machamp Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I have a Mac Book Pro. I've only recently heard about the idea of keeping separate hard drives for audio, projects, samples, etc, and I am thinking about starting to record audio (and keep projects) onto my 1TB WD MyBook USB 2.0 external, which is 7200rpm. My question is though, is USB 2.0 too slow to be worth going external, or is this a good idea? Even if I had a firewire external drive, I would still be using up my 1 firewire port with my Firepod (old PreSonus interface) every time I am recording audio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplets Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 You can daisy-chain firewire devices. Firewire drives always have 2 ports in the back for that purpose. Like computer - FW HD - Firepod. USB for recording is not that solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machamp Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Does daisychaining decrease each device's quality/speed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplets Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If you get a FW800 drive and then chain the Firepod to it, the drive will run at 800 and the interface at 400. There's no change in quality, it's digital. In terms of speed, unless you record 20 or 30 simultaneous tracks, it should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeren Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If you put a FW800 device on the same bus as a 400 device they both talk at 400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriksimon Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 If you put a FW800 device on the same bus as a 400 device they both talk at 400. Not if the 400 is the last device in a chain. Mac < FW800 device (A) < Fw 400 device (B) A at 800, B at 400. Mac < FW 400 device (B) < FW 800 device (A) A and B both at 400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeren Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Did not know that, thanks. FireWire 800 is backwards-compatible, and unlike USB the FireWire bus speed is not diminished when a slower FireWire 400 device shares a FireWire 800 bus. From here: http://8help.osu.edu/1249.html I feel like the blind man who one day realizes he was just wearing a hat that was too big. Edit; So what happens when you've got a FW800 hub, with one 800 and one 400 device connected to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriksimon Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Did not know that, thanks. You're welcome. I only learnt this here on LPH, a few months ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Jackson Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 So what happens when you've got a FW800 hub, with one 800 and one 400 device connected to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeren Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 All really good information. Thanks for busting my held myth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Jackson Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 All really good information. Thanks for busting my held myth. You're welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordi Torres Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for busting my held myth. A bit more busting here. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machamp Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks everybody. I guess I'll probably return my hard drive for a FW one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookatthisguy Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks everybody. I guess I'll probably return my hard drive for a FW one. No need to return it… you can still use that as a solid backup HD, unless you already have that taken care of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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