Today we are going to be taking a look at some of our favorite options for storing our sample libraries and other files for content creation. No matter what it is we are creating, at some point or other, storage is a must, whether it’s for project assets, backups or archival purposes. While this particular roundup will be focusing mainly on music producers and their sample libraries, many of our suggestions will work with other applications as well.
The 9 Best External Hard Drives to Buy in 2018. Samsung T5 SSD at Amazon, “The all. Mac-friendly, super fast external hard drive that can handle plenty of. The Best External Hard Drives of 2018. Compact ADATA SE730H External SSD delivers speedy data transfers over USB Type-C-and you can dunk it or drop it. The Best External Hard Drives for Mac. External hard drives are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. Here are our top picks for external hard drives to use with your Mac.
Now one thing to get out of the way off the top is that when it comes to choosing the perfect drive for individual needs, everyone is going to have a different opinion. Needless to say, budget plays a major factor in the decision making process here as well. I mean we would all have lightning fast Thunderbolt hubs with and an endless supply of SSD storage if we could. But because that is not the case, we are going to be breaking down some of our personal favorite options.
Keep in mind, these are just some of the options we have used personally at some point or another and have found to be extremely reliable, more than capable of streaming large sample libraries to your Logic Pro X projects and make for great time machine/back-up options in the process. As far we can tell, you can find a post online about any drive falling or ruining a recording session at some point or another. The same drive might work for years flawlessly for one person and be a complete dud for another after just a few months of work.
When it comes to your software instruments, sample libraries and things of that nature (big orchestral instruments, etc.), there are few main things to keep in mind. If you’re looking to save some cash here or just otherwise prefer typical hard disk drives, you’ll want to try to stick with a 7,200 RPM or better option. While it is certainly possible to stream Logic instruments with no issues with a 5400 RPM HDD, you will run into some lag and other issues when you start running larger third party instruments or more complicated projects with increasing track counts.
While SSD options seem to always be the best, fastest and most reliable (in most cases), they can be very expensive and out of the question for weekend hobbyists or those looking to get their carrier off the ground on a budget. Having said that, a reasonably priced HDD will more than suffice just about any home project studio.
HDD Externals:
First let’s tackle some solid HDD options. I personally lean on the side of caution and tend to opt for brand names. That’s not to say more budget friendly or lesser known brand names aren’t any good, it’s just what I prefer. LaCie and G-Drive have both been very good to me over the years in terms of external options.
Again, this is not a set in stone kind of rule, but for the purposes of this roundup we’re going to focus mainly on HDD externals, as I tend to prefer to use an SSD as my internal drive. That way you have the option of running intensive libraries and instruments from your internal, while still affording you lots of terabytes on your much less expensive external HDD. It’s worth considering most Macs these days come with a solid state storage device built-in.
Below you’ll find some of the 5400 and 7200 RPM HDDs we have had experience with. While faster and bigger is always better, I had a LaCie Porsche Design USB 3.0 drive turned on and plugged into my Mac for years. It has never failed and streams large sample libraries just fine. In fact I forget it’s there for months at a time.
SSD Solutions:
When it comes to SSD options, prices begin to soar through the roof. While I’m sure there are professionals out there that require an external SSD drive for field work and the like. The average home producer or mobile musician isn’t likely going to make use of it. If you’re going to go the SSD route, I find it’s usually better to upgrade your internal options and run as much from there as possible. Beyond that you’re going to pay some serious cash for mobile and external SSDs in most cases.
Another interesting option, and again only for those looking to make a serious investment in backups, storage and serious sample streaming for large music/content projects, would be an SSD hub of some kind. One product we have had some experience with is the Blackmagic Design MultiDock with Thunderbolt. This is essentially an external hub that connects loads of external solid state drives to your Mac via Thunderbolt. Clearly these kinds of solutions are ideal for serious content creators, but are more than likely overkill for everyone else. Even as someone that does professional recording and production work on a regular basis, this is still a little out of my league despite really needing it.
While I have spent some time with some of the much smaller and significantly less expensive external SSD docks, like those from Satechi, Anker and StarTech, I haven’t really had a chance to run them through their paces enough for a personal recommendation. It’s still hard to point others towards lesser expensive USB SSD docks at this point, especially for sample library/instrument streaming.
Below you’ll find some of the options we have heard great things about, our favorite external SSDs as well some of the best solid state solutions we have seen in action. https://high-powerfancy.weebly.com/amt-emulator-for-mac-2018.html.
OWC Thunderbolt Dual Drive Dock $249Blackmagic Design SSD MultiDock 2 w/ Thunderbolt 2 $595SanDisk Extreme II 240GB SATA SSD $149+Samsung 860 EVO 250GB SATA SSD $89+
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See anything cool in the world of music production we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
The Logic Pros are: Justin Kahn and Jordan Kahn
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BestExternal Hard Drives for MaciMore2019
When it comes to storing data, personal information, and essential documents, you can never save it in enough places. External hard drives are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. When you take into account price, ease of use, and portability, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times.
Best Overall: Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
If you want a reliable external hard drive that has a decent amount of storage, is super easy to carry around, and has a very affordable price tag, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the best option for most people. Formatted for Windows and Mac right out of the box, it's easy to carry all your important documents from desktop to laptop without missing a beat.
