Post-Play-Fader, meaning you
can change the playback Track Level, using the actuator assigned to the Track in order to modify
the attenuation.

NB: • On top of the Vumeters is displayed Track's attenuation.

• If no actuator is assigned to a played Track, its attenuation can still be changed by
Solo-ing the Track (Solo of any Track, then rotate the Left Crown to access the desired
Track) and then while holding the Shift button press, rotate the Jog wheel.

This mode is symbolized on the Headphone Outmap grid by playback Tracks being active, at
the side designated in the Outmap. Tracks are labelled according to the chosen monitoring
mode: “P” to emphasize the PostFader property or “T” for PreFader mode.
NB: Only Tracks can be activated, other inputs than tracks are marked inactive, except for
Mixdown: if a Mixdown type input is routed on the Outmap, then the Cantar will automatically
play the first track corresponding to the routed Mix input.

Cantar X3 39
 4. Solo
Solo of one or multiple tracks is available. Track(s) is(are) played Mono (to both left and right
ears), Pre-Fader (Track level as it was recorded).
The timeline displays only the waveform(s) corresponding to the selected Track(s).
Press the Solo button corresponding to the Track on the assigned actuator to toggle the
corresponding Track-Solo ON/OFF.
Press Esc to go back to normal Headphone Mode.

On Vumeters, other Tracks than the

one(s) solo-ed(s) are darkened.

This mode is symbolized on the Headphone

Outmap grid by playback Tracks being
active, at Center.
Tracks are labelled according to the chosen
monitoring mode: “P” to emphasize the
PostFader property or “T” for PreFader
mode.

To add another Solo: while holding the Shift button press another Solo button.

IV. Routing
Recorded take's routing can be viewed by pressing the F1 button, showing how inputs were
routed during record and the way tracks were sent to Mixdown.

V. Sync Points
Sync points are displayed on the timeline as vertical dotted lines.
• White: Slate sync point.
• Black: User marker.
To go to the previous or next sync point, press the Left or Right buttons.

Cantar X3 40
 METADATA
I. Next Record
While the Cantar is in the Pre-Post Record (PPR) position (while the Main Selector is at 11
o’clock), it is possible to edit next take’s metadata.
1. Quick Edit (Scene-Take-Notes) : from the PPR Menu
Once the pink selection box is displayed (if not, press the OK button), select the appropriate field
and press the OK button. Value is modified with the direction buttons or the Jog wheel.
Take type: Change directly the next Take Type by pressing the F4 button.
Pressing the OK button on the field symbolised with « ... » opens the Full Edition panel.
2. Full Edit
Press the F6 button to open the Full Metadata
Edit panel.

Select the appropriate field and press OK to

enter Edit mode.

NB: • The NOTES area consists of:

ₒ Persistent note, that repeat from one take to the next one.
ₒ Take note, that apply only to the next Take and is cleared at the end of the Take.
• Changing the Scene resets the Take Number to one (1).
• The Take Number is automatically increased after each Take.
• Take type:
't' = time synced; 'p' = pick-up ; 'w' = wild take ; 'a' = announce ; 'n' = no good ;
'r' = rehearsal ; 'g' = guide soundtrack.
If a take is marked 'n', the next Take's number will not be increased automatically
and it won't be circled.
If a Scene & Take template without Take Type is selected (Technical Menu), this field is
still available, but it won’t appear in the filename or in the Take field in the Metadata
(Bext chunk, iXML)
• Clear field: Press Shift + ESC buttons.
II. Last Record
Press the F4 button to open the Previous
Full Metadata Edit panel.

Select the appropriate field and press OK

to edit it.

NB: If the Take Type is changed to 'n', the Take is automatically automatically Un-Circled. If the
Take Type is modified from 'n' to something else, the Take is automatically Circled.

III.Previous Records
Editing previously recorded takes is done while the Main Selector is in the Audio File Browser
position (7 o’clock).

Cantar X3 41
In the top part, Media, Project folder and Day folder can be modified. Select the desired field
with the Left and Right buttons and press the OK button.
NB: It is possible to refresh the Project list, by re-selecting the Media, as well as refreshing the
Day list by re-selecting the Project.
1. Single Take Edition
• Select one take with the Up and Down buttons.
• Press the F4 buttons to open the Edit panel (or select ‘EDIT’ field and press the OK button).

• Select the appropriate field with the Left and Right buttons, and press the OK button to begin
edition. Once in edition:
° Press the ESC button to leave Edit mode (and then once again to close the panel).
° Press the F4 button to directly close the Edit panel.
° Press the OK button to validate modification and to move focus to the next field.
° Press the Right and Left buttons or the Jog wheel to change the current selected
character (moving before the first character or after the last, changes the active field to the
next or to the previous one).
• Modifications are applied once the Edit panel is closed.
NB: • Take Circled: from the Single/Multiple editing panel or even from the Take list, Circle
parameter is toggled pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.
• Take Type: from the Single edition panel, the Take Type is cycled through by pressing
the F5 button.
2. Multiple Take Edition
• Select multiple Takes by holding the Shift button and pressing the Up or Down buttons.
• Press the F4 buttons to open the Edit panel (or select ‘EDIT’ field and press the OK button).

The fields are filled with Metadata from the last Take of the selection.
Depending on how fast is the media, how many modifications are needed, the Cantar will
display a progress bar displaying the application of Metadata modifications.

Cantar X3 42
 IV. Web App
1. Connection
i. Via Ethernet
• Connect your Cantar to your computer via an ethernet cable and switch on the recorder.
• Establishing the communication between computer and Cantar may take up to 1 or 2
minutes (IP discovering etc…) depending on your OS, network type etc…
• On the computer, run any web browser (Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome …) and
enter http://X3-XXXXX as host adress with XXXXX being the Cantar id.
NB : if it is not working, Go to the Technical Menu, item “Display IP Adress” and validate with
the OK button and note of the IPV4 adress. Enter this Ip adress as host adress in the web
browser.
ii. Via Wifi
• Switch On the Wifi connection in the Technical Menu, item “Wifi”. Note the Ip adress :
192.168.100.1
• Connect your device to the Cantar Wifi Network using the credentials entered in the Wifi
dialog box.
• On the device, run any web browser (Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome …) and enter
the IP adress previously noted.
2. Using the App
The Web App is a reflection of the Audio Browser Menu of the Cantar, it scans the current day
folder and displays takes’ information in a similar way to the Pdf report.
The column are fixed : Filetag ; Scene; Take ; Circled ; Tracks 1 to 24 ; Notes.
The current folders are displayed at the top of the page : Drive ; Project ; Day 1
To edit a single field, select it (clic or tap according to device), a dialog box will be displayed.
To select several lines, click (or tap) the File id of the desired takes.
Line background color :
- Green : Wild take 2
- Brown : Scene changed compared to previous take. 3
- Purple : Next Take (available if the browsed day is the current recording day) 4
If the content of a cell is similar to the previous one, content is replaced by an arrow.
The track cell displays the track’s name and several informations according to track’s input(s) :
- in the top-right corner of the cell : m or s if ms ; xL or xR if mix.
- at the bottom of the cell : a line symbolizing how the track is sent to the mixdown (pan pot).
- at the top of the cell : the modifying parameters ( cf. Track Vumeter : phase inverse (f), filter ('fn'
(with n being the number of the filter)), 'Eq' , Delay (‘D’)).
1

Cantar X3 43
V. Completion
1. Track Names
While typing tracknames, a list with previous entered tracknames is displayed according to the
first characters typed in.
Select the desired proposition using the Up and Down buttons and validate it by pressing the Ok
button.

By pressing the F2 key, the Track Completion Management is displayed.

Previous entries may be edited (select the desired entry with the Up and Down buttons and press
the Ok button) or deleted (select the desired entry with the Up and Down buttons and press the
F2 button) or new entries may be added (press the F1 button).
It is also possible to activate or deactivate the Track Completion feature by pressing the F3
button. Once deactivated, the completion list is not displayed while tracknames are typed in and
the Completion Management window is grayed.

Cantar X3 44
 Timecode

I. State
Timecode source (Internal or External) can be chosen in the Audio & Timecode Menu.
It is symbolized in the Record, Pre-Record, Test and Stop Menus by a round icon with the letter
'E' for External and 'I' for internal.
This icon can be: • Green: Timecode is initialized.
• Blinking Orange: Jamming Timecode.
• Red: Timecode is not initialized.
At startup, the Timecode icon is red. This is to remind you to verify the Timecode state.
II. Internal Source Timecode Method
1. Internal Free-Run master clock
The internal TCXO 1ppm 'Sync Clock' keeps the time accurate to within ±0.5 frame in eight
hours; this time is used to stamp the sound files with the very same TC as the one stamped on
the camera's images (AatonCode method called 'Free-Run TC' in the video world).
Once initialized Cantar behaves as a master-clock.
The Internal 'Sync Clock' initialization choices are:
i. Calendat Init
At startup, Cantar reads the system's calendar date and time to initialize the 'Sync Clock', 'Stc'
(System-TC) is displayed in the timecode area.
To remind you to sync other equipment around to the Cantar 'Sync Clock', the icon stays red until
you press the Shift + F3 buttons in order to confirm System Time as Timecode.

ii. Operator Init

If you want to set the 'Sync Clock' with your own time, go to the Audio & Timecode Menu and
choose 'Set Operator Tc'. 'OTC' (Operator-TC) is displayed in the timecode area.
iii. LTC Init & Control (from camera, GPS or Cantar) LTC-out
Pressing the F3 button for more than three (3) seconds causes the LTC received from the external
source to jam the internal 'Sync Clock'. 'JTC' (Jammed-TC) is displayed in the timecode area.
If no TC is being received, the Jam has no effect and 'Jam Failed' is displayed.

