Hi everyone. I just bought a third hard drive which again brought up the question of how to set-up things for optimal performance. While I’ve read around forums about this, I’d appreciate feed-back on certain points.

I’m planning to do this :

First 80GB drive for apps and DAW.
Second 160HG for samples.
Third 160GB for recorded audio.

My questions are : What about soft-synths and such ? There are 3 components here, the software itself, the “sampler instruments files” and the actual samples’ files (wav. Sf2. Aiff. Etc). Is the whole thing better off in the samples’ drive ? Or the app stays in the first with the sampler instruments’ files while the samples go to the samples’ drive ? Or both the sampler instruments and the samples go there ?

Then. About the third recorded audio drive, is it better strictly used for audio that’s recorded with one’s sequencer or can it be also used to store other audio stuff – such as recorded audio made with other programs (in wav, aiff formats and such) as such or compressed as MP3s, MPEGs, etc ?

Also. Some mentioned making a partition on first drive to separate the DAW’s sequencer from all other apps. Any value in this ?

That’s it for now. Thanks in advance,

As I understand it, VST and AU plugs go into the App Drive...that's where they will work the best as they work inside of and in conjunction with your DAW.

www.myspace.com/mortal_engines

So everything stays there including their audio samples ? Hmmm...

Thanks for the reply Mortal.

Yes, as I understand it. That would be true they are samples that are loaded into RAM that would be triggered by your sampler Plug. This would be a different function from Loops and Full tracks which should be on a separate drive. I would love to hear some other input on the subject though because I don't know if I ever heard a definitive answer on the subject.


www.myspace.com/mortal_engines

First thing : each and every apps ad plugins should be on system drive. Final.

Secondly, for the samples, if the plug-ins let you, try to move them elsewhere. Now it won't work each time as some don't have the option to find the samples back. Now for just files non audio ones, leave them with the plugs!

Anyway, for the plugs the right way of thinking is :

- try with the default install
- if an issue arise, move samples library on another drive.

As long as you have enough RAM, the strain on the drives is low save if you're very heavy on samples all the time.

Thanks for the input, guys.

What about that third question of mine concerning the audio drive - see above ?
I'd like to get clear on that.

Thanks again.

It's this one?

As I said, ALL apps should be on the system drive, OS X is supposed tp be set up that way and we've got neat folders for this. There's no point into separating the DAW app from the other apps. As for making different users for different use, which was a Classic workaround, is of no use on OS X. Especially as apps are installed for all users (only prefpanels for example are installed on a user basis).

BTW don't ever even think of moving Apple apps of their original location (or face update issues…)

It is way way more important to put audio files, samples on separated hard drives than meddle into the OS X way to organize things. Note that it's because you'd ask potentially too much from the system drive if you would asked it to have everything on it. Have the apps including the DAW in the app folder (you can organize things inside it - as long as app work, some don't like, and don't touch Apple ones) and your samples on another drive as the audio files on a third. it'll be all fine and pretty.

Merci le Martien. Bien qu'en fait - oups !!!

Error from my part. I was asking about the second question - concerning the audio drive. In any case, I appreciate any feed-back - I'm new at all this and it's quite learning curve.
Back to that second question, you were saying. . .


PS : As it comes to my mind. . . I was reading something from the administrator of a website on recording on these topics - can't recall which - and about using three drives, he mentioned this set-up : first drive for the OS, second for the sequencer and related stuff and third for audio. Does that make any sense to you ?

So I guess it's this one? Uh

Well, DAWs are not that touchy, you can share the drive for audio files between apps, now, the idea is to share the workload between the drives, so it's fine as long as one app access the drive at one time (now it all depends on what you are doing)

On the 3 drive set up you mention, I don't see the point, save if he works on the second and dumps partly mixed tracks/mixed tracks on the third one…

Haveing one drive for the sequencer and its files can only mean that I think as it's not with midi sequencing files you need a huge drive, especially as projects are save together, there should be audio too. Now if he does his stuff in MIDI then record it thru another program (on the third drive)… But I think we are far from the usual.