Do External Drives Matter Anymore For Audio in 2024?

[@WhyLogicProRules]

Do you still use an external drive for your creative work? Which option have you gone with? Let me know in the comments!

[@bobmcnabb9401]

Thanks for another informative video, Chris. Another possibly worth mentioning is an SSD Card in a hub enclosure. A lot of us use a Mac Mini in its various incarnations, and there are same form-factor hubs that provide additional USB ports as well as SSD internal storage. You do need a robust external power supply to make them reliable though. Also, of concern, and possibly unknown, is long-term data storage. I have many older hard drives that seem to hold their data well, but for how long, no one really knows. As mentioned, back up your stuff in more than one place! (Reminder to self...) Thanks again for your excellent series about Logic Pro.

[@darioalejandro180]

I primarily use a 1TB NVMe storage unit inside an ORICO USB-C case, which offers extremely fast speeds (over 1Gbps for both reading and writing). I have more than 60GB of Omnisphere installed, along with over 200GB of ReFX Nexus 4 and various libraries for Kontakt. I also store sound effect libraries that I use less frequently.

[@blueser100]

Yep. Library lives on my external SSD.

[@thaddeuscorea]

SSD all the way. excellent video. I've learned archiving and backup lessons over the last 30 years recording music. I was badly burnt by Retrospect backup software. No backwards compatibility beyond 5 years. So many projects GONE. Lesson learned - NO proprietary software. Second lesson learned - When you're all done with a project, bounce all session tracks down to audio tracks (include plugs) so that you don't need ANY plugins to play back. Plugins sunset out and evaporate. Third lesson: nothing lasts forever, remember SDII format?

[@samuelbreuer]

this is great!

[@AndresWalsh]

How about if you have a lot of VST's and samples? Should they go on an external drive?

[@Hammerman48]

I remember using Cubase VST in 1998 ish…..and it was awful! It’s such a pleasure to have Logic Audio now. I have a MacBook Air M1 with a 512GB internal drive which is fine for my needs. I do have a 1TB external drive connected just for backup. Definitely SSD in this day and age.

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

With Apple's charge for internal SSD space?? Of course I use external SSDs, one for usage, one for sample backup. So far, so good. And I won't have to download everything again @1.8 mb/sec internet speed.

[@tomlewis4748]

When I became a writer I fell out of love with DVRs (2015) and turned my TV off forever. I took two ext SATA drives connected to the DVRs and reformatted them and used them for archival storage. Somewhere along the way, each lost the capability to find files. Every file listed was not the file it said it was. Oh, all the files were there on those drives. I just was unable to access them. So I lost my archive and a backup of that archive, and was left with nothing. So, burned by spinning drives, I've never looked back. Fortunately, I have all 300 of my projects on my internal SSD, an external SSD, on iCloud, and on a Time Machine SSD. Two backups failing simultaneously and catastrophically proved to me that 2 were not enough. I never lost any Logic stuff, at all. My Time Machine SSD is iffy, though. Sandisk has lots of problems they are not addressing (or even admitting), so I think Samsung is the place to go for SSDs.

[@ghost-user559]

Have to copy them onto a fresh drive to avoid bit rot with an HDD. Every few years you just copy them onto another drive, then copy them back. Quite literally “fresh” backups are the safest backups. SSD is the worst long term storage solution. If they are left powered on, or at the wrong temperature, they lose data without electricity. HDD can last for a decade with the occasional refresh of the backup. Look into data degradation on an ssd when powered off. They are amazing for things you are doing consistently, but for long term storage a quality HDD is still the way to go.

[@tomlewis4748]

@@ghost-user559 if you'll permit me to read between the lines, it appears what you're saying is there are no guarantees. So maybe for long-term storage, multiple copies in different locations on different media is still the way to go. I keep everything important in five different places, including two offline servers. I also save secondary backup copies of documents that get edited often, so there can be 300+ copies of a Scrivener manuscript, for instance.

