SSD HD Opinions

[Keith Henry]

Sometimes it seems like my audio system (w/7200rpm HD's) isn't fast enough to to allow smooth (Hicup/crash free) audio playback from DP 6.03. So, I'm thinking of adding a single SSD HD to my system. Money is a factor, can only afford one SSD HD. I hope to soon upgrade to an 8-core Intel but, until then.

Questions:
1. Should I install the SSD as an audio HD? This seems to be the logical choice to me.
2. Should I install the SSD as an OS HD?
3.Do I experience hicups/crashes because audio HD is too slow or OS HD?

When I start getting sessions up close to 24+ trks, smooth playback decreases usually resulting in a DP crash (PT although crashes doesn't have to be re-booted). Current DP session is 21 ST/mono tracks and I've still got to add a lot more arrangement and add 6+ vox trks. I'm running DP's Buffer size at 512 and the Host Buffer Multiplier at 1. With buffer size this high, recorded audio is delayed out of sync, any higher would delay quite a bit. No major issue, I manually move audio back to the downbeats.

Thanks for opinions or success stories with SSD's.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Probably the biggest boost you can give your system is to invest in updating to DP 7.23, IMO. DP 6 was not the best release of the app.

[mikehalloran]

You give so little information regarding what you are doing and what you have that it is impossible to answer your question with any degree of accuracy but I'll give it a shot.

A 240G or 480G SSD from OWC in your laptop would certainly perk things up since it is the fastest computer you list. Run DP and your OS on the same drive.

Even better - put that same drive into a much faster piece of hardware such as a laptop with a Core 2 Duo, a recent iMac, a Mac Pro...

It appears you need a major hardware upgrade. The $859 for a 480G SSD would go a lot further invested in a new MacBook, 8G RAM and a 1T 7200RPM Drive to put in it. Rumors are flying that the next gen will be available in the next few weeks with Thunderbolt.

[bayswater]

Agree with MLC. When I was running V6 on the G5 Dual 2.0G, DP stuttered and delayed during playback during most audio edits, especially when moving memory locations. Looking at meters, it was processing that was the weak link, not disk access. With UAD overhead, 24 audio tracks and a buffer at 512, it's what I'd expect. I had to keep the buffer at 1024 to stay reasonably stable. V7 is an improvement, but your G5 and Macbook processors will still be the limiting factor.

[James Steele]

Probably the biggest boost you can give your system is to invest in updating to DP 7.23, IMO. DP 6 was not the best release of the app.

MLC and "understatement." Now I've seen everything! DP 6.0 should never have been released in the condition it was in. The painful GUI didn't help either. It was a major black eye to DP's reputation IMHO and the usual suspects that like to bash DP seized upon the opportunity MOTU handed them with glee. By the time DP 6.02 and 6.03 had made things fairly workable, DP6 had been trashed so much that I believe MOTU quickly made the jump to DP 7 and we never saw a 6.1 or 6.2 because of all the negatives associated with that "6." That said, DP 7 is one of the best versions ever. Perhaps only DP 5.13 was near as solid IMHO.

[Keith Henry]

Thanks all.

OK DP7, and eventually (soon I hope) 8core.

Cheers

[mikehalloran]

MLC and "understatement." Now I've seen everything! DP 6.0 should never have been released in the condition it was in. The painful GUI didn't help either. It was a major black eye to DP's reputation IMHO and the usual suspects that like to bash DP seized upon the opportunity MOTU handed them with glee. By the time DP 6.02 and 6.03 had made things fairly workable, DP6 had been trashed so much that I believe MOTU quickly made the jump to DP 7 and we never saw a 6.1 or 6.2 because of all the negatives associated with that "6." That said, DP 7 is one of the best versions ever. Perhaps only DP 5.13 was near as solid IMHO.

I'll give you that. I have 6.03 but still use 5.13. As I get into VIs I will be making the move to Dp 7 soon.

I still think it's time to look at a hardware upgrade. Used Mac Pros have come down in price, the recent 27" iMacs on the refurb store, even a newer MacBook or MacBook Pro will run circles around any of your current hardware.

[James Steele]

As I get into VIs I will be making the move to Dp 7 soon.

I'd do it just for the Comp Tool which appeared in DP6 I believe. It is just ridiculous how much time it saves and one of the reasons I pushed through with DP 6.x instead of staying with 5.13.

[Keith Henry]

I still think it's time to look at a hardware upgrade.

True that