Mach2 Music - Provider of Modified MacMini Music Servers

tasar · « **Reply #60 on:** 9 Feb 2011, 05:36 pm »

Thought it might be beneficial discussing the pros and cons of backing up our Oyen drives. Whereas Super Duper will take care of the operating system, what benefits are there to 3rd party softwares as Retrospect, for synching files(avoiding successive duplication) being copied over as backups to additional drive/drives. For duplicate backups, is mirroring drives doable ? I've heard that Time Machine synchronizes but we don't want the operator over in our audio file drives. Then again, considering a 1TB drive, this extra space would be miniscule.

Further, it's just a curiosity, but what about burning the AIFF files to a DVD ? Does the burn process add the clock back into the audio streams ?

dspringham · « **Reply #61 on:** 10 Feb 2011, 04:35 pm »

I've got an OYEN DataTale 3.5-inch FireWire 800/400, eSATA, USB External Enclosure (with Oxford chipset) on the way since it seems to be highly recommended for holding music files data.

Can you "experts" chip in on what particular HDD is recommended for this enclosure. 5400rpm or 7200 rpm? I'm thinking WD. Would you think the "Green" series or otherwise. Is cache size important for this application?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Dave

dmccombs · « **Reply #62 on:** 12 Feb 2011, 05:22 am »

We are really excited to offer Mach2 Music Server owners
A Free 30-Minute Online Setup Session with our Support Specialist!!!

Okay, here are some details:

A) We are now offering new Mach2 Server customers a free 30 minute online setup session with our support specialist. Our support specialist will login to your Mach2 Server over the internet and go through your Mach2 Server setup with you. Anyone receiving their Mach2 Music Server after Feb.1 2011 can contact support@mach2music to schedule their session.

B) We haven't forgotten our previous customers. Very soon, we will send you an e-mail inviting you to a free 30-minute session. Our support specialist works part time and can't do everyone at the same time.

More particulars can be found here:
http://www.mach2music.com/support/onlinesession/onlinesession.html

We are very happy to offer this to our customers, but please follow the Requirements so we can continue to do this.

JLM · « **Reply #63 on:** 12 Feb 2011, 10:52 am »

Yes, I visited your site recently and saw that service.

Fantastic for us computer dolts.

tasar · « **Reply #64 on:** 12 Feb 2011, 05:43 pm »

.....speaking of "Dolts", anyone want to suggest a safe technique for powering our Minis ? This includes those in the "keep them powered" (never turned off) camp. It seems imperative that a battery backup supply is considered.

tasar · « **Reply #65 on:** 12 Feb 2011, 05:49 pm »

...further, anyone have a clue re backup techniques ? Does the "burning" process to CD/DVD ad the "clock" back into the audio streams ?

anyone using ITunes know how to keep successive backups from duplicating/replacing files, other than use of Time Machine ? I've heard of Retrospect and other 3rd party software..any experience here ?

anyone have thoughts on mirror drive(raid) use for backup ?

dmccombs · « **Reply #66 on:** 20 Feb 2011, 06:44 pm »

Quote from: dspringham on 10 Feb 2011, 04:35 pm

I've got an OYEN DataTale 3.5-inch FireWire 800/400, eSATA, USB External Enclosure (with Oxford chipset) on the way since it seems to be highly recommended for holding music files data.

Can you "experts" chip in on what particular HDD is recommended for this enclosure. 5400rpm or 7200 rpm? I'm thinking WD. Would you think the "Green" series or otherwise. Is cache size important for this application?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Dave

Dave,

I haven't heard anything conclusive on this but here are my thoughts.

1) The faster the drive the better from a sound quality perspective, but the 7200 rpm drive will make more physical noise. So if you can position the drive far away from the listening position go with 7200 RPM. Otherwise, the 5400.

I cheat and use a SSD drive for my external drive. It sounds better and is totally quiet. Its very pricey, but its the ultimate solution SQ-wise, but you are limited to small drives.

2) In theory a bigger cache is better, but I don't think you will hear any difference between 16 and 32 MB.

