#1961258 - 06/22/08 05:40 AM
External HD: Lacie?
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Leberwurst
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Registered: 08/15/06
Posts: 433
Loc: Germany
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Hi,
I'm looking for an external HD onto which I can a) record audio onto and b) store the rest of my data. Concerning the specs, this one seems fine: http://www.thomann.de/gb/lacie_lacie_d2_disk_quadra_500_gb.htm Anyone use it? Heard something very bad about it? Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Mo
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#1961316 - 06/22/08 08:56 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Leberwurst]
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Flexby
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Registered: 05/02/06
Posts: 90
Loc: Den Haag
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Hi Leberwurst,
I have used it to record audio for almost a year now and it still works fine ( iMac)
It is fast, quiet and very reliable (FW800).
Jeroen
Edited by Flexby (06/22/08 11:59 AM)
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#1961324 - 06/22/08 09:14 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Flexby]
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playsthe88s
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Registered: 04/28/08
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I have two Lacie d2 750gb External hard drives (I use one as a backup of the backup). I've had no problems with them. I had two smaller Lacie drive before these and also had no problems with them. Back then not everybody was making large externals. It's amazing how inexpensive and reliable, in general, these larger drives are getting - I don't think Lacie are the cheapest. When I decide to replace these with 1 or 2 TB drives, I'll probably just shop around for the cheapest ones..
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#1961326 - 06/22/08 09:24 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: playsthe88s]
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GregC
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Registered: 10/26/03
Posts: 2013
Loc: Dublin, California
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I have the older 200 GB FW model for my g4 mac and its great
Highly recommended
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#1961388 - 06/22/08 01:03 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: GregC]
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Mark Schmieder
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Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 1751
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
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There are few brands that I would recommend less than LaCie. If you are using it to do multi-channel recording, chances are high that the drive will fail in under 18 months; whether in a recoverable way (if you're lucky) or not.
The ONLY advantage that LaCie drives have is that they are cheap. They baren't even quiet except when you first buy them, and this is even if you regularly defragment your drives.
LaCie randomly swaps out the driver manufacturer for their enclosures without informing the buying public, and removes specs from their website as soon as a new model or model rev occurs. This makes it extremely difficult to trace a problem.
There are probably LOTS of way worse drive enclosures than LaCie, but as they are the most popular (especially for Macs) and unfairly get a pass by such irresponsible magazines as Macworld (who are completely consumer-oriented and haven't a clue about the needs of profressionals), I feel it's important to alert people that these are not even close to the best drive you can get.
Prices have come down to the point that even buying quality brands need no longer impose economic hardship. Glyph is by far the best in terms of reliability, quietness, and performance, but if you maximise for just two of those three criteria, you can do just as well (and go cheaper) with newertechnology, G-Tech, EZQuest, and a couple of newer enclosure makers whose name I forget.
I have now switched over entirely to newertechnology drive enclosures, due to having the most options, the best price/performance ratio, and the most convenient form factor. They use a different drive manufacturer at each size, based on whoever seems to get the top performance and reliability ratings at newegg and the other major peripherals e-stores. So the 1 TB drives use Hitachi Deskstar (once unfortunately known as "deathstar" before they improved reliability), whilst the 750 GB drive uses Seagate Barricuda and the 500 GB drive uses Maxtor.
The newertechnology v3 has eSATA, FW400, FW800, and USB 2.0 connections and can serve as a powered hub for USB or FW (but ONLY if that is the cable type that you use to connect to the main computer, which they do not make clear in their literature but which I proved through trying many configurations and topologies of my externals/peripherals setup).
A 1 TB drive will set you back around $330, with a supposed $30 rebate, but I got a "does not qualify" message on the rebate that was run back in March on Hitachi drives, so CDW and newegg may have made a false assumption about the applicability of that rebate to drive enclosures from manufacturers other than Hitachi.
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#1961428 - 06/22/08 03:23 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Mark Schmieder]
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bhodaway10
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Registered: 08/04/06
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I have that Lacie for my MacBook Pro. I've been using it for recording purposes and archiving. However, taking it to gigs is a pain - lots of cords.
I would have bought the portable Lacie instead because it's bus powered and much easier to transport.
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/deta...rive&mfg=301175
I think the best thing would be to have both - portable one for gigs, the other for archiving.
B.
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#1961931 - 06/23/08 04:19 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: bhodaway10]
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grockvt
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Registered: 03/13/08
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my lacie is ok
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#1961962 - 06/23/08 05:31 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: grockvt]
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RABid
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They used to have a lot of complaints about external power supplies going bad. I had a couple Lacie but have moved on to external WD drives.
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#1961971 - 06/23/08 05:45 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: RABid]
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timwat
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Registered: 11/21/01
Posts: 342
Loc: Concord,CA,UNITED STATES
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Have been using Glyph for years with no failures. Tried a LaCie a few years ago, and it failed.
