Using External Hard Drives In Music Production (2021)

My first sample pack The DRUMS Vol. 1 is out now! → www.soundsbysemyon.com
Save 20% for a limited time using the code NEWSOUNDS20
▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬▬
In this video, I'll show you how I use external drives in my home studio for music production and why it's beneficial to use external drives rather than doing everything off of your internal drive. Although this is somewhat of a mundane topic, it's extremely important. Not only will proper file management in music production prolong the life of your internal drive (especially important in new MacBooks where drives are soldered to the logic board), but it will allow your internal drive to operate at optimal performance as the external drives take on more of the work.
Right now I use my internal MacBook SSD to run my OS, applications and DAW, my LaCie 1TB SSD to run virtual instrument libraries, my LaCie 1TB HDD to run my samples libraries/DAW files/audio files and two 4TB G-Technology hard drives as backup drives that I rotate between daily. I plan on expanding this setup soon to split a sample library drive from another drives that holds my DAW and Audio Files and to get a 3rd backup drive that's backed up once a month and stored offsite in case there is a theft or fire in my condo.
I hope this video is helpful! Let me know in the comments what you do today to manage files and what works for you!
TIMELINE
---------------------------------------------
0:00 What I Used To Do
1:03 Virtual Instrument Libraries
3:20 Samples, DAW Files, Audio Files
5:05 Daily Time Machine Backups
► 📧 Contact
[e-mail]
► 🧍Socials
Instagram: / semyonmusic
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@semyonmusic?i...
► 🎹 Gear
All Gear: kit.co/semyonmusic
Music Gear: kit.co/semyonmusic/music-gear
Studio Essentials: kit.co/semyonmusic/studio-ess...
Lighting: kit.co/semyonmusic/studio-lig...
Video Gear: kit.co/semyonmusic/video-gear
Hard Drives: kit.co/semyonmusic/hard-drive...
Cable Making/Soldering Gear: kit.co/semyonmusic/cable-maki...
►🎤 Sample Packs
www.soundsbysemyon.com
Sign up to win 1 of 5 free packs of The DRUMS Vol. 1
►🎙️ Work With Me (Production/Mixing/Mastering Services)
www.producedbysemyon.com
*Disclosure: if you use the links above to buy the gear I use and recommend, some of the links are affiliate links which give me a small percentage, which helps support the channel!
#MusicProduction #AudioFileManagement #ExternalDrives #HomeStudio #Tutorial

[@notfrou]

life saviour, answered all the questions i had on this topic. thanks !!

[@Semyon_Music]

Awesome! 🔥

[@JhayCrow]

I really needed this information, thank you very much friend. Greetings from Colombia!

[@Semyon_Music]

Thanks for watching!

[@gnuwaves743]

this was very helpful thanks. I need to work on setting up a backup system.

[@Semyon_Music]

Backups are key 🔥

[@paolaromero666]

This is so helpful bro! Thank you for this

[@Semyon_Music]

Glad it helped! 🔥

[@richoamezquita353]

I was very doubtful about PC or Mac, I've always been a PC guy but for Music Production I've been struggling, you just helped me and solve my problem a lot. The Time Machine got me right away, the idea of having specific drives for everything is way more organized than I thought, amazing video, great explanation, you deserve a cookie 🍪!

[@Semyon_Music]

I’m glad the video helped! 😀

[@accentontheoff]

Mind sharing why PC has been a struggle for music production. The way Macs are priced now I am considering a switch to PC.

[@Semyon_Music]

I forget why, but Macs are just more stable when it comes to creative work. I forget why, but there’s a popular KZbin video by Andrew Huang that describes why (link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Szk5aKmLqgmas)

[@accentontheoff]

@@Semyon_Music Will check it out thanks!

[@CashMoneyBowTie]

Do any of you notice a major workflow of hotkey difference in FL on PC vs Mac??? Been on an Acer for over a decade & its no longer allowing me to update certain apps & software 🤦🏿‍♂️ I never had functionality issues so I kind of wanna stay with Acer lol but the new MacBooks have been peaking my interest, but I have too many SSDs dedicated to PC & my laziness feels like it may make sense to stay. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated!

[@sararamirez9213]

super simple video. love it dude thank you for the into!!! also P.S. "LACY'

[@Semyon_Music]

Haha thank you!!

