If you use Angelbird ssd's for library sample loading, then do not use it in a raid system. Angelbird works better when you use it for library loading as a normal hdd. It also recommended in this way by angelbird. I have 64 GB RAM and load everything  via SSD. I am using Angelbird's SSD-PCIe Cards with Samsung and angelbird SSD's. Everything is loading fast enough and works stable. I recommend 64 GB RAM for using in big orchestral projects. I think about extend the RAM to 128 GB. At the moment 64 GB are more than enough, but I am sure in 1 year, after the 16 GB Ram-reels are available for lower prices, then I will extend the ram to the maximum in my mac pro. I have tested two 16 GB reels to reach 80 GB and it only worked in Mountain lion, but I sent them back because the reels were too expensive.

Dimension violins itself need 8GB RAM to work efficiently. By using MIR PRO you need more than 16GB RAM. I recommend 24 GB. If you use all instruments in one MAC PRO I recommend SSD's for system and libraries and 64GB RAM. It works fine.

@nicowieditz said:

If you use Angelbird ssd's for library sample loading, then do not use it in a raid system. Angelbird works better when you use it for library loading as a normal hdd. It also recommended in this way by angelbird.

There are SSD's with higher sequential read (MB/s) and higher random read (IOPS) than what Angelbird is currently offering. I understand why people will use Angelbird. But as far as performance and RAID options go, there are better options out there IMO. My current sample SSD is faster than Angelbird and I'm planning on getting 2 even faster SSD's to run in RAID for Dimension Strings. I'm not trying to pick on Angelbird or anything like that. I'm just stating all that to ask- why go with their SSD's if RAID isn't worth utilizing?

-Sean

@iscorefilm said:

why go with their SSD's if RAID isn't worth utilizing?

-Sean

I have 4 slots for HDD's, 1 slot is used for the PCIe Card with the possibility to use 4 more SSD's, so that is enough for me to know. And if Angelbird is recommending me not to use it as Raid if it is used for library loading, it is ok for me. I don't care about the more speed I could have, it is fast enough for me.

But you are right, why not using in Raid-mode? Everyone has to make an own decision.

Nico

In RAID, they function as one drive.  As separate drives, they function independantly, and thought not as fast, can do more things at once. 

@iscorefilm said:

There are SSD's with higher sequential read (MB/s) and higher random read (IOPS) than what Angelbird is currently offering. I understand why people will use Angelbird. But as far as performance and RAID options go, there are better options out there IMO. My current sample SSD is faster than Angelbird and I'm planning on getting 2 even faster SSD's to run in RAID for Dimension Strings. I'm not trying to pick on Angelbird or anything like that. I'm just stating all that to ask- why go with their SSD's if RAID isn't worth utilizing?

Sean,which one do you use?

Willy,

I can't remember the brand name of my faster one. I know I have a Patriot SSD, but that one is slower than Angelbird. That one was my first SSD and I upgraded and use the Patriot as my OS drive now. I'm pretty sure my faster one is either OCZ or Mushkin. Although, I don't have enough room for DS yet anyway so I will eventually have to get a new SSD just for the space for DS.

This is likely the one I'll get,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227661

-Sean

EDIT**

I keep putting the wrong link in here, lol. I meant this one, it's large enough to hold DS with a little room left over. (I figure anyway with the Violin library being 89GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227743

@iscorefilm said:

EDIT**

I keep putting the wrong link in here, lol. I meant this one, it's large enough to hold DS with a little room left over. (I figure anyway with the Violin library being 89GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227743

Not that it matters but on our Mac's Dimension Viiolins installed at 62gigs, and Ive read it's 52 on PC's.

Weird, I thought I read 89 somewhere and the product page says 85.7GB. Either way, if it is indeed 52, all the better as I can get a cheaper SSD.

-Sean

Yeah I think 85gigs is the uncompressed total sample size in the player....

On my PC they take 57 gigas but then the cello viola and bass will arrive, so you need more space!

 Yes, I got it installed yesterday and if I recall correctly, it was 58GB installed.

@iscorefilm said:

Willy,

I can't remember the brand name of my faster one. I know I have a Patriot SSD, but that one is slower than Angelbird. That one was my first SSD and I upgraded and use the Patriot as my OS drive now. I'm pretty sure my faster one is either OCZ or Mushkin. Although, I don't have enough room for DS yet anyway so I will eventually have to get a new SSD just for the space for DS.

This is likely the one I'll get,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227661

-Sean

EDIT**

I keep putting the wrong link in here, lol. I meant this one, it's large enough to hold DS with a little room left over. (I figure anyway with the Violin library being 89GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227743

 For whatever it's worth it, Revo drives are far from being your best all-around alternative nowadays. You'll very rarely be able to take advantage of their full bandwidth, and their cost is still a good margin higher than the best regular SSD's in the market. You can get two (2x) 480GB of the best in class SSD drives in the market, and put them in RAID 0, for about the same price of that Revo, and you'd have close to the same bandwidth and twice as much capacity...

Gusfmm,

Thanks. I knew this but I didn't find anything in the same price range. I only did a glance cause my money is going to DS first, then the SSD(s) but that was the best option I had found at the time. I prefer setting up a raid configuration anyway for performance and so I don't use up a PCIe slot for future needs.

Thanks for bringing it up though. Great point.

-Sean

My computer only have 8 Gb's of memory ram DDR3 has main support, I can't have have more than 8 Gb's of ram.. I have 2 slots of DDR3 and other 2 are DDR2. I think the solution for this is to buy a new motherboard that has all 4 DDR3, so I can have 16 Gb's which is request from VSL.

Angel bird is about to be releasing new portable SSD2GO drives that you can get in 7 colors (so I hear).  They will be eSATA/USB3.  (I'm adding a USB3 express card for this)  They will even be selling twin drives. 2 mounted together.  These portable SSD drives will be VERY reasonably priced.  I'm Ordering as soon as they'll ship me one. ;)

Blogos,

As most of us do not have computers capable of Sata III speeds, SSD's will probably run faster via USB 3.0...

Ricardo,

I think we've determined that 16 gigs of RAM may be a bit thin for the complete Dimension Strings, plus DAW,

plus Enemble Pro, plus MIR, plus any other samples or plugins you may wish to run.