[@ghost-user559]

@@tomlewis4748 Yeah that’s the essence of it. HDD is still the best consumer local backup, both storage size and viability long term when unplugged. SSD makes the best regularly accessed “backup” but the second you unplug it, it runs the risk of losing data in a much shorter timeframe. I read a bunch of industry sources on SSD tech and temperature and lack of power renders it unsalvageable fairly fast. But HDD is still a mechanical mechanism, so there is always the chance it stops spinning. But so long as it wasn’t dropped the data can still be recovered from the platter, whereas SSD just fails instantly someday and recovery is usually not possible. And oh man, scrivener documents. Im pretty paranoid that I’ll get a corrupted project so I too back them up constantly. I use a dual Owc HDD enclosure as Das with two 10 TB enterprise drives. Some people use the cloud but I’m not sure I trust my data to someone else’s server. Id rather have more local backups as redundancy than outsource it and run the risk of having an album or manuscript leaked.

[@ghost-user559]

@@tomlewis4748 Yeah that’s the essence of it. HDD is still the best consumer local backup, both storage size and viability long term when unplugged. SSD makes the best regularly accessed “backup” but the second you unplug it, it runs the risk of losing data in a much shorter timeframe. I read a bunch of industry sources on SSD tech and temperature and lack of power renders it unsalvageable fairly fast. But HDD is still a mechanical mechanism, so there is always the chance it stops spinning. But so long as it wasn’t dropped the data can still be recovered from the platter, whereas SSD just fails instantly someday and recovery is usually not possible. And oh man, scrivener documents. Im pretty paranoid that I’ll get a corrupted project so I too back them up constantly.

[@ghost-user559]

@@tomlewis4748 Yeah that’s the essence of it. HDD is still the best consumer local backup, both storage size and viability long term when unplugged. SSD makes the best regularly accessed “backup” but the second you unplug it, it runs the risk of losing data in a much shorter timeframe. I read a bunch of industry sources on SSD tech and temperature and lack of power renders it unsalvageable fairly fast. But HDD is still a mechanical mechanism, so there is always the chance it stops spinning. But so long as it wasn’t dropped the data can still be recovered from the platter, whereas SSD just fails instantly someday and recovery is usually not possible. And oh yes, scrivener documents. Im pretty suspicious that I’ll get a project that fails to open so I too back them up constantly. I use a dual Owc HDD enclosure as Das with two 10 TB enterprise drives. Some people use the cloud but I’m not sure I like my data on someone else’s server. Id rather have more local backups as redundancy than outsource it and run the risk of having an album or manuscript leaked.

[@randyk1919]

I use my internal SSD for current Logic projects only, and offload the rest to an external drive. I also don't use sample libraries for the most part.

[@louistotalcontrol]

On a serious machine used (largely) for production only, here’s my suggestion: Mac internal drive = ONLY Mac OSX / applications (to keep the system lean) Enclosed NVME drive via TB4 = current Logic projects & sample libraries Cheaper external HD = archiving Hard to fault this workflow!

[@shamgarsan]

The main limitation of a mechanical HDD is that the read/write head has to physically move every time you change tasks, causing latency. Running audio projects from the same HDD as your OS or your sample libraries can cause stalls for something as latency sensitive as a DAW. Modern SSDs of almost any speed solve that. I went with a limited internal drive (to save money), external SATA SSD for samples (still cheaper than NVMe for 4+TB), external NVMe for projects (though that speed is more useful for video projects), and NAS for backup/archive.

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

Amen to that! ✌✌

[@pbbeck01]

I work off in external SSD. I back up to a Time Machine external SSD as well as to the cloud using Backblaze. With two separate local copies and one in the cloud, I think I'm good.

[@jumpbackgeno]

Great content Chris, I need 4 hanging from my iMac for my SD-3 Drum and Native Instruments libraries, otherwise I'd be dead

[@jonnyboy8000]

I would say yes and triple copy my SSD hard drive on the computer just completely died on me. Nothing could be retrieved but luckily I backed up all the pictures. All the data just got a new hard drive reinstalled everything back as new.

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

My SSD & HDD's are getting super HOT and wondering why ( yes SO. Cal. just went through a HEAT WAVE ) but A/C was on ?