For now using only Glyph for audio, Seagate/Maxtor for other non-music storage.
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#1962024 - 06/23/08 08:36 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: timwat]
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bhodaway10
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Duh....how could I not have remembered? When I bought the Lacie, it had a bad power cord. I called Lacie and they immediately said "bad cord." It was sent right away though and I haven't had a problems yet. *knock on wood*
Edited by bhodaway10 (06/23/08 08:38 PM)
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#1962228 - 06/24/08 10:24 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Leberwurst]
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Volken
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Registered: 04/13/05
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I'm looking for an external HD onto which I can a) record audio onto and b) store the rest of my data. Concerning the specs, this one seems fine:Heard something very bad about it? Any suggestions?Thanks in advanceMo
Mark Schmieder already made some good points, so let me offer some more..
Assuming you treasure your files, one should primarily know the HDD name inside that case. Lacie uses superb S-IPS screens and combined with additional fine tuning from electronic side, they still remain in top 5 choices in graphic world. However, when it come to "little" consumer boxes, they are just name like any other. I think either Seagate or WD resides in that Lacie case, but... I don’t know about you, but I like to be in complete control when selecting something.
Although Seagate was always statistically the most reliable name in the businesses, after that Maxtor episode then technological transition to perpendicular (which alone is fine thing) and highly dubious and no less documented issues with several HDD firmware series (notorious AAK firmware)...no longer it is just fine to accept just about any monthly HDD decision from either Lacie or anyone else who keeps silent about their drives. Well, one can always investigate the source, but this would be my advice to anyone who is looking for external drives.
Unless we are talking Cheetah range, especially now, Seagate present mechanical range is not as robust for external use like for example Hitachi or even more robust WD range. Far from suggesting that external Seagate would loose your files or be gone in months to come. But still, surely you want the best for your money and protection? I would go with presently most reliable drive series : WD RE2
1.2 (1.4) MTBF is no joke and best guarantee for attested drive quality. A common issue with SCSI/SAS, but only in couple of recent years available with consumer drives. Mind you that WDRE3 is also on its way, but one should never advocate something that is not proven enough with time and respectable owner base. Presently the best thing in SATA domain.
In your exact case (Deutschland) add any fine case from Raidsonic or any competitive name and you have far more reliable solution then suggested Lacie. The best thing in this Lacie’s case is communication flexibility, but there are so many cases with similar I/O specs.
In fact, for future proof plans why not consider something like this (for the money) : Stardom range
Superb base and you can add extra drive whenever you like. Very Silent, Oxford firmware (FW) and more then robust for safe~mechanic environment. WD has known external solutions and they are reliable and great also, but, RE2 is worth the extra money any day, and after several months you will confirm your decision even more.
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#1962573 - 06/25/08 08:01 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Volken]
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Leberwurst
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Registered: 08/15/06
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Thanks for all the responses. I'm reconsidering ;-)
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#1962600 - 06/25/08 09:17 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: Leberwurst]
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MikeT156
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Registered: 06/27/04
Posts: 4538
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Mark mentioned that LaCie takes specs about previous models off their website so its tough to get a handle on things. One GREAT source for getting an unbiased track record on a vendor or particular model is http://www.newegg.com. They have extremely low prices and have user reviews of people that have bought things from them. In this case, you're in luck, about 18 reviews on that model here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16822154178
Check it out,
Mike T.
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Yamaha Motif ES8, Alesis Ion, Prophet 5 Rev 3.2, 1979 Rhodes Suit case 73 Piano, Arp Odyssey Mk III, Oberheim DMX, Roland R-70 Drum Machine, Digitech Vocalist. Lots of Amps, mixers, PA speakers!
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#1962647 - 06/25/08 10:44 AM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: MikeT156]
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MusicWorkz
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Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 1816
Loc: Philadelphia,PA,UNITED STATES
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I've used LaCie exclusively for the past 4 years (two 120 GB's) without a single problem (knock on the Motif XS). I just had the artist I am working with drop off the 500 GB Quardra d2 on Monday.
I run OS X 10.4.11 with DP 5.13 and Reason thru two MOTU 828 MkII's. The HD's go at the END of the FW chain (not between the computer and interface). I put current project audio files on one and use the other for archive (any software updates, sample libraries, AU plug-ins, etc.).
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#1963703 - 06/27/08 01:35 PM
Re: External HD: Lacie?
[Re: MikeT156]
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Leberwurst
Senior Member
Registered: 08/15/06
Posts: 433
Loc: Germany
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Mark mentioned that LaCie takes specs about previous models off their website so its tough to get a handle on things. One GREAT source for getting an unbiased track record on a vendor or particular model is http://www.newegg.com. They have extremely low prices and have user reviews of people that have bought things from them. In this case, you're in luck, about 18 reviews on that model here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16822154178Check it out, Mike T.
thanks  great link
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