Newb - can I store files and/or samples on an external drive?

Hi... I'd like to conserve space on my C: drive. I have a USB External that I can store files on, but I'm not sure what files and/or samples I can store on it without mucking up the performance of Sonar. For example, I'm looking at maybe trying the free Komplete Players from Native Instruments to see what they're all about. They come with 600 MB of samples. Can I store the samples on the external drive without negatively impacting when I used them in Sonar? Will I have to tell the associated plug-ins where to find the samples?  
 
Are there files in Sonar that have to "stream" in during use? If so, will having them on an external not work well? And if external storage creates more problems than it's worth, I won't go there!
 
Thanks for any advice! 
Billy

 

Anderton

Billy86
Hi... I'd like to conserve space on my C: drive. I have a USB External that I can store files on, but I'm not sure what files and/or samples I can store on it without mucking up the performance of Sonar. For example, I'm looking at maybe trying the free Komplete Players from Native Instruments to see what they're all about. They come with 600 MB of samples. Can I store the samples on the external drive without negatively impacting when I used them in Sonar?

 
Yes; hopefully the drive is USB 3. The performance will likely be better. I always store audio data and samples on different drives. Only SONAR itself is on the C: drive.
 

Will I have to tell the associated plug-ins where to find the samples?

 
Yes, although IIRC the Kontakt player can search for them. 
 

Are there files in Sonar that have to "stream" in during use? If so, will having them on an external not work well?

 
Some SONAR instruments, like Session Drummer, store files on the C: drive but you can modify this. However, drum samples don't take up much space if you don't want to worry about it.
 

And if external storage creates more problems than it's worth, I won't go there!

 
Assuming fast drives and correct connections, they will create no problems and will likely improve matters.
 

Kontakt will find the sounds or prompt you for a location, but in some instances (depending on the number of samples the particular instrument references) the instrument will be much slower to load every time you use it unless the instrument file (.nki) is resaved using the files menu at the top of the Kontakt screen after it has loaded (files/save as/choose instrument name that displays automatically).
 
There is also a batch resave function under the same menu for exactly this purpose (files/Batch re-save/point the browser to the folder where the entire instrument pack is stored) Just run this if you find particular instruments slow to load and it will re-save every instrument in that folder.
 
 

jpetersen
If you at some point plug in, say, a thumb drive, you may have drive letters changing.

Yeah Good point - to avoid this, before importing all of your sounds into your synths do the following:
 
1.right click on my computer, then choose manage>disk management. 
2. right click on the external drive that contains your sounds/samples and choose 'change drive letter and paths'.
3. Click change, and choose a letter way down the alphabet (try Z for example:) and click OK.
 
Now, unless you happen to insert upwards of 20 thumb drives with your sample drive unplugged you will be fine. It will always be drive Z.

DRanck
All good points.

If you want to load samples, you will need USB 3 , and a 7200 rpm mechanical drive or ssd.

Use a drive letter of m or above. Windows may randomly reassign lower drive letters when devices are plugged in and out.

Thanks everyone for the guidance! My external is a USB 2.0. 7200 rpm mechanical. The laptop I'm working with is pre-USB 3.0 :-(

USB 2.0 will not work well for loading samples. Most sample libraries stream in real time. They only load the header portion of the sample at start up. 
 
As you can see from the chart below, USB 2 is far slower than 3 or eSata:

• USB 1.1 = 12 Mbit/s
• Firefire 400 = 400 Mbit/s
• USB 2.0 = 480 Mbit/s
• FireWire 800 = 800 Mbit/s
• USB 3.0 = 5 Gbit/s
• USB 3.1 = 10 Gbit/s
• eSATA = Up to 6 Gbit/s (750 MB/s) right now as it depend on the internal SATA chip.