[@FransJCMartins]

Internal drive for working, external for backups

[@Rhythmattica]

Working in a very high end Hi-Tech shop... My saying was "Data doesn't exist unless its in two places." Trust me... when a guy comes in with his so called B/U, where he hired a quartet for recording ( a high end studio, not that its the issue) , The drive failed.... well in his case, the "Backup".... That backup was all the recordings the studio copied to his drive, and after a week, (part of the agreed contract) the studio deleted the recordings.... he stilled called it a backup.........But it wasn't...Technically/Logically. Ill never forget the look on his face...... Even if there was cloud back then, alas , whether how many days it would take back then to upload.....well, it'd take a week or more.. And today , imagine the internet going down ? Let me reiterate.... "Data doesn't exist unless its in two places" (12TB of internal SSD's here.. Old mac Pro, All backed up to a few 6 TB seagate drives......Multiple OSX backups on other drives also.)

[@DexWilliamsMusic]

Thanks for this Chris... I wonder what your thoughts on NAS are? I have reached the storage limit of my 2TB SSD for samples and projects. The options seem to be adding another SSD or 'biting the bullet' and getting a NAS with the relatively cheaper memory chips to build a high storage local source. I agree that HDD is a great option for backup... just store them in a different physical location in case of theft or fire. Great video as always sir! Cheers, Dex :)

[@barkmonster]

The OS on a PCIe SSD and audio/session files on an external SATA or NVMe SSD so virtual memory isn’t writing to the same drive used for recording always will be the most efficient setup. When the majority of Macs still have only 8GB base RAM and you get 16 or 18 on models above that, those video editor channels who touch on audio benchmarks once in a while are talking utter nonsense by recommending people pay Apple prices for lots on internal storage. Hard Drives are only useful for backup. I currently use a 10Gbit USB enclosure with a 512GB NVMe for my Pro Tools sessions, sample libraries for my software synths and it has a couple of USB ports and a card reader. This has my Waves licences on the NVMe and an iLok in one of the USB ports. I use carbon copy cloner for backing up and not only clone the whole SSD to another external hard drive, but if I plug a certain MicroSD card into the NVMe enclosure, it’s cloned to that too. I can never lose anything and I can share sessions between my various Macs.

[@laparmusik7854]

sorry i have another question, so i have 2 keys midi controller, then how to split them for live purpose on logic? for ex. keys A for piano and keys B for synth

[@vitaminfian]

Top man, as always

[@jergervasi3331]

Internal SSD for working, External SSD for backup, and SD cards for sample libraries.

[@Sam_splatter]

I was literally thinking about all this today. My mac is like 70% full and I need to offload

[@michaelraimondi4448]

What about a NAS? An entry level Synology can cost $120 plus two drives that are actually made for archiving. Very easy to set up as well. Then you add one more offsite backup and you’re covered.

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

Our drives will fail. Back your sh#t up on external hard drives.

[@ParadNorthProd]

Why external? You can build a super fast external SSD for FAR cheaper than buying an internal SSD from Apple. Buy the enclosure, and buy the memory card separately, and it will run faster than any pre-built SSD you can find on the market. 2-3x.

[@BigMuff520]

I tried an M2 MacBook Air with 256gb storage and the external drive made it all a pain. I ended up selling and upgrading, but an external for back up is 100% a must.

[@GManWrites]

I just bought my first Apple and I bought the smallest internal drive because upgrading it was too expensive.😕

[@AA_MusicGuy1111]

Pcie/nvme drives have insane speeds similar to silicon internals. Getting a usb/tb enclosure for one via tb port on an mx Mac will enable you to run projects off of it and is cheaper than apples insane price gouging tier internal storage prices

[@RcvPage]

Nowadays the main reason to use external drives Is the insane prices of BTO storage upgrades . Unfortunately none of the external SSD s are as Fast as the internal, even of you buy TB4 drives. If you need insane Speed because you run Lots of massive libraries, you have to accept the Apple ripoff on upgrades..😂

[@barkmonster]

The 512GB drives on M2 and M3 Macs barely beat the limitations of 40Gbit Thunderbolt and it’s under £150 including an enclosure for a 1TB NVMe if you assemble one yourself instead of paying more than that to go from a 1.5GB/s 256GB Apple SSD to a 3GB/s 512 one as a BTO option.

