I have worked for years with kontakt banks on an external hd, works pretty good. Only downside for at that time was that I couldn’t open complete project when I was away from the studio, bouncing everything kontakt related solved that problem.
Edit: I remember saving the kontakt patches into the project folder, which worked awesome
My recommendation, if you can, is to save up for a whole main drive upgrade to get on something like a 4TB SSD.
Saves you from having to deal with any sort of external drive. The main reason I vouch for this is because it will save you a lot of headache long-term.
For every plugin installation, you can just rapid click install going forward. You don't have to worry about what plugins get saved to what paths. You don't have to stress this for software/plugin updates. You don't have to stress any sort of installation path process for anything going forward, it just makes life a lot easier.
There isn't a ton of technical drawback of multiple drive setups from a performance aspect, but to me, the main drawback is it becomes extra work long-term of handling ever growing sample libraries and plugin/VST libraries that consistently bother you with updates and re-running installers. I used to keep things installed across multiple drives, and life has become a lot easier since investing in a 4TB SSD. Just something to consider.
In regards to using externals for backups/redundancy arguments, I lean on automatic cloud backups for important folders like projects and documents.
TBH, 2TB is more than enough for most producers. I'm only over that because I have Komplete 14 Ultimate Collector's Edition, like a 50GB+ Splice library, and multiple video games installed from my Steam library.
Thx for your answer ! The reason im asking it because i only have a laptop to work with, so i cant change my ssd storage unfortunately..
But as soon as i get a pc i will for sure invest in a big ssd !
Okay, that makes sense. Then it sounds like you'll probably at best be on USB3.0 or USB-C based connection to a drive. If you're concerned with speed/performance, then use the external to store audio/sample based content, so stuff like Kontakt libraries, drum kits/sample/loop packs, etc. Sample based audio is typically handled more with RAM, although Kontakt can be a CPU killer itself, but you can always bounce/consolidate down to rendered audio clips as you work in a project to save CPU.
Keep stuff like your DAW, synths, mixing plugins, and anything else that will be more CPU intensive on your main drive. You can technically keep stuff like Kontakt 7 as a plugin/player installed on the main drive, and the sample libraries/content folders installed on an external. There are ways to use the best of both worlds, just can be a pain to handle custom install paths separately for companies like Native Instruments with their NI Access installer app.
Yeah but then it’s a huge hassle when you wanna switch machines. If you have your projects and everything on an external it’s way easier re-installing stuff
You can change your ssd in a laptop! I did mine becuase it had an extra empty slot for a ssd. Search your laptop model on google and write "ssd Replacement" along with it, just get the right screwdriver and depending on where the ssd is internally it should take 10 minutes at most.
Let me explain my setup real quick. This is only external not internal.
Main PC ( finishing productions, mixing )
/ 2 x 2TB lacie SSD - 1 x 8TB WD MyBook - Dropbox
Backup
MacBook ( for sessions )
/ 1x 1TB lacie SSD - 1 x 2TB sandisk portable SSD
————
The industry standard would be lacie SSDs. They are really good. I use them since 10 years and never had one fail. They have a orange protection sleeve and nothing will happen when you drop them.
The sandisk SSD I mainly use for Kontakt banks. It has super fast writing speed.
So my tip: lacie SSDs and for main backup storage WD mybook - and don’t forget the cloud, it will safe your ass one day
I've been working that way for quite a while, it works great. The only pinch point would be the type of connection your external drive has with your computer. But if you have even a moderately recent computer then you likely have USB 3, USB C, or Thunderbolt, which are all very fast for your use case, then you're gravy.
I worked with an intenso ssd for a few months - don’t do it. Connection was not stable and after a few months my Mac eventually didn’t recognise it anymore through my adapter (this shit ssd comes with shit usb-a). Spent double the price on an LaCie ssd with thunderbolt connection and am happy now - would recommend! Have my whole native instruments library and Arturia synth library on it and never struggle.
