CPU-error even if i usage is no more then 20-30%

[Craig F]

unless I've missed something Avid's recomended FW chain is:
Computer > FW HD > FW HD > Avid Interface

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by Craig F

unless I've missed something Avid's recomended FW chain is:
Copmuter > FW HD > FW HD > Avid Interface

I'm not really following what this comment is in relation to?

If you have the option of two separate Firewire buses that is better than messing around with bus chaining orders and potential problems (that any chaining order may not make go away).

Darryl

[Craig F]

agread but even Mac Pro Towers only have 1 FW bus

[timeey]

If you have the option of two separate Firewire buses that is better than messing around with bus chaining orders and potential problems

And i am guessing that using a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 cable does not reduce the speed of anything - right?

I can't seem to find a "qualified for Pro Tools" hard-drive that's for sale in Norway, but i think i've found something that should be qualified (even if it doesn't say so on the store). I am having difficulties to determin the chipset.

I've found some alternatives that i would buy if they meet the "approved from Pro Tools license".
Would anyone of these meet the requirements (link to apple store)?:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB...e?fnode=5f&p=1

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TX...e?fnode=5f&p=1

Expensive:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB...e?fnode=5f&p=1

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8...e?fnode=5f&p=1

I can't tell what chipsets are in these though!

[JazzyJ]

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other.../MS8U3H7320GB/

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by timeey

And i am guessing that using a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 cable does not reduce the speed of anything - right?

What cable? I am encouraging you to get an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, that is not a cable, its an active Thunderbolt/PCIe lane controller chip packaged in a little plastic shell and yes that involves a significant change in speed of Thunderbolt to Firewire which sounds bad but in practice with a spinning disk is irrelevant. Both interfaces are faster than the disk hanging off them.

Originally Posted by timeey

I can't seem to find a "qualified for Pro Tools" hard-drive that's for sale in Norway, but i think i've found something that should be qualified (even if it doesn't say so on the store). I am having difficulties to determin the chipset.

I've found some alternatives that i would buy if they meet the "approved from Pro Tools license".
Would anyone of these meet the requirements (link to apple store)?:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB...e?fnode=5f&p=1

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TX...e?fnode=5f&p=1

Expensive:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB...e?fnode=5f&p=1

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8...e?fnode=5f&p=1

I can't tell what chipsets are in these though!

Both of the first two drives meet all specs and work OK (7,200 rpm and Oxford firewire chipset). The later two drives are more problematic since they are RAID, which you will need to not use and instead configure as JABOD. But as I have suggested before get a Firewire drive and a Firewire adapter, frankly part of this advice is based on the type of questions I see here, I think you will have a lot less hassle setting up a single Firewire drive. But if you have huge sample libraries/are a heavy user of sample based VIs and might need a third drive dedicated to VI samples now is the time to speak up.

Darryl

[timeey]

I am encouraging you to get an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, that is not a cable

Got it.

But if you have huge sample libraries/are a heavy user of sample based VIs and might need a third drive dedicated to VI samples now is the time to speak up.

I most definitely am. Should i have it split up like this then:

- Pro Tools installed on Mac OSX internal drive

- Record and playback on a 7,200 rpm - Oxford firewire chipset drive

- VI´s and samples on another external hard drive

If this is the case, then PLEASE don´t tell me i need to buy two 7,200 rpm - Oxford firewire chipset drives.

[Craig F]

third drive for the VI samples would be a good idea
it should have the Oxford chipset
if the samples are streaming you should get a 7200 but this is were a SSD's seek times could be put to good use

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by timeey

I most definitely am. Should i have it split up like this then:

- Pro Tools installed on Mac OSX internal drive

- Record and playback on a 7,200 rpm - Oxford firewire chipset drive

- VI´s and samples on another external hard drive

If this is the case, then PLEASE don´t tell me i need to buy two 7,200 rpm - Oxford firewire chipset drives.

I would always put samples on a 7200 RPM drive, actual now personally I'd only use an SSD drive (there might be exceptions if you need terabytes of samples). A 5,400 rpm drive is barely cuts it as a back up drive. My time (waiting for copies to finish or wasted dealing with problems) is orders of magnitude more valuable than the price difference between 5400 and 7200 rpm drives, or for that matter between spinning disk and going fully SSD.

The standard recommendation with Pro Tools is you run audio to a dedicated hard drive (definitely not the systems drive). And that you install any VI samples to the system drive. Its also recommended for heavier VI use that you install the VI sampels to a dedicated sample drive. You always need the Pro Tools software itself installed on the system drive. You may get away just fine with the samples on your system drive, you may not. Who knows. Its all totally dependent on what you are doing and what VIs you run.

If going with an external samples drive I would want it to meet all the usual audio-drive specs.

The other option, now I know more about what you are doing. Is to get one of those thunderbolt drives--and use it as as a JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disk) where each internal disk appears as a separate drive to the Mac (you have to reconfigure that using the OS X disk utility). then put audio on one and samples on the other. Not all RAID drives can necessarily be separate into JBOD but the two you mention can.

And another option is to crack open the iMac and replace the system drive with an SSD. Personally that is where I'd start, but don't go there unless you are comfortable doing things like this. You are quite likely to get away with running the System and VI samples on a good SSD drive. If you go that route I recommend the Samung 840 Pro series drives. There are lots of instructions online about how to open an iMac. Your iMac might also be able to take twp standard 2.5" SSD internally with an aftermarket dual drive kit.

You also may have other options like using an external SSD drive, e.g. http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10599 or http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10600. I really dislike that these disk drives don't include a second Thunderbolt port, all that to let lacie use a cheaper Thunderbolt chipset and save a few dollars manufacturing cost. Lacie make pretty good stuff, but I'm personally not aware of anybody using these drives with Pro Tools. But in this case I would still not put the sampels and audio sessions on one drive, even an SSD, not if you are tying to build something rock solid.

While on the Lacie kick, another options is... http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10574 And I'd stick a Samsung 840 Pro SSD drive in it. It has two Thunderbolt ports (yeh), but disappointingly I suspect the drive interface is only SATA II/3 Gb/sec not SATA III/6Gb/sec. And again I don't know anybody who is running with that yet on pro Tools (with those SD drives). You would need two of these housings if you wanted two entirely separate external disks. I'd be tempted to put an SSD in the iMac and then look at this caddy with the same model SSD used externally.

There are other brands beside Lacie or G-Tech doing Thunderbolt stuff, but I'd be leery of some of the cheap brands.

Darryl

[timeey]

Wow, i guess i´ve been killing my Imac for all this time (or at least not utilizing it´s potential) then!!

So from the options you gave me, i gotta say these look most tempting:

1. Buy a pair of these http://store.apple.com/us/product/TX...e?fnode=5f&p=1 or these http://store.apple.com/us/product/HB...e?fnode=5f&p=1 and place VI´s and samples on one, and record and playback audio on the other.

(PS. Would the 2 TB be better then 1 TB drive? Speed-wise?)

2. Buy this Thunderbolt Drive http://store.apple.com/us/product/H8...e?fnode=5f&p=1 and convert it to JBOD (which i assume is in the "Disk utility" where you also set other disks to "Mac OSX Journal", only now you choose "JBOD" - right?)

And from there use one disk for VI´s and samples, and one for Audio record and playback.

But how i is it exactly with Thunderbolt-drives and PT (mine is 8.0.5) now? Are they compatible or should i use an adapter like you mentioned earlier?

I mean, shouldn´t the Thunderbolt-connection be waaay better then firewire?

I know there are other options as well, just can´t find a norwegian online store that sells them.


Thanks for the help!