External HD for audio????

My old internal HD is getting max filled. The computer otherwise does everything I need it to do for my shows. Can I use a 1 TB external HD with a USB connection for audio files? Is it fast enough. If not, can I use an external HD with a firewire connection? Thanks!

It's an ancient Gateway laptop. Can you replace a HD in a laptop?

If you want to use an external hdd(which would be recommended) for your laptop for audio get a 10000rpm and you'll have no problems at all. I use an external hdd in my studio for all my samples and audio with extras and it's no slower than my onboard hdd's. If you get a 7500rpm, realisticly you probably won't even notice the difference with your laptop(only when running a powerful fast desktop), but it will be a bit slower.  
 

ronniebuss


When you say slower, what do you mean? I use my laptop with Sonar as a "backing band" thing. I have all my tracks bounced to audio and need it NOT to glitch at a live show. I've only had a problem once and it was recently and the Gurus here thought it was due to my HD being almost full. I tend to agree! Also, I believe my old laptop has USB 1 connections. The new HD has USB 3 technology. I can easily take it back and get a firewire HD. Any and all comments will be appreciated!!!!!

If you're going to be using it only for audio and samples it won't glitch at all as long as your OS and apps are running on it's own designated onboard hdd. What i'd do is transfer all audio and samples(from synths etc) to the external hdd and leave your onboard hdd clean for you OS and applications only. I do this with my gigs and have had no trouble whatsoever.
I'm not a computer whiz by any means but even with USB1 it shouldn't make a difference unless latency is a worry for you(if you'll be running your signals through the laptop and applications during the gig). That being said i personally would rather use firewire than usb1 but when it comes to usb 2/3 vs firewire then the firewire isn't even an option imo.
 
Back to the hdd issue, i highly doubt you'll have any problems at all as long as you seperate the applications an samples/audio.
 
I hope that helped. 

I tried using the external HD. No love!!!!! Every song with more than 3-4 audio tracks made the audio engine crash. I tried upping the buffer and asio latency settings in a desperate attempt, and it still crashes. Any ideas?

I can't afford a new laptop of any price let alone a really good one for Sonar right now.