X-48 External Hard Drive Advice

scanner · 3rd February 2011

Hello everyone,

I've just priced up for a big live gig... it's a bit too big for my humble 24 track rig so I'm hiring the gear in.

I'm going with two X-48s as Master and Safety.... and it looks like I'll be in the venue close to FOH desk.

My concern is what external hard drives to use as the hired machines only have 60GB internals.

I have a feeling that 7200rpm Firewire or USB 2 won't be fast enough for 48 tracks at 48khz / 24Bit.

Does anyone have any suggestions ?

Also, should I be worried about vibrations interfering with the Hard Drives writing ?

I personally haven't had a problem with my pro tools rig + HD24.. but I've never used the x-48s before and would appreciate some advice.

Thanks very much,

Al

LX3 · 3rd February 2011

Pretty much any modern 3.5" 7200rpm drive in a decent firewire case - preferably using an Oxford chipset - will work. First X48 job I did about three years ago was to a bog-standard LaCie external.

I don't think you need to spend extra bucks on a Glyph or Avastor... although it's always nice if the PSU is built-in instead of being a power-brick.

Haven't had any vibration-related issues with the X48 (unlike my HD24s, which although fabulous-sounding, became a real liability for live work), though obviously it's best to avoid bumping a spinning hard drive. I'm sure if you whack it hard enough you can make it go wrong! Only issue with my X48s has been temperature. They refuse to boot up when they get really cold!

In fact, at one really freezing gig last winter, one of them locked-up mid show, no error message, just a complete freeze (if you'll pardon the pun

). You'd think a spinning hard drive would stay pretty warm. Maybe it's something else that gets too cold. Don't know yet.

Anyhow... you'll be fine. Good machines.

scanner · 3rd February 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by LX3

Anyhow... you'll be fine. Good machines.

Thanks Paul,

That's exactly what I needed to hear

advice from someone with direct experience

Thanks for taking the time.

Al

scanner · 12th February 2011

Has anyone had any experience using 7200rpm USB 2 drives with the X-48 ?

Ta

Al

3rd February 2011	#1
scanner Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 653 Thread Starter	X-48 External Hard Drive Advice Hello everyone, I've just priced up for a big live gig... it's a bit too big for my humble 24 track rig so I'm hiring the gear in. I'm going with two X-48s as Master and Safety.... and it looks like I'll be in the venue close to FOH desk. My concern is what external hard drives to use as the hired machines only have 60GB internals. I have a feeling that 7200rpm Firewire or USB 2 won't be fast enough for 48 tracks at 48khz / 24Bit. Does anyone have any suggestions ? Also, should I be worried about vibrations interfering with the Hard Drives writing ? I personally haven't had a problem with my pro tools rig + HD24.. but I've never used the x-48s before and would appreciate some advice. Thanks very much, Al

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3rd February 2011	#2
LX3 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,034	Pretty much any modern 3.5" 7200rpm drive in a decent firewire case - preferably using an Oxford chipset - will work. First X48 job I did about three years ago was to a bog-standard LaCie external. I don't think you need to spend extra bucks on a Glyph or Avastor... although it's always nice if the PSU is built-in instead of being a power-brick. Haven't had any vibration-related issues with the X48 (unlike my HD24s, which although fabulous-sounding, became a real liability for live work), though obviously it's best to avoid bumping a spinning hard drive. I'm sure if you whack it hard enough you can make it go wrong! Only issue with my X48s has been temperature. They refuse to boot up when they get really cold! In fact, at one really freezing gig last winter, one of them locked-up mid show, no error message, just a complete freeze (if you'll pardon the pun ). You'd think a spinning hard drive would stay pretty warm. Maybe it's something else that gets too cold. Don't know yet. Anyhow... you'll be fine. Good machines.

12th February 2011	#4
scanner Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 653 Thread Starter	Has anyone had any experience using 7200rpm USB 2 drives with the X-48 ? Ta Al