Hi all,
I'm wondering how to place the files on my new PC build.
 
I have:
1) 160GB for windows & apps
2) 500GB Green WD for files (I think it's too slow for any involvement with the DAW)
3) 1TB Black WD  Sata III
3) 500GB Samsung USB2(external) - it's a lil' old...
 
I'm wondering if I should place either audio or samples on the external samsung instead of keeping both on the Black WD Sata III.
I know that normally it's good to seperate the samples and audio but because samples go to RAM when you start the project and the SATA III is much faster than USB2 I think it would be best to use the external for general storage and keep both on the Black WD.
 
What do you think is the best way to go?

It depends if you're just loading the samples into RAM - or if you're actually streaming them. If you're streaming them - then it's more important to keep them seperate from the audio disk - but then again, I wouldn't want to stream off the external USB2 disk either.
 
What about finding a cheap 500GB internal 7200 RPM disk to use for samples - and then use th eexternal disk to back them up?
 
 
 
 
 

I really don't wannt spend ANY money at this point...
 
I usually just use some kontakt instruments and superior drummer.
As far as I know there's no streaming going on, I load up the instruments and they load to the RAM, right?

All of the synths I have.....Cake, NI, EW, and several others all load the samples to memory so they can respond instantly. Some of the samples are quite large for the synths and take several seconds to load the complete files..... I can't imagine the latency if they had to stream. Kontakt is one that is quite large and so it loads it's samples to memory.
 
I used a laptop with a USB external HD for several years with great success.
 
How to load the samples to the USB / secondary drive..... in the installation process, there is usually an option given for a custom install.... choose that and select the alternate destination for the files.
 
I think I also simply did a cut/paste of the files folder to the secondary hard drive with the existing folders containing the samples....since they are simply audio files.... the synth initially looked where it thought they were, couldn't find them and returned an error loading samples message.....I simply went in to the proper place and navigated to the new folder location, made it the default, and from then on the synth found the files.
 
I use a secondary drive since my sample folders are quite huge..... I don't want them on the C drive with the programs and synths.

zoobooboozoo
I usually just use some kontakt instruments and superior drummer.
As far as I know there's no streaming going on, I load up the instruments and they load to the RAM, right?

Superior doesn't stream - but Kontakt certainly does...


Just experiment then - you have nothing to lose. i'd probably try running the audio and samples from th efaster drive first - and see if that works...

You might consider moving the external drive inside if you have enough power / space / right connection, i.e., lose the usb housing, the same drive will perform better

lawp
You might consider moving the external drive inside if you have enough power / space / right connection, i.e., lose the usb housing, the same drive will perform better

Yes, out of all the options (spending money ruled out), this is the best solution.
Kontakt most definitely streams samples from HD.
I'd want my sample libraries on a fast dedicated HD.  Otherwise, you'll have limited polyphony...

lawp
You might consider moving the external drive inside if you have enough power / space / right connection, i.e., lose the usb housing, the same drive will perform better

I've done this before and the disk was actually a slow 5400 RPM disk with "not great" specs. It was fine for USB2 - but not worth putting internal...

jbraner
I've done this before and the disk was actually a slow 5400 RPM disk with "not great" specs. It was fine for USB2 - but not worth putting internal...

Hi John,
 
No doubt it's not a fast HD (by latest standards)... 
But we're talking the best of several "less than ideal" solutions.  
USB-2 drives top out right about 40MB/Sec.
Even at 5400RPM, the HD should sustain roughly double that when connected internally via SATA.
 
Ideally, the OP would add a fast dedicated HD (or SSD) for streaming samples.

Hi Jim,
I was just saying that when you take a disk out of a external USB enclosure - it's not necessarily the same as the internal disks we usually use (as I found out to my disappointment) ;-)