In the Stop position, the 'Sync Clock' is set by an Aaton OriginC which also initializes
cameras and GMT generators. 'ATC' (ASCII-TC) appears in the timecode area.
2. Internal Record-Run driving clock
Go to the Audio & Timecode Menu, choose 'Set RecRun TC', 01:00:00 is proposed as the first
TC of the day (it can be modified). From now on, at the beginning of each audio file Cantar will
stamp a start-TC incremented by two seconds later than the preceding Take's end-TC. This
clocking, called Record-Run, produces audio files which appear as if they have been recorded in
continuity.

If for some reason Cantar is turned 'OFF', the Record-Run TC must be initialized again. To
prevent any TC overlap, Cantar proposes to start on the next hour integer, e.g. if the last

Cantar X3 45
recorded Take has been closed at 01:34:15, the next start-TC proposed will be 02:00:00.
The Cantar Record-Run mode lets you use the pre-record buffer without creating TC overlaps.
For example, if the preceding Take ends at 01:45:00, and the pre-record buffer is set at
thirteen seconds, the next audio file will start at 01:45:02.
3. Internal clock, AutoSlate on clapsticks
If the same TC is not running in Cantar and cameras, the only way to sync pictures and audio is
to use clapsticks. Forget digi-slates, they have too many drawbacks. The Cantar AutoSlate
sample-accurate clapstick detection function puts a timecode crown over the simplest piece of
wood.
III.External Source
An externally-slaved Cantar stamps the audio files with the same TC as the one running in the
video camera. This requires a link from the camera to Cantar.
Set 'TC Source' to 'Ext. Clock' in the Audio & Timecode Menu.
The 'E' Timecode icon will blink in the Timecode area, meaning that Cantar is waiting to be
slaved to an external LTC source, e.g. a video camera.
Cantar is usually in the Record position before the camera, so it monitors the LEMO-5 for
incoming LTC and grabs it when coherent TC is received. That is why the Timecode icon keeps
blinking orange indicating a Timecode Jam, until the camera is up to speed.
Before closing the audio file, Cantar stamps the TC by using the latest valid Timecode so as to
eliminate spurious transmission errors and false camera starts. If there is no external timecode
signal, an 'LTC Not Detected' warning appears.
Nevertheless, the external TC is grabbed if it is received before the Take's end.

Cantar X3 46
 Ca tourne : Usefull functions
I. Pre-Record functionality
Pre-Record Position is at the 11 o'clock position and allows 3 important functions while
displaying the main information regarding the record session.
1. Pre-Record Buffer
While the Main Selector is on Pre-Record Position, the Cantar activates its pre-record buffer.
This buffer stores the audio in a First-In/First-Out (FIFO) buffer memory and dumps them to the
recording media as soon as Record is activated.
Once the buffer is full, up to 10 sec. @ 48kHz, it starts discarding the oldest audio buffer.
2. Previous take trash
After a Record, you can simply put that last Take to a trash by pressing the Shift + Esc buttons.
II. Tone Generator
While the Main Selector is in the Test, Pre-Record or Record positions, pressing the Shift + F5
buttons sends a 1kHz tone to the Tracks, and Mixdown. The level of the tone can be set in the
Audio Parameters Menu.
Releasing the Shift button before the F5 button locks the tone 'ON'; pressing the Shift button turns
it 'OFF'.
III.Talk
Pressing the Talk buttons, enables the Slate Mic and the 3,5mm Mic jack. It sends the stream to
the Headphones and to any Outmap (Line, AES, AES 42, Dante) where the corresponding Talk
function is routed.
Pressing the Shift + Talk buttons also sends the Talk stream to the Tracks.
IV. Slate Detection
This is the most precise and simplest method ever invented to sync images and sounds.
In the Audio Menu, select the slate detection channel.
While in Record, press the F4 button within six seconds after a clapstick; the most plosive event
preceding the button press creates a Slate Mark. The successive slates generated by a multi-
camera shoot are labeled SA, SB... SG. A maximum of 10 slates can be recorded.
The clapstick quality is displayed in the rectangular screen, 25% should be a minimum; at 75%
score, you can congratulate the slateman!
If you forget to press the F4 button, AutoSlate detects the most plosive sound of the take with a
95% chance of selecting the clapstick; in this case the Sound-Report's Slate-TC appears in
'Italic' to show it must be either confirmed or ignored.
V. User Marker
While in Record, press the F6 button to create tabs labeled UM1, UM2... UM10 on wind
clicks, boom noise, dialogue slip, etc..
VI. Levels
1. Inputs
While the Main Selector is in the Record (12 o'clock), Pre-Record (11 o'clock), and Test
positions, as soon as an input's attenuation is changed, a Level panel can be displayed,
replacing temporarily the metadata and timecode information.
This feature can be enabled or disabled in the Technical Menu, item “Display Inputs Level”.
If enabled, the display precision can be set: ±0,1 dB; ±0,5 dB; ±1dB.

Cantar X3 47
• If an analog input is marked “OFF”, it is because it is not used in the current Ingrid or in
any of the current Outmaps (Headphone, Line, AES). So in order to save Power, the Cantar
switches this input off.
• Input Level is represented as a circle if the input is driven by a potentiometer (or by the Jog
wheel) or as a rectangle if it is driven by a slider (Mixer, Cantarem or Cantarem 2).
• Linked inputs have their lower part colored (one color per group), displaying the group number.
If the balance is locked (lock/unlock Balance in the Audio/Timecode Menu), a key symbol is
displayed on the side on the input level symbol.
2. Tracks
While the Main Selector is in the Record, Pre-Record, and Test positions, Tracks gain can be
displayed as soon as it is changed. This feature can be enabled or disabled in the Technical
Menu, item “Display Trcks Att.”.
If “Dedicated Panel” is selected, metadata and timecode
information are temporarily replaced upon change of the gain.
If “Top of Vumeter” is selected, Track's gain ar displayed
above the Vumeters.
VII. Locking Panels
While the Main Selector is in the Pre-Record, and Test positions, Potentiometer and Mixer panels
can be locked.
Once locked, every actuator (Slider or Potentiometer) on the corresponding panel is disabled
and the position at the time of the locking is saved. Actuator may be moved, it doesn't affect
what it is assigned to. The locking activation and positions are saved upon Cantar shutdown.
A locked actuator can be temporarily unlocked by holding the Shift button while moving it.
1. Mixer Panel
The Mixer Panel is locked or unlocked by holding the Shift + Left buttons pressed during 3
seconds to avoid inadvertent locking. A dialog displays the locking procedure.

2. Potentiometer Panel
The Potentiometer Panel is locked or unlocked by holding the Shift + Right buttons pressed during
3 seconds to avoid inadvertent locking. A dialog displays the locking procedure.

VIII.Low Power Mode

While the Main Selector is in the Stop position, if the low power option was activated in the
Technical Menu, according to the time set up, the Cantar will go in low power mode.

5 seconds before engaging the low power mode,

a message is displayed.

In that mode, in order to save energy many things are powered-off:

• Inputs and outputs: Mic, Lines, Dante, Aes, Aes42
• The screen
While being “asleep” the Cantar, in order to signal that it is still alive, have the F1 to F3 buttons
alternatively lit.
To get out of the low power mode, either press the Power or the F1 or the F2 or the F3 buttons
or simply change the Main Selector's position.

Cantar X3 48
 IX. Dante
According to the presence of the Dante option, a Dante icon if displayed in the top right corner
of the Cantar picture.

X. Trash
1. Send to Trash
From the Audio Browser Menu : • Select one or multiple Takes
• Press the Shift + Escape buttons.

2. Restore from Trash

From the Backup Menu, select AUDIO_TRASH as current source day folder and copy from this
folder to any media wanted or any project
3. Delete from Trash
From the Audio Browser Menu, select “AUDIO_TRASH” as day folder :
• Select one or multiple Takes
• Press the Shift + Escape buttons.
! Deleting from Audio Trash is definitive, the files will be erased.
4. Fix Files
When a Take is improperly closed (upon power failure, system error, or media error), the Take is
colored in Red. Metadata editing is not possible as the files are missing the iXML data.

It is possible to try to fix the Take by pressing the F2 button.

The original Take (improperly closed) is copied in the Audio_Trash as a backup and the fixed
files are put into the current Day folder.

Cantar X3 49
 Sound Reports
Cantar may generate Sound Reports after Backup or whenever the user wants from the Audio
Browser Menu (Snap Report).

I. Setting up the reports

Sound Reports are setup in the Session Menu (while the Main Selector is in the 2 o'clock
position).

• Report Type
Select the first item of the Report setup line and press the Ok button.
Choose whether to generate (or not) PDF, CSV or ALE reports.

• Report Header & Data

Select the second item (“Setup Pdf”) of the Report setup line and press the Ok button.