[@Aaryanparmar255]

realllllllly helpful VDO...tanxxXxx a ton n God bless u....much Love from India...!!!

[@Semyon_Music]

Thanks!

[@amasayshi]

Great vid, definitely helped, thanks!!

[@Semyon_Music]

Glad it helped!

[@chazkoji]

I gotta give you credits on this setup. Majority of people just have one Lacie hard drive and don’t even think about backups until data loss.

[@Semyon_Music]

Thank you! I actually recently upgraded to a NAS and an offsite backup so I’ll be making a video about that soon

[@JackOnSkates]

This was helpful, thank you.

[@Semyon_Music]

Glad it helped! 🔥

[@JuanFelixMusic]

This is a very good video!

[@Semyon_Music]

Thank you!

[@drrodopszin]

This video is very useful as for personal reasons I can't have a proper PC for some time.

[@Semyon_Music]

I’m glad it helped!

[@TennaOfficial]

Such an important and informative video! Thanks so much for sharing that☺️

[@Semyon_Music]

Hope it helped!

[@mateemusic]

Very Helpful!

[@Semyon_Music]

🔥🔥

[@switchbackmusic2938]

This is an amazing video. Do you have one explaining the in the box items like where you put certain things in the drives?

[@Semyon_Music]

Thank you! I'll make one showing a step by step on these other details!

[@masterstacker2833]

G-Drive external HDDs make wonderful Quicktime backups.

[@Semyon_Music]

100%

[@dafingaz]

Nice. Thanks!

[@Semyon_Music]

🔥

[@okjohnyels]

Very helpful

[@Semyon_Music]

🔥🔥

[@HammerHeadToby]

hey bro, amazing video thank you for making this, could you do video on how you move projects vsts and sound libarys from internal hard drive to external ones, does the space free up or do you have to delete on the internal hard drive ? thanks bro

[@Semyon_Music]

Thanks man, and for sure!

[@pongtrometer]

EXCELLENT

[@Semyon_Music]

Thanks!

[@AUSE]

Can you do a video of the process of how you set up Time Machine?

[@Semyon_Music]

I’m releasing a video soon on network attached storage for musicians and I’ll cover Time Machine in that video!

[@Lars-Andersen]

Great info Thanks. Can you split the data into separate drives retroactively, or do you have to install them all over?

[@Semyon_Music]

You can, you just need to make sure that the VSTs and project files know where to look for the data

[@matthewsaul3533]

This is a great setup and it's very helpful. I have a 2 TB internal nvme and I'm maxing out. This is exactly what I need to be doing. I'm confused though about what you mean by sample libraries. In all the communities I've been in, sample libraries is interchangeable with virtual instruments. When you say sample libraries do you mean like, drum packs? Like, folders with one shot WAV files?

[@Semyon_Music]

Thanks for watching! By sample libraries, it could be drum packs but I’m mostly referring to sample libraries that are in VSTs. For example, for native instruments, you can install the actual VST/application on your internal SSD because it doesn’t take up much space, but instruct the app to download/install the supporting sample files to your external drive

[@Lematidas]

Thanks for the video! Do you leave the drives plugged in all the time or do you also disconnect them to use your MacBook as a portable computer?

[@Semyon_Music]

I keep them plugged in when my laptop is at my desk, and then disconnect and only take the SSD now when I need it to be portable. I'll make an update video soon as now I setup a NAS for my backup and long-term storage solution

[@HoundrelMusic]

Bro I can’t thank you enough for this detailed explanation. Seriously so helpful. Going to order a lot of the things you mentioned! I just have a couple questions if you’d be so kind to answer. 1. I saw you mention something in the comments about formatting your SSD and HDD to APFS. Is that something that just automatically happens when you plug one in with a Mac or should I manually do that? 2. Let’s say I go to my moms to work on a project. Would I have to bring all my SSDs and HDDs with me to get everything to open up when I’m there? 3. I saw on the list you have a UPS battery backup. Is that just in case of power outages or are you giving your SSDs and HDDs extra power through it? 4. Do I need a USB 3 TP link hub if I’m already getting the thunderbolt hub? Sorry for all the questions man haha but seriously thank you so much for this video

[@Semyon_Music]

1. You have to open the utilities app and format there 2. Yes (but not the backup drives) 3. Yea it switches to battery in an outage 4. Thunderbolt hub should be fine if you already have in!

