Switching to 64-bit OS; Gotta few Questions

  OK, so my current computer is getting tired and is trying to die on me. It's all good. I have gotten four good years out of it. So, I am going to build another computer. And, I am finally going to move to Win 7 64-bit. Long over due, but beside the point, really. So, I want to have a main drive (SSD) for just the OS, X2, and couple of other programs (I presume that you need to load your 3rd party plugs here, too). Then, record the audio onto a second drive. This is what I have gathered from reading posts and various other sources on the internet. At this point I am using two Velociraptor HHDs in a raid zero configuration. Question 1. Should I use both of these drives? A. use one of them for the audio and then maybe use the other for samples, i.e. my Addictive drums, The Vintage Organs for Kontakt, and other synth sounds. Or, is that really not necessary? Another possible problem that I forsee is that I am nine songs into a CD project, for myself, and if I reload all of these songs into the new computer, I will have to re-direct all of the projects to the various drives I do believe. I mean that just seems like what will have to be done. So, should I just wait until I get the project finished? That is if the current computer rig lasts. Or, should I go ahead and do the upgrade? Also, any advice for someone switching to 64-bit would be greatly appreciated.

Definately finish whatever you're doing before the change.

Finish the project - believe me.  If you change major tools during a project, it is sure to screw something up according to Murphy's Law.

2 drives are enough, unless, as Scott says, you stream a lot of large samples.  If you are using the Cake synths and many otheres (which by default store on the C: drive) you are pretty much set using 2 drives - one loads in the project and synths and associated samples, the other streams the audio tracks.

You should enjoy the new hardware.  I kept to an old 32 bit system until last summer.  It is amazing how much power I didn't miss before I had it.  Makes everything run smoother.  Have fun, but wait until you have time to get the new system running right instead of doing tech while trying to meet deadlines.

@

I have a removable system drive, so when I moved from XP to Vista, and Vista to Windows 7, I did the same thing: used the older drive to finish up projects, and booted up the new drive for new projects. Eventually, everything got migrated over, and I still had the old drive in case I missed some file, or had a program that didn't work under the new OS, or whatever. Not sure if this approach is practical in your case, but it was a painless transition that never interrupted my ability to complete older projects or start new ones.

I can tell you from recent experience that you need to birth that new system alongside your currently functioning rig. I have been going through a painful upgrade that has unfortunately had a series of unrelated but incredibly vexing challenges including a UAD2 card that was strangely defective and making me think my system was the problem. It took most of a month to solve with an RMA. My old card would work with EVERY computer I put it in accept the one I was building (which worked with other, borrowed UAD2 cards). The new card works fine (O_o) thank goodness. Now I'm on to resolving some issues with the RAID5 I chose to go with but I'm pretty sure I will abandon that plan.

Aside from those hardware pains I have been testing with projects that are at a mid-point with all the tracking in place but mixing still ahead. I'm okay with that scenario for the most part. All you need to do is put the project folders on a drive, open Sonar, navigate to the folder and open the session. It will find all the audio and make new pictures without issue. Where you will run into issues is if you are updating plugins that may or may not be located correctly when the session opens. It will ask you questions about different versions or just not find them at all. At this point you can decide to locate the new versions by hand and copy the settings if necessary or just stay on the old machine. I have been doing the former in a slow but steady process. 

For the most part I have been successful at migrating a record in progress without too much hassle considering the size of the job. Having both computers up and running side by side has made it easier. I'm able to do this because the band had to bring in a new vocalist due to some family problems with their former vocalist (had to relocate indefinitely).


Best of luck!