Select the appropriate field and press the OK button to edit it.
1. Header
The header of the PDF report is made of 5 lines and 7 columns.
NB: During Report generation, if one parameter along the header data is different from one take
to another (for example Digit or TC Fps), a new page is added.
Use the direction buttons to select a cell and press the OK button to edit it. (Pict. 89).
Some data types are 2 cells wide (for example Prod, Title etc...), other only 1.
NB: • While changing a cell type, if a 2-cell wide field got its second field replaced by
another field, the first field is painted in dotted red to highlight that it will be erased if the
current change is confirmed
• If a 2-cell wide field is placed on the last column, it's painted in red to show that it is
invalid
• To change the customized text of a field, re-select the first cell and apply the same type.
• To reset to default settings, press the Shift + Escape buttons.

Cantar X3 50
 2. Data
Each Take can have one or two data lines plus eventually a note line.

Each data line can have up to 16 columns, given the first column is necessarily the Take index
on the current page and the second column of the first line of the Take is the FileID.
Circled takes may also be reported in the Pdf report with a red circle around the Filetag field or
around the take number field.

II. Generating the report(s)

Reports are automatically generated at the end of a Backup procedure (while the Main Selector
is on the 1 o’clock position).
It is also to generate Pdf at will from the Audio Browser Menu (while the Main Selector is on the
7 o’clock position) : Snap Report. The Snap Report dialog is opened by pressing the F6 button.
The Snap Report process, for each media detected, scans the current selected Project and Day
folder looking for Mono, Stereo and Poly folder, in order to create a report representing the
media state at the moment.
For each media, the Report process state is displayed:
• Scheduled : at least one Sound folder was
found (.AAD, .AAX, .AAN)
• Non active : no Sound folder found.
• Processing Report .
• Report process finished.

The Snap Report Process may filter takes according to their type.

Select the Take field and press the Ok button

It displays a choice list where desired take types
may be selected. Scroll throught the types using the
Up and Down buttons and select or deselect by
pressing the Left and Right buttons.

Validate the selecting by pressing the Ok button.

> Press the F5 button to start the process.

Cantar X3 51
NB: Project Report The Snap Report Process may scans through all the days present in the current
Project by opening the Snap Report dialog box by pressing the Shift + F6 buttons.

Export Snap

The Snap Report process may also be specified a source and target in order for example to
export a report based on the content of a media to another media.

To activate this option, press the F3 button. (F3 button again to go back to the simple snap
process)
Select the Source and Target fields using the Up and Down buttons and validate by pressing the
Ok button, a list of choice is then displayed in order to select the desired media.

Pict. 105

Cantar X3 52
 How to Extract & Process Files : BACKUP
Backup parameters can be setup while the Main Selector is in the 1 o'clock position.
This position enables to: • Copy from one media to another.
• Apply interleave process (Stereo or Polyphonic).
• Restore trashed Takes.

The screen is divided into two parts: the left part is about the Source and the right part about the
Target.

I. Backup settings
The top part enables to setup the Source and Target parameters: Media and Day Folder, as well
as to setup the Backup process.

1. Source and Target

Select the appropriate field with the Left and Right buttons, then press the OK button to edit it.
NB: • A full Project can be selected in the Day Folder field (at the top of the list of days). (Pict.
94)
A project report (if enabled) is generated at the end of the backup.
• The current Project is displayed in the top-middle part of the screen, it can be changed
in the Session Menu or in the Audio File Browser.
• Takes lists are updated on each sides upon folder choice. It can also be manually
refreshed by pressing the F5 button.

2. Process
The process applied during backup can also be set up:
• Copy Monophonic files/Clone: copy files from Source to Target.
• Copy Polyphonic files: creates Polyphonic files from the
Monophonic ones.
• Copy Stereo Mixdown: creates a Stereo Mixdown file
from the Mixdown tracks.
• Combination of 2 process.
• Copy Reports.

II. Backup processing

It is possible to copy one or multiple Takes.
One Take can be selected by using the Up or Down buttons.
To select multiple Takes, hold the Shift button while pressing the Up or Down buttons.

Cantar X3 53
To select all Takes, press the F2 buttons.

While browsing the source list with the Up and Down buttons, if a Take is also on the target list,
it is automatically highlighted.
The backup process can be started into two modes: • Copy: by pressing the F4 button
• Overwrite: by pressing the F6 button.
In Copy mode, if a Take already exists in the Target, it won't be overwritten, thereby saving time.
In Overwrite mode, it forces to overwrite already existing files.

At the end of the backup, if enabled, are processed the sound reports (only if at least one Take
was copied).
There is one sound report per Day Folder, gathering information about the takes present in that
folder.

III.Idle backup
This mode can be activated any time, the earlier in the day, the better it is.
The setup of this mode is done in the SESSION Menu on each recording Media.
While the Main Selector is in the TEST position, if the recording media is not on duty, Cantar
incrementally, backs up the audio files onto idle target media(s) (SD card and/or USB).
Note that a three seconds delay lets you go through the Test Menu without immediately
triggering the process.
A percentage of completed idle process will be displayed in green above the media icon. End
will be displayed when the process is finished.
The process will be automatically interrupted when exiting from the Test Menu. The unfinished
copy is erased and will be restarted when re-entering the Test Menu.

If a metadata of a take is modified, the modification is as well reflected on the idle target media
if it is still available.

Before removing the target media, take time to run Snap report [F6] into the Audio & Browsing
Menu in order to create reports if needed.

If the idle media is full, insert another media and the Idle Backup process will continue from
where it previously stopped.

This function is useful, when a media is too slow to work in mirroring.

Cantar X3 54
IV. Network backup
All medias may be accessed using the Network connection : The internal SSD, and the SD cards
(Access to the internal SSD is Read only).

This option is enabled in the Technical Menu, item “File network Access”.
When enabled, a computer can be connected to the Ethernet plug or throught the Wifi
connection.

Disks are accessed by:

• On a Mac computer: Connecting to the adress smb://X3-NNNN (with NN
being the Cantar Number).
• On a Windows computer: Connecting to the adress \\X3-NN (with
NN being the Cantar Number).
The credentials are: User=cantar and Password=x3

NB: • If the Cantar is directly connected to the computer without a DHCP server in between,
the Cantar will automatically be assigned an Auto-IP address (169.256.XX.XX).
° For a Windows computer, according to the OS version, it can take about 1
minute to toggle to Auto-IP, in the mean time, it is not possible to connect it to the
Cantar.
• If the connection is not possible with the X3-NN hostname, entering the IP adress may
be tested (throught Wifi : smb://192.168.100.1 on Windows or \\192.168.100.1
on Mac ; or with the IP adress found in the “Display IP adress” item of the Technical
Menu for Ethernet connection).

Cantar X3 55
 AUDIO & TIMECODE
Audio & Timecode parameters are modified while the Main Selector is in the 4 o'clock position.
The Menu is made of items and their description on the right part of the screen. Use the Up or
Down buttons to select the appropriate item and press the OK button to edit it.

I. Sample Rate & Bit Depth

Digitizing audio sample rate -1/1000 such as 47952,94904... can be used with picture recorded
at 23.98 and play back at 24.
Digitizing audio sample rate +1/1000 such as 48048,96096... can be used with picture recorded
at 24 and play back at 23.98.
Bit depth is the number of bits of information in each sample. It directly corresponds to the
resolution of each sample.
II. Pre-Record Length
Audio buffering duration in seconds when the Cantar is in the Pre-Record position.
III.Timecode Settings
1. LTC Out Generator
Enable or disable LTC output generator : duplicates the in-coming TC in Record or generates
audio files Timecode during Playback.
2. LTC Out Level
LTC output level.
3. LTC Rate
Timecode frame rate 24 25 29.97df 30 are dedicated to corresponding accurate camera
speeds. Timecode will be separated with ':' 23/29 ndf A,B,C mode are dedicated to HD
23.976 and HD29.97 camera speeds.
By default select the C mode. Timecode will be separated with '*'.
4. Timecode Source
Internal: Timecode runs on internal precise master clock.
External: Timecode will be grabbed from LTC input at each start in Record.
5. Timecode User-bits
Define the content of LTC user-bits.
• Hexa by user: the user-bits are manually entered the same way as to other metadatas (scene,
take...)
• Hexa LTC: The field is automatically updated with incoming LTC User-bits, at each Jam.
Jam can be activated pressing F3 or at each new record in external LTC
• Tape ref Ascii: the first 4 characters of tape ID rare encoded as ASCII characters
(e.g. A123 will be inserted in User-bits as 41313233 'A'=41 '1'=31 ...)
• Tape ref. hexa: The first 4 characters NNNN set 0000NNNN User-Bits (numeric value are
recommended).
• Date BCD: Audio date automatically sets up the User-Bits field with iso format.
(e.g. Audio date 25/02/2016 will be inserted as 25021600 User-Bits).