[@HoundrelMusic]

@@Semyon_Music my man! Thank you so much for the response 🖤

[@Semyon_Music]

No problem!

[@user-db1rn5jp4e]

Hi there and thank you for this very helpful video! So what is the main difference between internal and external ssd? I could only afford one ssd at this moment since i need more space for some new libraries of EastWest with total size more than 1.3TB.. i also have the Cubase LE (light version) with all its libraries and my projects saved on the internal disk of my PC. After i get the SSD should i remove all the libraries and projects there? Thanks a lot!

[@Semyon_Music]

If space is limited, you should try to use the internal drive to store Cubase and any applications, and the external SSD for the east west libraries and any other sample libraries

[@jfish166]

As I am just starting out with music production using Logic Pro I get the feeling I don’t need quite as much as you have for your setup, but I am getting the dreaded system overload message in logic. That being said, I think one external will be sufficient for now. I noticed you used HDD and SSD. After watching your video and getting curious I did some research, to see HDD vs SSD. I think I will get an SSD. Before I commit, I wanted to get your input on the difference, or if it’s that significant one way or the other? Thanks in advance, and your video is most helpful along my journey.

[@Semyon_Music]

if you have the budget, get SSDs! But for backups and time machine files on Macs, HDD is fine. There is no need for SSDs for backups because speed doesn't matter too much. For sample libraries and daw files, SSDs are the way to go

[@accentontheoff]

This is fantastic thanks. If I may ask one question though - if your DAW and all your libraries and instruments are on external disks, what do you use your Mac’s internal disk for when it comes to music production.

[@Semyon_Music]

You should keep your DAW on your internal drive, and your sample libraries on external drives (if space and budget are of concern)

[@accentontheoff]

@@Semyon_Music Yeah makes sense. Thanks.

[@johnkelley7676]

Thanks for the video but I still have crash issues in logic. I have 2 Sandisk Extreme Pro 2T SSD. I did research and I found that the hard drive format is really important when using external hard drives for Logic and music purposes. Through my research, I found that Mac for whatever doesn’t like ExFat (which is how my hard drives are currently formatted). Apparently APFS was designed for SSD’s and thats the most efficient way to format for what I am trying to accomplish on my Mac. Wanted to get your opinion on this before I have to go through the time consuming process of moving all files to reformat my SSD's.

[@Semyon_Music]

100% you should use APFA. exFAT doesn’t like special characters in file names so that’s why it doesn’t always work

[@gonzalezjr4885]

What file system did you format the external hard drive for the virtual instrument libraries ? ExFat, APFS, Or MAC OS extended journaled ?

[@Semyon_Music]

I have a MacBook so all drives (including the one for virtual instrument libraries) I formatted to APFS

[@thegreatest777]

Is it possible to use for example Serum VST, just by using an external hard drive (i mean, it's not install on the computer, just in the hard drive but you can use the vst if you plug it in the computer) I hope you understand my question!

[@Semyon_Music]

You could technically, but it would create more problems in the long run. The VST itself barely takes up any space on a drive so my recommendation is to install the VST application itself on your main internal drive and install all the related VST samples/libraries and/or presets on the external drive.

[@E-Wix]

Just came across this video and it's very informative and helpful, so thank you. I have a couple of questions and would greatly appreciate your guidance/suggestions. I run a Macbook MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) 1.4 GHZ Quad-Core I-5 with 8GB. I purchased one San Disk backup hard drive and one Lacie SSD (all I can afford to get at the moment). I'm going to use the Lacie to run my DAW and store my samples, but I noticed that you also keep virtual instruments on an SSD. I'm guessing those are VST's? I was under the impression that those don't take up much space, do I really need to keep them on a drive or will they be okay on my Mac hard drive? I'm also wondering if I need the backup drive since I'm backing up everything to the cloud, would you still recommend it? Do you keep your backup drives plugged in at all times to do the backup? Also I noticed the Lacie only comes with a USB-C to USB-C cord, I'm guessing I'll need to get a USB-C to USB adapter so I can plug into a multi-port USB splitter? Thanks again!