Darrell
www.mach2music.com

dmccombs · « **Reply #67 on:** 20 Feb 2011, 06:49 pm »

Quote from: tasar on 12 Feb 2011, 05:43 pm

.....speaking of "Dolts", anyone want to suggest a safe technique for powering our Minis ? This includes those in the "keep them powered" (never turned off) camp. It seems imperative that a battery backup supply is considered.

Taser,

I use my setup a lot, so I leave mine on all the time because MAc periodically update things and do housekeeping services. You can power it up just when needed, but I don't want things updating when I want to listen to music.

I guess the best solution would be to turn things on a while before you want to listen. That way if the machine needs to update anything, it does so before you actually start listening.

The Mac draws so little power that I just leave mine on cause I use my Mach2 everyday.

I don't want to have to plan when I listen.

Darrell
www.mach2music.com

tasar · « **Reply #68 on:** 23 Feb 2011, 09:52 pm »

Great......but when it comes to those external drives...they work hard.....eject them when not in "use" ????

Quote from: dmccombs on 20 Feb 2011, 06:49 pm

Taser,

I use my setup a lot, so I leave mine on all the time because MAc periodically update things and do housekeeping services. You can power it up just when needed, but I don't want things updating when I want to listen to music.

I guess the best solution would be to turn things on a while before you want to listen. That way if the machine needs to update anything, it does so before you actually start listening.

The Mac draws so little power that I just leave mine on cause I use my Mach2 everyday. I don't want to have to plan when I listen.

Darrell
www.mach2music.com

dmccombs · « **Reply #69 on:** 23 Feb 2011, 10:25 pm »

Quote from: tasar on 23 Feb 2011, 09:52 pm

Great......but when it comes to those external drives...they work hard.....eject them when not in "use" ????

I only Eject disks when I need to unplug them. If you want to be extra safe and eject the disks whhen you don't use them, that is ok too.

tasar · « **Reply #70 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 05:01 pm »

Guess what I meant was, is it better to power off(having "ejected" it) the hard drive when not in use. It seems at "idle" and powered at all times, the additional heat would be detrimental long term....

Also, and related. it would appear that Oyen provides NTI's Shadow, an apparent "synching" piece of software that among other things, negates file duplicity when one does successive backups. As ITunes only provides file "replacement", Shadow seems to be a good answer for those not embracing Time Machine. I received paper work for Shadow with my Mach2, but there was no CD included and I don't think it's software appears in the Mach2 "apps" ?

dmccombs · « **Reply #71 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 05:16 pm »

Taser,

Oyen puts the Shadow software on the External hard drive. We Reformat the music drive because the formatting method affects the sound AND the Shadow software runs even when listening to music and this hurts the sound. You don't want things running while listening to the system.

Its best to set up a backup system that runs when you want it to. Not something that runs all the time. Remember our mantra: Less is More...

Darrell
www.mach2music.com

jrebman · « **Reply #72 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 07:57 pm »

Darrell,

I'm just about to add a new oyen drive to my system, which will eventually become the main music drive. What format type and optios should I reformat this drive with?

Thanks,

Jim

jtwrace · « **Reply #73 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 08:01 pm »

It's very important to properly initialize a drive if you want to be able to use it as a startup drive.

Most drives come set up for Windows, and while they'll generally work with the Mac, they won't work properly as startup drives.

A "partition scheme" is the low-level on-drive stricture that is used by the OS to find the "volumes" (the "drives" that appear in Finder—a physical disk can have one or more) on a physical disk. There are three different "partition schemes" that can be used on the Mac:
Master Boot Record—this is the partitioning scheme used by Windows, and how most drives are shipped.
Apple Partition Map—the original partitioning scheme used by the Mac, required for Power PC based Macs.
GUID (aka GPT)—the new partitioning scheme used by Intel Macs.

