USB File Transfer
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      1. Knowledge Base
      2. Using the Sound Capsule
      3. USB File Transfer

      How do I transfer recordings to an Apple Mac?

      Upon completing the initial setup steps described in this article: Introduction to USB file transfer, you are ready to connect your Sound Capsule to a Mac. 

      Follow the steps below to learn how to access your files from an Apple Mac:

      Step 1 - Connection

      Connect the Space Recorder to a Mac via a USB cable

      Nomono_USB_cable

      Step 2 - Allow accessory to connect

      The first time you connect the Sound Capsule to your Mac, a popup may appear on your computer prompting you to allow a connection to be established. Press Allow to let the Sound Capsule connect to your Mac.

      Screenshot 2024-10-28 at 23.01.17

      If this message does not appear, you may have connected your Sound Capsule to this Mac previously, or you may have to check your USB connection.

      Step 3 - Enable USB

      On your Sound Capsule display, observe the following message:

      SR_USB_enter-1

      Press the Up Arrow button to enable USB connection

      Please note: If this message does not appear there is an issue with your USB connection. Attempt to reconnect or swap the cable. Also ensure that you are connecting directly between a Mac and the Space Recorder itself. 

      If this does not solve the problem, please ensure that your Sound Capsule is running the correct software version or consider performing a Hard Reset, before restarting the process. Contact Nomono support if you require further assistance.

      Step 4 -  Access your files

      Once you have successfully entered USB mode on your Space Recorder, the name of the drive will change to NOMONO-SC and you will gain access your audio files.

      Mac_USB_files

      Step 5 - Manage Your Files

      Your audio recordings are organized in folders named by date and time in the format YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS for easy sorting, with each recording saved in its own folder.

      Inside each folder, you’ll find the audio files for your recording:

      • Stellar Mic Files: Depending on your setup, there will be 1 to 4 files, each labeled by the color of the corresponding mic, such as Green.wav (mono, 16-bit/48kHz).
      • Ambisonic File: This file contains a group of 8 audio tracks captured by the 8 microphones  onboard the Space Recorder. These tracks are combined into a single 8-channel audio file saved as ambisonic.flac (losslessly compressed, 8x mono, 24bit/48kHz).

      This file structure allows for organized access to both individual mic channels and the full ambisonic capture, making it straightforward to manage and process your audio data.

      Screenshot 2024-10-31 at 13.22.06

      You can copy your recordings to your Mac for safekeeping, sharing or editing in a DAW.

      Note: When transferring recordings via USB, you bypass the Nomono Cloud’s audio processing algorithms, which handle tasks like level normalization and audio enhancements. This means the initial audio level may seem low. While experienced audio professionals can manually process these files—such as by using a limiter in a DAW to adjust volume—we strongly recommend using Nomono Cloud whenever possible to take full advantage of automatic processing and optimal sound quality.

      Deleting recordings - A Special Consideration for Mac Users

      When using USB transfer on an Apple Mac, it’s important to remember that simply deleting files doesn’t immediately free up space on your portable device. After you delete recordings from your Space Recorder, make sure to empty the Trash on your Mac as well. This final step ensures that the files are fully erased from the device’s storage. On portable devices like this, or any external drive, files sent to the Trash remain on the device until the Trash is emptied, continuing to occupy valuable storage space. Taking this extra step helps maintain available space and keeps your device ready for new recordings.

      Step 6 - Safely Disconnect the Sound Capsule

      To ensure a safe file transfer, keep the Sound Capsule connected throughout the process. Once you’ve finished transferring files, follow these steps to safely disconnect your Sound Capsule from your Mac:

      1. Eject the Sound Capsule on Your Mac: In Finder, select the Sound Capsule drive and either click the eject symbol next to it or use the keyboard shortcut CMD + E. This action safely ends communication between your Mac and the Space Recorder. Refer to the photo below for guidance.
        Mac_eject_disc
      2. Enter the USB Exit Menu on Your Space Recorder:
        • Press the Down Arrow button on your Space Recorder to access the USB exit menu.

          USB_exit_1
        • Then, press the Up Arrow button to exit USB transfer mode.

          USB_exit2
      3. Disconnect the USB Cable: You can now safely unplug the USB cable to complete the disconnection process.