[@Semyon_Music]

In terms of the VSTs that I keep on my SSDs, I only keep sample based VSTs (and only the library portion of the VST) on the external. For example, the main Omnisphere VST application is installed on my internal drive, but the sample library that Omnisphere uses to run sample based synths are stored on the external drive. In terms of backup, it's good to follow the 3-2-1 rule. 3 copies of your backup, 2 that are local on different mediums and 1 that is offsite, like the cloud. If you're tight on budget, the cloud alone should be ok for now but it can get expensive. I'd recommend eventually getting a NAS system, that is what I recently invested into. In terms of the USB cable, get a few extra cables and an adapter if need, always good to have spare cables on hand if one breaks.

[@E-Wix]

@@Semyon_Music Thanks so much for your response. I’ll look into the 3-2-1 backup rule and figure out the best practice for doing a time machine backup as well as the cloud.

[@Semyon_Music]

Backblaze is a cheap cloud backup solution and a good starting point as well

[@twentyseven2001]

Just for me to get this straight: You have your DAW (like Logic or Pro Tools) on an external SSD? What kind of connectors are you using? Thunderbolt 3?

[@Semyon_Music]

I have the DAW installed on my internal drive but the session/project files are stored on an external SSD. I use a mix of USB3 and thunderbolt 3 connections

[@mark-ze4en]

How do you set up your DAW on the external SSD? Is it better to have the DAW app on the internal drive?

[@Semyon_Music]

Yea, install your DAW on your internal drive, but you can keep DAW projects on external SSDs

[@robertcass123]

I Feel you! I will try that backup software you Talking about i have a usb 8 Tera Byte Drive I split in two section. I also have 2 old one Tera byte drive (ac power )any suggestion I in Producer Training in Ableton Live, I just have Plugin and Vst I like your Video's i Do Any Suggestion I have a P C not a Mac anything for us pc user you suggest Thank Man.

[@Semyon_Music]

If you use the HDD for backups and SSDs for VST libraries and project files, should be good!

[@DVTOM]

How do you install plugins to external drives? What do you do anout the VST and AAX folders? Can you make those folders on the external drives or is it better to leave them on the internal os drive? I'm using a Windows 10 OS though.

[@Semyon_Music]

Install plugin applications on internal drive and the associate sample libraries of the plugins on external (usually each plugin manufacturer will have a button that says “save library to other location”)

[@knock24]

Thank you!!! What's the exact model name? 1TB HDD (porche?):Do you have any other models you can recommend besides this HDD? It seems difficult to get. thank you.

[@Semyon_Music]

check out the links in the video descriptions! The hard drives there and the USB hub are the ones I would recommend

[@esaugalindo4733]

Thank you for your video. Have you ran into the G Drive making weird loud noises and it’s coming through one of the monitors?

[@Semyon_Music]

Any spinning drive will make a bit of noise when active, but it definitely shouldn’t be audible through your monitors. Check that you’re using balanced audio cables. That might fix the issue

[@esaugalindo4733]

@@Semyon_Music I can actually hear it good out of my left monitor. it almost sounds like a ground loop.

[@christiancolberg1563]

Great video!! Just curious...What connection type and speed are you using between the external drives and the Mac?

[@Semyon_Music]

All USB C / USB 3 connections to my Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 hub

[@christiancolberg1563]

@@Semyon_Music thank you!!🙏🏻

[@Semyon_Music]

Anytime!

[@guillermocossioovilla9629]

hello, arent the sample libraries the same thing that the virtual instrument libraries? what is the diference? thank you

[@Semyon_Music]

Similar but 2 different things. Sample libraries are a collection of samples that people have (drums, melodies, etc). VST libraries that are sample based are VSTs that use their own samples to drive instruments (spitfire audio strings, keyscape, etc)

[@richi_envoy]

VSTs are on external drive but what about plug-ins like compressors and eqs? do you just leave those on your internal storage?

[@Semyon_Music]

Yup exactly!

[@BrianOzuna1900]

Is it true that there is a difference in sound quality when you record into your internal hard drive as opposed to an external one?

[@Semyon_Music]

There should be zero difference

[@ImSamOConnell]

Do you have any idea how to change the sample rate of the hard drive itself?