Cantar X3 56
 6. Timecode Fudged
The audio-file time stamps correct the TC flaw of some HD cameras.
WARNING: TC will be artificially shifted of 60 ms.
To prevent trouble this choice is not saved at power off.
7. Operator TC
The Operator entered TC becomes the next recording session reference.
'OTC' is displayed as timecode flag.
8. Record-Run TC
Record-Run is activated for the full session until another timecode Source is selected; in that case
the clock goes back to its default Free-Run mode.
'RTC' is displayed as timecode flag.
IV. Clap Detection
Selects the AutoSlate detection channel.
V. Mixer Fader Max Level
Mixer's faders top position gain.
VI. Phantom Mic Gain
Let the user decide whether to add an analog gain (+6dB) when the Phantom Mic Power is ON.
VII.Polyphonic Mode
Choose between Original (Unused or disarmed tracks between used ones are embedded in
the Poly file as emtpy, preserving tracks index) or Compact ( Unused or disarmed tracks
between used ones are not embedded (lighter files). The original track in dex may be lost in
non linear editing software).
VIII. Tone & Beep
1. Tone Level
1kHz tone level.
2. Beep Level
Headphone beep level.
3. Record Beep
Single beep on 'start', double beep on 'stop'.
Double beep is useful to warn you when the video camera stops, while recording in Remote Roll
by LTC.
4. Beep Routing
Let the user decide whether to route the beeps to the outputs or not. (Line outputs, AES outputs,
Dante outputs). Headphone is always enabled and cannot be changed.
IX. Disarmed Tracks
Audio Stream of disarmed Tracks : OFF = Tracks muted ; ON = Tracks still not recorded and not
sent to mixdown but not muted (Vumeters, Outmaps, Solo, Postfade)
X. Remote Rec
Enable or disable Remote Rec. When enabled, Record may be started and stopped while the
Main Selector is in the Ppr Position using the Option socket. 0 V = stop ; 5 V = start.
XI. Playback & Rec
Enable or disable Playback&Rec Menus. When enabled, Playback&Rec Menus (Record-Ppr-Test-
Play-Browse) may be accessed when rotating the Main Selector while holding the Shift button
pressed.

Cantar X3 57
XII. Slate Mics
1. Internal slate mic
Internal slate mic level adjustement.
2. Jack 3,5 slate mic
Jack 3,5 slate mic attenuation adjustement.Taggle jack 3,5 slate mic biais Power ON or OFF.
Set to ON for electret mics.
3. Jack 3,5 bias pwr
Taggle jack 3,5 slate mic biais Power ON or OFF. Set to ON for electret mics.
4. Talk full duplex
Select how the talkback activation impacts the headphones: if ON, during a talkback, the
current headphone monitoring stays active ; if OFF, during a talkback, only the talkback is sent to
the headphones.
XIII. Hdphn safety lvl
Let the user decide the level of the headphone safety clamping in relation to the current
Headphone level (see Headphone Level section).
XIV. Balance Lock
Slaved fader balance action (see Mic Link).
XV. Audio Power
1. Digital power
Toggle AES Inputs & Outputs Power ON or OFF in order to save power.
2. Dante power
Toggle Dante module ON or OFF in order to save power.

Cantar X3 58
 TECHNICAL
Technical parameters are modified while the Main Selector is in the 3 o'clock position.
The Menu is made of items and their description on the right part of the screen. Use the Up or
Down buttons to select the appropriate item and press the OK button to edit it.

I. Scene & Take Template

NNNx/NNx.tNN template fits the mostly used Sequence/Scene.
The 'all X' template is totally open, giving the Operator maximum flexibility.
The default template is nnnA/nnA.nn for 'sequence, scene, Take Type and Take Number'.
• Sequence: three digits, followed by one character*. *:'space', 'A' to 'Z', 'a' to 'z', '0' to '9'.
• Scene: two digits, followed by one character*.
• Take Type: 't' = time sync; 'p' = pick-up ; 'w' = wild take ; 'a' = announce ; 'n' = no good
(keeps the take # for the next file); 'r' = rehearsal ; 'g' = sound guide.
• Take Number: two digits.
NB: Both templates are available with or without the Take Type indicator. If without is chosen,
the Take indicator will still be available but won’t appear in the filename or in the Sc&Take
metadata (Bext chunk, iXML).
II. File naming
Sets the way Cantar names audio-files: • Cantar original: XXnnnn==SSSSSSSStNN==_TT
• Underscore only: every '=' and space characters
are replaced by a '_' character.
III.Vumeter Settings
1. Mxdn Shifted
Display all mixdown tracks vumeter at the right of the screen.
2. Grid
Toggle the horizontal scale ON/OFF.
3. Line Level
Sets the level of the blue line.
4. Gradian
Vumeters are displayed with a smooth color gradient from green to red.
When ON, red zone and yellow zone have no more effect.
5. Red Zone
Sets the level above which the Vumeter is painted in red.
6. Yellow Zone
Sets the level above which the Vumeter is painted in yellow.
7. Scale
Sets the scale of the Vumeters between Original (X1/X2 dB scale) ; Expanded (Zoomed scale).
8. Speed
Sets the update speed of the Vumeters, 1 is the slowest, 5 the fastest.

Cantar X3 59
 9. Peek Hold
Sets the duration of peak hold in seconds.
IV. System Clock
1. Date
The system date is used to create the Day folder name (YYYY-MM-DD) which contains the files for
that workday.
NB: The workday folder can contain hours past midnight, if the recording session is not
interrupted.
The workday is also used to fill the default MMDD name of the tape reference field.
2. Time
Enter the time from your watch, especially if you just started working in a new time zone.
It should not be confused with the timecode which is used for syncing picture and audio.
V. Display Levels/Attenuation
1. Inputs Levels
In Record, Ppr, and Test positions, inputs levels can be displayed, as soon as a change occurs,
replacing temporarily the metadata and timecode informations.
If enabled, precision can be set: +/-0,1 dB; +/-0,5 dB; +/-1dB.
2. Tracks attenuation
In Record, Ppr, and Test positions, tracks attenuation can be displayed as soon as it changes.
If “Dedicated Panel” is selected, the metadata and timecode information are temporarily
replaced when the Track attenuation is changed. The Track Audio Level is in that case displayed
above the Vumeters.
If “Top of Vumeter” is selected, Track's attenuation will be displayed above Vumeters and Track
audio level is not displayed.
VI. Light
1. Backlight
Adjusts the screen's backlight brightness. Manual and automatic settings are available.
When automatic is chosen, backlight is adjusted according to the light measured by the sensor
on the Display panel. An offset may be applied on the value determined automatically.
Keep in mind high brightness are power hungry.
2. LED
Adjusts the brightness of the backlit buttons.

VII.Low Power in stop

Adjusts the duration before the low power state is activated while the Main Selector is in the
Stop position: OFF (never activated), 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes.
VIII.External voltage limit
In order to avoid problems with low battery levels on the external power input of the Cantar, a
warning limit can be setup.

Once the limit is reached, a warning message will be

displayed, asking if the external source may be disabled.

IX. Keyboard layout

Sets the mechanical arrangements of the keys.
A reboot is needed for the new arragement to be applied.

Cantar X3 60
X. File Network access
Allows access to the internal SSD and to the SD cards using the Network connection.
If enabled, a computer can be connected to the Ethernet plug.
Disks are accessed by:
• On a Mac computer: Connecting to the adress smb://CANTARX3_NN (with NN
being the Cantar Number).
• On a Windows computer: Connecting to the adress \\CANTARX3_NN (with
NN being the Cantar Number).
The credentials are: User=cantar and Password=x3
NB: • If the Cantar is directly connected to the computer without a DHCP server in between,
the Cantar will automatically be assigned an Auto-IP address (169.256.XX.XX).
° For a Windows computer, according to the OS version, it can take about 1
minute to toggle to Auto-IP, in the mean time, it is not possible to connect it to the
Cantar.
XI. Wifi
Set the Wifi connection On/Off and its parameters.
XII.Tech support
1. IP Adress
Displays Cantar's IP Addresses.
2. Diagnostic
Generates a diagnostic file on a designed media.
A diagnostic file is particularly useful in case of a problem on the Cantar, sent to the Cantar
support team, it will help to solve the issue.
XIII.Save / Load settings
1. Save
Generates a configuration file ( extension .cfg) on a designed media.

Change the media by selecting the “Media” field with the Up and Down buttons and then
pressing the Left and Right buttons.
A name is automatically generated based upon the current Filetag followed by the date and
time, but it can be personalized by selecting the “Name” field with the Up and Down buttons
and then pressing the Ok button.
Press the F5 button to save the whole configuration of the Cantar.
2. Load

Cantar X3 61
Change the media by selecting the “Media” field with the Up and Down buttons and then
pressing the Left and Right buttons.

Select the “Name” field and press the Ok button to display a list of all detected configuration
files on the selected media.

Select the desired file and press the Ok button. The file is loaded and based on its content, the
available settings are enabled:
• Parameters: General settings of the Cantar (sample rate, vumeters etc …)
• In-Grid: the 26 Ingrids presets.
• Headphone Outmaps: the 26 Headphone presets.
• Line / Aes Outmaps: the 26 Line and Aes outputs presets.
• Assignment: Potentiometers, Mixer sliders and Cantarems (I & II) assignments.
• Completion: Trackname completion.
Each type of settings can be individually activated or not. Using the Up and Down buttons, select
the type and toggle the state by pressing the Ok button.

Press the F5 button to start loading the selected settings.

NB: If the Parameters setting is selected, a reboot

of the Cantar will be automatically performed at
the end of the Loading procedure.

