Compact Drive Reader TB3

    (CX.0001007)

    Recording Media Compatibility

    The Compact Drive Reader TB3 is compatible with the Compact Drive and Compact Drive Express (CX.0001002 / CX.0001073 / CX.0001090).



    Operating System

    The Compact Drive Reader TB3 can be used on Mac or Windows.

    OS Versions

    The minimum required OS versions to use the Compact Drive Reader TB3 are:

    • macOS 10.14.4
    • Windows 10*

    *For full support of the ARRI UDF file system, we recommend the following Windows versions or above:

    • Windows 10: 2022-06 Cumulative Update KB5014666
    • Windows 11: 2022-06 Cumulative Update KB5014668

    Drivers and Licenses

    There is no driver or licence required for the Compact Drive Reader TB3. It can be used as a “plug and play” device.

    Device Manager and HDE

    The Compact Drive and Reader can be used with Device Manager and HDE on macOS. (Device Manager and HDE are not available on Windows).

    Connection Speeds

    The connection speed of the Compact Drive Reader TB3 depends on the type of Thunderbolt connection. With Thunderbolt 3 the Reader can transfer up to 20Gb/sec.

    We recommend connecting the Reader directly to a Thunderbolt 3 port that is not shared to obtain the highest throughput and reliability. The Compact Drive Reader TB3 will then provide a connection speed of 20 Gb/s. If the Reader is connected to a port that is shared with other Thunderbolt devices on the same system, the connection speed and reliability may be reduced.

    Connecting the Compact Drive Reader TB3

    When using a Mac:

    • Connect the Compact Drive Reader TB3 to the included Power Supply.
    • Connect the Compact Drive Reader TB3 to the Mac host with a Thunderbolt 3 cable before booting the Mac, or,
    • If the Mac is already booted, connect the Thunderbolt 3 cable to the Compact Drive Reader TB3 first and then to the Mac host.

    Connecting on Mac with either of the above methods will result in the Compact Drive Reader TB3 providing the best performance.

    Please note that USB-C cables look very similar to Thunderbolt cables, but will not work with Thunderbolt devices. Please make sure the Thunderbolt cable is properly rated for use, as they can vary depending on the manufacturer. If you experience reliability issues then try another cable, or a cable from another supplier.

    Compatible Cabling

    The following cable types have been tested and are known to work with the Compact Drive Reader TB3:

    • 0.5m Thunderbolt 3 cable (passive type)
    • 1-2m Thunderbolt 3 cable (active type)

    LED's

    The Compact Drive Reader TB3 has an LED on the rear of the unit between the power and Thunderbolt connectors. This LED will illuminate blue if power is successfully connected, and green if both power and Thunderbolt are successfully connected.

    When a Compact Drive is loaded the LED on the Compact Drive will illuminate green, provided both power and Thunderbolt are successfully connected. When the Compact Drive is ejected, the LED will turn off and the Compact Drive can be safely removed from the Reader.

    Safely Ejecting a Compact Drive

    Here are the recommended methods to eject a CODEX Compact Drive using macOS and Windows operating systems:

    macOS
    Using the Device Manager menu bar app, hover over Compact Drive - TB3 and choose the Eject option. Ensure you see the status Unloaded displayed in the summary, and that the LED on the media has stopped blinking. It is now safe to remove the Compact Drive from the Compact Drive Reader TB3.

    Windows
    Use the Safely Remove Hardware option in the taskbar to ensure the Compact Drive is safely unmounted. Ensure the LED on the media has stopped blinking. It is now safe to remove the Compact Drive from the Compact Drive Reader TB3.

    PLEASE NOTE: Removing CODEX media from a Media Station without ejecting it properly could result in data loss.

    Alternative Setups

    Use with the SXR Capture Drive Dock
    You can daisy chain the Compact Drive Reader TB3 to the open Thunderbolt 3 port on the SXR Capture Drive dock.

    Please note that when daisy chaining Thunderbolt devices, you will be sharing the bandwidth of a single Thunderbolt bus across all daisy chained devices. This may reduce the maximum read speed achieved by an individual device.
    Using a Thunderbolt 2 > Thunderbolt 3 Adapter
    Thunderbolt 2 > Thunderbolt 3 adapters may limit throughput. Ideally the Reader should be connected directly to a Thunderbolt 3 port. For optimum performance, connect each device to a separate Thunderbolt bus.
    Use with Mac Pro 2013

    The Compact Drive Reader TB3 can be used with a Mac Pro 2013 model in the following setups:

    • Connected via a Thunderbolt 2 to 3 Adaptor - official Apple adaptors are recommended.
    • Connected to the Thunderbolt 3 loop port directly.

    Updating Firmware

    For information on updating firmware on any CODEX Media Station, please see the Updating Firmware on CODEX Media Stations section of the Device Manager help page.

    Technical Specifications


    InterfaceThunderbolt 3
    Operating SystemmacOS 10.14.4 / Windows 10
    Connection SpeedUp to 20 Gb/s
    Power12V / 2.5A using supplied AC adapter
    Dimensions132 x 124 x 37mm
    Weight500g
    Operating Temperature-5°C ~ 40°C [25°F ~ 104°F]
    Operating relative humidityto 95% [non-condensing]
    Storage Humidityto 95% [non-condensing]
    Insertion/removable durability10,000 actions
    Warranty1 year limited warranty
    Product CodeCX.0001007
    Our support team is available to answer any questions:

    Telephone and email support is available 8.30am - 5.30pm GMT Monday to Friday through our teams in London and Los Angeles.

    Support Email: support@codex.online
    US Support: +1 323 283 8929
    UK Support: +44 203 7000 999
    HOLIDAY SEASON HOURS
    Saturday 23rd 9am - 5pm GMT
    Sunday 24th 9am - 5pm GMT
    Monday 25th CLOSED - Merry Christmas!
    Tuesday 26th 8:30am - 5:30pm PST
    Wednesday 27th 9am - 5pm GMT | 8:30am - 5:30pm PST
    Thursday 28th 9am - 5pm GMT | 8:30am - 5:30pm PST
    Friday 29th 9am - 5pm GMT | 8:30am - 5:30pm PST
    Saturday 30th 9am - 5pm GMT
    Sunday 31st 9am - 5pm GMT
    Monday 1st CLOSED - Happy New Year!
    Tuesday 2nd Normal hours resume

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    Effective date: May 25, 2018
    Last updated: November 9, 2020