setting up hardrives for pro tools 12

W

warcloud

New member
i have been searching the forum for answers to setting up my hardrives for PT 12. I use a PC with windows 7.

I have a 1tb hardrive for system, going to partition 300gigs for operating system and 700gigs for samples and such. The second drive is a 7200rmp 500gig drive. I have a 4tb external drive for storing music files. I am also looking to buy a 500gig SSD. Any suggestions on which SSD to buy? Looking at Samsung Ev0 500gig, not sure if thats the best for my system.

My question is which configuration would be best for PT 12.

Im not sure if you install PT on the SSD drive and run it separatly or does it have to be installed on the drive with the operating system.

I am willing to listen to all suggestions as I have never used PT, nor have I installed it yet. Havnt even downloaded it yet.

I have Mbox, I believe it is 2, but not sure, on the box it says Mbox 4x4. But when i bought it I thought it was Mbox2, it came with PT express.

I have included the sandra report and just want to thank all who help on this wonderful forum

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : Rick-PC-OEM2
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : ASUS M51AC Desktop
Serial Number : DAPDCG******
Chassis : Desktop
Mainboard : ASUS M51AC
Serial Number : 1309162********
BIOS : AMI (OEM) 0901 07/25/2013
Intel vPro : 9.00.02.1345
Total Memory : 16GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz (4C 8T 3.89GHz,

3.9GHz IMC, 4x 256kB L2, 8MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1150

Chipset
Memory Controller : ASUS Core (Haswell) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 8GB

DIMM DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : A-Data MI64C1D1629Z1 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600

(11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)
Memory Module : A-Data MI64C1D1629Z1 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600

(11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ACI VS278
(1920x1080, 27.2")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 620 (1CU 48SP SM5.0 810MHz, 16kB L2,

2GB 601MHz, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 620 (48SP 1C 810MHz, 16kB L2, 2GB

601MHz)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GT 620 (48SP 1C 810MHz, 16kB

L2, 2GB 601MHz)

Storage Devices
Seagate ST1000DM003-1CH162 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 932GB (C:)

(Z:)
WDC WD5001AALS-00L3B2 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache) :

466GB (E:)
WDC WD40EZRZ-00WN9B0 (4TB, USB3/SATA300/600, 3.5", 5400rpm, SED) : 4TB

(J:)
Generic- SD/MMC (USB2) : N/A (F:)
Generic- Compact Flash (USB2) : N/A (G:)
Generic- SM/xD Picture (USB2) : N/A (H:)
Generic- MS/MS-Pro (USB2) : N/A (I:)
ATAPI DVD A DH24ACSH (SATA, DVD+-RW, CD-RW) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
System Reserved : 100MB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST1000DM003-1CH162 (1TB,

SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
New Volume (E:) : 466GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ WDC WD5001AALS-00L3B2 (500.1GB,

SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 32MB Cache)
My Book (J:) : 4TB (NTFS, 4kB) @ WDC WD40EZRZ-00WN9B0 (4TB,

USB3/SATA300/600, 3.5", 5400rpm, SED)
Hard Disk (C:) : 391GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST1000DM003-1CH162 (1TB,

SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
New Volume (Z:) : 541GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST1000DM003-1CH162 (1TB,

SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Removable Drive (F:) : N/A @ Generic- SD/MMC (USB2)
Removable Drive (G:) : N/A @ Generic- Compact Flash (USB2)
Removable Drive (H:) : N/A @ Generic- SM/xD Picture (USB2)
Removable Drive (I:) : N/A @ Generic- MS/MS-Pro (USB2)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ ATAPI DVD A DH24ACSH (SATA, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS Lynx Point LPC Controller
Audio Device : ASUS Lynx Point HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Audio Codec : 32768 0000
Audio Device : ASUS HDMI Audio stub
Audio Codec : nVidia 001C
Disk Controller : ASUS Lynx Point 6-Port SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : ASUS Lynx Point USB xHCI Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS Lynx Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 3 : ASUS Lynx Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Peripherals

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (Ethernet, 100Mbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 6.01.7601 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x64
 
Okay...lots to deal with. First, the EVO drives are very good and very fast.
AFA drives. Installing the program on the SSD will make it load faster (meaning you'll be able to use it quicker) but that's about it.
If you get an option to install the samples on a separate drive, that would be a great use of the SSD.
Anyway, I'd put your sessions folders on the SSD. I'd go ahead and install the core (program files) on the regular drive (unless you NEED it to load in 2 seconds instead of 10). And I'd install any loadable files (samples, soundfonts, etc.) on the 7200.
Reasoning: Once the app is loaded, it's done. Don't need to read or write that information. Keeping reads (samples) on a separate disk from writes (sessions) can improve performance. You SHOULD be able to point PT to the SSD for it's recording space (sessions) (I use Reason and Reaper and they both do...)
You have a quad i7 @ 3.9 with 8 gig of memory. A lot of folk would consider that overkill for a recording machine...8 threads and 8 gigs is plenty for a lot of tracks, VSTs and VSTis.
 
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The 1tb system drive is a spinning disc, yes? If so, I wouldn't put the sample libraries on there.

Protools goes on system disc (no choice I believe) and sessions/samples go on a second (or second and third) drive.
You could get away with keeping your sessions on the system disc (not advised but I did it for years) but sample libraries really need their own disc.
 
I would recommend the EVO drives, I have 2 256gb's on mine. If I was in your position and had the skills I would get the SSD drive but do a fresh install putting my OS on it (including all program files like PT) and use whichever was the next best (most reliable) for my saves folder for my PT projects and samples ONLY, and use the next best drive for storage / games/ etc.
PT12 offers a huge choice for drive sharing but IMO keep it simple it is fairly easy when you make a template to assign where the folders will be and start as you mean to go on.
Also when recording with PT make sure you give your sessions and tracks names that are meaningful, not SONG1 / bass track, files build up really quick and when you are trying to locate that really cool acoustic track you laid down last weekend you wont find it if its called guitar 12, just sayin :)
PS always back up to a stand alone drive after you've done anything.
 
Thank you all so much for the help.
You've made it easy to understand and all makes sense.
what a great forum!
 
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