[@Semyon_Music]

Hard drives don’t have sample rates. Any sample rate changes are done in your audio application to the audio files directly

[@ozzybeato]

I updated my INTERNAL SSD from 256 gb to 2 TBs so now I have 2 TB SSD INTERNAL & 2 TB HDD INTERNAL would you still recommend for me to leave them clean and just have vst in one area on my SSD EXternal drive which I just bought it has 2 TB? Also when you say sample libraries. I’m pretty sure you meant loops, drum kits, but did you also mean like the sampled sounds from the vst or just samples from like loops, sounds, you sampling songs, & drum kits? And when you say daw, like for me I use FL studio your saying my whole DAW would be in EXTERNAL HDD like the program itself? Including the audio recordings? My External HDD has 5TB I like your set up thanks.

[@Semyon_Music]

For sample libraries, I also mean the samples used by VST (for example, Kontakt libraries, Battery libraries or the 70GB that Omnisphere needs for its samples). For DAW, install the DAW on your internal drive but you can keep the actual project files for each song on an external SSD and work on the project files off of that

[@ozzybeato]

@@Semyon_Music yeah for now I'm keeping the vst on the internal since it only takes kb or MB space which is nothing. Keeping the content of the vst in the external SSD, samples such as drum kits, and project files on my HDD external including backups. But I will use what you said for the future

[@single_cam9199]

How to transfer vst‘s and sounds to external hard drive from main hardrive but keep operating program on main drive. Some downloads are 50gb! Also when downloading I seen on a vid of how to say download from the sight but it was for apple not pc trying to figure it out now but you can say download program to c: but download the vst and sounds to D: external hardrive. And next how to get the program from c: and vst n sounds from D: and copy to x: for back up. And last back up of a back up from would be copy from x: paste to x: A lot of the music daws and vst’s you pay for them but only have access for a year to download or some company’s 30days and the stuff isn’t cheap. BRO, yesterday my laptop took a seat or got hacked or something the screen started doing crap on its own and I didn’t have a back up or external yet and moved what I could to usb stick. And did a hard reset 💩 I’ve lost so much I need to know how to do it on windows

[@emilianosuarezesparza4794]

Hi, so you have a external HDD for running your DAW and all the audio files, that dosnt make your daw slower?? Also when you record, are you writing in your external HDD?? Thanks for video men

[@Semyon_Music]

My DAW is running off of my internal SSD, but the actual project files and samples run from an external SSD

[@emilianosuarezesparza4794]

@@Semyon_Music thanks men!!

[@Semyon_Music]

🔥

[@baymax001]

Hello Video is really great, I just want to ask Should I purchase an external HDD or SSD ? Or should I Purchase internal ssd with an enclosure? My laptop has 512 GB SSD, I Want to have my sample libraries and Spitfire labs libraries in it, For daily use Not for just storing that Please answer I'm confused 😕

[@Semyon_Music]

I would just recommend doing external SSD. It’ll last you longer, it’s smaller and faster. You can also do SSD with enclosure if you get a good enclosure with good heat dissipation

[@baymax001]

@@Semyon_Music Thank you for your recommendation 🙏🏻❤️

[@Semyon_Music]

@baymax001 no problem!

[@jackmmarsden]

How do I start saving and or moving my audio files (sessions and projects) to an external hard drive?

[@Semyon_Music]

You can drag and drop the entire project folder to the external drive and it should work when you launch it from the external drive

[@lloydmulaudzi7186]

What hubs are you using to connect all of this to your Macbook?

[@Semyon_Music]

Caldigit Element Hub. It’s Thunderbolt/USB for and is 150W powered. A bit expensive for a hub but I highly recommend it. To it I have it connected to a USB3 TP-Link Hub as an extension

[@eaonarnold2893]

Could you please recommend a external hard drive to store my cd collection on thanks

[@Semyon_Music]

Any portable HDD should be good!

[@RogerBenet]

Move sound libraries to an external drive it’s just for saving computer drive space or it have something with computer/DAW performance? Assuming that I have an internal 1TB SSD and I’m ok with 100, 200gb sound libraries. It’ll be better to move all these files to an external ssd ?

[@Semyon_Music]

It helps with 2 things: 1. If your VST sample libraries are maxing out the storage of your internal drive (for example, Spitfire libraries can be 600GB each). and 2. It eases the load on your internal drive and helps with performance (so that it is not loading the applications, OS, samples, recording audio, etc. all at the same time) and the load is split between an internal and an external SSD

[@RogerBenet]

@@Semyon_Music thanks for the reply! In your opinion, what’s the best file management for: Mac Studio M1 MAX 64gb RAM 1TB internal SSD 1TB External SSD Thunderbolt 1TB External SSD Thunderbolt I mainly use this system for audio recording/mixing/production and some video editing in Final Cut. Thanks in advance!

