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  • eSATA

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     I'm having eSATA troubles.  Main sample drive (internal SATA) died so I added a new 1TB eSATA (via external sata port on MOBO) and thought I'd just put all samples on the eSATA.  Also added more RAM (now up to 4 gigs).  Trouble is... when I started using string samples from the eSATA drive, they started to occaisionally cut off in the middle of playing. (VERY ANNOYING) Hard to keep the emotion of the performance that way.  So I started to retrace my steps, starting with the recently added RAM.  I went back to my original RAM setup of 2 gigs. Same problem... samples cutting off.  Finally, I loaded my String Sections back onto another internal SATA drive and it worked perfect again.  This doesn't make any sense to me for two reasons, the samples are supposed to be loaded into RAM, and if they were streaming, I thought eSATA should be just as fast as SATA.  Any body have any insight on my problem???  I suppose I will be buying a new internal SATA for samples again and using eSATA for backup.  
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    No, only the first portion of the samples is loaded into RAM measured in KBs.  Then it streams sttraight from the harddrive. 

    I don't use an external to store my sample libraries but from what I understand, it is recomended that you connect it to the computer using a firewire interface (not USB), the drive speed should at minimum be 7200 RPM, and all of its power saving features turned off

    @michaelwdavis_29656 said:

    I suppose I will be buying a new internal SATA for samples again and using eSATA for backup.  

    I think you pretty much answered your own question.
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    @jasensmith said:

    it is recomended that you connect it to the computer using a firewire interface (not USB), the drive speed should at minimum be 7200 RPM, and all of its power saving features turned off
     

    Thanks for the reply! I connected it via the eSATA port (not USB) which is supposed to be as fast as internal SATA. It is a 7200 rpm drive.  Of course, I suppose the proof is in the pudding though.  As far as power saving features, I'm now reading that WD external drives enter power saving after 10 min of inactivity. (Strange that it would do so while I'm playing the samples)  I tried a little program called xsleep to keep it awake (if that's even the trouble) and it still had the problem.  I'm thinking my eSATA will just become a backup solution and another trip to best buy for an internal SATA is in store this afternoon.  Thanks again for your reply and any others who want to chime in on the subject.
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    I have all my VSL files on eSATA drives, but the drives are contained in a Sonnet box housing, connecting to a Sonnet eSTA card, which allows for 4 separate eSATA connections. Transfer rates are lightning fast when copying and I have never had a problem with playing VSL instruments using these drives.
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     Thanks for your input. Good to know someone is having good luck with eSATA.  I'm using the built in eSATA port on the back of my computer.  The guy at western digital suggested I bypass my surge pro (scary I know) and plug staight into the wall and also to get all the latest and greatest windows updates.  I've never put my studio computer on the internet and quite frankly I'm not sure I want to do that.  I went ahead and purchased a new 1TB internal SATA for now.  I may try to explore the eSATA option more.  I'll atleast use eSATA for backup of my auidio data and maybe a sample backup.
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    Just, for the record, I'm using a Mac Pro - don't know what difference this makes (just thought I should mention it for clarity).
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    @musos said:

    Just, for the record, I'm using a Mac Pro - don't know what difference this makes (just thought I should mention it for clarity).

    I use a MAC Pro and eSATA with no issues like that...
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    I had some problems with my WD eSata disk (2 physical disks workings in RAID 0). The problem is that WD goes to some kind of sleep after just a few seconds (damn going green - power saving). That's why I developed a tiny program, that saves a small txt every few seconds. Sounds similar to what you have used, but try running this and check wherher it is of any help. Helps with Ivory Grands. http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/688004/wd.exe As far as I remember it requires you to set the drive letter to W. And hopefully you use Windows.
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    @musos said:

    I have all my VSL files on eSATA drives, but the drives are contained in a Sonnet box housing, connecting to a Sonnet eSTA card, which allows for 4 separate eSATA connections. Transfer rates are lightning fast when copying and I have never had a problem with playing VSL instruments using these drives.

    Same here.