Computer RAM Q

[mazz]

The optimum setup for recording audio and streaming samples is to have one drive for recording and another separate drive for streaming samples. Neither of these drives should be the drive your OS and applications live on.As Mojo said, the drives need to be 7200 RPM at minimum and if they are external, should be Firewire drives if at all possible. Drives are pretty darn inexpensive these days and by going this route, you'll take a lot of strain off of your processor.BTW: I'd also recommend a third drive dedicated to backup. It might seem like overkill but this is your life's work we're talking about here. If it's not in at least 2 places, it doesn't really exist!! Fair warning!!Good luck!!Mazz

[yammer107]

Mojo - wow I just checked and my laptop drive is 5400... I assumed it was up to snuff since I bought per Digi's recomended model. I didnt understand as much a year ago........ I do know they should be 7200My external is 7200 / firewire.... However I only have one. Mazz - I guess its time to pick up a third drive to record on then. I've read posts about the three drive system before - just didnt think I was a candidate for the 'big timers' system yet! Well listen guys I really appreciate it - think I know what to do now. I'm going to assume the 5400 drive will sustain Pro Tools once relieved of other duties, since things have been fine up to this point. Really looking forward to posting some new stuff for review.... I've been whittling away like Gepetto in his toy store with new tools last few months........~ Chris

[mazz]

I've seen people get confused about this drive thing before. Some folks think they need to install ProTools or whatever DAW they use on an external drive, and that's not necessary. The DAW application can live on the same disk as the OS. The important thing to grasp here is that the actual audio files that one is recording need to be on the external drive. Many applications may default to the drive the application is on when initiating a new project. Pay attention here, because the new project needs to be created on the external audio drive. This way, any "audio files" folders and any other associated files will get put in the same location as the rest of the project. So the next time you create a new "project" (or whatever your DAW calls it), make sure to point it to the external drive from the get go.Chris, I'm not saying that you don't already know this, but just reminding folks that may be not as clear on the concepts.Cheers!!Mazz

[yammer107]

Yes I'm aware I'll need to change its default, or point it that way.I was however concerned about half finished projects -- My assumption is that I just copy the existing folders to the new drive - then open up from there to continue. Hopfully once I save - it should find them from there on out ... Many thanksChris

[ciskokidd]

Just one more note on the actual RAM issue.Cheap RAM and I mean anything from a non-major manufacturer is a crap shoot and can definitely cause issues. So I would avoid using anything other than top grade RAM like Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, etc.I tend to believe the DAE error is related to your hard drive buffers. I think you will have to set the buffers to a higher value, but that will surely affect your latency.I've seen it happen time and time again on my friend's PT rig.Hope this adds a little to the options ahead of me.Cisko

[yammer107]

Thanks Cisco .... yeah one of them was 'Kingston'.... which I suspected of being a little cheesy, glad its considered decent! On a bad note: Just realized I only have "one" Firewire port.... so somethings going to be USB here.... not sure if one is preferenced over another... (audio sessions vs samples) Chris

[mojobone]

If you only have drives on the FireWire bus, you may be able to daisy chain them. You can use a USB interface to free up the FireWire port if you don't need to record more than a few live signals at a time.

[mazz]

Mar 26, 2009, 12:15pm, yammer107 wrote:Yes I'm aware I'll need to change its default, or point it that way.I was however concerned about half finished projects -- My assumption is that I just copy the existing folders to the new drive - then open up from there to continue. Hopfully once I save - it should find them from there on out ... Many thanksChris Just pay attention when saving it to make sure you're still saving it to the right drive. I'm not sure how ProTools, let alone Windows, handles this but if you just watch the paths that come up, you'll be fine.

[yammer107]

Mar 26, 2009, 3:06pm, mojobone wrote:If you only have drives on the FireWire bus, you may be able to daisy chain them. You can use a USB interface to free up the FireWire port if you don't need to record more than a few live signals at a time.Mojo this ran thru my head - then I thought 'naw' daisy chainin's gotta be a no-no here. So I could possibly firewire one drive thru the other? This would still be be more efficient than USB?I have plenty of USB ports free - but only one Firewire .Sorry for all the questions but I'd like to make a decision and pick something up after work tomorrow. I owe you guys some virtual beers

[mazz]

I usually go for multiple interface external drives anyway. If the FW chaining doesn't work out too well, then you can switch to USB without buying a new drive.For instance:I was looking for a new backup drive and I found one tonight at Office Depot: a Seagate 7200 RPM 1.5TB with USB 2, FW 400 and eSATA for....... 159.00!!! Amazing!!!So don't settle for one flavor or the other when you can get more than one at the same time!!!Woo Hoo!!Mazz