Tryin' to configure out what to do with the drives I have (internal drives and external backup drives). Here's what I'm thinking...any guidance appreciated.

The system will have plenty of power, 16 GB Dual-channel RAM. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

Part A: Internal drives
1. SSD 180 GB primary drive (operating system, general programs)
2. WD Green 2 TB (general data)
3. WD Velociraptor 600 GB drive (audio data)
4. WD Velociraptor 150 GB drive (???)

Option 1:

• Put Sonar X2 (both in 32-bit and 64-bit) on the SSD
• Put samples on the 150 GB drive (don't have much at this point, just the Dimension that comes with Sonar, and maybe 20 GB of DrumCore samples.)

Option 2:

• Put Sonar X2 (both in 32-bit and 64-bit) and the samples on the 150 GB drive

Part B: External drives
1. WD Green 2 TB
2. WD Green 750 GB

I'm thinking of using the 2 TB for image backups and the 750 GB for audio data backup. Note: I'll also be doing online backups for all of the internal drives (CrashPlan).

How do you guys do this? Suggestions?

Many thanks,
Chamlin

It appears you already have the right idea(s). The only thing I would say is look at how much you will need for samplers and their libraries versus how much you need for projects. In my experience sample libraries have a habit of growing (a lot!) over time and once you have used one you do not want to have to move it. On the other hand my projects (songs) can be archived to remote disks to clear up space (and restored later) with out any deleterious effects. Something you may want to consider.
 
Regards,

Option one make sense to me. The thing about DimPro is the samples are all read into memory when the synth is loaded so from a performance perspective, it really does not matter where they are installed. I would guess part of this exercise is not to fill up the C drive. To that end, I might also install the "Cakewalk Content" in the 150GB drive. SONAR itself really wants to be on the C drive.
 
Alternately, maybe the 600 GB for samples and the 150 for audio. Down the road if you get any of the larger synths based on samples the 150 is going to be too small. You probably won't have 150GB of active projects going at any given time.

One thing - the green drives are not ideal for audio or sample streaming. Option 1 would seem the best bet to me.
 
My set up
SSD drive for OS and programs.
2TB Cavier Black for Audio
2TB Cavier Black for Samples (Toontrack, FX Expansion, Cakewalk, NI Komplete, Steven Slate 4 etc.)
1TB Cavier Black with SSD cache for my largest Kontakt libraries.

I personally don't care how long it takes for Windows to load, so I still use a 7200rpm hard drive for that and all software... it's fast enough. I use SSD drives for streaming sample libraries and that makes a huge difference in performance. But of course, they can get expensive, so your Option 1 still looks good.
 
Scott

--
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Thanks for the quick response. You guys are great!
 
Normally, I would have gotten a larger drive than the 150 GB, but I bought that drive last year thinking it was going to be my boot/OS drive...then Life got in the way and now here I am making lemonade.
 
Sounds wise to consider using the 150 GB Velociraptor for the audio data (then archive to my backups when necessary as suggested) and the 600 GB Velociraptor for the samples. And hey, if things go well, I'll outgrow them both!  :)

Considering which drive I should put my audio data on and which drive the sample data: a 160 GB drive and a 600 GB drive (both velociraptors).

How much "sample data" in GB's do you find on your drives, and what are some bigger name reasonably priced packages that I can look up to get insight into sizes of such things? Trying to get some perspective.

I recognize this is a broad question with so many complexities inherent... but if you feel like it, just throw some info my way, no need to be comprehensive.

Thanks!

Glyn Barnes
One thing - the green drives are not ideal for audio or sample streaming. Option 1 would seem the best bet to me.
 
My set up
SSD drive for OS and programs.
2TB Cavier Black for Audio
2TB Cavier Black for Samples (Toontrack, FX Expansion, Cakewalk, NI Komplete, Steven Slate 4 etc.)
1TB Cavier Black with SSD cache for my largest Kontakt libraries.

Totally agree with this.
 
Green drives are a PITA - even when used just for backups. (you ever tried to retrieve something from one?)
 
Caviar Blacks have never let me down 

chamlin
Considering which drive I should put my audio data on and which drive the sample data: a 160 GB drive and a 600 GB drive (both velociraptors).

How much "sample data" in GB's do you find on your drives, and what are some bigger name reasonably priced packages that I can look up to get insight into sizes of such things? Trying to get some perspective.

I recognize this is a broad question with so many complexities inherent... but if you feel like it, just throw some info my way, no need to be comprehensive.

Thanks!

I have 2 reasonably massive libraries:
 
BFD2 along with a few expansion packs weighs in at about 170Gb
EWQLSO Platinum Plus consumes 194Gb - though i could easily remove the 16 bit files as i don't really use them

Between Cakewalk, Camel Audio, Toontrack and iZotope I have filled up my 128GB SSD and a little more than 50GB (and counting) of another hard drive with samples.