Backup and saving questions

[wildcafe]

Hi,

I'm very excited about Receptor and plan to buy a unit within the next year.

But I've got some fundamental questions concerning usability and security of Receptor's software:

1) As there's a, more or less, conventional harddisk used in Receptor, there's always a risk that this hd crashes. What am I doing in this case? Are you replacing it for free or how much does that cost?

2) Is it possible to backup my configuration? E.g. I'm installing / deleteing all needed / not needed plugins. That takes me 2,3,4 or whatever, days. In case the Receptor gets an update, crashes, or whatever, is it possible to restore my plugins and not to setup everything again?
Maybe it's possible to save (backup) all plugins, presets, singles, multis over ethernet or on an external hd (independent of the OS)?

3) Saving patches, singles, multis:
let's take my desired configuration: Receptor is standing in my machine room, connected over ethernet to my network (I don't have direct access to the unit). I'm working with Logic (5.5.1) on the PC (within next year: Logic on Mac).
Can the configuration of Receptor be saved together with a Logic song?
In other words: if I create a Logic song, use UniWire plugin, set up Receptor (via UniWire), save the (Logic) song, quit Logic, reset the Receptor's multi, open Logic and load the song again, do I have to rebuild the multi or is it saved together with Logic?
If not so: is there maybe a MIDI / SysEx dump function to save the Receptor config in a Logic song?
Or is it just possible to save a configuration directly on Receptor?

4) What's in case of power loss? Let's take this scenario: I've created a great sounding multi but forgot to save it. Then I turn off Receptor (or there's a sudden loss of power), I know, that shouldn't happen, but I'm a confused artist .
If I restart it, is everything lost or is there an "automatic backup" function as it is found in digital mixing consoles e.g.?

5) What's about controlling PlugIns via external Midi controllers? Example-configuration: Receptor connected via ethernet to computer running Logic. On same computer: Midi interface.
Hardware Midi controller wired to Midi interface.
If I select the track hosting UniWire plugin and playing with the knobs and sliders on my controller, does Receptor receive Midi data (although it's just connected over ethernet)?

Sorry for this lump of questions,
many thanks for your replies, greetings
Bernie

[DanTimis]

1) As there's a, more or less, conventional harddisk used in Receptor, there's always a risk that this hd crashes. What am I doing in this case? Are you replacing it for free or how much does that cost?

If your Receptor is still under warranty we will replace the hard drive for free. I don't know how much it will cost to replace it after that.

2) Is it possible to backup my configuration? E.g. I'm installing / deleteing all needed / not needed plugins. That takes me 2,3,4 or whatever, days. In case the Receptor gets an update, crashes, or whatever, is it possible to restore my plugins and not to setup everything again?
Maybe it's possible to save (backup) all plugins, presets, singles, multis over ethernet or on an external hd (independent of the OS)?

Receptor ships with a lot of plug-ins pre-installed. If we have to replace the hard drive, you get the latest version of our software, all the current plug-ins, and so on. It is your responsibility to save your banks and patches and restore them. If you install some plug-ins that we to not support (using the "Unsupported Plugins" folder) you will also have to re-install these.

Still, it is much easier than let's say, a Windows computer. If the hard drive of your PC crashes you will have to re-install the OS, audio and MIDI drivers, your DAW, and all your plug-ins. With Receptor you might need to re-install a few "unsupported" plug-ins and your banks and patches.

3) Saving patches, singles, multis:
let's take my desired configuration: Receptor is standing in my machine room, connected over ethernet to my network (I don't have direct access to the unit). I'm working with Logic (5.5.1) on the PC (within next year: Logic on Mac).
Can the configuration of Receptor be saved together with a Logic song?
In other words: if I create a Logic song, use UniWire plugin, set up Receptor (via UniWire), save the (Logic) song, quit Logic, reset the Receptor's multi, open Logic and load the song again, do I have to rebuild the multi or is it saved together with Logic?
If not so: is there maybe a MIDI / SysEx dump function to save the Receptor config in a Logic song?
Or is it just possible to save a configuration directly on Receptor?

I cannot comment on UniWire details before it ships, but right now you can save your entire Receptor configuration as a multi patch. You can tell Logic to send a MIDI bank select MSB and LSB followed by a program change and your saved multi patch will load in Receptor. You can do this right now via a MIDI cable. With UniWire you will be able to do at least this.

4) What's in case of power loss? Let's take this scenario: I've created a great sounding multi but forgot to save it. Then I turn off Receptor (or there's a sudden loss of power), I know, that shouldn't happen, but I'm a confused artist .
If I restart it, is everything lost or is there an "automatic backup" function as it is found in digital mixing consoles e.g.?

Receptor has an auto-save function. Your current configuration is saved to a file every few seconds. If you loose power you may loose the changes you made in the last, let's say, 5 seconds, but if you were carefully working on a complicated patch for the last 10 minutes you will recover most of your work.

Still, it is always a good idea to save your work often.

5) What's about controlling PlugIns via external Midi controllers? Example-configuration: Receptor connected via ethernet to computer running Logic. On same computer: Midi interface.
Hardware Midi controller wired to Midi interface.
If I select the track hosting UniWire plugin and playing with the knobs and sliders on my controller, does Receptor receive Midi data (although it's just connected over ethernet)?

Yes, Receptor will receive all MIDI data over Ethernet including controllers, and the plug-ins hosted in Receptor will receive the controller data too.

[wildcafe]

Hi Dan,

big "thank you" for your fast response!

Still, it is much easier than let's say, a Windows computer. If the hard drive of your PC crashes you will have to re-install the OS, audio and MIDI drivers, your DAW, and all your plug-ins. With Receptor you might need to re-install a few "unsupported" plug-ins and your banks and patches.

I see, but how can I backup the patches? Over ethernet or USB2.0? Can I "see" the Receptor in the network through my other computers?

I cannot comment on UniWire details before it ships

...oh sorry, I din't realize, that UniWire doesn't ship yet.

Still, it is always a good idea to save your work often.

...I know, and I'm doing so in 99% of all cases (my fingers leave "Strg-S" or "Apple+S" just for going to the toilet or eating and drinking ). I would say this feature is just the "icing of the cake" that underscores the professional claims of Receptor.

greetings, Bernie

[DanTimis]

... how can I backup the patches? Over ethernet or USB2.0? Can I "see" the Receptor in the network through my other computers?

Receptor supports Samba and AppleTalk. The Receptor hard drive can be mounted on the desktop of a Mac or PC via Ethernet.

That is also how you install new plug-ins. You download the installer to your computer, copy it to the Receptor hard drive (or download it there directly), then press the "Install" buton.