XIV.Load firmware
Access to the firmware loading Window.
1 – Get the latest Cantar X3 firmware version from the Aaton Support web site.
(http://www.aaton.com/software-updates)
2 – The firmware file (extension .csw) is contained in a zip, extract it onto an USB or a SD card.
2 – Before loading, ensure you have reliable power.
3 – Open the load firmware dialog box, select the firmware and press the OK button.
WARNING
1– Loading a new version can update the FPGA content. After a software update, Cantar will
reboot and update the FPGA. A dedicated screen with progress bar will appear.
As written DO NOT POWER OFF Cantar during this step. For safety, please use at least 2
power sources during update (e.g. 2 batteries or 1 external power on the XLR4 and 1 battery)
2 – Cantar's operating system is contained on a MicroSD on the mother board, DO NOT
REMOVE IT from the Cantar and try to plug it on a computer. Just by accessing it, the computer
can damage the card, and thereby preventing the Cantar to boot.

Cantar X3 62
 PLAYBACK AND RECORD
The playback and record allows the Cantar to play a pre-selected file and to simultaneously
record a new file. The feature can be divided into 2 modes :
• Clone Mode :
◦ Cloning the last take (all your iso tracks) and redoing the mixdown track(s).
• Live Mode :
◦ Re-Recording : incremental recording (adding one track while listening to the previous
track(s) to produce ‘packs’ of tracks)
◦ Dialogs that cannot be salvaged from production tracks can be re-recorded (ADR or
looping).
◦ Telephone call, background music or wild sounds stored, can be played
and re-recorded (or not) during the 'live' recording.

I. Activate the playback and Rec mode

This special mode is protected by a general ON/OFF parameter in AUDIO & TIMECODE
PARAMETER Menu.
Once the parameter is ON you will have access to extra MENU within the Cantar.

To acess these new Menus (PLAYBACK AND REC BROWSER, PLAY, TEST, PPR AND RECORD),
hold the Shift Button pressed while rotating the Main Selector in the desired position. Playback
and Rec Menus have a dark green background instead of the regular grey background.

NB : Sample rate frequency of the playback file must match the recording sample rate.
For now, only files recorded on Cantar can be used for playback and rec, a WAV import
function will be available in a subsequent firmware.

II. Live Mode

1. Select the file(s) to play (and how it will be sent to the Record InGrid)
Up to 5 audio files may be preselected to be played while Recording, called Playback banks (a,
b, c, d, e).
It will be possible to jump from one to another of those banks during the Record process.

Open the PLAYBACK AND REC BROWSER menu: Hold Shift while rotating the Main Selector in
the BROWSER position (7 o’clock). 3 1

The screen is divided in 5 areas :

2
• Playback mode (Live/Clone) 1
• Bank description (file ; location ; tracks) 2
4
• Browsing Folders 3 5
• Selectable files in current path 4
• Playback In-Grid 5

Cantar X3 63
1 – Setup the playback mode. (In this part : Live)
Live)
2 – Select the target bank (e.g. a) by rotating the Left Crown
3 – Select the location of the playback file (by pressing the Left and Righ buttons to select the
Media or Project or Day fields and then Ok buttons to validate)
4 – Highlight the desired file by pressing the Up and Down buttons
5 – Assign the selected file to the current bank by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.
6 – Edit the playback grid by pressing the F4 button. Then the Left and right buttons are used to
move the cursor and the Up and Down buttons to choose the source track.

The 1 to 24 columns represents the Record Tracks. When assigning a source track on a column,
you decide which Track of your Bank will be sent into a Track of your Next Record.

This example show sources tracks

T3/T4/T5 being affected to the
new record tracks T9/T10/T11

Press F1 to get an overview of the

final InGrid: a merge of the
playback Grid with the regular
Cantar InGrid.

The playback tracks can be

included into the mixdown of the
new recorded file.
(e.g. Playback track T3 recorded on
track 9 will be also mixed into Xl
with Mic 1)

2. Create Play-card
This screen is dedicated to put markers into the playback file, in order to prepare the audio
section (i.e PlayCard) you wish to play during the record.
Open the PLAY Screen dedicated to the PLAYBACK and REC, hold Shift while rotaing the Main
Selector to the Play position (8 o’clock)

Cantar X3 64
– Move the cursor to the In point, using the Jog Wheel.
– Create a new Play-card by pressing the Shift+F4 buttons. The In-point is defined by the Play
cursor position and the Out-point is by default placed several seconds later.
You can create up to 21 Play-cards within a file by repeating those actions.

– Move from one Play-card to another by pressing the Left and Right buttons. The current card
appears in dark blue while the other are in pink.
– Change the In or Out point of the currently selected Play-card by moving the play cursor on the
desired position (using the Jog Wheel), and then pressing the F5 button to move the In-point or
the F6 button to move the Out-point.
– Erase the currently selected Play-card by pressing the Shift + Esc buttons.

– Play the currently selected Play-card by pressing the OK button (Play/Pause). Audio will stop at
the end of the card.
– Disable the Play-card selection by pressing the F4 button, especially in order to be able to play
the file freely outside the card boundaries.
Pressing the Left and Right buttons automatically goes back to card selection.
– Switch between Playback banks (a, b, c, d, e) by pressing the Up or Down buttons.

3. Test the setup

The PLAYBACK and REC TEST Menu allows to practice before the Record. You have access to
the regular audio inputs (mic, line …) and simultaneously you can start to play the previously
setuped Cards from the banks. (Play-cards can not be edited).
This Menu is accessed by holding the Shift button pressed while rotating the Main Selector in the
TEST position (10 o’clock).
– Move from one bank to another by pressing the Up and Down buttons.
Once a bank is loaded (it can take a few seconds according to the loaded take’s caracteristics),
only the Waveforms of the selected tracks in the Playback grid are displayed (T3/T4/T5 in the
example bellow).
– Play/pause by pressing the Ok button.
– Move from one card to another by pressing the Left and Right buttons.

Playback will stop at the end of the selected Play-card and the play cursor will be parked to the
In-point of the next Play-card.

Cantar X3 65
 4. Pre-Record
The PLAYBACK and REC PPR Menu is equivalent to the regular PRE REC position but adds the
preload of the Playback file in order to be ready to play during the record

5. Record
Start the PLAYBACK and REC Record session by holding the Shift button pressed while rotating
the Main Selector to the REC position (12 o’clock).
You are now in Record with the simultaneous play capability.
– Move from one bank to another by pressing the Up and Down buttons.
Once a bank is loaded (it can take a few seconds according to the loaded take’s caracteristics),
only the Waveforms of the selected tracks in the Playback grid are displayed (T3/T4/T5 in the
example bellow).
– Play/pause by pressing the Ok button.
– Move from one card to another by pressing the Left and Right buttons.

III. Clone Mode

The Clone mode is dedicated to make a copy of the original ISO tracks while performing a new
mixdown. It clones all also all the metadata information and the Timecode
To operate friendly, the behavior of the PLAYBACK and REC positions (BROWSE, PLAY, TEST
and RECORD) are modified.
1. Select the files to play
1 – Setup the playback mode from the PLAYBACK and REC BROWSE position. (In this part :
Clone)
Clone)
NB : In Clone mode, as soon as a file is hightlighted in the regular browser, the browsing
parameters (media, project, day) will automatically be applied in the Playback and Rec Browser

Cantar X3 66
2 – Select the target bank (e.g. a) by rotating the Left Crown
3 – Select the location of the playback file (by pressing the Left and Righ buttons to select the
Media or Project or Day fields and then Ok buttons to validate)
4 – Highlight the desired file by pressing the Up and Down buttons
5 – Assign the selected file to the current bank by pressing the Shift + F3 buttons.

All ISO tracks are automatically duplicated into the playback grid. Mixdown tracks (Xl Xr) are
ignored, if necessary you still can edit the playback grid.

Press F1 to get an overview of the

final InGrid: a merge of the
playback Grid with the regular
Cantar InGrid.

Don’t forget to close the level of your inputs (or to remove them from the regular InGrid) if you
don’t want to add them to the played ISO tracks.
2. Play-cards

In Clone mode, the Play-cards are

not available assuming the whole
file will be played.

3. Test & Ppr

In a similar way to Live Mode, Test may be used to practice and Ppr to pre-load the played file.
4. Record
Start the PLAYBACK and REC Record session by holding the Shift button pressed while rotating
the Main Selector to the REC position (12 o’clock).
– Play the source file by pressing the Ok button : you can redo your mixdown.

Note: All the metadata (track names, scene, take, notes) are duplicated in the newly recorded
take. The note field will begin with a reference to the original take (Ie.g CLONE:BI9309) to
keep track of the source playback file.
During the record, the Cantar displays the regular audio timecode, but at the end of the record,
the original timecode (of the playback file) will take the place. This new file can be used in post
to replace the source file.

Cantar X3 67
 ANNEXES
I. Connectors
1. Mini Delta Ribbon
As seen from the outside (user's side)
Pin description:
- 1, 2: Ground
- 3: LTC In
- 4: Ascii
- 9: World clock out
- 10 & 23: Tally (no polarity)
- 11: Cantarem
- 12: AES-6 Out -
- 13: AES-6 Out +
- 14 & 15: V Batt
- 16: LTC Out
- 21: World clock In
- 22: Ground
- 24: Power On/Off
- 25: AES-5 Out -
- 26: AES-5 Out +
- Other pins: reserved for future use, do not connect.

2. Headphone Jack 6.35mm & Slate Mic Jack 3.5mm

Cantar uses:
- a generic sound connector for its Jack 6,35mm headphone connector.
- a Nokia type headset connector for its Slate Mic Jack 3,5mm, 4 points, connector.

