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  • Spread Samples across multiple drives??

    J
    J

    Hello all,

    I have 2 Mac Pro's - Dual Quads - One for Host (DP) and one for Samples - VEP 5 64bit Server latest version.

    I have 32 GB of RAM in my Sample Machine.  This gives me tons of room to just load up the 64bit server!  My question is, Is it better to have your samples spread out between say 3 Hard Drives (internal of course).  Or is it okay to just have 1 hard drive for Samples?

    I'm asking becuase when I get up to around 17-20GB of samples into the VEP Server,  I start getting a few clicks/dropouts every once in a while.  CPU is okay and RAM still has room.  So my next thought was, maybe the Hard Drive is getting hit hard or something.  But don't samples get loaded into RAM??  or do they use half RAM and half Disk??

    Thank you!
  • BillB
    BillB

    Using multiple drives is pretty much essential.  Only the very beginning of each sample is loaded into RAM.  Most is streamed from the disk.

    Dorico, Notion, Sibelius, StudioOne, Cubase, Staffpad VE Pro, Synchon, VI, Kontakt Win11 x64, 64GB RAM, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, August Forster 190
  • M
    M

    To agree with Bill, the more drives for samples the better.

    I would also add, the pop you get from SSD's has to be seen to be believed.

    Ridiculously fast loadi times, and SSD's do allow your RAM to realize it's full potential.

    If SSD's are not for you, then by all means, use your additional 3 internal hard drive bays to spread the love with traditional HD's.

    Either way you can't lose....
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    you can also build a raid 0 with your 3 x HD, you will multiply the speed the disk I/O by a bit more than 2. (it is said you multiply by 1.5 by disk so if your disk is 20 MB/s x 1.5 x 1.5 so you should get around 45 MB/s)

    As Mike said it worth to ask father XMAS a ssd, it is night and day !
  • M
    M

    RAID won't lower your access times, which are more important for samples. Keeping the library evenly distributed over 3 drives ought to be a better option.
  • M
    M

    Martin,

    That high pitched whistling sound you'll hear, is the benchmark bomb our friend Cyril will soon drop... [:P]
  • B
    B
    last edited
    last edited

    @Mike B Studios said:

    Martin,

    That high pitched whistling sound you'll hear, is the benchmark bomb our friend Cyril will soon drop...

    hihihihi lool !(witch's grin)
  • M
    M

    Good to hear, I really thought I had caught a tinnitus on my left ear. [:P]
  • J
    J

    Thanks for the replies!

    I have the Barracuda Seagate drives in right now.  They are the 1TB / 7200RPM / 64MB Cache / 6GB/s SATA drives.   (I love the price!! $90)

    Would this drive be okay for playing samples off of?  I have everything from LASS, to Trilian/Omnisphere, to Kontakt 5 stuff tone hammer, sound iron, etc..

    Thanks for the help!!
  • J
    J

    Maybe if I'm good this year, Santa will bring me an SSD Drive.  ...fingers crossed..
  • M
    M

    Nothing wrong with Barracuda's... Certainly fast enough.

    On the other hand, I've had only ONE hard drive fail in 25 plus years... It was a 1TB Barracuda, in early 2012.

    I trust Hitachi.

    Crack open many trusted external drives (G-Tech or CalDigits) and you'll find Hitachi inside.

    Then there's Glyph drives, Universally, critically acclaimed. People rave about Glyphs reliability.

    Crack open a Glyph and you'll find...... wait for it....... wait for it..................     Seagate Barracuda's.

    So yes, there's nothing wrong with using Seagate...... I just can't do it again.