[@Semyon_Music]

It depends! If you have small sample libraries, keep them on the internal and keep Logic project files on the external thunderbolt SSDs. If you have large sample libraries (like from native instruments or spitfire audio), then keep those on the external SSD and keep project files on the internal. You can also just try keeping everything on the internal. If you want to preserve your SSD life, better to keep sample libraries internally and projects externally (because projects always require write functions on the SSD while sample libraries only read from the SSD)

[@RogerBenet]

@@Semyon_Music Great! Thank you!

[@masterstacker2833]

In my onion with the new ultra-fast (and soldiered on) NVMe PCIe 4.0 drives on the new MacBooks one should not get less than 2TB for music production.

[@Semyon_Music]

Depends on if you have external drives. If you can re use external SSDs from computer to computer, then there’s no need to always overpay for the internal SSD. Might not be as fast but can save some money!

[@jackmmarsden]

what are the benefits of relocating the logic sound libraries to an external hard drive? And once I do this, how do I use some of the sound libraries once they're saved to an external drive?

[@Semyon_Music]

It eases the strain from your internal drive! The VSTs should automatically point to the new drives once your relocate them (or you’ll get a prompt asking for the new location)

[@jackmmarsden]

@@Semyon_Music gotcha ok. I relocated the stock sound libraries from Logic to my external hard drive. But when I loaded up a session that used some of those sample libraries (like the stock logic drum kits), sine wave notes would play in replacement of the drums.

[@Semyon_Music]

This is a good guide to follow support.apple.com/en-us/HT208892

[@joshuavela1501]

my dilemma is moving my vsts/plugins to my external hard drive and not having about half of them work. I feel like it's the plugins themselves but I have absolutely no idea what the solution could be. I tried symlinks and still nothing. maybe I'm just doing something wrong. help would be greatly appreciated!

[@Semyon_Music]

During the installation process itself, try setting the VST app install location to your computer/internal drive and the location of the libraries for those VSTs as the external drive. Maybe moving things after they’ve installed is what’s causing the issue!

[@jaykeel7309]

You need to create aliases that will tell the program where to find your samples, etc. It's very easy, just do some research.

[@bennybullet4671]

Do you have your actual DAWs software on you internal SSD?

[@Semyon_Music]

Yes DAW is always installed on internal SSD

[@naikodzadzamia7971]

so i should put my daw in an external drive? it wont slow down my PC?

[@Semyon_Music]

Keep your daw on your internal drive but keep projects on an external SSD

[@eluherlu]

Question, does moving your vsts to SSD making the plugins load faster? I'm talking about loading the plugin itself, not the library in vsti

[@Semyon_Music]

Doesn’t make a difference because my VSTs are installed on my internal drive and only the library is installed on the external SSD

[@gonzalogomez8508]

@@Semyon_Music you use thunderbolt? Thundetbolt is just a matter of what cable you are using? Or the drive have to be special fir thunderbolt?

[@Semyon_Music]

@@gonzalogomez8508 the drives I use are all USB-C or USB Type A, but the Caldigit dock is a thunderbolt dock (thunderbolt cable connects from the Apollo and thunderbolt cable connects everything to the MacBook)

[@gonzalogomez8508]

@@Semyon_Music i only have thunderbolt 2 en my mac mini, and four usb 3.0. Do you think usb 3.0 is enough for sample library? For plug ins library too?

[@Semyon_Music]

@@gonzalogomez8508 100% ! USB 3 is more than enough for sample libraries and plugin/VST libraries

[@oharasean]

Anywhere we can hear some of your work?

[@Semyon_Music]

Working on some tracks for next year!

[@4rios78]

Can you (or anyone else) please explain in detail how to install VST libraries and audio files into an external drive ? Do I need to download it to my native Mac drive first then relocate them ? Or can I just install directly into the drive ? If so how, and do I need to take extra steps in doing so ? (I am a very new Mac user!)

