SSD disks (mostly) [was: Macbook Pro 2.26GHz OK for Audio Recording?]

[van Sinn <vansinn@post.cybercity.dk>]

Or, if the DVD is using SATA, replace it with an SSD drive (using a 
cheap adapter) and place the big soundlibs there.

Admittedly, SSD technology isn't fully matured as yet; probably looking 
at another ½ year of development.
However, most issues have been resolved, and drives like Patriot Torqx 
or the new Kingston Value V are valid players.

I'm about making the decision of going laptop or building a stationary.
If going laptop, I'll use two smaller SSD's; one for OS and applicaions, 
one for soundlibs, and an external 5400rpm drive via firewire for the 
tracs and mixing.

WRT cpu power and memory, I believe it's very much down to how many 
soundsamples are used and stacked at the same time, and how much 
convolution technology is used, i.e. for reverb modeling and emulating 
real environments (like impulse-based emulation of guitar amp/cap/mics).

Some lappies can be had with fairly fast dualcore cpu's. According to 
talks I've had with people doing studio works, this is enough for most 
tasks, but a quadcore will feel much more alive and allow a lot more 
convolution.

Do note that (AFAIK) most Macbook Pro's can handle 6GB ram, i.e. 2+4GB 
sticks, meaning that the first 4GB are dual-channel, with the remaining 
2GB running singlechannel.  No problem with this scheme..
For this reason it may be less expensive buying a model with 2GB, and 
visit Kingston's site to find a somewhat cheaper matching 4GB stick.

Also do note it's been reported that SSD's certified for Apple are 
exactly the same as for any other PC, just with a different sticker - 
and a niftier pricetag.
And worse, a few certified models are reportedly of an earlier type 
which doesn't handle garbage collection too well, resulting in poor 
write performance as the drive starts to get filled up with data.

If interested in going the SSD route, do note that many (especially 
earlier) reviews didn't focus enough on real-life performance, and most 
certainly not on performance with a used drive (filled with data).
Do read anandtec's two lengthy articles on SSD technology (2x25+ pages).



Miles Ward wrote:
> Disable the DVD drive, it'll stop doing that :)
> 
> Miles
> 
> On Feb 25, 2010, at 12:31 PM, richard sales <richard@glasswing.com 
> <mailto:richard@glasswing.com>> wrote:
> 
>> Bought one the other day myself.  Seems to work well under extreme 
>> pressure - Pro Tools HD3 40 or 50 tracks with lots of edits.  When 
>> idling it makes an odd truck letting out its air brakes sound - which 
>> could impact quiet recording when it's close by, other than that, it's 
>> great!
>>
>> richard sales
>>
>> On Feb 25, 2010, at 2:07 PM, Jeff Shirkey wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On Feb 25, 2010, at 3:53 PM, 
>>> <mailto:folkstone57@tmo.blackberry.net>folkstone57@tmo.blackberry.net 
>>> <mailto:folkstone57@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello
>>>
>>>> I've found for audio faster drives perform better.
>>>
>>>
>>> I ordered a 7200 rpm/500 GB drive from OWC today. Should be here 
>>> tomorrow. For $132, it's hard to beat.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the advice.
>>>
>>> Jeff


-- 
rgds,
van Sinn