KVR Audio

zai · Post by **zai** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:54 am

I need your advice on how to setup my music softwares.

I just bought myself an 160G external HardDrive. I'm just wondering, should I install programs like Cubase SX2, Reason 2.5, Live 3 and all other program files in this drive? Or just "samples" and VSTs? Or everything?

I hope I'm making sense.

Or should I install Cubase SX and the likes on the laptop, then samples in the external drive?

Thanks,
Zai

CypherOne · Post by **CypherOne** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:39 am

I have an external hard drive. I keep all my applications, VSTs etc., on the main drive and only use the external drive for samples and tracks.

I hope that helps.

o'malley · Post by **o'malley** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:55 am

External drives are cool because you can take your big projects and sample libraries to other people's studios.

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:32 am

external HDs use a slower connection, especially if they're USB drives instead of Firewire.

flametop · Post by **flametop** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:08 am

I use mine just for samples. Its ideal then for moving between my main PC and my laptop (tip: reconfigfure the drive letter to be common for both, makes moving projects much simpler

)

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:21 am

cptgone wrote:external HDs use a slower connection, especially if they're USB drives instead of Firewire.

depends doesnt it ?

USB 2 is faster than Firwire 400 and I suppose that particular hardware and drivers affect the speed as well. Havent done any tests with my Lacie which has both

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:34 am

CreepJoint wrote:
cptgone wrote:external HDs use a slower connection, especially if they're USB drives instead of Firewire.
depends doesnt it ?

USB 2 is faster than Firwire 400 and I suppose that particular hardware and drivers affect the speed as well. Havent done any tests with my Lacie which has both

yes, you're right.

of course, if you use lots of USB devices they'll have to share USB bandwidth (unless they're on separate USB controllers). you don't have that restriction with Firewire methinks.

zai · Post by **zai** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:58 pm

Thanks for the advice.

One more quick one...for example then, BFD...I should install the application program on the computere and samples on the external then...is that correct?

Learning as I go....

Zai

Goa Head · Post by **Goa Head** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:02 pm

zai wrote:Thanks for the advice.

One more quick one...for example then, BFD...I should install the application program on the computere and samples on the external then...is that correct?

Learning as I go....

Zai

Yes.

sweet_trip · Post by **sweet_trip** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:52 pm

although USB2 is theoretically faster than firewire, when it comes to harddrive speed, the max speed is about the same. but people have recommended me firewire over USB2 because they say it's a more direct connection to the PCI Bus than USB2 so it eliminates less problems. USB2 on the other hand, according to suggestions, goes through a few extra .dll files, ei. not just harddrive and PCI drivers and system files, but also USB drivers and what not. this in turn makes USB2 transfers use a bit more resources. i'm not saying USB2 is bad, it is a blessing, but for installing applications or using it as your audio recording HD, i would use firewire. USB2 is fine for mass transfers and storage. also, although there alot of cheap ext. HDs out there, if you're looking for performance, go for 8mb cache or more. this are more expensive.

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:51 pm

CreepJoint wrote:
cptgone wrote:external HDs use a slower connection, especially if they're USB drives instead of Firewire.
depends doesnt it ?

USB 2 is faster than Firwire 400 and I suppose that particular hardware and drivers affect the speed as well. Havent done any tests with my Lacie which has both

I'd be curious to see if you're getting faster than the 20-25mb/sec I've been seeing with other enclosures with the Lacie.

Devon

jdg · Post by **jdg** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:06 pm

there was benchmarks over at toms hardware on Firewire, USB2 and Firewire800

and firewire was faster.

like firewire was 32MB/s and USB2 was 28MB/s
and firewire800 was 56MB/s

thats as fast as internal IDE drives

they said it was because USB2 has more overhead as it wasn't built as a high bandwidth storage protocal like firewire was.

i have firewire drives.. and i love them.

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:12 pm

jdg wrote:there was benchmarks over at toms hardware on Firewire, USB2 and Firewire800

Got a link?

Devon

Druu · Post by **Druu** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:16 pm

I use an external HD, but only for backups. Even though it's a firewire drive, I keep any live files that I'm working with on my internal drive. I'm the cautious, conservative type, tho.

Druu
www.druu.net

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 4:17 pm

DevonB wrote:
jdg wrote:there was benchmarks over at toms hardware on Firewire, USB2 and Firewire800
Got a link?

I'd guess maybe it was this.