How/Where to store the large files created when recording at 24-bit / 192kHz???

[pisces7378]

Hey Guys

I have been recording in my project studio for the past three years using a Delta 1010 audio interface/card system. Now I am planning to expand my set up to incoorperate higher quality audio interface(s) and to increase my input count to 24 simultanious inputs. I had already decided on the MOTU 24I/O due to it's input count fullfilling my needs, but I had wished that a 192kHz solution would be made available as I record a lot of "delicate" sound sources (i.e. violin, cello, harp et cetera). Up until now I have only been using the internal hard drive(s) inside the computer for storing the audio files. This has been ok because I have never really ventured into 96kHz and certainly not 192kHz recording so the files have always been relatively small. But now I have been getting into ensemble (strings) recording and so I am absolutely excited about the MOTU HD192. I have been seriously considering getting one core system and one expansion interface for a total of 24 tracks of 192kHz.

My only question is: can anyone help me work out a scenerio me for how/where I can store the relatively massive sized files generated when recording at 24-bit/192kHz? I have seen and am familiar with Glyph, and I know that they are producing SCSI and firewire hard drives for A/V data storage. However, I have no clue what I would need to get in order to interface my Apple with the Glyph... and I do not even know which format (SCSI or Firewire) is better or the prefered format of professionals.

I will be doing a lot of songs with around 20-24 tracks on playback all at 24/192 kHz with a length of around 4 minutes each song.

I am buying a new dual 1.42 gHz Apple Mac and I was wondering if I should buy the extra $49 SCSI card that is an option from Apple, or if that is just a waste of money? I have seen Glyph SCSI cards that cost like $500. ANY suggestions as to what I should do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a ton guys!

Mike

 

[christiaan]

4 minutes of 24 24bits/192kHz tracks totals up to around 3.3GB.
One 80 or 120GB drive in your Apple would give you space for a lot of projects to work on.

For back ups you may want to consider a DVD writer.

Personally I would do this: I'd set up a fileserver where I would back up my files to after a day of working. You'd get much more gigabytes/value for your money than buying a Glyph drive.
But then again: I KNOW how to set up a fileserver from the bottom up. I realise that for many of us it may be a bridge too far and that's why companies like Glyph get to sell their premium prices solutions.

$500 for a scsi card definately overpriced. There are excellent and cheaper alternatives for a scsi card. Firewire would work fine too. The transferrates are more than adequate and the Apple already has the interface on board.

You know, giving advice on this is not that easy. If you have the money to buy a dual 1.42Ghz Apple, you may not be bothering about $100 more or less.

 

[pisces7378]

You are right... I have no idea how to set up a back up file system.

I would be happy to use the internal hard disc (7200rpm) in the Mac for mixing/working with/and recording, and then shift it to a slower, cheaper drive for storage. And then shift the data back to the internal drive for use the next day.

Is that what you are talking about? If not.... then what ARE you talking about?

Also... what is a RAID drive?

 

[christiaan]

Is that what you are talking about? If not.... then what ARE you talking about?

Also... what is a RAID drive?

Yes, that's what I was talking about.

In layman's terms, RAID is a way to combine harddrives. The two most common RAID configurations are Raid 0 and Raid 1.

RAID 0 a.k.a. striping: Basically making 2 harddrives act as one. This can up to double the transferrates but if one drive fails, the other is left useless. Not the way to go for backups.
RAID 1 a.k.a. mirroring: 2 drives but you basically only use one. The other is used as a backup and is updated, everytime you alter the content of drive 1. If one drive fails, the other takes over.

You can use ordinary IDE drives for this. You'd only need a RAID controller (something just like a scsi controller) which aren't very expensive.

 

[RWhite]

Like Christiaan said, a DVD writer is probably a good investment for you. DVD-RAMs (2x) can hold up to 9 gigs and can be re-writen to up to 100,000 times - good for temporary storage of a project. And DVD-R or DVD+R disks for permament backup.