3. Cantarem Lemo 8
Lemo 8 wiring:
- 1 Ground (to Pin 1 of Mini Delta Ribbon)
- 2: Ltc Out (to Pin 16 of MDR)
- 3: Cantarem (to Pin 11 of MDR)
- 4: V Batt (to Pin 14 of MDR)
- 7: Ltc In (to Pin 3 of MDR)

Cantar X3 68
 4. Timecode Lemo 5 (F)
Lemo 5 wiring:
- 1 Ground
- 2 LTC-In
- 3 Ascii
- 4 N.C
- 5 LTC-Out
5. Power XLR-4 (M)
External power: 13 to 18 V – 4 Amps
- 1 Ground
- 2 NC
- 3 NC
- 4 + Batt
6. Mic XLR-3(F)
Symmetrical transformer (max+24dBu)
- 1 Ground
- 2 Hot
- 3 Cold
7. Mic XLR-5(F)
Symmetrical transformer (max. +24dBu)
- 1 Ground
- 2 Hot Mic 3 / Mic 7
- 3 Cold
- 1 Ground
- 4 Hot Mic 4 / Mic 8
- 5 Cold
8. Line-In XLR-5(F)
Symmetrical (max. +24dBu)
- 1 Ground
- 2 Hot Line 1 / Line 3
- 3 Cold
- 1 Ground
- 4 Hot Line 2 / Line 4
- 5 Cold
9. AES-42 TA-3(F)
- 1 Ground
- 2 Hot
- 3 Cold
10.AES In/Out Dsub-25
Tascam TD 88 standard

AES Inputs AES Outputs

Channel Pair Hot + Cold - Gnd Channel Pair Hot + Cold - Gnd
1-2 24 12 25 1-2 18 6 19
3-4 10 23 11 3-4 4 17 5
5-6 21 9 22 5-6 15 3 16
7-8 7 20 8 7-8 1 14 2

Cantar X3 69
 11.Analog Output Dsub-25
Output
Channel Hot + Cold - Gnd
1 24 12 25
2 10 23 11
3 21 9 22
4 7 20 8
5 18 6 19
6 4 17 5
7 15 3 16
8 1 14 2

12.Hi-Rose
Tension: V-batt.
Current limitation: 500 mA, protected by a thermo-fuse.

II. Cantar Audio Chain

III.Software history
version 2.23 (July 3, 2016)
• Bug Fix on :
Error during formatt process on some SD cards
Wrong EQ information were displayed in Solo mode.

Cantar X3 70
version 2.21 (June 29, 2016)
• The Playback and Record feature allows Cantar to play pre-selected files while simultaneously
recording new files.
• Take Indicator removable in Sc&Take template : if Without Indicator is choosen, the take
letter indicator is not written anymore in the take metadata or in the filename.
• When Next Scene is changed while take type is 'p' take type is automatically reseted to 't'
• In Play position, when Play is muted on an output (Empty Triangle), any routed input remain
active on outputs.
• Record starts even if a media has not enough available free space, as long as a mono
version can still be recorded on a media.
• WebApp: Graphical improvement on disarmed tracks (infos more discrete (ms / mx))
• Bug Fix on :
If the scene or the take was modified during Record, the filename was not matching.
Sometimes, wrong Wifi status was reported in the stop position.
During a record, if a media becomes full, upon Record cut due to file size (long record) the
record was stopped.
WebApp: disarmed tracks on next take information was incorrect upon reload.
WebApp: on a new day, next take line was not available.
Timecode displayed behind the timeline can be wrong on long take (>30mn). The audio
file integrity is not affected.
In the reports files, tape Id was limited to 4 characters.

version 2.12 (April 23, 2016)

• A metadata WepApp is available through Ethernet or wifi connection.
1 - Connect your device tablet (e.g. iPad) or computer (PC or MAC) to the Cantar.
Your device may warn you about the fact internet is not available on this
connection.
2 - Open your web browser and enter the Cantar's IP address :
when using Wifi : 192.168.100.1
when using ethernet, the IP address given by Display IP address in the Technical
Menu.
3 - You will be realtime connected to your Cantar and able to edit/view the metadata
of the working day.
• Solo improvements
When soloing an input, corresponding track's vumeter is highlighted
When soloing a single input, trigger Solo of the first corresponding track by pressing the
Left or Right key
When soloing a single track, trigger Solo of the first input of the track by pressing the
Left or Right key
• Talk To Tracks : select between All Tracks / Mix Tracks or a specific
Track on which the Talk Back is sent when pressing Shift + Talk back keys (be careful to
select a track that is recorded)
• Generates the audio files timecode during playback on LTC output
• Using Cantarem / Cantarem 2 keys, Shift can now be pressed on Cantar side
• Snap Report: Multi reports according to take types (same as in backup)
• Using file network acces, the write premission is enabled on both SD cards
• Wifi status added in the stop position
• Bug Fix on
Metadata on Poly & Mix files (was creating page breaks in Pdf by altering TapeRef).
Audio wave form accuracy (the "silent rec" warning message was displaying
inappropriately).
Shift+F2 during metadata edit was opening the solo lineout dialog box.
Some freeze at SD format start-up.
AES42 Power ON/OFF was inverted into the interface.
The isolated post fade level (P1,P2..) was not displayed in "select Outmap" dialog box

Cantar X3 71
 The isolated post fade level was not managed correctly in headphone. The regular
mixdown was not affected by the bug.
Some problems at format start-up.

version 1.119 (December 01, 2016)

• The Mic level can be modified using the jog when it is not driven by an actuator.
• Bug Fix on
While balance was locked, the analog inputs levels may be incorrect at startup
The "silent rec" warning message was displaying inappropriately
A special character combination in comment field was freezing the interface
Disarmed Tracks & Postfade of disarmed tracks were not activated in headphones even
if Disarmed Audio Stream was On
Some track indicator was missing in the ALE (Avid Log Exchange) file.

version 1.118 (November 14, 2016)

• The audio stream of disarmed track can be turned ON or OFF (OFF is the way it is in the
previous version)
(if ON, Disarmed tracks still won't be recorded BUT the vumeters will display any disarmed
track level, the disarmed tracks can be heard in any output (headphone, line out or aes out).
• Using idle backup, status in test position is now persistent.
A notification is displayed at Cantar power off, if the idle job is not finished.
• The linked mics and line status are displayed in the vumeter background information.
• In PLAY position, several waveform vertical scales are available, press Shift+F3 to toggle
S-lvl: Signed waveform signal.
S-dB : Signed waveform in dB.
U-lvl: Unsigned waveform signal.
U-dB : Unsigned waveform in dB.
• An optional user day suffix is available. On new day, a day suffix (up to 8 characters) can
be added to the traditional day folder.(e.g. it can be used to add a shoot day like D001,
D002... or a season/episode number like S01EP17)
The day folder for monophonic audio files will be 2016-10-25_D002.AAD.
To switch to another suffix within a day, use the "Day suffix" function located into SESSION
screen.
• A compact polyphonic mode can be selected in Audio & TC settings
Original: Unused or disarmed tracks between used ones are embedded in the poly file as a
zero level track,
preserving the tracks index
Compact: Unused or disarmed tracks between used ones are not embedded in the poly file
(lighter files).
Depending of the non linear editing system, the original track index can be lost.
• The timecode user bit parameter change the behaviour of the user bit metadata field in PPR
position and the now affect also the content of the LTC output.
• A "silent rec" message is displayed on track vumeters at the end of the record when audio
recorded on the track stays always below -98dB. The warning is not diplayed on mixdown
tracks. The message is automatically removed by a main selector movement or by a call to
any solo (track, mic, line ...).
• Wifi can be activated. The channel used and the password (8 characters) is user defined.The
Cantar wifi provides a wireless file network access (file network access needs to be
enabled). The interactive Cantar Web app will be available in a subsequent version.
• Track Completion List can have up to 100 elements.
• Edit Outmap config (F5 key) is now available from Ppr/Test
• Bug Fix on
A faulty user bits was generated after a power OFF/ON when timecode is preserved.
The AES-EBU stream was not identified as a "Pro" stream.
In some situation the wave form were not available in the recorded take.
Load Settings, the assignements were not loaded if Parameter item was selected.