[@yahsyout5450]

Im here for the same question

[@Semyon_Music]

It depends on the VST library. It’s usually easier to do this in the installation process where you specify to install the application on your internal and the associated libraries on the external. I find with native instruments, you can relocate after install. With spitfire, less issues before install. If you search “relocate library” for each plugin, the manufacturers usually have good instructions for each specific VST

[@yahsyout5450]

@@Semyon_Music Nice, thank's for the response

[@Semyon_Music]

@yahsyout5450 no problem!

[@littleblue995]

Thanks for sharing. I notice the you are using an SSD for your virtual instruments and libraries but HDDs for both your samples and backups. Is there any reason for this in particular? I'm in the process of sorting out my production files so trying to research the right external drives to use as well as the best approach. Thanks in advance!

[@Semyon_Music]

Libraries and virtual instruments need to be accessed quickly so SSD is better. HDD just for backups if you’re on a budget, just make sure you had 2 or even a RAID array for redundancy when it comes to backups

[@littleblue995]

@@Semyon_Music Awesome! Thanks very much the response. Haven’t heard of RAID array, but will definitely look into this. I purchased a new laptop awhile ago and made the mistake of putting everything on its drive. It seems easy enough to transfer libraries though, well hopefully it is :-)

[@Semyon_Music]

Does your laptop have a good SSD?

[@littleblue995]

I'm not the most tech savvy, but I think so. It's a 2019 Macbook pro. 2.4 ghz 8-core i9, 64GB 2667 MHz DDR4. It's pretty powerful with lots of memory which is why I decided to install everything on it at the time. Virtual instruments, libraies, samples etc. But realise now that it was mistake!

[@littleblue995]

@@Semyon_Music It's got a noisy fan though lol

[@taiwanfish6906]

How fast does it need to be read from the SSD that stores virtual instrument library? Does 1000 mb/s enough or I should get 2000 mb/s one?

[@Semyon_Music]

1000 mb/s should work well for audio

[@taiwanfish6906]

@@Semyon_Music you mean the virtual instrument?

[@Semyon_Music]

@taiwanfish6906 yea

[@gfunk1874]

Where would you store plugins? With virtual instruments or sample library/ daws?

[@Semyon_Music]

Store the plug-in application on your internal drive, and the associate sample library of the plug-in on an external SSD

[@gfunk1874]

@@Semyon_Music Any idea on the correct way to install the free plugin alliance bundle promotion via NI sorry I'm new to this and don't know ?

[@Semyon_Music]

I think that bundle is installed through the plugin alliance installation manager. None of those plugins are sample based, so best option is to install on your internal drive (default)

[@gfunk1874]

@@Semyon_Music Thanks so much is there an easy way to differentiate between sample based plugins?

[@Semyon_Music]

If you Google search each VST, it’ll usually say if it’s sample based. Another easy way to tell is if it’s in Kontakt, it’s sample based. Anything that’s a soft synth, like Serum, is not sample based.

[@MisterM4tP4raTonzi]

Which type of adaptor do you use to connect all these external hard/ssd disks

[@Semyon_Music]

Caldigit element thunderbolt 4 dock and a TP-Link USB 3 hub

[@MisterM4tP4raTonzi]

@@Semyon_Music The caldigit has 4 more thunderbolt? Is it correct?

[@Semyon_Music]

Yea 4 thunderbolt ports (although 1 is used to connect to your computer) and 4 USB type A ports

[@scottjennings2942]

I'm getting an error message trying to download some Native instrument plug ins. It says I can't save them to my external hard drive as you can only install them on MacOS. Any suggestions?

[@Semyon_Music]

The application needs to be installed on your internal drive, but the content location can be set to your external drive (in a folder you need to create called NI Content)

[@scottjennings2942]

@@Semyon_Music thanks for the quick reply, that’s worked!

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

Where do you save your projects? Is there another drive for that?

[@Semyon_Music]

I usually either keep them internally or on an external SSD, then I offload to a server once I’m fully done with the project

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

@@Semyon_Music Thanks for the reply !

[@Semyon_Music]

No problem!

[@vanzah6316]

Is your monitor plugged into your MacBook? And what monitor are you using?

[@Semyon_Music]

My new monitor now is the Apple studio display and it’s connected via thunderbolt to my MacBook

[@vanzah6316]

@@Semyon_Music what did u use for your old one in this vid

[@Semyon_Music]

@vanzah6316 it’s called the Samsung Space monitor 27 inch: it might be discontinued now

[@sebbrowno]

What's your macbook spec?