So, here's what you should do with a new drive.
Note: partitioning normally erases a drive. If you have a drive that's using the wrong partition scheme, iPartition, from Coriolis Systems, can change the partition scheme without deleting the data, and can also repartition drives with data in place.
Start Disk Utility (it's in /Applications/Utilities)
Select the external drive hardware in the sidebar.
You must select the drive hardware, above any existing volumes, or the Partition tab will not appear.
Click the Partition tab
Use Disk Utility's controls to divide the drive as needed, even as a single large partition. Use "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as the format type and name appropriately
Click the Options button
Choose the proper partition scheme (GUID for Intel macs, Apple Partition Map for Power PC) and accept the page
Click Partition.

Backup using http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

tasar · « **Reply #74 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 08:17 pm »

Can anyone explain to me how then, you keep files from duplicating or having to be replaced(as in ITunes), when one backs up their music over and over again ? Certainly you don't record(remember) and only backup files you've ripped since the previous "backup".

jtwrace · « **Reply #75 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 08:32 pm »

Quote from: tasar on 25 Feb 2011, 08:17 pm

Can anyone explain to me how then, you keep files from duplicating or having to be replaced(as in ITunes), when one backs up their music over and over again ? Certainly you don't record(remember) and only backup files you've ripped since the previous "backup".

SuperDuper! has a smart erase feature. It will duplicate your original drive to be exact on your backup.

Read here http://s3.amazonaws.com/com.shirtpocket/SuperDuper/SuperDuper.pdf

dmccombs · « **Reply #76 on:** 25 Feb 2011, 09:14 pm »

Quote from: jrebman on 25 Feb 2011, 07:57 pm

Darrell,

I'm just about to add a new oyen drive to my system, which will eventually become the main music drive. What format type and optios should I reformat this drive with?

Thanks,

Jim

Jim,

JTWrace's instructions are very good. I would change only one thing. For the Muisc drive, format it as "Mac OS Extended", without Journaling.

Darrell
www.mach2music.com

jrebman · « **Reply #77 on:** 26 Feb 2011, 01:10 am »

Thanks, Jason. And Darrell too -- the journaling option is mostly what I was concerned about, so thhanks for addressing that.

-- Jim

tasar · « **Reply #78 on:** 26 Feb 2011, 05:01 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 25 Feb 2011, 08:32 pm

SuperDuper! has a smart erase feature. It will duplicate your original drive to be exact on your backup.

Read here http://s3.amazonaws.com/com.shirtpocket/SuperDuper/SuperDuper.pdf

JT....had a look at that link. I see where you can eliminate(ignore) scripts for file sections eg. photos or Tunes, but don't see where you can have the backup ignore previously backed up files unless this is a default feature ? I had thought Darrel did NOT recommend Super Duper for our audio file backup. I do see SD would be best for OS HD backup, in which case you could have this operation "ignore" ITunes or AIFF files or whatever. All of this is probably super (uber) easy, but I find all these nuances to be daunting. Another tough one to grasp is, backing up your MAC HD along side your "music" files on the same external backup drive. If we want this "bootable" to make restoration easy, is it best to keep the audio "music" files on a separate drive ? Many many questions I'm not sure are appropriate for this thread, but drives do seem to be the "life blood" to our Mach2 Server !

jtwrace · « **Reply #79 on:** 26 Feb 2011, 05:09 pm »

Quote from: tasar on 26 Feb 2011, 05:01 pm

JT....had a look at that link. I see where you can eliminate(ignore) scripts for file sections eg. photos or Tunes, but don't see where you can have the backup ignore previously backed up files unless this is a default feature ? I had thought Darrel did NOT recommend Super Duper for our audio file backup. I do see SD would be best for OS HD backup, in which case you could have this operation "ignore" ITunes or AIFF files or whatever. All of this is probably super (uber) easy, but I find all these nuances to be daunting. Another tough one to grasp is, backing up your MAC HD along side your "music" files on the same external backup drive. If we want this "bootable" to make restoration easy, is it best to keep the audio "music" files on a separate drive ? Many many questions I'm not sure are appropriate for this thread, but drives do seem to be the "life blood" to our Mach2 Server !

If you're going to purchase a M2M Mini then do it his way...