Cantar X3 72
 Load Settings, the Lineout levels were not loaded when Line/Aes Outmap was selected.
Remaining edited text stays after canceling the edit in the PRE-REC screen.
When validating a completion entry, subsequent text is erased.
When a track is desarmed, the trackname background in vumeter remains even without
trackname.
Shift + Esc to clear TrackName in Track Solo was exiting the solo window.
Sometimes, track names were lost on track higher than 12.
Sometimes, in next metadata edit, after a config change to a smaller count of tracks,
the current selected item was not visible or movable.
It was impossible to add inputs on a new Line or Digital Outmap config in the
"Configuration Edit" window (F5 key).
The iXML informations of Backuped files enhanced.
The task completion management dialog window can be locked in disable state.
Line Outmap Menu Key hints corrected (Config cannot be edited (F5) outside of
Outmap position on Main Selector).
The items (even Multi Config) can be edited from Ppr/Test Menu.
When validating a completion entry, subsequent text was not erased.
The format USB shortcut key F6 was not active in Session Menu.
A better error management is introduced in case of trouble during a format process.
When line out setup is open from TEST/PPR screen ESC was not working to exit.

version 1.116 (August 29, 2016)

• An automatic screen back light level adjustment is now available. The Cantar uses its front
panel light sensor.
• Inputs Linking : all mics can now be mastered (Firstly choose Master then Slaves)
• New preamp mic input level pre-set between HIGH LEVEL and MIC LEVEL.
• Shift + Solo to add a Solo to the Currently opened Solo for Double Mic and Track Solo.
• The track name length is now 12 characters
• The notes length is now 160 characters
• The metadata can be edited during record (press OK to open the dialog box).
• An alternative vumeter scale is available, it includes an upper scale zoom
The parameter setup is into TECHNICAL SETTINGS/Vum. scale
• Mixdown pan pot indicator is now available at the bottom of vumeters.
• In SESSION menu, clean SSD feature allows you to erase the full project or selected day in
the project.
• The Cantar setting can be saved on Internal SSD
• External power limit can be set up to 10.5V
• Reassign the same Input on an actuator clears the other same assignment and any other
actuator.(Example : M4 on Pot4 is inactive with M4 on Cantarem Slider 4... if assigned
again to Pot 4 then Cantarem Slider 4 is cleared from its previous assignment)
• Bug Fix on
Led level setup was reseted to max value at the end of low power mode.
Double solo was activated by error after startup.
The slate detector needed two times F4 to be activated.
Using open template, the minus character was missing from scene field.
An error was returned when erasing a project with space character in its name.
With linked inputs, Phantom, phase, EQ were not correctly indicated on vumeter
background.
Track Level not saved after reboot when unassigning the actuator of the track.
Red Zone Level setup to 0db was displaying a Red Line over the vumeters.
On Linked inputs : master's Phase was applied to slaved inputs.
When Take type filtering was enabled, Poly and Mix reports were empty.
The comment line was truncated into the browser screen list after a multiple edit.

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version 1.113 (June 23, 2016)
• Track name auto completion, a tool tip list displays the suggestions
From editing metadata screen, press F2 to open completion management (edit, delete,
ON/OFF).
• Into edit fields, the cursor goes to the next/previous field with Left and Right key
Double press on Left / Right while on the first / last character of a field or hold the
Left/Right key pressed
• The all Cantar settings can be saved or restored using save/load settings into technical menu.
At restore step, Cantar user can select between all, Ingrid, Outmap .…
• Low power is available in stop position.
The duration before starting the low power mode can be adjusted into technical settings.
• Cantarem II Function Button assignment
Press Cantarem II Left Shift and Right Shift and a function key (e.g C1) to display
Assignment Panel
Press Left-Right (or C1 to C4) Keys to select Cantarem II Function Button
Press Up/Down keys to choose the action emulated (F1 to F6 ; Talk 1 & 2)
Press Ok to validate
• In PPR position, on "delete last take", a confirmation is now requested before moving the last
take to the trash.
• In BROWSER position on delete take, you can clean the other media(s) at the same time.
• During restore from audio trash, the files are moved when the target drive matches with the
audio trash drive.
The files are copied when the target drive differs from the audio trash drive.
• A management of USB port overcurent is now available from interface (overcurent notification
and reset).
• Bug Fix on
The phase correlator labels are not updated
Line level can't be adjusted (in a link situation) without actuator assigned.
A message about the samba server is displayed at Cantar start up.
The erase project process returns an error before finishing
The limiter triangle blinks on the disarmed tracks
The pink Oops screen is briefly displayed at the end of the Cantar boot sequence.
The unused named tracks are registred into the CSV report
The start to record with (mono+stero on SSD and a faulty removable media) is not
possible.
Scrolling through the configuration editing, the display settings is not accurate.
While in Test Menu if a sub section is activated (Delay, Link, Lineout level)
and Lineout or Digiout configuration is displayed (F2 then F3) , keys (Return etc..)
are handled by the sub section and not by Lineout Config Menu as it should be.
Rotating the Left crown while the Multiple Outmap dialog box is opened was changing
the selected outmap index on the currently selected output
In some situations, interface crash while modifying the Pdf Header or at startup
Going from customisable field to single not customisable one was leaving the custom
text

version 1.103 (May 02, 2016)

• Compatibility with the 12 faders Cantarem 2. The assignation for the Cantarem 2 is
availabe holding [Shift+Solo Cantarem 2].
• The Phase correlator based on tracks is available during playback
• Continuous play in playback (jumps to the next file at the end of the play).
It can be activated pressing [Shfit+Ok] in play screen.
• The internal mixdown (Xl Xr) can be combined with an external input.
This function is useful for people using an external mixing table.
• InGrid and Headphone Outmaps modifications are enabled from PPR,TEST screens
(press F1 for Ingrid, F2 for Headphone)
• Arm or Disarm track from InGrid view by pressing [Shift + F3] with the cursor on the desired

Cantar X3 74
 track.
• Modify the track Level of non assigned tracks (no fader to trim) from InGrid view.
(Hold the Shift button while rotating the Jog wheel)
• In solo, with gangabled mics or lines, master level and lock are displayed.
• The circle takes are labeled in pdf (like on Majax).
• The circle takes column is added in CSV file.
• Bug fix on
The Ms mic color was not displayed in solo screen
The main selector management have changed
The timecode behavior is improved if several system time initialisation are requested.
Space characters were introduced during the scene/take field edition
Headphone adjustment was not working in a solo mic dialog box
Circle field was modified during metadata edit.

version 1.101 (April 21, 2015)

• Double solo on mic inputs and tracks (press and hold 2 solo buttons at the same time).
• Phase correlation in double Solo.
• Last phase correlation is displayed in Test/Record/Ppr Menus.
• Dante option icon in Stop Menu
• In play position, output configurations using Mix Left and Mix right stay valid.
(Recorded Mixdown down tracks are monitored on the corresponding output).
• Bug fix on
Lock up in Solo mode
Level display jittering for potentiometers and sliders
Error message starting on record immediately after startup
Page breaks in the pdf report

version 1.94 (March 23, 2015)

• User assignation is now available for rotating potentiometers.
Assignation is managed in the same way as the top panel sliders or the cantarem.
Long press on [Shift+Solo pot] to open the assignation dialog box.
• Pre fade and Post fade monitoring are available in play (press [Shift+F2] to toggle between
the two modes)
• A full duplex mode was added for talk back (during talkback,
current headset monitoring stay active)
• An external low voltage alarm can be setup into TECHNICAL SETTINGS (11V - 15V)
When alarm pops up, press ESC to ignore the message ; press OK to disable external
input power and switch to internal battery (if there is a battery)
To enable external power, just unplug or switch off the ext. power source a few seconds.
• CSV file format added to audio reports (PDF and ALE).
• Enhanced report tools (in audio browser page : take type filters, and target can be specified)
• In copy/backup menu, reports can be managed like audio takes
• MS and mixdown tracks are automatically labelled into the PDF report track name field.
• Multiple edit is available to modify the scene number (like notes, track names …).
• Mixdowm tracks vumeters can be shifted to the right of the screen
This function is useful for a friendly interface when Mixdown tracks are located on Tracks
1&2. (see. TECHNICAL SETTINGS / Vum. mdxn shifted for setup)
• Delay and Phantom power indicator added to the vumeter background.
• Disarmed track label color over vumeter changed to grey .
• The external Jam OK message is hidden in record position.
• User bits are grabbed automatically from incoming LTC
(see AUDIO & TIMECODE PARAMETERS / Timecode Ubits for setup).
• When the last take is deleted, monophonic files are moved to the audio trash
and on USB,SD1,SD2 the same take is definitively erased.
• Arm/Disarm track from IN GRID screen (short press [Shift+solo track].
• Erase in grid configuration (no more M1 M2 by default into the grid).

Cantar X3 75
• Monophonic audio file recorded on Cantar X1/X2 can be merged into Cantar X3 day folder
(Project name needs to be the same on both equipments).
• In record position : direct access to Clap detection [F4] and Marker [F6].
• Erase project funtion on SSD added in SESSION page.
Please note, all audio data into the project will be erased from SSD without possible
recovery.
• Contextual help [triple shift] added in PLAY/TEST/STOP/AUDIO BROWSER/IN GRID...
Have a look, you may find unknown shortcuts and hidden functions.
• Bug fix on
Shifted configuration in multiple outmap dialog box
In multiple field editing, the original field content indicator was wiped during navigation
Scene modification lost in PPR position if F5 short cut pressed while modifying from edit
fields
On line out level when they are driven by Cantar slider 1 to 8
In timecode record run mode, LTC out Timecode was running when Cantar was not
recording
Tape ref management for AVID if it was modified by the user
System time not updated into technical settings
Dialog assignation list incoherency
Circle status changed on take type edition
Lock panel triggered during the solo
Lag when exiting from TEST position if idle mode is enabled.
Confict between level display panel during metadata edit in PPR.
AES gain adjustement using jog
Short audio file names are created instead of long name using "underscore only" mode

version 1.90 (January 05, 2016)

