Formatting CF cards

I can't speak about all recorders, but 7-series recorders rebuild the FAT
table upone a reformat. We don't overwrite anything other than the FAT (file
allocation table). If new audio is not recorded to the medium after a
format, the audio could be reconstructed since it still exists but pointers
to it in the FAT have been removed. A quick format from a computer will do
the same process as our on-board format. No matter the file format or the
storage medium, previously recorded material is still on the volume unless
it is overwritten. In general for our purposes there is no need to
completely overwrite a volume to record new audio. A few of our customers
require DoD 5220.22-M-class file deletion, but it certainly is not needed
for production sound purposes.

For our products it doesn't matter where the card is formatted, as long as
it is FAT32. FAT (FAT16) is a legacy format that is still supported by some
recorders. There are arguments in the digicam space (and concerning some
audio recorders) regarding the speed of FAT16 vs FAT32 formatting regarding
block size for small format cards, but we're splitting hairs over that one.
A good contentious topic for RAMPS debate, perhaps?

Jon Tatooles
Sound Devices, LLC

"Philip Perkins" <spamiser RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1139722555.389465.99250@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Does it matter whether a CF card is reformatted on a recorder or on a
> computer? Should one delete all the files first? So far reformatting
> has not wiped the card--the old files can still be recovered with a
> recovery program if they haven't been overwritten.
>
> Philip Perkins
>
 >> Stay informed about: Formatting CF cards 

On the PMD671 it wants a FAT32 format and I haven't seen any difference
between formatting on the computer (Mac OSX) on in the box. My 4gig
MicroDrive needed to be formated by the computer the first time but has
since been reformatted in the box.

SK

J> "Philip Perkins" <spamiser.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1139722555.389465.99250@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > Does it matter whether a CF card is reformatted on a recorder or on a
> > computer? Should one delete all the files first? So far reformatting
> > has not wiped the card--the old files can still be recovered with a
> > recovery program if they haven't been overwritten.
> >
> > Philip Perkins
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Formatting CF cards