Computer used as an external hardrive

[joe erkman]

I have an extensive amount of  Toontrack SDX, EX and midi files on my laptop. Can I use that laptop as an external hardrive to get those files seen on a second computer? If yes how can this be done?  Thanks for any advice. joe

Topic

[Mac McCormick]

Mac or windows?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.4.2
Operating system: Windows 11

Cubase Pro, Korg Kronos, M-50, Hammond XK-1c, Toontrack SD3, EZBass w/lots of expansions, many VSL Vi's, Shreddage 3 everything, and shit-tons of FX plugins.

[drumjack52]

The simplest and best thing would be to get a separate drive and put all the libraries on it and move it to each machine as needed. Would also take out the headache of networking things. You really need to have all the content on a separate drive to begin with so if things go south you still have access to your content. And you wouldn’t be stressing your other machine needlessly.

If you’re on a Mac you’d have to use target mode. Google is your friend for that. Also it would be good if you included your basic info like operating system when asking for help here.

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

• This post was modified 21 hours, 22 minutes ago by drumjack52.

1

Thanked by: Brad

[joe erkman]

Thanks for the quick replies! My thought was what is a laptop to a desk top computer but an external hard drive? I do all progamming on the laptop and then bounce the project to Pro Tools tracks but I wouldnt mind every now and then opening  SD3 on the second computer. I have all the Toontrack SD3 drums and midi except for those that have metal,death and darkness in the titles. The extremely large SDX are already on exterior drives. Its the smaller SDX,EX and midi files that are left on the Laptop. Still a sizable amount.
Making a SSD of those remaining files is an option or just getting a 5 – 6 TB drive and put everything on might be best but was just wondering if linking the two computers and sharing those files occasionally would be possible. I also have the EZBass and EZKeys on the laptop also which would be great to “share” with the desktop occasionaly. Thanks for any possibilities, j oe
MAC  Macbook Pro M4 Laptop
MAC  Apple Mac Studio M4 Max   2TB   64GB
Pro Tools 2025

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.4.2

[Brad]

Actually I have a laptop I occasionally use the files from the Mac Studio on, I simply just share them on the network, that works fine. You would just have to make sure you have the shares available before starting SD3 or Product Manager. Obviously some of the larger libraries take a while to load, so it’s not something I do a lot of, but it is doable.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.4.2
Operating system: macOS Tahoe (26)

Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Fender Studio Pro 8, Presonus Studio One Pro 7
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)

[John]

Hi,

while you can share the files in different ways as described ways here, you will still need to Authorize the other non-laptop computer. The downside of sharing and networking is that the loading times will be slow. Personally, I have a big portable Thunderbolt drive with my libraries which I plug into my MBP or Mac Studio.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[drumjack52]

One more option I didn’t mention and from the way the OP is talking I’d take a look at VE Pro. One ethernet cable between the two machines and VE Pro takes care of the rest. No streaming library content from one machine to another. It does use iLok now as Vienna dumped the Steinberg key a couple of years ago. I ran it when I had two Mac desktops running at the same time. It’s also good on just one machine to help with hosting plugins outside a daw cpu draw.

Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram

[Author]

Replies