[@Semyon_Music]

2017 MacBook Pro, intel i7, 1TB SSD and 16 GB RAM

[@yeyo3112]

What if you gotta move, and unplug everything? Does it load normally when I plug it again?

[@Semyon_Music]

Yup!

[@yeyo3112]

Perfect! Thanks bro! Keep it going!

[@Semyon_Music]

I appreciate it 🔥🔥

[@AndresPozosComposer]

I want to buy a laptop, basically every laptop in the price range i search for work in aspects like the processor and ram, but they come with 256/512 gb which is useless for my huge library collection, that's why i searched for this video, i just want to buy my laptop knowing that if i connect my 5tb ssd to the laptop i will be able to use my files. Sometimes when you connect a drive to a laptop the most little movement disconnects the drive and you get an error of any file you where using from the drive. Do you had that problem? Thanks.

[@Semyon_Music]

if it's disconnecting, could be a bad cable! But with a normal cable, it should all work without issues. Just install the VST applications on your internal drive and all of the associated sample libraries of the VSTs to the external SSD

[@AndresPozosComposer]

@@Semyon_Music yeah it could be that, thank you very much, also good helpful content. :)

[@Semyon_Music]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@seanjohnson154]

I moved my VSTs to an external drive and now the load times are PAINFULLY long, as opposed to immediate when they were on my laptop. Any suggestions?

[@Semyon_Music]

Are you using an SSD for those VST libraries?

[@robertcass123]

@@Semyon_Music yea Make a Difference Dude

[@seanjohnson154]

@@Semyon_Music yes. Ssd

[@Semyon_Music]

Did you install the VSTs on the SSD or did you install the VST application on your internal drive and the VST libraries on the external SSD? That makes a big difference!

[@seanjohnson154]

@@Semyon_Music Oh! So keep the 'instruments' and 'application' on the internal HD and push the samples/ libraries to the external ssd?

[@eldhaww]

My question is! How in the world can you installs your daw and software instruments in an external drive 😢

[@Semyon_Music]

You install daw on your internal drive but keep projects on external. And you install VST applications on internal but the actual content/libraries of the associated VST on external

[@jacewidman7093]

So you're saying I can keep my daw on an external and just plug it into my computer and run it?

[@Semyon_Music]

Keep the DAW application installed on your internal computer drive, but you can save and load projects files all from an external drive to save space on your internal drive

[@SueVerranSongs]

@@Semyon_Music Super helpful thanks! Why do you use HDD for DAW file storage rather than SSD? Which brand of HDD are you using for DAW files? Are you HDDs nice and quiet? Thanks!

[@Semyon_Music]

@@SueVerranSongs it was just a temporary solution because my 1TB SSD is maxed out. Now I am using a SSD for DAW files but still using a HDD for samples. As for brands, anything from LaCie, G-Tech or Samsung should be good!

[@SueVerranSongs]

@@Semyon_Music Brilliant thanks! So you have x1 SSD for Virtual Libraries and DAW files and then you have your 1TB HDD for samples?

[@Semyon_Music]

@@SueVerranSongs 1TB SSD for virtual libraries, another 1TB SSD for DAW files (and associated audio files) and 1TB HDD for samples, plus the two backup drives

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

No I back up on 4 separate hardrives.

[@Semyon_Music]

Wow!

[@nash5753]

Are all the hardrive connected to your MacBook

[@Semyon_Music]

Yea all connected to my MacBook via a powered USB hub

[@nash5753]

@@Semyon_Music yhhh cause I was thinking how the heck can you connect all those drives to one laptop 😭

[@nash5753]

@@Semyon_Music thanks for your help

[@Semyon_Music]

Anytime! I have the caldigit usb hub, highly recommend it

[@djstuntel6026]

Ik gebruik cloud beter dan als kapot is bedrijf waar van huurd er verantwoordelijk voor

[@OfficialDSFN]

How about just using the cloud?

[@Semyon_Music]

Using the cloud to run sample libraries is nearly impossible because of the latency. Using cloud for backup is an option, but the monthly subscription costs add up!

[@OfficialDSFN]

@@Semyon_Music first, thank you so much for the fastest response ever! Much appreciated! I just pay for 5tb between iCloud and google drive. What’s the best way to utilize this?