Smaller, faster drives is definitely the way to go. I've heard recommendations that one should only fill a drive to half its capacity for optimum performance of sample playback. At any rate, a RAID or JBOD configuration is the ideal, and not too expensive these days.

The biggest problems I've encountered regarding performance has almost always been hard disk related, when it comes to large libraries like VSL.

Pure Digital sounds like techno spiel to me.There is a company called Pure Digital,though: maybe there's a connection.

I've just visited the Seagate site: it's techno spiel. [8-)]

I'm going for the Glyph 1000GB. Specifically for digital audio Firewire 800 drive.

Best of luck. I have a Glyph, and it's NOISY: completely at odds with their claim that it's for pro audio. Even my Lacie is quieter.

@strawinsky said:

Best of luck. I have a Glyph, and it's NOISY: completely at odds with their claim that it's for pro audio. Even my Lacie is quieter.

That's unusual. I have a stack of Glyph GT080's and they don't even whisper compared to other drives I've used. My G5 is much more annoying even when isolated.

JWL: let me qualify that. The Lacie's drive is noisier: a quite high-pitched and intrusive sound. The Glyph's fans are noisier: lower pitch, but just as intrusive. I think maybe the fan is over-specified for the job, to cover the company against not taking adequate precautions. That is common. My friend has a Lacie "Porche", and it is, for all intents of purposes, silent. I was impressed.

I'm moving soon and the new studio will have either a machine room, or I will be soundproofing all the computers and drives. The accumulation of noise is the worst aspect.

@strawinsky said:

JWL: let me qualify that. The Lacie's drive is noisier: a quite high-pitched and intrusive sound. The Glyph's fans are noisier: lower pitch, but just as intrusive. I think maybe the fan is over-specified for the job, to cover the company against not taking adequate precautions. That is common. My friend has a Lacie "Porche", and it is, for all intents of purposes, silent. I was impressed.

I'm moving soon and the new studio will have either a machine room, or I will be soundproofing all the computers and drives. The accumulation of noise is the worst aspect.

Isolation is always a good way to go, something many take for granted. Noise is cumulative, indeed! best of luck to ya!

Silence is golden. And expensive.

@strawinsky said:

Silence is golden. And expensive.

This is how the DAW market takes advantage of those with good ears! [:D]

Haha yes. DAW: Damned Annoying Whine.