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Old 02-23-2012, 11:15 AM
a2c a2c is offline
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Default How does everyone setup Hard drive?

How do you guys optimize and setup internal or external Hard drive for PT recording? I just upgrade to HDX with PT10 , Lion, this is the good time to re-configuring Hard disk (HDD) set up.

I'm using internal 1 TB (WD 7200rpm) x 2 for recording and external 2 TB (Lacie Quadra 7200rpm) x 1 for project archiving.

-How many HDDs do you use for internal or external?
-Making partitions in a single HDD still work for faster recording nowadays?
-Any comments who uses Solid State Drive?
-Many studio engineers says WD for internal and Lacie for external are good for recording in 2009-2011. Are they still on same spots?
-What do you care about choosing HDDs?

Honestly, I only cared for HDD was that,
1st speed (rpm),
2nd brand
3rd price

Therefore, before it's too late, any comments for HDD set up will be welcome please give me some idea or blind spots for HDD setup.

Thank for your posting!
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  #2  
Old 02-23-2012, 04:41 PM
Chief Technician Chief Technician is offline
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Post Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Quote:
Originally Posted by a2c View Post
-How many HDDs do you use for internal or external?
The systems I setup have one (1) internal drive for audio and a second internal drive for video.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a2c View Post
-Making partitions in a single HDD still work for faster recording nowadays?
No.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a2c View Post
-Any comments who uses Solid State Drive?
I haven't tried this yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a2c View Post
-Many studio engineers says WD for internal and Lacie for external are good for recording in 2009-2011. Are they still on same spots?
I stopped using LaCie drives when we were able to get Mac Pros with four (4) drive bays. WD is fine. Hitachi is worthy as well. I used to buy Seagates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a2c View Post
-What do you care about choosing HDDs?

Honestly, I only cared for HDD was that,
1st speed (rpm),
2nd brand
3rd price

Therefore, before it's too late, any comments for HDD set up will be welcome please give me some idea or blind spots for HDD setup.
I would choose brand over speed. It's not difficult to find a 7200 RPM drive. Hitachi, WD, or Seagate. Price is a function of capacity (and the Thailand floods) more than it is of the brand.
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Old 02-23-2012, 07:20 PM
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albee1952 albee1952 is online now
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Well said by the Chief. I run 4 internal drives on my systems. System drive, samples drive and 2 audio drives. The samples drive also holds any downloaded updaters or downloaded plugin installers. If I am running a 1TB system drive, I partition it in half and use the other half as backup. I also have at least one cloned system drive stashed away that mirrors my present setup, and another system drive with the previous setup(PT8 since I am now running PT9). Friends thought I was nuts to keep buying hard drives over the last 2 years. Now with prices tripled, they're jealous
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Old 02-23-2012, 09:51 PM
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ronwasserman ronwasserman is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Drive 1 - System SSD
Drive 2 - Pro Tools Files SSD
Drive 3 - Realtime PT Backup 1TB
Drive 4 - Sound Libraries 2TB
Drive 5 - Sound Libraries 3TB

All Internal.
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Old 02-24-2012, 01:02 AM
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ejwells ejwells is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

My current setup:

Internals:

1./ Mac Drive-1 TB WD Black Caviar
2./ Main Audio Drive- 1TB WD Black Caviar
3./ EWQL Terapack Drive- 1TB WD Black Caviar
4./ Backup/Samples- Partitioned 1TB WD Caviar (2x500GB)

Externals
5./ Audio 2-1TB eSATA OWC Mercury Elite (Hitachi)
6./ Audio 3-1TB eSATA OWC Mercury Elite (Hitachi)
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Old 02-24-2012, 06:37 AM
Matts Matts is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronwasserman View Post
Drive 1 - System SSD
Drive 2 - Pro Tools Files SSD
Drive 3 - Realtime PT Backup 1TB
Drive 4 - Sound Libraries 2TB
Drive 5 - Sound Libraries 3TB

All Internal.
Hi,

What exactly do you mean by "Realtime PT Backup"??

-matts
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  #7  
Old 02-24-2012, 01:32 PM
a2c a2c is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

I thought it's TimeMachine backup every 1 hr? No?

Last edited by a2c; 02-24-2012 at 02:05 PM. Reason: spell
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Old 02-24-2012, 01:35 PM
a2c a2c is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Thanks for all of you for replying valuable answers.
I'm adding some more questions each posts. Thanks!
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  #9  
Old 02-24-2012, 01:38 PM
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

UNIX knows about drive geometry and how to handle hard drives, so yes, partitioning will make drives perform at their best. Split drives 50-50 -- use the first part for recording and second part for storage. This will mostly affect seek times (latency) which is important for high track counts. It will also keep bits on the outer edge of the platter so throughput is as good as it can be.

If you don't partition, you will experience performance problems as soon as the drive is about 50% full.
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Old 02-24-2012, 01:43 PM
a2c a2c is offline
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Default Re: How does everyone setup Hard drive?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief Technician View Post
The systems I setup have one (1) internal drive for audio and a second internal drive for video.

No.

I haven't tried this yet.

I stopped using LaCie drives when we were able to get Mac Pros with four (4) drive bays. WD is fine. Hitachi is worthy as well. I used to buy Seagates.
Do you separate PT or other music softwares and audio recording HDD? Do you think it makes a big difference to separate software and audio recording HDD?


Quote:
I would choose brand over speed. It's not difficult to find a 7200 RPM drive. Hitachi, WD, or Seagate. Price is a function of capacity (and the Thailand floods) more than it is of the brand.
[/QUOTE]

I see. I like and use Seagate because high cost performance in 2010 for one of my internal HDD.
Have you tried faster than 7200 rpm?

Last edited by a2c; 02-24-2012 at 01:44 PM. Reason: quote
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