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for my growing Apple Music files?
They're mainly ALAC and AIFF lossless and approaching 2 TB on my mac mini late 2014 with a 2 TB fusion drive.
I was thinking about a simple USB or Thunderbolt drive. It has to be quiet and relatively fast (at least as fast as what I have now).
Any suggestions? Thanks!
Follow Ups:
I have two 8Tb seagate drives directly attached to my iMac. One holds PCM files and some DVD/Bluray music rips. The other has DSD files, both 2 and 6-channel. It doesn't get any easier than that. These drives sleep when not invoked. Barring surge catastrophe, they are not going to fail. I do have a number of older, smaller drives with most of the files on them from prior use so I kind of have files backed up. At some point, I will grab another two 8tb drives from Costco and clone my in-use ones. Those can then be stored in case of tragedy.
Edits: 05/04/23 05/04/23
Keep in mind.SSDs are not recommended for long term offline/off-power storage.
For day2day use or short-term backups they are OK.SSDs need the power for the cells, an active bit-rot prevention firmware
and a controlled environment ( temperature, humidity, EMI ) to give you
a rather reliable long-term reliability. You'll also find numerous
reviews on Amazon about bit-rot complaints for this or that SSDs which
relate to quality issues. You can google all of it.I use quality SSDs for short-term backups. For long-term storage
I use classical hard disks (2 of them).There are also other factors to consider if you want to avoid bit-rot.
1.
Apple Lossless has no data integrity check option. If files get
corrupted you wouldn't realize it.FLAC is the long-term format of choice. It keeps an audiodata-chunk-checksum in the
file-header. This way it can be checked if your audio file is corrupted.
(I converted all my Apple Lossless to flac.)For long-term storage of quality audio data IMO flac is a must.
Of course you could also create your own integrity check process.
Simply generate checksum files for each alac file. This way
you'd also be able to check the file integrity.Note: Most standard backup programs wouldn't realize if a or some byte(s)
get corrupted as long as the size of the file remains the same.What about lossy formats?? Who cares about lossy stuff!! It's lossy
by definition. ;)
2.
Design a proper backup strategy and stick to it. Make it as automated
as possible. If you fail to do that you'll lose control in no time.
Because laziness and sloppiness will creep in - that's guaranteed.Have a look at incremental backup strategies, to avoid overwriting
clean data with corrupted data. And to able to roll-back.
This will require slightly larger backup media! If you run
a pretty filled up storage device, this wouldn't work well.Note: Keep also in mind that SSDs shouldn't be filled to the rim.
You need to have a look at backup logs! I know it's annoying.
If you don't you simply don't know if something is messed up.Keep one long-term backup at a safe location - other then your house.
Keep the backup medias in EMI-safe bags.
3.
Stay away from NAS systems. These are difficult to control (black boxes).
You always need network services up'n running.
I don't see any need for private users to go for NAS systems.
4.
If security is an issue. Before using and copying all data to an external hard disk > > Encrypt the whole disk.That's e.g. also part of my automated backup process. First unlock and mount the device and than you write the data.
**********
Been there done all of that. All that is day by day IT administration work.
Not very many users are able or willing to do all this.
And that's what makes the streaming services so attractive to many people.
Somebody else takes care of all these annoying tasks.Good luck.
Enjoy.
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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
Edits: 05/04/23
Stay away from NAS systems. These are difficult to control (black boxes).
Difficult to control? You press the on button. Get periodic emails concerning automated processes and data integrity checks. Monitor activity and access files from anywhere.
I enjoy having fault tolerance for all my critical data. Mine is not a dedicated audio-only application taped around a player. And located far from the main systems.
Have a look at my response to Cutthroats post.
Pretty much the same applies to you.
Enjoy.
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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
Every time I've been using network services like NFS, Samba/Cifs on my RPi based audio system, the perceived sound quality got worse.
I don't share your experience. The declocked RPi3 used in the garage has a 600 MB output buffer that pretty much eliminates network access issues during playback. What I find works best with both it and the ultraRendu upstairs is using a 1A power supply with a star quad DC cord.
Enjoy your approach!
As usual, a change on perceived sound quality depends
on several factors.
Who am I to question your experiences!?!? I never did. I am just giving advise.
And beside that I am providing tools, free of charge,
tools to prove my point. I do that for more than a decade.
And be assured, your setups have a lot more tweak potential.
Full file RAM buffering is btw one of my very early advice I gave
years back over here and elsewhere.
But that's just one tweak out of many tweaks. The RAM buffer
tweak alone won't suffice.
Enjoy your NAS.
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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
I am just giving advise.
FWIW, here in the colonies "advise" is the verb while "advice" is the noun. Your advice on some matters is good for those willing to be advised.
And beside that I am providing tools, free of charge, tools to prove my point. I do that for more than a decade.
I'm grateful. Back in the day, I used your toolbox for the Touch. It was the only way I could play 192/24 content then.
With my RPi3, I also disable the LEDs, onboard audio and HDMI along with reducing unnecessary GPU memory. I learned of using a starquad DC cord from John Swenson and tried out a DIY flavor. I was surprised when I discovered the improvement was with dynamics. I ended up buying Ghent Audio versions for both RPis and uR. I have an RPi4 (just because) used for backup purposes. Nice sounding using USB but not as transparent as the uR.
My network is powered via a dual section linear and I use a Tripp Lite ethernet isolator just before the uR upstairs.
I was amused by your ChatGPT examples. :)
"Stay away from NAS systems. These are difficult to control (black boxes).You always need network services up'n running.
I don't see any need for private users to go for NAS systems.
My NAS system is the best thing I've added with my Home Computing Environment. I've never had any difficulty controlling them. And yes my network is always running and is as trouble free as my electricity. I had a lot more difficulty sharing Windows Files with other computer users in my house before I installed my NAS.
