Looking for best Samsung SSD drive for SD3

[Tom Martini]

I am looking for recommendations for an SSD drive. (want to stay with Western Digital) Is there any the work best for SD3 libraries or will any do? What speeds should I look for that allow a fast transfer for home studio use. This will not be for live use. What does Toontrack use?

 

Should it be internal or external? PCIe or SATA?

 

Thanks!

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: Windows 10

Windows 11
Dell XPS 8940
32GB ram i9-10 Core
Focusrite 18i20 Scarlett +
Focusrite Octo Pre MK II for 36 channels in
Protools Studio / Studio One 6.5 Artist

Topic

[John]

Personally, I have gone the M.2 NVME SSD in a Thunderbolt Enclosure route.

It’s blazing fast and I can bring it anywhere since it fits my palm.
I load the Hansa Meistersaal Ilbert 5.0 Surround Preset in under 10 seconds.
The Default SD3 preset in 2 seconds, The Orchestral SDX I Surround Audience position Soft 2 preset in =6 seconds.

It’s not exactly what you asked about but I just thought I might add it if it’s speed you are looking for.
On a side note, I can edit several tracks of 6K BRAW video as well on my MacBook Pro with this drive.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Tom Martini]

Thanks, I have a Windows machine and the slot ssd is used for OS. So I don’t have a second slot. I was looking for an external 3.0usb drive. I got a Samsung T7 Blue drive which I read is excellent for what I’m going to  do with it. Fast speed, reliable and stays cool.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: Windows 10

Windows 11
Dell XPS 8940
32GB ram i9-10 Core
Focusrite 18i20 Scarlett +
Focusrite Octo Pre MK II for 36 channels in
Protools Studio / Studio One 6.5 Artist

[Tom Martini]

I have found great ratings and reviews for the Samsung T7 500gb SSD. I found it on amazon for $79 and decided to try that. My friend has it and says it is a good drive to use for sample libraries and such.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: Windows 10

Windows 11
Dell XPS 8940
32GB ram i9-10 Core
Focusrite 18i20 Scarlett +
Focusrite Octo Pre MK II for 36 channels in
Protools Studio / Studio One 6.5 Artist

[Scott Eshleman]

As I understand it, the transfer speed of the drive ONLY affects the time
that it takes to load the kit’s samples into RAM. SD3 plays samples from RAM.
Once loaded into RAM, SD3 does not go back to the drive.
My recommendation… get the most reliable, the largest, and most compatible drive
for your system that you can comfortably afford.
IMHO, transfer speed is not a make-or-break option for SD3.
Personally, I run all of my SD3 sample libraries from this:
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD

1

Thanked by: AltSound

[Tom Martini]

Scott Eshleman wrote:

As I understand it, the transfer speed of the drive ONLY affects the time
that it takes to load the kit’s samples into RAM. SD3 plays samples from RAM.
Once loaded into RAM, SD3 does not go back to the drive.
My recommendation… get the most reliable, the largest, and most compatible drive
for your system that you can comfortably afford.
IMHO, transfer speed is not a make-or-break option for SD3.
Personally, I run all of my SD3 sample libraries from this:
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD

 

Thanks Scott! Yeah I’m aware of that but I just am upgrading all my drives to SSD’s. I wanted to make sure when it loads into memory its as fast as possible getting there. I’m a speed junkie when it comes to processing. I recently bought a new PC just for my studio and have been doing upgrades all around. Thanks for your reply! Much appreciated.

 

Tom

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: Windows 10

Windows 11
Dell XPS 8940
32GB ram i9-10 Core
Focusrite 18i20 Scarlett +
Focusrite Octo Pre MK II for 36 channels in
Protools Studio / Studio One 6.5 Artist

[Whagi]

I Use the Samsung T7 1TB and have a load of SD3 and SDXs on there, they load very fast and has Never let me down yet. No real need for anything faster than these for SD3.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Big Sur (11)

[pumpkinking]

500GB might be a bit small depending on how many libraries you think you might collect.  Personally I use a SanDisk 1TB Extreme, and with the core library and two SDXs (full install for all) it is already half consumed.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Big Sur (11)

[Sean.Atalioti]

After downloading SD3 237Gb a nearly two months ago I’ve decided to move SD3 to a HD because its killing my iMac to a stand still device where I would spend hrs staring at the rainbow ball of death until one of us gives in.

This morning I’ve been searching for the SD3 SSD advertised by toontrack and as I can’t find it – I take it this is not an option any more?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

[Tom Martini]

Sean.Atalioti wrote:

After downloading SD3 237Gb a nearly two months ago I’ve decided to move SD3 to a HD because its killing my iMac to a stand still device where I would spend hrs staring at the rainbow ball of death until one of us gives in.

This morning I’ve been searching for the SD3 SSD advertised by toontrack and as I can’t find it – I take it this is not an option any more?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

 

Sean, get yourself the Samsung T7 because it is blazing fast. I got the 500GB version and after loading all my Toontrack midi for both (EZ Drummer2 and SD3) I still have 120gb left but that doesn’t leave a lot of room for later additions. I’ll be getting the 1TB version and moving it all there instead. So get yourself the 1TB for about $120 on Amazon and move all your TT product’s midi and core libraries to it. You won’t be disappointed. I’m not.

 

See ya

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: Windows 10

Windows 11
Dell XPS 8940
32GB ram i9-10 Core
Focusrite 18i20 Scarlett +
Focusrite Octo Pre MK II for 36 channels in
Protools Studio / Studio One 6.5 Artist

[Author]

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