Dec 14, 2023

Lexar Professional workflow line of products FAQs

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About the Products What is the Lexar Professional Workflow line? Transfer files from multiple cards at once with the fully customizable Lexar Professional Workflow line of products. The line includes your choice of two four-bay hubs (Thunderbolt™ 2/USB 3.0 or USB 3.0), a selection of card readers (SDHC™/SDXC™ UHS-II, CompactFlash® UDMA 7, XQD™ 2.0, CFast™ 2.0, and microSDHC™/microSDXC™ UHS-II), and a two-port USB 3.0 hub. Its innovative, modular design lets you create a custom setup, while its high-speed performance lets you offload your work, faster. What products are available within the line? Four-bay hubs: Lexar Professional Workflow HR1 (four-bay USB 3.0 reader hub) Lexar Professional Workflow HR2 (four-bay Thunderbolt 2/USB 3.0 reader hub) Card readers: Lexar Professional Workflow SR2 (SD UHS-II USB 3.0 reader) Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 (CompactFlash USB 3.0 reader) Lexar Professional Workflow XR2 (XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 reader) Lexar Professional Workflow CR1 (CFast 2.0 USB 3.0 reader) Lexar Professional Workflow CR2 (CFast 2.0 Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 reader) Lexar Professional Workflow UR2 (three-slot microSDHC/microSDXC UHS-II USB 3.0 reader) USB 3.0 hub: Lexar Professional Workflow UH1 (two-port USB 3.0 hub) What’s included in each product box? Hubs: USB 3.0 hub (Professional Workflow HR1) Hub USB 3.0 cable Power supply Applicable power adapter for your region (check package description), and four covers to protect unused reader bays Thunderbolt 2/USB 3.0 hub (Professional Workflow HR2) Hub Thunderbolt 2 cable USB 3.0 cable Power supply Power adapters and four covers to protect unused reader bays Readers: USB 3.0 readers (Professional Workflow SR2, CFR1, XR2, CR1, and UR2) Reader USB 3.0 cable Thunderbolt 2/USB 3.0 reader (Professional Workflow CR2) Reader Thunderbolt cable USB 3.0 cable USB 3.0 hub: Two-port USB 3.0 hub USB 3.0 cable What is the speed advantage of using the hub with readers? Lexar Professional Workflow provides high-speed file transfer at USB 3.0 speeds when using a USB 3.0 port. The throughput is totally dependent on your system specifications, including hard drive write speed, processor speed, memory, and operating system (not to mention the read speed of the cards you’re transferring from). All these variables make it hard to quote an actual performance rating. However, you can expect to see the best performance possible when using a well-equipped computer and a card with fast transfer speeds. Using the Thunderbolt 2 hub, you can expect to see even faster performance. Theoretical limits establish USB 3.0 at 5gbps and Thunderbolt 2 at 20gbps. Therefore, you can generally expect to see up to 4x the performance depending on all the inputs listed above. Performance can greatly vary depending on card speed and the specs of your computer system. Why is it better to include a hub in my setup, rather than using a standalone single-slot reader? The main advantage is that you’ll save time with the ability to transfer data from multiple cards at once (concurrent transfer). With a single-slot reader, you can only transfer content one card at a time (consecutive transfer). With the hub fully populated with your choice of reader or hub modules, you can offload your work, faster. This lets you get to editing, sharing, and eventually back to shooting much sooner. Can I mix and match the reader combination I want? Yes, that’s one of the biggest advantages of using the Lexar Professional Workflow line—the ability to design a custom setup that fits your specific needs. For example, a Nikon D4 shooter may want two CompactFlash (CF) readers and two XQD 2.0 readers, whereas a Canon 5D Mark III shooter may want three CF readers and one SD UHS-II reader. Others may want one or more of the two-port USB 3.0 hubs as part of their workflow setup. Who is this line designed for? This product line was created with professional photographers, videographers, and enthusiasts in mind. It’s an excellent choice for those shooting with multiple cards, or using multiple cameras/video cameras. With the ability of today’s cameras to capture RAW images, high-res photos, 4K video, and beyond, there is a need for faster, higher capacity cards, and quicker transfer of large amounts of data from multiple cards. Now these functions can be done concurrently. And the two-port USB 3.0 module allows you to connect USB flash drives or additional readers, and even charge those devices. Setup and Use Can I use the power adapter that came with my Professional Workflow HR1 with HR2? No, the Professional Workflow HR2 hub requires more power and therefore comes with a larger power supply. Please do not mix the power supplies between the units. Can I use the readers without the hub? Yes, each reader package includes a USB cable so you can use them on their own. This makes them an excellent on-the-go solution. Can I use the reader and two-port USB 3.0 hub modules without the HR1 and HR2 hubs? Yes, each module package includes a USB cable so you can use them on their own. This makes them excellent on-the-go solutions. How does the daisy-chain feature work using the Professional Workflow HR2 hub? To conveniently daisy-chain the hub anywhere in your lineup, you can use both Thunderbolt 2 ports on the back of the hub. Simply connect one Thunderbolt 2 cable from the hub to your computer or other device and then connect the hub to the Thunderbolt 2 cable from the next device, such as a monitor or hard drive. Thunderbolt 2 technology allows for up to six devices to be daisy-chained to one port on your computer. To ensure the best performance, consider placing your hub at the beginning of the chain, closest to your computer. Why do the LEDs on my readers blink? This indicates that the reader is in the process of transferring data from your card to your computer. When your reader’s LED is blinking, do not remove the card or remove the reader from the hub. Are there any recommended reader-specific configurations when using the hubs? Photographers and videographers who are shooting solely with CompactFlash (CF)-based cameras will