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  4. FW800 for Audio?

  • FW800 for Audio?

    D
    D
    I haven't been getting enough polyphony streaming VI from my FW drive. It chokes in sections where I have VI strgs/ww's/brass all playing. I'm thinking of swapping the VI instruments over to my internal sATA for better performance and recording audio onto the FW. My question is what sort of audio performance I will get on the FW?

    I haven't had any sort of high track counts at all for the film I've been working on: just 4 or 5 stereo tracks per sequence so I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem. But other projects may require 30 stereo tracks which makes me wonder if I will have performance issues. Ultimately I will get a pci sATA controller with additional internal drives on my Dual 2.7 but am trying to avoid that cost right now.

    Thanks for any advice.
  • J
    J
    Dave-

    I haven't had any troubles with recording to FW400 at all. It's always been streaming VI from FW400 that creates logjams. I know that some Mac users who are using FW interfaces and FW hard drives are reporting higher instances of FW logjamming.

    If you are going to run VI from your sATA, you will already be ahead of the game. Earlier this year, I added an internal sATA and put half of the Cube on it. For now, I've put the rest of my Cube on FW800. While there were marginal track count increases, the performance improved exponentially.

    I'm torn right now with making the choice between getting a PCI host for my G5 (sATA or FW) or holding out for the second gen Intels, which will not only mean better PCI host performance but also more expansion options for internal drives.

    Honestly, I would love to avoid FW altogether except for HD backup.

    Stream the Cube on your fastest busses, and split up the Cube across two different drive busses (until you get your Intel Monster). Use your remaining bus (busses) for recording audio, which isn't nearly as demanding a task as streaming VIs.

    ...and hey-- aren't we due for a beer and a burger?! [:P]
  • D
    D
    Thanks JWL,

    Would this be how I should set up: VI split between internal sATA and FW 800 and audio to FW 400? That would be great with only the added cost of a FW 400 external drive. All drives would then be on their own bus? Or is there mischief going on with the FW buses sharing somewhere in there?

    Yes, burger and beer on me to celebrate 95 pieces playing some cues of mine in a week.
  • D
    D
    Also looking at eSATA as an option but don't know much about it. It may be beneficial in cost/performance/cooling and the like.
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    related to the increasing power of certain computers we hear first reports that a single FW-drive (doesn't matter if 400 or 800) can't deliver enough data for tense parts of an arrangement.
    from my view this is not related to the speed of FW, but a limit from the harddrive itself. sometimes and depending on the used drive-model it might help to have such a drive directly connected via sATA, but i'd say to split the complete symphonic cube across 2 harddrives could be neccessary if you notice such a behaviour.
    christian
    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • J
    J
    last edited
    last edited

    @dpcon said:

    Thanks JWL,

    Would this be how I should set up: VI split between internal sATA and FW 800 and audio to FW 400? That would be great with only the added cost of a FW 400 external drive. All drives would then be on their own bus? Or is there mischief going on with the FW buses sharing somewhere in there?

    Yes, burger and beer on me to celebrate 95 pieces playing some cues of mine in a week.


    CM is right about the speed of the drives, and the eSATA solution is certainly more of a long-term fix.

    That's why I'd like to put at least one 10k hd in my Intel (when that day arrives), especially to get some upper strings offloaded. Maybe two smaller 10ks and one larger 7200 on the internal, then go for the external eSATA. The eSATA is most appealing as it allows for greater flexibility and less hassle once a network is at issue.

    But, yes-- sATA, 800, 400-- three different data paths. There may be limits as to what one can do if drive speed is a bigger concern, but splitting up the data along different busses has really helped me... that same config you mentioned.

    Tell you what, when we both get out from under our project crunches, let's find the best burger/beer joint around and then go hang out at Fry's!! LOL! [:P]
  • D
    D
    Thanks a bunch JWL and cm. I ordered a 250 gig FW400 Oxford chipset from OWC on sale for $129 [:D] which I will write to. Streaming will be from internal sATA and ext FW 800.

    OK Burger and Frys it is.
  • J
    J
    last edited
    last edited

    @dpcon said:

    Thanks a bunch JWL and cm. I ordered a 250 gig FW Oxford chipset from OWC on sale for $129 [:D] which I will write to. Streaming will be from internal sATA and ext FW 800.

    OK Burger and Frys it is.


    Burger Fry's and Fries!! [:D]