Disk drive configurations / working folders / creating video

Slum · Post by **Slum** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:58 am

I am trying to get the best drive setup for best performance. I import data from camera onto the c-drive. I have a G-drive where I have set the Working Folder and created a Burning Folder. The question I have is when I create a movie which drive should I save it? I have another drive to install, if I should save to a third. Thanks

Slum

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:52 am

Please view:
From camcorder to DVD with VideoStudio

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:41 pm

You can save it anywhere you want. If you will be saving a lot of them I would choose the drive with the most room, so you can keep them together.

Slum · Post by **Slum** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:12 pm

Sorry if I am trying to make this more complicated than it is.

I did see this diagram, but didn't answer my question, at least I didn't think.

This diagram says to me that I wouldn't import to the system drive where Ulead is installed, but to another internal drive. I don't always ouput to a DVD, usully a movie file on the hard drive. Where should the Working Folder and Burning Folder be staged?

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:03 pm

Wherever you want...

I have mine set-up so all captures, temp files and burning temp folders are on my D-drive. I don't have IDE drives but I did this on my old XP box that did and didn't notice any performance differences.

I just like to keep everything together.

So

I capture in my D:/video Dump file...within that I will have folders for each project for everything else.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:34 pm

My VS is installed on my C: drive. I capture to an external drive that's connected via firewire. Some people on here may tell you that's not a good idea, but I've never had a problem. After editing I always burn to DVD folders (again, on the external) before burning to DVD with Nero.

There are very few hard & fast rules when it comes to editing video. Whatever works best for you works best...for you.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:42 am

In a nutshell it's all down to speed.
Providing your hard drive(s) are big enough you can save anything anywhere.

Internal IDE drives are faster than external firewire drives.
External firewire drives are faster than external USB drives.

They will all work, nothing will break if you use this drive instead of that drive. If speed is important then create a test project and time it with a watch. Use a different hard drive configuration, run the procedure again and compare the timings. If speed is not an issue then place your files where they are most convenient to you.

erdna · Post by **erdna** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:35 pm

I think the drive selection issue relates to the early times of non linear video editing, when drives and IDE controllers were only just fast enough for NL video work. Also the (in general) limited RAM size resulted in frequent paging during the rendering process, which again limited the throughput with some drive configurations. Today, only the number cruching properties of the processor is in general the limiting speed factor.

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:46 pm

While the number crunching of the processor(s) are a factor, the FSB (Front Side Bus) is a main contributor to this. If the data can only be moved from point A to point B at a certain speed, which would be the FSB, then that is the maximum speed at which the PC can operate. In other words a PC can only operate at the speed of it's slowest component.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:23 am

Going on from what has been said previously - hard drives also work at different speeds measured in RPM. A 7200 rpm hard drive is faster than a 5400 rpm hard drive. Similarly RAM works at different speeds. It is not just a case of how much RAM you have it is also a case of the speed of that RAM

Like Ron said - everything will work at the speed of the slowest item being used.