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For years I've been archiving old projects and data on DVD's. Mainly because that is what I always did, and also I had 500 DVDs to use up. Well there are almost all gone, and I've been rethinking my archiving system.

With projects getting bigger and bigger, it sometimes take breaking up a project over 3 DVDs. So I've been thinking of archiving to hard drives.

Does anyone have experience with hard drive docking systems, where you can use bare SATA drives, plug them into the docking system, backup your data, and them put them in a safe place.

How has it worked? Is this the way to go, or should I just buy external USB drives to archive?

Thanks for the advice.

I definitely recomend you get two very large drives and two OWC cases (Mac Sales).

Some of them have USB, FW 800, eSATA, and probably TB soon. I can't give you a link right now, but if you search my posts you'll find a link to a very cool enclosure that lets you pop a HD in and out easily, like a bread toster.

FORGET ABOT DVDs, though. They are unreliable and their lives are too short.

I think this is what FM is referring to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0033AF5W ... 163&sr=8-1

This product is rebranded about a bazillion times. I use them at work and so far they are great. If you look for versions other than eSATA/USB you will pay a lot more.

SO is it better and/or more cost effective to go this route rather than buying an external drive?

I have 2 of the OWC branded docks: one FW800/USB/SATA and one USB/SATA. I have several 3.5" Seagate bare drives and a couple of 2.5" bare notebook drives that I swap in and out as needed. I even stream samples from one in the SATA dock. I keep them in Wiebtech (sp?) vinyl cases when not in use. For archiving only, i'd use the cheaper USB/SATA dock and 5400 rpm drives. I also have external drives in enclosures that hold different sample libraries that are streamed. I am happy with this arrangement until Thunderbolt gets straightened out. the only thing with the docks is that when there is no docked drive, I put a piece of masking tape over the slot to prevent dust from getting in there.

Keep in mind that you must tailor your external HD system to your needs and Mac. Do you have a Mac Pro or an iMac or a notebook? Do you need to stream samples from the external drives or are you only using them for backup and archive? Etc.
HTH,
Frank

Cool, that's what I was thinking, so glad people are using it with success.

Wondering if I should go with 500GB drives, or 2TB drives? I'm thinking if a drive fails, then there is less data on a smaller drive. Do you think it's better to have more smaller drives are a few large drives?

frankf wrote: Keep in mind that you must tailor your external HD system to your needs and Mac. Do you have a Mac Pro or an iMac or a notebook? Do you need to stream samples from the external drives or are you only using them for backup and archive? Etc.
HTH,
Frank

I would use this only for backing up for long term storage.

westla wrote:Cool, that's what I was thinking, so glad people are using it with success.

Wondering if I should go with 500GB drives, or 2TB drives? I'm thinking if a drive fails, then there is less data on a smaller drive. Do you think it's better to have more smaller drives are a few large drives?

You need to think your archive and backup scheme thoroughly.
AT MINIMUM, you should have every single file duplicated in different HDs. The duplicates should be stored in an offsite location. You can back those up every week or two, either, with Time Machine or CCC.

westla wrote: Does anyone have experience with hard drive docking systems, where you can use bare SATA drives, plug them into the docking system, backup your data, and them put them in a safe place.

How has it worked? Is this the way to go, or should I just buy external USB drives to archive?

This is how I do it, I have attached drives for projects and temporary bckups, for archiving I transfer to a bare SATA drive through a dock, do it twice, keep one in the studio one at home.

Thanks for all the great info.

One last question, if I'm using this drive only for archiving, does it matter if I get a 7200rpm drive or a 5400rpm drive?

If it's just for archiving it won't make a huge difference, especially if you use a slow interface (USB).

Now, if you also use an external HD for backup purposes, such as copying all your samples or VI libraries, it could be a life saver to have them on a fast HD, so all you have to do is replace the faulty HD for the backup one and you are ready to keep working in an instant.

Broadly, think of your backup scheme in 3 categories: your personal files and projects, your system backups (Time Machine or system clones), and your sounds (VI libraries, loops, etc.). Each category requires different handling, IMO. So the best bet is to get fast large drives with good enclosures, like the one I mentioned, and good software to do them (TM and CCC, for instance).

FM (and everyone else), thanks so much for the help.

Just to make sure, when you say the OWC "enclosure" is this what you're talking about?

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20 ... WU3ES2HDK/

You're not talking about an actual case to put the hard drive in, are you?

Yup. That's the one. It is extremely convenient.
I have a few of those. Some are for running my VI samples (through eSATA), and some for my backups (eSATA or FW).

There are other models that are nice too, but with this one switching HDs is a breeze (as opposed to other cases that you must unscrew, pop out the HD, pop in the new one and screw again).

If you come up with a rock solid backup/archiving scheme, I assure you will sleep better at night.

Check out this thread. It'll give you ideas on how to do your backups effectively. The diagram I show in there was in the planning stages (now it's totally different, but the point remains).

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... am#p363294