sata hard-drive hmmm
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Posted on Apr 17, 2005 08:21 pm
deeps
Member Since: Jan 26, 2004
I have a question - I got a sata 160gig hd and my existing HD (C: drive - where all my music proggies) are located is a regular IDE 80 gig. My question is, since SATA is much faster, I am turning over all my music programs etc on the SATA HD. Should I keep the SATA as a #2 hard-drive (not master) behind the IDE drive?
My reasoning for such a question is, I am running windows xp and I woudlnt want the new SATA run windows xp because I am under the assumption that it will bog down my music programs in regards to speed and performance. Or does it not matter what HD the OS is being installed on? Thanks for any help and tips...
Greets to coolo, db, noize, coco...
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 17, 2005 08:54 pm Hey deeps, good question.
In most modern recording PC's today, the use of a completely seperate audio drive is a must. You dont want any programs running on the SATA drive at all. Use it only for storing the working audio and samples and whatever. Finished projects and the like.
Your recording program should allow you to select were you want the project audio and files to be and that is when you specify the SATA drive. I run a 20 gig system drive which is really not enough now. But I also run a removable bay which generaly is loaded with an 80 gig IDE drive for the working audio. Then all my samples and loops are stored on 2 200 gig SATA drives. Those drives never see the working project audio. They are only for the storage of sample content and files my softsynth's use.
Any more questions, or a deeper explanaition let me know.
deepsMember
Since: Jan 26, 2004
Apr 17, 2005 09:04 pm Noize: thanks for the quick reply back! How you been? Hows the son cranking those tunes out...
Thats interesting - I thought my reasoning was lame but it seems that its the dog-gone truth. So I should have the SATA HD store all my synths, samples, cubase etc and run my programs on the SATA and the OS on the IDE HD. The crapper part is, its going to be a #&^$^% trying to take all my VSTi's and turn them to the SATA - I dont think I have re-install anything correct, just copy and paste the .dll files into the SATA HD - Just gotta than make sure my music programs i.e. Cubase point to the updated folder location of my plugins...I beleive i'd all have to reinstall most of my music apps on the newer HD....
thanks noize!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 17, 2005 10:30 pm No only use the SATA drive to store the working audio of a project, or the entire project folder. Or the sample content a softsynth or softsampler might be using. As well as any loops and audio you might be importing into a project.
Keep your programs, Cubase, etc. and synth .dll files on the system drive. All your VSTi's and VST [pluggins will stay there as well.
That will keep the actuall running programs away from the SATA disc while its searching for audio and such.
And like you say, just make sure any synths or samplers are pointed to the new directory you store the audio or samples in.
deepsMember
Since: Jan 26, 2004
Apr 17, 2005 10:56 pm Noize: Ah okay I get it - that saves me from alot of hell than. Dumb question, why wouldnt you want to run your programs on a quicker hard-drive as opposed to leaving the software on a slower IDE drive?
Thanks for the input. I am going to install the sata as the secondary drive!
Apr 17, 2005 10:57 pm So lemme get this straight (Im in the same boat.)
One Hard drive for OS/Cubase/Reason/Audition,etc.
And on the other HD Refills/samples,loops,and other sound libraries/Audio files/project files?
Is that right?
Also if thats the case when Recording vocals or what ever thats being done on the OS drive right,whilst in a project.But the finished product ends up on drive 2?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 18, 2005 07:03 pm OK, the object is to get the audio completely off the system drive. This enables the OS and the recording application to run somewhat faster and is easier on the main HD. Because it is not tryng to both run the applications and search for the audio it is using.
You should be able to in most apps at least assign the working folder to the SATA or second drive as well. I know Sonar allows me to tell it were to put almost every thing it does, like picture cache which is the wave forms and such the app draws. As well it allows me to designate the audio folder, which is the working audio you are currently recording. Most upper apps and even some mid level applications allow this to be done these days.
But the short answer is it will perform much better having all the audio on a second drive.
bbbitterI'm back bitches!!!Member
Since: May 27, 2004
Apr 18, 2005 10:27 pm Your programs will most likely not run any faster on a faster HD. Program speed is usually determined by CPU and RAM. However when writing large amounts of data to disk (as in audio recordings or video capture), it is better to use the drive with the faster access time.
I actually got into SATA RAID a while back when I built my machine. Kind of like killing a fly with a sledge hammer when it comes to music but helped alot when it came to video capture.
deepsMember
Since: Jan 26, 2004
Apr 19, 2005 01:53 pm Noize - Thanks for the input. I have installed the SATA and had to sit up for quite some hours turning everything to the other HD! Nice tip...
Hows everything else going for ya?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 19, 2005 08:38 pm Ya, once the audio stuff is on that seperate drive, and you get you recording software set up to put the audio and data on that drive it runs so much smoother. One big benifit, actually the biggest is the fact there will be less gapping when editing while its running live. I know Cakewalk has another patch coming out for Sonar that eliminates the gapping completly in all but a few of the editing features while Sonar is running. I have only been able to choke it with some delay compensted pluggins, other then that the metronome is still a bit buggy. But the fact that the audio runs a differant drive is a big help to eliminate most of the gapping.
