Hard Drive Configuration Advice

Sibanger · Post by **Sibanger** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:34 pm

Hi,
I'm just looking at going for the following sata hard drive set up-

1 x 150GB 10000rpm raptor- for system & programs/vsts
1x 250GB 7200 rpm- for audio files/libraries
1 x 500GB 7200 rpm-for recording & backup

I will be partitioning 1st drive for dual system boot- ie
1. General computer use &
2. DAW- minimal configuration

I'm thinking it's better to have a 'record to only' drive.

Is it possible to have all program libraries on separate drive to the programs? ie- For Battery, RMX, Live, Rsn etc & would it help much?

Any advice on using 3 drives for optimal performance and configuring Live is welcome.
Thanks

synnack · Post by **synnack** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:45 pm

I think you want the fastest drive for recording. To have the fastest drive for programs and vsts is kind of a waste. Those are not disk OI problems, more CPU/RAM.

ICN · Post by **ICN** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:04 pm

How are things Mate?

This seems to be a common question that gets no fast answers.

I had / was having the same problem up until about 2 hours ago.. that was until I found this site about Hard drives (yawn) - Anyway it helped me out.

See it through this topic I started in Tips & Tricks..

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68971

Sibanger · Post by **Sibanger** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:41 am

Sorry, I missed your post in 'tips & tricks' ICN. I often do searches and look in 'general' without looking in tips & tricks'.
You have pretty much asked the same question re library/program on separate drive etc. Its something I should really know by now.

Thanks for input tempus 3r. I was hoping to use a larger drive for recording, but if its better to use faster drive, I will reconsider.

I was also worried about shifting everything around & losing my links to files when I change my set up. I've got a couple of days before I jump in to do this.

Thanks.

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:55 am

I am inclined to agree that your first proposal seems kind of backwards...

The faster drive is attractive for audio , and also the larger drive should seek faster than the 250G one...

FWIW I'd recommend partitioning as little as possible. I have always regretted it. The only advantage seems to be in defragging (?)

The main one that burns me now is a 20G system partition on my music computer. Sucks ass but I don't want to risk using partition magic on it.

With my 3 drives, I have system and programs on one, sounds for reason and vsts on the second, and sounds for live on the third and bestest one. backups for me go onto any drive other than the one i'm backing up

hyerstay · Post by **hyerstay** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:26 am

Your first drive should be unpartitioned and used for your system, applications, and your normal data. You should also try it as a recording drive before you spend more.

Your second drive should be a bootable cloned backup of your first drive. Personally, I use SuperDuper for this on the Mac, with Energy Saver set to wake or startup my computer at 5:00 AM, SuperDuper set to backup at 5:03, and then auto sleep after the backup.

If you buy a third drive for recording, don't forget to back it up somehow, either with a clone of its own, or moving audio worth saving to your main drive (which will always get cloned). Any data you have on only one drive is not backed up, and you could lose it with a hard drive failure.

Cheers,

Jason Hyerstay
Macintosh Consultant
Small Dog Electronics
http://smalldog.com

deutero · Post by **deutero** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:53 am

hyerstay wrote: If you buy a third drive for recording, don't forget to back it up somehow, either with a clone of its own, or moving audio worth saving to your main drive (which will always get cloned). Any data you have on only one drive is not backed up, and you could lose it with a hard drive failure.

Best advice I've seen in days.
Losing data, especially long-labored creative work sucks.

Sibanger · Post by **Sibanger** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:22 am

Interesting. Thanks for your input.
My first proposal is out the window.
I have the choice of these drives. Money does not matter. Any drive I do not use will be used in a second computer.

150gb raptor 10000 rpm
2 x 250gb 7200 rpm
500 gb 7200 rpm

So 2nd proposal is-

1st h/d-250 drive to be used for system & programs

2nd h/d-150 drive to be used for audio files/libraries & recording

3rd h/d-250 drive to be used for back up of audio

(i can use the 2nd 250 drive as bootable clone of 1st drive & 500 gb as 3rd drive, but seems a bit over the top?)

I'm trying not to get confused. I just want to make the best choice with the options available.
Thanks

hyerstay · Post by **hyerstay** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:31 am

How about:

250GB HD for system/apps/user
250GB for audio storage

500GB HD partitioned into 2x250GB
250GB partition for system clone
250GB partition for audio copy

150GB HD for scratch recording drive

Sibanger · Post by **Sibanger** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:02 am

Thanks for the recommendation hyerstay.

Now that sounds like a grand plan.

I may require some further advice on how to go about this.

Would you be able to expand a little on the '150GB HD for scratch recording drive'. ie- how to make this work.

It sounds a bit over the top, but I like it.

Cheers