Hard drive question

[ThunderHorse]

I've read it's best to run Pro Tools from a different HD than your OS and primary system. My question is, would it be better to install Pro Tools, plug ins and virtual instruments on my external 1TB drive or would the USB cause latency? Thanks

[Dism]

Originally Posted by ThunderHorse

I've read it's best to run Pro Tools from a different HD than your OS and primary system. My question is, would it be better to install Pro Tools, plug ins and virtual instruments on my external 1TB drive or would the USB cause latency? Thanks

Wherever you read that, I wouldn't take any advice from there ever again.

Pro Tools and plugins should ONLY ever be installed on the same drive as your OS.

You Session folders MUST be recorded to a secondary hard drive, but NEVER USB. FireWire only. ESATA may give you success as well.

Instrument libraries can be installed on the same drive as the OS, but ideally should be on a third drive. NEVER on the same drive as your sessions.

Hope that has cleared some things up for you.

[ThunderHorse]

I have everything installed on the same drive and have no problems so far. So I need 3 drives, 1 for OS/ PT, 1 for saved failes, and another for instruments?

[albee1952]

2 drives are all you need for basic audio recording. If you get into a lot of VI's and samples, adding a 3rd drive can give better performance. Unless you are running a laptop, adding internal drives is the easiest, cheapest and best performance route(I run 5 drives in my system).

[Dism]

Originally Posted by ThunderHorse

I have everything installed on the same drive and have no problems so far. So I need 3 drives, 1 for OS/ PT, 1 for saved failes, and another for instruments?

I take it you aren't running a whole lot of tracks at once, or very many plugins. Once track counts start getting higher, you will start getting many buffer errors, and disk underflow errors.

A three drive setup is ideal. Two is a requirement. Internal is best if you have a desktop, otherwise FireWire is qualified, eSATA may work, but do NOT use USB.

[ThunderHorse]

Any online guides as far as setting it up? Folder and app placement and such?

[Dism]

Originally Posted by ThunderHorse

Any online guides as far as setting it up? Folder and app placement and such?

There shouldn't be any setup involved. Just install Pro Tools to C:, and put your sessions on the next drive. If you have a third, just put your instrument libraries on it. That's it.

[ThunderHorse]

Originally Posted by Dism

There shouldn't be any setup involved. Just install Pro Tools to C:, and put your sessions on the next drive. If you have a third, just put your instrument libraries on it. That's it.

With the sessions, all you have to do is the select the 2nd drive as the default save location for recordings right?