4200 rpm 200GB fast enough?

kbmh · Post by **kbmh** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:25 pm

My wife is getting me a 2.0 GHz MacBook with 2G RAM and
a 4200 rpm 200GB hard drive. Is that hard disk spped going
to be able to handle, say 8 inputs from a 929mkII into DP5 at
96 KHz or am I limiting/kidding myself?

Probably won't be using VI...much...but will be using some
effects.

Thanks!

matwell · Post by **matwell** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:05 pm

Sorry, but 4200rpm is too slow, *especially* at 96k. You really need a 7200 rpm drive for minimum results.

brett · Post by **brett** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:33 pm

you really should utlize the cardbus with a firmtek sata card and connect a 150gb western digital 10,000 rpm raptor in an external case. oh, only the macbook pro have the cardport. go lacie firewire, but if your 929 is sharing the firewire bus wih disk streaming expect a bottle neck. this is why mac book pro is more suited for audio. the sata card puts disk streaming on a sperate bus than your i/o and sata is faster then firewire.

Phil Jeffers · Post by **Phil Jeffers** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:00 pm

You definitely need a 7200 RPM drive - internal is best (i.e. a second internal SATA) and use it ONLY for audio + DP project folders. If using an external drive, use a high speed PCI card as mentioned above (expensive) or just get a decent FW HDD. I wouldn't recommend LaCie, they are cheap and only have a one year warranty. I have heard of so many people's LaCie drives going down, it can't be just coincidence.

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:47 pm

You can always try it with the built-in drive first...

By the way, why are you going in at 96k? Is your project destined for SACD release? Is it headed for Blueray? If you are going to be ending up on CD at 44k, why not record at this rate? If you feel you simply MUST record at a multiple sample rate, consider 88.2k for CDs, as the conversion is simple division. Take a look at this post if you want more info on sample rates and impact on recorded audio.

http://www.unicornation.com/phpBB2/view ... hp?t=15691

24 bit audio is definitely the way to go, whatever rate you use.

kbmh · Post by **kbmh** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:17 pm

I was thinking that it'd be nice to archive some old 4 and 8 track
records at 96KHz - I can always put that off. The tapes are almost
18 years old and not recorded on the best equipment but they have
that lo-fi "charm" that I want to preserve. But I'm sure I can preserve
it at 44.1 just fine. I mean, I'll probably only play this if I've stayed
up late and had too much to drink or to scare my daughter. That almost
screams 44.1...

Thanks!

newrigel · Post by **newrigel** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:23 pm

kbmh wrote:I was thinking that it'd be nice to archive some old 4 and 8 track
records at 96KHz - I can always put that off. The tapes are almost
18 years old and not recorded on the best equipment but they have
that lo-fi "charm" that I want to preserve. But I'm sure I can preserve
it at 44.1 just fine. I mean, I'll probably only play this if I've stayed
up late and had too much to drink or to scare my daughter. That almost
screams 44.1...

Thanks!

What the heck... go 8 or 12 bit and really scare the kids hehe