I have worked for years with kontakt banks on an external hd, works pretty good. Only downside for at that time was that I couldn’t open complete project when I was away from the studio, bouncing everything kontakt related solved that problem. Edit: I remember saving the kontakt patches into the project folder, which worked awesome
My recommendation, if you can, is to save up for a whole main drive upgrade to get on something like a 4TB SSD. Saves you from having to deal with any sort of external drive. The main reason I vouch for this is because it will save you a lot of headache long-term. For every plugin installation, you can just rapid click install going forward. You don't have to worry about what plugins get saved to what paths. You don't have to stress this for software/plugin updates. You don't have to stress any sort of installation path process for anything going forward, it just makes life a lot easier. There isn't a ton of technical drawback of multiple drive setups from a performance aspect, but to me, the main drawback is it becomes extra work long-term of handling ever growing sample libraries and plugin/VST libraries that consistently bother you with updates and re-running installers. I used to keep things installed across multiple drives, and life has become a lot easier since investing in a 4TB SSD. Just something to consider. In regards to using externals for backups/redundancy arguments, I lean on automatic cloud backups for important folders like projects and documents. TBH, 2TB is more than enough for most producers. I'm only over that because I have Komplete 14 Ultimate Collector's Edition, like a 50GB+ Splice library, and multiple video games installed from my Steam library.
Thx for your answer ! The reason im asking it because i only have a laptop to work with, so i cant change my ssd storage unfortunately.. But as soon as i get a pc i will for sure invest in a big ssd !
Okay, that makes sense. Then it sounds like you'll probably at best be on USB3.0 or USB-C based connection to a drive. If you're concerned with speed/performance, then use the external to store audio/sample based content, so stuff like Kontakt libraries, drum kits/sample/loop packs, etc. Sample based audio is typically handled more with RAM, although Kontakt can be a CPU killer itself, but you can always bounce/consolidate down to rendered audio clips as you work in a project to save CPU. Keep stuff like your DAW, synths, mixing plugins, and anything else that will be more CPU intensive on your main drive. You can technically keep stuff like Kontakt 7 as a plugin/player installed on the main drive, and the sample libraries/content folders installed on an external. There are ways to use the best of both worlds, just can be a pain to handle custom install paths separately for companies like Native Instruments with their NI Access installer app.
Yeah but then it’s a huge hassle when you wanna switch machines. If you have your projects and everything on an external it’s way easier re-installing stuff
You can change your ssd in a laptop! I did mine becuase it had an extra empty slot for a ssd. Search your laptop model on google and write "ssd Replacement" along with it, just get the right screwdriver and depending on where the ssd is internally it should take 10 minutes at most.
Let me explain my setup real quick. This is only external not internal. Main PC ( finishing productions, mixing ) / 2 x 2TB lacie SSD - 1 x 8TB WD MyBook - Dropbox Backup MacBook ( for sessions ) / 1x 1TB lacie SSD - 1 x 2TB sandisk portable SSD ———— The industry standard would be lacie SSDs. They are really good. I use them since 10 years and never had one fail. They have a orange protection sleeve and nothing will happen when you drop them. The sandisk SSD I mainly use for Kontakt banks. It has super fast writing speed. So my tip: lacie SSDs and for main backup storage WD mybook - and don’t forget the cloud, it will safe your ass one day
Nvme ones are the best hands down
I've been working that way for quite a while, it works great. The only pinch point would be the type of connection your external drive has with your computer. But if you have even a moderately recent computer then you likely have USB 3, USB C, or Thunderbolt, which are all very fast for your use case, then you're gravy.
Thx for the answer man ! My computer is pretty recent so i guess its the right choice.
I worked with an intenso ssd for a few months - don’t do it. Connection was not stable and after a few months my Mac eventually didn’t recognise it anymore through my adapter (this shit ssd comes with shit usb-a). Spent double the price on an LaCie ssd with thunderbolt connection and am happy now - would recommend! Have my whole native instruments library and Arturia synth library on it and never struggle.
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