Formatting External Harddrive Mac OSX

[AR3]

Hi, I was wondering how to format an external firewire harddrive for record/ playback only to make it useable with pro tools? Im new to Mac OS and Pro Tools as well... plzzzzz help!! thanks!!

Macbook 2.0 GHZ
Pro Tools Le 8 MBOX 2 Pro
OWC 160 GB external Drive ( needs to be formatted Please help )

[docbop]

The Mac has a "Disk Utility" application for assorted tasks you need to learn to do as a Mac user. You can format a drive using Disk Utility and want to format it for Mac OS Extended and Journaled. Disk Utility has good online Help to get you going.

[AR3]

docbop- thanks for the quick reply! do you think that you could post any links that may be helpful or give me a step by step instructions to format this drive? the drive is 160 GB do I need to partition it? any more thoughts on this would be sooo helpful

[CME]

I'll chime in. Hit shift+command+u that should open up the utilities folder. Then open up disk utility. It should show the drive on the left of the screen (assuming you have it mounted i.e. plugged in). I believe under the erase tab is where you'll be able to format it. I personally wouldn't partition it. More partions makes the drive work harder as it has to try and read/write each partition seperately. And the data it needs could be far apart. FWIW I keep disk utility on the dock as you should choose your OS disk (the one on top that says how big it is and what brand) and repair permissions after you install any software.

[AR3]

CME cheers man thanks... so Ive opened up disk utility.. now should I plug in the external drive? please man step by step instructions to format this thing. I just got my macbook about a week ago and Im itching to start recording ..

[basslik]

check out this step by step video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN5my4Lrd-4

[AR3]

basslik thanks!! perfect :)

[basslik]

Originally Posted by AR3

basslik thanks!! perfect :)

How did it work out for you?

[the blast]

A good friend of mine said to make sure & format an external drive for use with Pro Tools as Mac OSX Extended & NOT Journaled. Can any of you confirm this? Thanks. -john

[Dism]

Originally Posted by the blast

A good friend of mine said to make sure & format an external drive for use with Pro Tools as Mac OSX Extended & NOT Journaled. Can any of you confirm this? Thanks. -john

I have always formatted "Journaled." Never heard anything to suggest it shouldn't be.