Which Hard Drive should I use?

Hello all,
In need of guidance.

I just updated to X1 and even bought a new computer to go with it. My new PC has 2 drives. Should I use the 2nd drive just to store past bundles etc.? Or, would it be better to setup Sonar to write audio to this 2nd drive while recording projects? Would it also be better to load plugins on this 2nd drive?

I am sure several have 1 or more external drives for storage. I am not sure what a typical thing to do is. Would most of you just use the 2nd internal drive for storage or, can the 2nd drive get used in such a way to get better performance while recording?

Thank you all for any help and info as to what is the best thing to do.

I have my system setup this way:
Internal C: All programs and apps 500gig drive
Internal D: All sound data including samples and project recordings 2tb drive
External E: Backup of D: 2tb drive
External F: Backup of C: 500gig drive
 
You also need to check your backups regularly to make sure they will actually work. There is almost nothing worse than a corrupted backup. Most modern backup software will let you verify your backup data is valid. I actually mirror my drives (rather than use encrypted, compressed backup files), so as I do my work and save, it is automatically backed up. No need to restore from a drive - just swap the external to the internal and get a new external a.s.a.p.
 
Addition: I use OEM drives for external, not the sleek custom Western Digital or Seagate Books. Get a couple of good external drive cases and install your own OEM drives. Stay with the same format as the internal ie 3.5" or 2.5" and same brand and model.
 
If you are going to use just the two internals I would definitely use one as a backup drive! There is software that will mirror the c: drive. If one ever goes belly-up (and one will!) Just switch boot drives in your BIOS (if C: goes bad) and replace that bad drive quickly!
 
Best,
 

[size=3 font="courier new"][size=4 font="times new roman"]It really does not matter. Ya'll taking it was too serious. I do not know what kind of gold you storing on your drives, but Occasional backups are good enough. This coming from a person who had to replace 2 out of 3 hard drives on my $4000 Dell Precision. I have SCSI drives, software and samples on C, graphics on D and recordings on E. I learned it the hard way as I did not believe in a motherboard problems. First I had to replace the memory. Later the drive D went down. Note that SCSI 15.000 rpm are very expensive and hard to find. The D drive was least used drive with graphics, that should of die last, but it went first. Then I had to replace a DVD player. Not long ago a C drive burnt. The only drive I still have from original configuration is the E drives with all the recording. So far. Waiting for it to die any minute- because it can. Why not- 2 of its brothers are already replaced. And few weeks ago the motherboard was diagnosed total. I should of start with replacing it long time ago, when I had memory problems. The bottom line is... there is nothing that is so important. You can always start over. The down side of multiple drives is that when you buy new computer, you need to have same hard drive configuration because Sonar will not be able to open project file if it your clip used to be on E drive and now is on C drive. I am not sure if it will search for it or not- if you have 2 drives, I would always have 2 drives in consequent systems. I store Zeta and Rapture samples on C drive. I experienced many dropouts and every time I use samples, the drive doing “woooo-hooo” sound. It is all good.   

Lanceindastudio


Vladasyn, you are way off man. Update to at least a core 2 duo (that is also an out of date chip, but not as ancient as the P4 over hot skeleton in your computer) before giving ANY advice at all, for the good of sonar users.

OK,now i`m embarrassed about my "free speech in forums" rant-apologies to Bristol-Jonesy- a jerk is a jerk in any language but without any specs it`s hard to judge.

cheers

I think Vlad is having us all on here.. :O) Hey Vlad, you're kidding with us right? :O)

The down side of multiple drives is that when you buy new computer, you need to have same hard drive configuration because Sonar will not be able to open project file if it your clip used to be on E drive and now is on C drive

The problem with spreading such unadulterated garbage as this - trying to pass it off as "advice" is that some people might end up believing and end up compromising their own setups.

It's always been possible in Sonar to state, in Preferences (Previously Options > Global), exactly WHERE your audio files, samples, exports etc all reside within your system.

I'm not sure if you're actually trying to help or are indeed, a 3rd rate troll, but whatever it is, please stop, as somebody might actually take what you're posting as Gospel.

blindguitar


Hello all,
In need of guidance.

I just updated to X1 and even bought a new computer to go with it. My new PC has 2 drives. Should I use the 2nd drive just to store past bundles etc.? Or, would it be better to setup Sonar to write audio to this 2nd drive while recording projects? Would it also be better to load plugins on this 2nd drive?

I am sure several have 1 or more external drives for storage. I am not sure what a typical thing to do is. Would most of you just use the 2nd internal drive for storage or, can the 2nd drive get used in such a way to get better performance while recording?

Thank you all for any help and info as to what is the best thing to do.

Wow! What a thread this turned into!
 
Back to the beginning; blindguitar is asking what to do with the "existing" two drives. I cannot over-emphasize enough - use the second as a backup drive!
 
To my own experience: I have experienced total HD failure, and it is NOT fun! It was caused by a bad power supply and I had no backup. Imagine hundreds of hours of work...just gone! I thought I had a backup (the second internal drive) but as soon as I started booting from that, the psu toasted it as well - all in the same day.
Turned out the PSU failed because of bad power from my home electric. Solved that issue with a power conditioner/battery backup. I have a lot of money tied up just in redundancy.
 
We all try to squeeze as much, or sometimes too much info into some of our posts; it can be a good thing, and it can lead to disagreements. May cooler heads prevail and remember, we are here to help one another and not bring people down.
 
Best to you all!

How is the drive letter irrelevent? I do use "per project"- meaning I create Audio folder in individual folder on drive E. I just know that once I unbundle the bundle file and it stored audio somewhere else- it could not just "find" it- it got confused. Also- I use Logic Platinum and not sure if there scanning options in tha program. I started with 3 drives on my first system and now I am afraid to change it. It may be that I don't know much. What you mean by "That way the audio folder for each project is directly below where the CWP is located, meaning the drive letter is irrelevant"? Thank you.

wrong thread

Well I had the "smart" idea of purchasing one of those WD external 1Tb USB drives, cause they were cheaper than a bare internal drive and opening the case and pulling the drive out (its SATA) and installing it in my PC...... dumb move , WD used green drives in those USB external drives.... Ohhh it worked for a while , and ran cooler than the Black does, but thats about it ...