• Analog input status (phase inversion, analog filters, and EQ) added to the top of vumeters (for
Mics, lines, Aes and Aes42).
• Line out and digital out new Interface: delay, play mute, beep mute, and multiple outmap.
(multiple outmap: The Outmap used on an output can be defined according to the position of
the main selector).
• Adjustable headphone safety clamping.
• Phase inversion on AES and AES42 inputs.
• Digital EQ available for AES and AES42 inputs.
(Available even without smart AES42 communication).
• Very low backlight level for night environment.
• Contextual help in all solo dialogs (Line, Mic, AES and AES42).
• Bug fix on
Update Track LED for disarmed tracks.
Family UID.
Conflict between lock panel field move into metadata edit window.
version 1.86 (November 25, 2015)
• Idle backup mode.
The setup of this mode is done in SESSION screen on recording Media.
In TEST position, while the recording media is not busy, Cantar incrementally,
backs up the audio files onto idle target media SD card and/or USB.
Note that a three seconds delay lets you go through TEST without triggering the process.
A percentage of completed idle process will be displayed in green above the media icon,
up to End when it's finished.
The process will be automatically interrupted when exiting from TEST position. The unfinished
copy is erased. If you modify the metadata of a take, it is modified on the idle target media if
it is still available.
Before removing target media, take time to run Snap report [F6] into BROWSING
position to create reports if needed.
If media is full, insert another media and Idle Backup will continue from where it previously

Cantar X3 76
 stopped.
This function is useful, when media is too slow to work in mirroring.
• For external slate mic, bias power ON/OFF is now available (see bias power into AUDIO
PARAMETERS page).
• Delay on inputs are displayed at the top of solo dialog box.
• IN PLAY position F3 switch between timecode and elapse under the wave form.
• By default, all new takes are not circled.
• Phantom power on Mic inputs stay ON when switching between Mic level and high level.
• EQ gain (low, mid and High) are quickly adjusted (+1dB step) with (SHIT+Jog).
• In Playback mode track names are displayed over the wavform during solo
You got the remaining time on each media according to the current configuration.
version 1.84 (November 03, 2015)
• Free media size is displayed in stop position pressing the Up or down buttons.
Remaining time on each media is displayed according to the current record configuration.
• Bug fix on
Stability improvements (all previous versions were affected).
version 1.83 (October 22, 2015)
• Headphone stay active in all positions of the main selector (except in STOP and IN GRID
ROUTING)
• In COPY/BACKUP, if target free size is lower than the size of selected Takes, user is still
allowed to start the backup.
(useful if you backup at midday and in the evening on the same card and if the total backup
size is close to the target media size)
• Bug fix on
Edit of last Take's metadata in the Audio Browser Menu automatically updates next
Take's metadata.
Jog conflict in Solo Line during EQ setup.
Assignation dialog box (down key on Digital input).
Improved improperly closed file algorithm.
Various small bug fixes.
version 1.82 (October 14, 2015)
• Circle takes management
Circle status displayed in Audio & Backup Browsers Menu
[Shift+F3] in Audio Browser Menu (directly or in Edit screen) toggles the circle status
(available in multi selection ; change is automatically reflected on all available media
• Locked panel and disarmed Tracks settings are saved in case of a Cantar Power OFF/ON.
• Detection of SD card Lock switch.
• Improperly closed audio files (power failure, media error, system error) may be fixed
in the AUDIO BROWSER position by pressing F2 key.
• Digital gain on AES3 inputs -inf +12dB
Please note 2 version of the input are available for IN-GRID
a1: original digital level of corresponding input (no additional gain)
A1: (capital letter) digital input modified by the new digital gain
Use the Left/right buttons to make your choice into IN-GRID
• Drive (Internal SSD and SD card) access from your computer through Ethernet socket
(See TECHNICAL SETTINGS / File network access help for details)
• EQ display frequency response
• EQ log frequency adjustment and field navigation improved
(Arrow to change filed, jog to modify the value)
• EQ maximum frequency moved up to 16 kHZ
• Metadata direct edition in Ppr Menu behaves like full fields edit.
• New units for input delay setup (ms / meters / samples).
• Factory test procedure were hidden
• Ready for the new 12 sliders USB Cantarem.
• Ninja rooting mode into IN-GRID screen (Do not cover all combinations).
Pressing SOLO TRACK 1 then solo MIC 3, the result is: Mic 3 is toggled on Track 1.

Cantar X3 77
• Bug fix on
Shortcut in solo mic F4-F5-F6
MS decoding in Mix down
version 1.80 (September 29, 2015)
• AES42 control (KMD) of internal digital mic parameters
• Digital gain on AES42 inputs -inf +36dB
• Digital gain on AES3 inputs -inf +12dB
Please note 2 version of the input are available for IN-GRID
a1: original digital level of corresponding input (no additional gain)
A1: (capital letter) digital input modified by the new digital gain
Use the Left/right buttons to make your choice into IN-GRID
• Drive (Internal SSD and SD card) access from your computer through Ethernet socket
(See TECHNICAL SETTINGS / File network access help for details)
• EQ display frequency response
• EQ log frequency adjustment and field navigation improved
(Arrow to change filed, jog to modify the value)
• EQ maximum frequency moved up to 16 kHZ
• Metadata direct edition in Ppr Menu behaves like full fields edit.
• New units for input delay setup (ms / meters / samples).
• Factory test procedure were hidden
• Ready for the new 12 sliders USB Cantarem.
• Ninja rooting mode into IN-GRID screen (Do not cover all combinations).
Pressing SOLO TRACK 1 then solo MIC 3, the result is: Mic 3 is toggled on Track 1.
• Bug fix on
Shortcut in solo mic F4-F5-F6
MS decoding in Mix down
Exit by esc key from back light or led level adjustment
Close dialog Setup Report using the Main Selector
version 1.71 (August 28, 2015)
• Digital filters/EQ on analog inputs
• Delay on inputs
• Into ingrid, routing of mono post fade (P1..P24)
• Into outmaps, highlite a T1..T24 position, press shift+F5 to map post fade (P1..P24)
• Backup of a full project
• MS decoded or balanced in mixdown
• Accurate timecode is maintaibed about 20 minutes in case of Cantar power off
After Cantar power on, a green timecode indicator means the last timecode is still valid.
• Tripple shift provide of contextual help (available only in PPR & solo mic for now)
• Extended PPR duration (up to 30s at 48kHz)
• Remote rec through MDR connector/tally
• Related Fields editable
Up and down key are available for meta data field navigation
Right key at end of field select next field
Left key at start of field select previous filed
Into edit fields (OK -> validate and select next field)
F4/F6 validate and close the corresponding dialog box
F5 shortcut for take type indicator is available
Shift+ok switch insert/overwrite mode
Update play screen metadata field after edition from play screen using F4
• Bug fix on
New management of "lazy" external media (SD/USB)
Line, Aes, Dante out are included into reset factory configuration
Balance lock are saved when power off
Display limiters status
End of play on mixdown and polyphonic files
Display limiters status

Cantar X3 78
 Desarmed track 11 creates an empty file for this track
Firmware version loader

version 1.62 (July 22, 2015)

• Media formatting improved for better record performance specially with monophonic files
(80% faster).
• Audio file larger than 2 GB are now supported (in all cases audio files stay smaller than
4GB).
• Beep Routing to all selected outputs (Menu Audio / Beep routing)
• Track Solo button + Left Crown accessible while assignation in Play
• Reset parameters to factory settings (Menu Technical / Reset Factory)
• Attribute reset more verbose
• Bug fix on
Battery communication
Audio file size in Pdf report
Track name visibility in Previous Edit for Track count of 9 and 17
Solo track input reminder includes Ms type
version 1.61 (June 15, 2015)
• Audio stream control has been improved and new messages have been added in case of
trouble.

version 1.53 (June 12, 2015)

• New control added on audio stream integrity.
• Bug fix: Lag of interface in record vumeters and play back position.
version 1.52 (June 10, 2015)
• Mic inputs have now 3 predefined inputs level Mic level / High level(-26dB) / line level(-
38dB).
• +6dB gain booster with phantom mics available (AUDIO & TIMECODE
PARAMETERS/Phantom Mic gain)
• Fader scale have been modified to be more comfortable for mix
• +12dB mixdown capability (AUDIO & TIMECODE PARAMETERS/Fader Max Level)
• Inputs (mics, lines ...) directly rooted on line out are working in all position except in stop.
• Switching to REC position, RECORD will start even if a media is missing (e.e SdCard). Note:
A monophonic audio file record is mandatory on one of the remaining media.
• In browser position a snap report (F6) have been added. It creates pdf/ale file on all
removable media inserted into the Cantar.
It has to be done at before removing the media when recording in mirror.
• Avid compatibility on track name into bext for numbers over 9
• At start up, with new day accepted, Tape id is automatically setup as MMDD (month-day)
• In edit fields, SHIFT+Left arrow erase filed content without confirmation
• Bug fix
Remaining size when a track is manually disarmed
Critical error on audio stream fixed (happens very rarely).
The date stay correct when Audio TC jump over midnight
Read only attribute removed on recorded audio files

version 1.44 (May 25, 2015)

• Monophonic file naming change to _NN (NN start at 01 for first track to _24 for last track)
for avid monophonic import compatibility.
• User warning added in case of trouble with the recorder (important for the safety of your
records).
• Phase inverse identifier (bar at the bottom of vu-meter) only available if a single analog
• Shift+F2 solo line out access

Cantar X3 79
• Digital out in headphone during setup
• Pdf track name repeated on sequence change
• Bug fix (phase invers link, empty timeline ...)

version 1.43
• Slate mic level adjustment.
• In solo, unused vumeter are darker.
• Bug fix TalkBack release and "black screen" in case of mistake in backup

Cantar X3 80
Cantar X3 81
Cantar X3 82
Cantar X3 83