likely want to purchase four CF readers. Nikon D5 shooters will likely want two CF and two XQD 2.0 readers (assuming they are using both slots in their camera). Canon DSLR users will likely want a combination of CF and SD UHS-II readers (since some Canon cameras tend to use either of both form factors). Many photographers use CF-based cameras for their primary camera and a point-and-shoot camera for general use or scouting. These shooters may also want a combination of CF and SD readers in their hub. Why is a USB type B connector used? This connector is durable and provides for solid, smooth insertion and removal of the readers in and out of the hub. Troubleshooting Does the Professional Workflow HR1 or HR2 hub need to be plugged into AC power to work? Yes, in order for either hub to work correctly, it must be plugged in. There is not enough power supplied from the USB port on a computer to power this device. Why am I getting a series of ‘Drive removed incorrectly’ messages after my Mac wakes from hibernation? Occasionally, the hub may not be recognized after waking. If this happens, please unplug your HR1 or HR2 hub from your Mac and plug it back in. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to restart your computer. You don’t provide a power adapter that complies with my country’s regulatory guidelines. How can I use the Professional Workflow HR1 or HR2 hub? We’ve worked diligently to provide as many region-specific adapters as possible, but we’re unable to meet the need in every country. If you are in one of these regions, you can purchase a travel converter that meets your country’s international power adapter needs to use with the power supply provided with your Professional Workflow Reader HR1 or HR2 hub. Please ensure that the adapter you purchase meets the requirements of your country’s power adapter guidelines. Why do I get an error message on my computer saying that I do not have enough power to transfer files when using one of the Lexar Professional Workflow hubs? This error occurs when the power cord is not connected to the Professional Workflow HR1 or HR2 hub, or the power supply is not connected to a wall outlet or a power source. Properly connect the hub to resolve the error. Compatibility and Support What card formats do the Professional Workflow readers support? Currently, the product line includes readers that support SD UHS-I and UHS-II, CompactFlash UDMA 7, CFast or CFast 2.0 (Thunderbolt or USB 3.0), XQD 2.0, and microSD UHS-I and UHS-II formats. And for versatility, the CFast 2.0 reader is backwards compatible with the 1.0 format (at 1.0 speeds). As technology evolves and we launch new card formats, we’ll also create new readers for this product line. This ability to purchase new reader formats helps to future-proof your workflow setup and save you money. Will my first-generation XQD card work in the Professional Workflow XR2 (XQD 2.0) reader? No. The XQD 2.0 reader is not backwards-compatible with XQD 1.0 format cards. XQD 2.0 memory cards can be identified by a boxed USB logo on the card label. Can I use the Professional Workflow SR2 (SD UHS-II) reader with my SD UHS-I memory cards? Yes, the reader is fully backwards-compatible with SD UHS-I cards (at UHS-I speeds), so you can use both SD UHS-I and UHS-II cards with the reader. Can I transfer data from three microSD cards at the same time using my Professional Workflow UR2 reader? Yes, if you plug a reader directly into a computer with the included USB 3.0 cable you can transfer data from each card concurrently. This is also possible using the Professional Workflow HR2 (high-speed Thunderbolt 2) or HR1 (USB 3.0) hub. NOTE: First-generation Professional Workflow HR1 hubs (Rev A) only support up to two Professional Workflow UR2 readers at once. To find the Professional Workflow HR1 model you’re using (Rev A or Rev B), check the label on the bottom of the product. How many Professional Workflow UR2 (three-slot microSDHC/microSDXC UHS-I) readers can I use with the HR1 and HR2 (four-bay) hubs? All Professional Workflow HR2 hubs leverage a high-speed Thunderbolt 2 interface, and accommodate up to four Professional Workflow UR2 three-slot readers, filling the hub and providing fast file transfer from 12 cards at once. The latest generation of HR1 USB 3.0 hubs (Rev B) are also capable of transferring files concurrently from up to four UR2 readers. NOTE: First-generation Professional Workflow HR1 hubs (Rev A) only support up to two Professional Workflow UR2 readers at once. To find the Professional Workflow HR1 model you’re using (Rev A or Rev B), check the label on the bottom of the product. What computer operating systems are compatible with the Lexar Professional Workflow line of products? Professional Workflow HR2 and CR2: USB 2.0/3.0 port: Mac OS X 10.6.8+ Thunderbolt 2 port: 10.8.5+ USB 2.0/3.0 and Thunderbolt 2 port: Windows 8/7 Thunderbolt 2 port USB 2.0/3.0 port Card readers: Mac OS® 10.6+ Windows® 8/7 USB 3.0 interface (backwards compatible with USB 2.0 at slower speeds) Two-port USB 3.0 hub: USB 3.0 interface (backwards compatible with USB 2.0 at slower speeds) Do I need a driver for my Thunderbolt 2/USB 3.0 reader or Thunderbolt 2 hub? Yes, Windows users should visit lexar.com/downloads to download the Thunderbolt 2 driver needed to ensure Windows PC compatibility. Will the aftermarket USB 3.0 port card that I installed in my Mac Pro® work with Professional Workflow line products? Yes, on most third-party USB 3.0 cards, it does. However, since this is an aftermarket product, the performance could potentially be slower than true USB 3.0 speeds. Does the Professional Workflow line work with Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® software? Yes. However, the software only supports consecutive downloads, not concurrent downloads. So downloads may take longer to complete. Does the Professional Workflow line work with Photo Mechanic™ software (Mac® and Windows)? Yes, and since Photo Mechanic supports concurrent downloading, download speeds are exceptionally fast Is my Lexar Portable SSD compatible with the Professional Workflow HR1 or HR2 hub? Yes. The Portable SSD will fit in either hub and complements the existing offerings in the Workflow line.

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