[@JudgeFredd]

Use TB 4 enclosure with fast SSD

[@Giannboy1]

Chris, one thing that always confuses me is: Do you use an external SSD to operate your DAW vs. your internal drive? Thanks, Gianni❤

[@dannyvalentino328]

No, leave you DAW on the internal drive along with all the plugins. DO NOT TOUCH THAT!!! With Logic, you can move the Logic Loops library to an external drive (make sure it's an SSD), but just make sure that Logic, or whatever DAW you use stays on the internal drive along with all the plugins, both stock and third party.

[@Oneness100]

This 8:42 long video could have been compressed down to 1 minute.

[@HaHaDK]

I feel like you haven't done a deep dive into WHY a HHD is better for storage other than the price. Here's why Colt Capperrune doesn't use SSD for storage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5fFY4Jprd94fLM

[@DojoOfCool]

My experience with recording goes back to the analog days before computers were anywhere. When I got a job in studio I noticed nothing was ever turned off, the console, rack gear, power amps everything was on 24/7 so I asked why. They said when most electronic anything dies is when it is turned on, the sudden surge of electricity is what causes parts to die. They said the only things we turn off are things with motors in them lile the transport on a tape deck. We either take the reels of tape off and the tension arm on the tape deck drops and shuts off the motor, or we loose up the tape to were tension arm loosen and turns off the motor. Why did I bring that up a Hard Disk Drive is basically a big motor that turns those spinning platters inside the drive so your want to turn it off. Motors wearout out and stop working. Motors also generate a lot of heat. So moving to today's computers we have SSD that have no motor and faster read/write speed. They physically smaller and don't generate the heat a HDD would, so using SSD's makes a lot of sense except for the price. True HDDs are cheaper so using them for backup makes sense unless you are leaving them on constantly like when using Time Machine. Yes, Time Machine can be configured to only do occasional backups or only on demand and you can connect and disconnect the external drive so a HDD will work. Trouble is we are humans and forget to do our backups. So better to use a SSD that we can leave connected to our Mac 24/7 and it automatically backups up for us. So that's basic SSD vs HDD or if it's got a motor turn it off when you can. Now to me the bigger issue local storage inside the Mac vs external storage. I worked for a Media department that did a lot of capture of live events both audio and video. To keep it simple all recording was done to local storage and later transferred to external storage. The reason is recording is in real time so you don't want anything that could cause even a slight delay. Using external storage means the Mac has to leave the Mac over USB not as fast as internal SSD and write to the external storage. That USB bus might have other devices connected to it trying to go out and maybe in all possible things that could generate slight delay that a DAW won't like, but the DAW is working it butt off to record everything in real time. So I recommend buying as much internal storage for your Mac to hold your biggest project and some spare space Yes, Apple storage is overpriced, but if your doing production work you want/need that internal storage. Then once your done recording that sessions move all the files to external storage. Then you can copy it back to local storage if you need to do more recording or you want to mix on local storage, but mixing most the time files on external storage shouldn't be a problem. So that's how I see all this storage stuff from my experience working in recording.

[@shawnandrewusic]

I use one ssd and one hdd

[@degani.guilherme]

if you have 1 backup, actually you have 0 backup... 2 backups, you have 1 backup, 3 backups then you have 2 backups...thats the IT's math,...

[@weslieka1105]

Hey Chris. I am using an SSD drive for projects and libraries.

[@weslieka1105]

Hey Chris. Why you don't make any Atmos projects mixes?

[@daveking-sandbox9263]

Nothing new to see here.

[@Arsonloke]

Nobody should be using a mechanical hard drive in 2024. If you need to use external storage then use an external ssd. SSDs are cheap af nowadays so there is no need to use a hard drive.

[@alandoyle6313]

I don't agree. For backup, even though it is slower, an external spinning disk is more reliable over many write operations as SSDs have a finite number of write operations after which they will fail. This is therfore not the best medium for storing important archives.

[@CrankyOldNerd]

Spoken like someone that doesn’t use video. I’d rather own a car than 100TB of flash storage. For capacity to $ HDD are still king. You can use ssd for working but for archival purposes HDD is still king.

[@Arsonloke]

@@alandoyle6313 ssds have a much longer life span than mechanical hard drives.