Sample Libraries on external NVMe or 2.5 SSD

[Pluto8]

Just received my Mac Studio and am looking at storage options for my new sample libraries.

I’ve read a lot, especially on VI Control and would like some advice and to get options on here as well.

My options are…

2.5 SSDs, such as Samsung QVO/EVO or Crucial in an OWC Thunderbay Mini 4 enclosure, connected via Thunderbolt 3 to the Mac Studio.

Or…

NVMe M2 stick in an enclosure like the OWC Envoy

I’ve also read that NVMe is overkill for sample libraries, the loading time is much faster but that’s about it and that NVMe is much better suited to large files, not small samples?

Or…
Something like the Samsung T7

[Eddy Deegan]

I have a T7 that I use as a portable drive. It's extremely fast but I've noticed that on occasion it can pause for anything from a second to more than a few seconds. Whether that's down to the hardware encryption, the host machine or something else I don't know but I wouldn't use one for sample libraries myself.

As a storage device, absolutely. Just not one that I'd want constantly servicing requests in realtime from a DAW or software sampler.

On my DAW I have an NVMe boot drive but use SSDs for sample libraries. They are more than adequate.

[Luke W]

2.5 SSDs, such as Samsung QVO/EVO or Crucial in an OWC Thunderbay Mini 4 enclosure, connected via Thunderbolt 3 to the Mac Studio.

A couple of SSDs in a Thunderbay enclosure (or similar) is likely the approach I'm going to take when my Mac Studio arrives.

NVMe M2 stick in an enclosure like the OWC Envoy

And that's (partly) what I'm doing at the moment! I've got a WD NVMe device in a little USB-C enclosure running some VIs and sample libraries. It's worked perfectly fine so far, but is never under much load as my more demanding libraries are being hosted by a separate PC.

I have a T7 that I use as a portable drive. It's extremely fast but I've noticed that on occasion it can pause for anything from a second to more than a few seconds. Whether that's down to the hardware encryption, the host machine or something else I don't know but I wouldn't use one for sample libraries myself.

That's odd, I've been using a T7 as an audio drive to run my sessions from for a while now with no issues. Although it's never under a particular amount of strain, to be honest.

[Eddy Deegan]

I have a T7 that I use as a portable drive. It's extremely fast but I've noticed that on occasion it can pause for anything from a second to more than a few seconds. Whether that's down to the hardware encryption, the host machine or something else I don't know but I wouldn't use one for sample libraries myself.

That's odd, I've been using a T7 as an audio drive to run my sessions from for a while now with no issues. Although it's never under a particular amount of strain, to be honest.

It could be unlucky on my part. I got one of the first ones to come out and I have seen similar issues mentioned elsewhere from around the same time. It's no problem in normal operation but I wouldn't use my device as a live audio drive.

Interestingly (or not!) I've seen mine exhibit the problem on both Mac and PC but in any case it's hearsay insofar as I can only be a sample of one!

[Guest]

I recently changed two 2TB crucial X8s for T7s, the X8s were hopeless the T7s I have had no problems at all, they benchmark slower but are consistent.

Also dealing with crucial support was interesting to say the least!

[Dr. Bing Klazeby]

Happily using a Samsung T7 for the sample libraries I use - Logic Pro's full library and a number of Spitfire products. No problems at all.

[Pluto8]

I have a T7 that I use as a portable drive. It's extremely fast but I've noticed that on occasion it can pause for anything from a second to more than a few seconds. Whether that's down to the hardware encryption, the host machine or something else I don't know but I wouldn't use one for sample libraries myself.

As a storage device, absolutely. Just not one that I'd want constantly servicing requests in realtime from a DAW or software sampler.

On my DAW I have an NVMe boot drive but use SSDs for sample libraries. They are more than adequate.

Thanks for going into detail about the T7 even though you’re not using for sample libraries or real time work. I was thinking of using it as a projects drive but if I get the Thunder Bay mini 4, a 2.5 projects drive would go in there instead.

Glad to hear that SSDs are more than adequate.

[Pluto8]

2.5 SSDs, such as Samsung QVO/EVO or Crucial in an OWC Thunderbay Mini 4 enclosure, connected via Thunderbolt 3 to the Mac Studio.

A couple of SSDs in a Thunderbay enclosure (or similar) is likely the approach I'm going to take when my Mac Studio arrives.

NVMe M2 stick in an enclosure like the OWC Envoy

And that's (partly) what I'm doing at the moment! I've got a WD NVMe device in a little USB-C enclosure running some VIs and sample libraries. It's worked perfectly fine so far, but is never under much load as my more demanding libraries are being hosted by a separate PC.

I have a T7 that I use as a portable drive. It's extremely fast but I've noticed that on occasion it can pause for anything from a second to more than a few seconds. Whether that's down to the hardware encryption, the host machine or something else I don't know but I wouldn't use one for sample libraries myself.

That's odd, I've been using a T7 as an audio drive to run my sessions from for a while now with no issues. Although it's never under a particular amount of strain, to be honest.

Having the 2.5 SSDs in an enclosure tidies things up, I prefer that rather than lots of externals hanging off it. With the thunder bay mini 4 could go samples, samples, projects, system back up configuration.

And then use externals for back ups.

[Pluto8]

Happily using a Samsung T7 for the sample libraries I use - Logic Pro's full library and a number of Spitfire products. No problems at all.

Good hear that the T7 is working for you with this, it’s very popular on VI forum.

If I were to get T7 I’d need two as I bought Komplete Ultimate, and complete sets of orch libraries in the recent sales, spent an absolute small fortune on them!

[Pluto8]

Would splitting sample libraries between two SSDs instead of keeping them all on one make a difference in performance

To split the sample libraries between two, 2TB SSDs or keep them on one 4TB within the Thunderbay Mini 4 - what would you do?

I’d I went the T7 route, they’d have to be split anyway as the max is 2TB.

[Guido3]

I use a lot of Spitfire libraries and use a Samsung T5 and a Samsung T7. Both work great. The T7 is a little quicker.