Maybe you've never tried a Synology NAS ? It's not difficult in the least.
I have two NAS. One for household archives and automatic backups for all of our computers. The other is for music. As you know, they are easily managed through a web interface but honestly how often do we even need to interact with the NAS? Me, hardly ever after initial setup. Mine runs reliably 24/7 for years and do what they were designed to do. And my network is always running too. Who shuts off their network?? Silly thought.You have to excuse soundchekk . He's the type who will tell you that you need to rebuild your car engine from the bottom up with every 3000 mile oil change - but build your own tools first because store-bought are over priced and not to be trusted.
He has what I call "not invented here" syndrome. Many engineers have that problem. As a retired Systems Engineer my job wasn't to reinvent the wheel but to specify and architect systems from best of breed already invented wheels ;-) For consumer / small business I think Synology makes some excellent NAS products.
Edits: 05/05/23 05/05/23 05/05/23 05/05/23
LOL ! --- Sent you another iMAC update to your ZZ account.... BTW the model of Apple he has is a EMC 3195 -- Solid State Drive.
I am well aware of your opinion.
And I did run NAS systems in the past.
These can of course make sense under certain conditions.
Especially if you run large data storages in RAID config. Or if you have
numerous users, clients and services to serve with all kind of shared data.
Fair enough.
You btw. could also build a RPi network file server using
openmediavault or similar. No need for blackbox commercial solutions.
And if you need just a simple shared network drive - almost every coffee-maker
allows to share a drive nowadays - OK OK that was fun- almost every router allows to attach a network drive.
I did also experience running terabytes of data over a network service is not
much fun - this can take ages!
Ah - I almost forgot a to me pretty important thing.
Every time I've been using network services like NFS, Samba/Cifs
on my RPi based audio system, the perceived sound quality got worse.
That behaviour alone makes NAS a NoGo to me. If sound quality is
not of highest priority this is a non-issue of course.
Enjoy.
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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
> > Every time I've been using network services like NFS, Samba/Cifs
on my RPi based audio system, the perceived sound quality got worse.
That behaviour alone makes NAS a NoGo to me. < <
I've used a NAS for years. Maybe I just lucked out but the experience has been very positive and w/o loss of sound quality compared to connecting the drive directly to the PC via USB.
I went with the cheap solution of setting up an old PC as a server. USB drives connected to the server stream to another PC with Daphile using CIFS. The server also handles backup duties.
No one "lucked out". NAS or PC/Mac set up as NAS to serve up music files sound excellent. In fact they don't sound like anything at all. My NAS is in the basement where I can't possibly hear it ;-)Perhaps his network is screwed up or more often the case, if you don't set up your system just like his yours can't possibly reproduce great sounding music. His is THE reference after all ;-)
Edits: 05/08/23
For sure you're lucked out not to be drawn into the
computer-based-audio tweaking jungle.
As usual, a change on perceived sound quality depends
on several factors.
Who am I to question your experiences!?!? I never did. I am just giving advise.
And beside that I am providing tools, free of charge,
to prove my point. I do that for more than a decade.
Enjoy your NAS.
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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP
I have Time Machine backup running. And I maintain a duplicate music library on a Windows PC on spinning disks (and a backup of that which I keep off-site in a safe deposit box).
I think I'm covered, but I don't relish the idea transferring my PC music library to my mac (if it comes to that).
If you have good backups you're covered.
The external SSD is tiny and 100% quiet, self powered over USB so no external power bricks required.
As soundchekk mentioned you might not want to use the SSD for long-term archival storage - but it doesn't appear that that is what you had in mind.
Enjoy!
Over the years, I've gradually replaced my regular archival HD's with SSD's. So far, I've encountered no audible degradation in SQ from the SSD's. Have I just been lucky?
In the very early days of SSDs when they were expensive I had one fail completely after sitting on a shelf unpowered for several months. I plugged it into my computer and it wasn't recognized. My computers never "saw it" again and the data that was on it was not accessible. Maybe I was unlucky or maybe that wasn't unheard of back then.
Today's SSDs are much better but I don't think there's a lot of evidence available either way. You might have to do some deep research with Google. And the problem there is finding recent credible data - not something from a hobbyist post or popular magazine.
is to buy the case and your choice of SSD drive. Slightly less expensive.
I use a pair of similar cases for smaller SSDs used for Carbon Copy Cloner OS backups.
The Mac Mini ports are USB-C and Thunderbolt compatible. These outboard solid state disks (SSD) from Samsung are my favorite. I have a couple Samsung T5 and T7 models for my Macs. Simply plug it into one of your Mac Mini Thunderbolt/USB-C ports with the supplied cable and you're ready to go.
I'm not sure that my late 2014 mac mini's Thunderbolt2 ports are compatible with usb-c (I may be wrong on this.)
If that is the case, is the T7 Shield still a good choice using the C to A cable?
Ah yes, the early Minis that had Thunderbolt didn't yet implement USB-C into the Thunderbolt port. In your case you can use the USB-C to USB-A cable that also comes with the T7 SSD. It won't be as fast as a USB-C to USB-C connection but it will still be incredibly fast compared to a spinning hard disk drive.... not that disk speed really matters for music playback. The SSD will be 100% silent.
"COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR DEVICES: The T7 Shield is compatible with PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles, and more; Included in the box are USB Type C-to-C and Type C-to-A cables for added convenience "
The Best is a NAS.... I like Synology. It is fast and quiet as it can be located in a Basement (Like Mine) - Or any out of the place.. I can access it anywhere in the World as well...
With your 2TB of storage it is a 'No Brainer'. That is what I have as well.
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