The Seagate Dashboard back up system is a fantastic simple tool that can let you schedule backups to ensure you never miss any critical files you need in case something terrible happens to your computer. You can set automatic backups daily, weekly, or monthly, and change the frequency whenever you want.
Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some sort photo managing tool, and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.
Pros:
Best OverallSeagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
Reliable, portable, and affordable.
Don't worry about lengthy setups or formatting procedures, plug in the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB which is formatted for Mac right out of the packaging.
Best USB-C hard drive: Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
This small compact SSD drive from Samsung comes with both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A, meaning it's perfect to use with your MacBook or Mac.
Its fast 540 MB/s read and write speeds are more than enough to transfer any file. And should be able to store all your photo and video files with ease thanks to its straightforward software. Plus, if you're worried about encryption, the Samsung T5 Portable SSD has you covered with an optional password to launch the drive, and AES 256-bit hardware encryption on all your files.
Pros:
Best USB-CSamsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
Fast and encrypted
With 540 MB/s read and write speeds the Samsung T5 Portable SSD is fast enough for photographers and videographers to transport all their work.
Compatible with Time Machine right out of the box, the 8 TB storage capacity on the Western Digital My Book is perfect for people looking for a lot of stage at a reasonable price. It's USB 3.0 meaning it's easy to take advantage of its storage speed with fast transfer speeds. https://high-powerfancy.weebly.com/best-free-mind-mapping-software-2018-for-mac.html.
While portability is not the Western Digital My Book's strong suit and it needs a separate power source, it does offer 256-AES encryption when you download its easy-to-use security software, ensuring all your important files and documents stay private.
If you're looking for a drive that has lots of space, os you don't have to have multiple as your storage needs grow, look no further.
Pros:
Best CapacityWestern Digital My Book (8TB)
Lots of storage for those who need it
Western Digital offers 256-AES encryption when you download its security software, meaning you can rest easy knowing your private information and personal data is safe.
![]() Best Thunderbolt 3 Drive: LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
LaCie hard drives have always been good for people on the go because of the rugged design. The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt can withstand some dust, dirt, and even a tiny bit of water being splashed on it.
It's 7200 RPM Hard drive keeps things running smoothly. And the included USB-C cable — which supports Thunderbolt 3 — makes it perfect for MacBook and Mac users alike!
Cons:
Best Thunderbolt 3 DriveLaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
Rugged design with Thunderbolt 3
The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt 3 is a favorite because it can withstand drops, dust, and even the occasional splash of water, making it easy to carry around!
Best for Legacy Hardware : G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)Fastest External Ssd For Mac![]()
While Apple has been going the way of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 for a while now, some of us still use older hardware and thus don't need hard drives that have USB-C connections. If you're still rocking USB-A or even a Thunderbolt 2 connection from your Mac, the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is a perfect companion.
Its all-metal design is not only more durable than plastic hard drives, but it also looks stylish! Plus, it's 7200 RPM speed allows the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 to achieve 195 MB/s read and write speeds. This makes it fast enough to transfer large video files quickly and efficiently.
Cons:
Best for legacy hardwareG-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
Stylish and fast even on older computers
With 7200 RPM, this hard drive works hard and fast to get your files transferred quickly. Plus, it uses USB 3.0, and it even has a Thunderbolt 2 port.
The CalDigit Tuff does the best it can to live up to its name, giving you a hard drive that isn't as delicate as most. Its official IP rating is IP57, meaning it can be submerged in 3-feet of water for 30 mins and come out the other side functional. That's not all; this Thunderbolt 3 compatible drive can also withstand falling from about 4-feet high. We still don't suggest that you purposely abuse the CalDigit Tuff. Still, it's always good to have peace of mind when you're carrying your hard drive around.
Cons:
Best rugged driveCalDigit Tuff
Can withstand drops and water
Official rated IP57, the CalDigit Tuff can survive an accidental dip into the water and has a great price tag.
If you're used to dealing with giant file sizes and need a hard drive that can handle transfer data fast, the Samsung X5 is one of the fastest SSD's you'll find. Its read and write speeds are 2,800MB/s and 2,300MB/s respectively, and the entire body is made of metal, making it much hardier than plastic drives. Plus, The internal frame on the inside is shock resistant for drops from 2 meters.
This SSD comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology included. This you can take advantage of the fast speeds on your Mac or MacBook Pro, and it doesn't need any formatting, so it's plug and play!
External Ssd For MacPros:
Best Internal Ssd Drives 2018Best fast driveSamsung X5
Incredibly fast SSD
If you need blazing fast speeds for giant files, the Samsung X5 is a monster external SSD that can handle any workload.
External Ssd For Mac Mini 2018Bottom line
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times. It is formatted for both Mac and Windows right out of the box, and its easy-to-use software can automatically do backups for you as often or as little as you want.
https://high-powerfancy.weebly.com/specs-for-2018-mac-mini.html. Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This program can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some photo managing tool. A two-month membership to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Plan means it's perfect for budding photographers as well.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who has been carrying around his Seagate Backup Plus Slim since his college days.
Best External Ssd Mac
Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and an avid believer in having as many backups of your important files and documents as possible.
Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. When it comes to accessories for Mac, Rene has used them all.
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